Since I do a lot of rebuilds for people, I get a jspec here and there to rebuild, just as it came into the states. Since a lot of you guys like to debate which is better, etc. etc., I thought I would share some information and pics with you guys of what you **MAY** be able to expect from a jspec. Here are pics of one customer's jspec, disassembled, just as it arrived to him.

 

 

After a quick cleaning...

 

Ewww, that's ugly. Why someone would buy a used, unknown milaged engine, is beyond me. Some people get lucky, but the odds are you won't.

 

Note that the rotor is junk, because the seals are rusted/locked into place and cannot even be removed. THis is the case with a lot of cores I buy, and leaving an engine to sit unturned for a long time can result in this type of problem.

Bottom line, jspecs make decent rebuild cores, but in cases like this, not even that. He will need a rotor, a front and intermediate iron, in addition to the cost of regular rebuild.

There is NO WAY this engine could/would have ran, had he just tried to install it and run. Note that this is an s5 turbo engine.

The only saving grace with a jspec is that, if it isnt already blown up, your rotorhousings are almost always in near excellent condition, as are these. ONe is like new, one is about an 8 of 10 with very minor chrome flaking beginning.

 

That's my Jspec.

I bought a Jspec NON Running core because I have a 88 GTU and needed the Turbo/manifolds/injectors/etc.

I was hoping it was fine but like Kevin showed it's a chance when you get them.

BTW Kevin. Are those the stock portings on the housings? I've never looked inside a block and the pics looked like they were pretty big.

 

Yes, stock ports.

 

I completely agree with you Kevin. Every J-Spec motor I have torn down to date has been roughly in the same shape (accept I guess better luck on the rotors cause those were not as bad). Most of the side housings are in need of a lapping job, and 89% of the time the rotor housings are useless.

J-Spec motors are decent cores to start off with, or if you need internal parts for another re-build and don’t want to buy new ones from Mazda/Mazdatrix. But then opening these motors especially a J-Spec is like looking for the prize in a Cracker Jack box. Some times you score, but most of the time you get “Jacked” .

- Dana

 

My j-spec engine was in really nice shape, some carbon. s5 turbo

 

I didnt notice any rust on it at all, all the carbon cleaned right up and it is all shiney now. of course im rebuilding it now anyways so I guess it dosent matter either.

 

that is why they are CORE motors.

 

were do you get these core motors?

 

Eeek! I was planning on getting a jspec turbo motor and rebuilding it, but if they come looking like that, i think i might just have a change of plans.

 

I was thinking about buying a non-running NA RX7 and getting a j-spec turbo motor for it...but after seeing that, i think im just gonna go with a TII instead. Thanks for the heads up kevin!

 

My experience has been 50/50 on getting a good engine.
A compression test would easily show if the engine is good internally or not.


-Ted

 

My J-spec engine was absolutely perfect inside. It was almost if it was hardly ever driven.

 

Wait... You bought a non-running engine to start with, right?

 

Right. Like SD said. I bought a core motor.

I didn't have enough $$$ to buy a running Jspec and then have it rebuilt. So I got a core and stripped it down for Kevin to rebuild.

Unfortunately this one turned out to have a bad front plate and rotor.

 

What would you expect from a non-running core? If everything worked, then it would run.

 

Looks like the water passages were gunked up with copper sealant. Bad deal for you Digi7ech.

What are you going to do now?

 

Same....

 

HE is still getting a nice engine from the deal, just that it requires a lot of core part swapping on my part. The front rotor and iron, and intermediate iron (front face) are not in useable condition. We have decided to go with s4 t2 rotating assembly, so that solves the need for an s5 t2 rotor (read: not easy to get).

Since he needs a front iron, and all I have are s4 fronts, we're also swapping his s5 rear iron so the intake ports will be the same diameter without porting being necessary. He'll also get a replacement intermediate housing, an s4, which actually has slightly larger intake ports than the s5.

I did not mean to imply that all jspecs will look like this one...but at least half of them will be in poor condition when they make it here. No blame was being placed on SDRotary or any other importer. This was placed here to let all you jspec happy fools know what exactly you *could* be getting.

 

Keep in mind though, he said he bot a NON-RUNNING jspec. I mean, quite honestly what did you expect? In the end it is about gambling and money. A lot don't have enough money for a rebuild, so jspec is the best way to go, they take that gamble. I did, and hopefully I'll have made the right choice.

Logan

 

yeah i'm failing to see the gamble here. didnt he KNOW he was buying a "core" (as in non-running) jspec?

 

so clean, clean and so fresh, fresh !!