I found a Mazda shop near my place. The owner has been working on rotary engines for over 22 years. He said his shop specialty is RX-7's. I let him take a look at my car and he said it's in good shape. I'd like to get some impressions/reactions of what he said to me today. I'm thinking about having him be my mechanic.

1. Q: Is there anything on the RX-7 that you don't do?
A: We don't do paint and body work.

2: Q: Do you install performance upgrade parts?
A: We used to, but not any more. It's hard to warranty the parts.

3: Q: Whats the first thing I should have you do to the car?
A: I have a 33 point inspection that I do (gave me a print out) I'll change all fluids and oils in the car, trans and rear end included, replace all filters, (fuel,oil,air) inspect brakes, rotate tires, pressure check coolant system and replace fluid, clean and lube ant. mast, flush and refill brake fluid, replace plugs, repack bearings, and steam clean the engine. all for $325.00 U.S. (I left out some things for brevity)

4: Q: Do you rebuild engines?
A: No, It'll cost less to replace the engine due to high labor cost. I do that all the time. Same for transmissions unless it's a minor adjustment.

Well, should I let this guy care for my car or what?

BTW he showed me a white '95 twin turbo he just put a new engine and turbos in. He bought it off some guy that blew the engine and wanted to get rid of it. It really sounds wicked. He said it's for sale ($17,000 U.S.).

 

sounds to me like he knows what he is doing. i was a little dissapointed he does not do performance parts though....

i would still check around to see who all you could find to service your car just to compare. it is hard to find rotary specialists but once you do you will be glad.

oh and most the stuff he lists for $325 i think you could do yourself. sure its a lot of good stuff but the more i think about it the price is kinda steep for that.

 

Find someone that is willing to upgrade the car and do simple maintenance tasks. It looks like he has been bitten by the upgrade bug. You can take your car to anyone to half the stuff he is offering you. There are alot of great perfomance shops in SO CAL. There is even a post on SO CAL shops do a search.

Later,
DB

 

Ya I would imagine living in L.A that there is more than one rotary specialist. This guy doesnt do rebuilds or performance mods, and depeding on what you want to do with the car and how much work you can do on it yourself there might be a better place.

 

Man you are lucky living in LA. I bet there are alot of rotary shops (well more than the 1 we got basically ) Ask around in you local forum on here. Thats what I did.

 

It really kind of turned me off that he won't do after market performance upgrades any more, he did say he could turn me on to some one that could, and I'm not too sure about replacing the engine instead of rebuilding it. (I'm sure he would do it for a small fortune). My biggest problem is that I live in an apartment now, and I don't have access to a lift or even jack stands, so a lot of the major maintenence is going to have to be done at a reliable shop. The next nearest shop that I know of is a Mazda dealership, and thats got to be worse.

 

He sounds like a generic mechanic.&nbsp He should be fine with typical maintenance issues, but I'd be careful trying to rely on him for speciality work.


-Ted

 

If yhour looking to excellently maintain a stock vehicle, hes your guy.

Prices are reasonable.

Mods are best left to a shop that is conservative, yet effective.

Shops that want to radically alter your car when you simply ask for more HP, are a dime a dozen and you never come back after the work is done, cause your broke, and usually didnt get the gains you were looking for.

 

Just go to MazdaTrix.
Sure there expensive, but they do know thier stuff.

 

I like shops that you can trust. For some reason I liked it when my shop told me that he didn't want to rebuild my engine when I brought it up and said "I'll try to make this as easy a fix as I can"

 

hmm

they wont install rx perfomance parts, they do routine maintenance that you can do following a manual or just about any mechanic can do for you...and they dont rebuild engines. now...just what kind of rotary specific stuff do they do?

 

Are you talking about the rotary shop on FLETCHER DR??

If so, this guys have been around rotaries for a long time. Used to build Craig's rx7's (TRI-POINT ENGINEERING) way back when he was barely starting to race rx7.

 

Is this by any chance South Bay Independant Mazda a.k.a. Mazda Specialties? If you would like, you could try Rotary Power at Gardena, CA.

Give them a call and ask for Jeff

Rotary Power
(310)516-9959

Jay Kim

 

The name of the shop is Nelson Enterprises. It's on Overland, one block noth of Venice Blvd. in west Los Angeles. He said he's worked on rotary engines since the '70's.

 

He probably does not like carrying warrantees. I bet thats why he won't do performance parts or rebuild an engine.

 

You guys are lucky to be able to choose from a number of shops that have actually worked on rotaries. I envy the rotary knowledge that is available on the west coast.

$325 seems reasonable for a tuneup(toss in some hoses/belts/and a thermostat too).
Around here, it is difficult to find a competent mechanic who knows the rotary engine or is willing to work on one.
Prior to the purchase of my RX7, I went to the dealer for a tuneup and look over. The car was perfect and I bought it. After driving the car for 2 years, it was time for some more preventive maintenance. I couldn't believe that my RX7 had two trailing plugs on the front rotor and the two leading plugs on the rear rotor. Haven't been to a Mazda dealership since that fiasco!

I have heard mechanics and franchise shops complain about offering warranties.
Some companies parts suck, don't fit, and don't work right or are incomplete. Some shops do not want to practice 'trial and error' upgrades......
Or, the car's owner who won't spend money on additional parts for the install......or beats the hell out of the car and wonders why that clutch lasted only 2 months....... or why that turbo engine died(leaned out) with that fancy exhaust and intake......

Most mechanics will install parts that you purchase. Just ask them. And be ready ready to take the responsibility for parts that you choose.
The mechanics provide the labor, you provide the parts and the parts' companies provide the warranty.

 

I've been there before. He might be knowledgeable, but not very polite. I took the car I was looking to buy for a compression test and refused to do it. Even though the car had the original engine with 150k miles on it. He told me that rotary engines are very reliable. As reliable as Honda motors, if not more. Some how I doubt that.

I wouldn't trust him with MY car. But it's up to you. I would look into Mazda Specialties in Carson or Rotary Power in Gardena.

Jay Kim

 

I'm gonna give Rotary power a call, and check them out.
And I'll try a few others too. But, this guy at NE might still be my man for other reasons. I think he's O.K., just not the guy to do any upgrades with.

 

ohh yes!..i have been there!..culver city..he looks like a nice guy and knowledgeable but charges an arm and a leg. If i can remember, i think he wanted 800 bucks to put my motor together, this is with parts provided to him cleaned..rotary power is your best bet.

 

Rotary Power in Gardena