Thought i'd enlighten the people that have helped me out so much with my car on what im doing on my 88 SE

Aftera lot of discussion and many failed compression checks, rebuilding the engine seems the only choice. I finally got it out yesterday and stripped it down, its pretty nasty even after bieng cleaned up. Here she is:



Im getting the rebuild kit from Revolution Rotary... soon as i get the money.. (soon i hope) Which has been by far the best priced kit. I'll order the new side seals, which is the only thing really no included, from Mazdatrix or whoever.

IN addition to the rebuild the injectors are getting a full sonic cleaning. The engine is also getting a new pulsation dampner. All vaccum hoses and radiator hoses are to be replaced, as well as new engine mounts. And while im at it, I'll put in a new clutch (just a mazda OEM one is fine for me). Alternator is getting new brushes, so that sould work nice. Already have the new water pump thats going on it. The radiator is getting replaced with a new one, and the oil cooler is going ot be profesionally cleaned (Phoenix heat sucks)

I think thats about it , haha.

My plans are really to get the car back to the original condition with all stock components, indluding 6 ports

By the time i get done with it, it should run and drive like a new car again, but for now, ill just worry about the engine and all that stuff i mentioned.

Oh yea, might just pay the $200 and have the tranny redone, who knows.

Some people would call me crazy, but like people say, if you're gonna do it, do it right, and this is the right way to do it.

Something I discovered too, people seem to complain that rotaries are expensive to rebuild. At $700 for a whole kit, I dont see this as expensive at all. Your typical piston engine on newer cars runs up into the $1000 range. I guess alot of people driving FC's are just cheapskates :O

OK, thats it for now, Ill get more pictures as soon as i get new batteries for my camera haha

 

umm, before you start, if your lack of compression is from a broken apex seal. you're going to need a new rotor housing and probably rotor. so there is another $1000-1500 ontop of your rebuild kit.

 

I agree that $700 isn't expensive for a rebuild. I rebuilt the 4A-GE in my MR2 for about $500 (new crank, new connecting rod, rings (two sets--oops!), gasket set, cylinder hone/misc. tools, etc.), and it runs great! The people that say rotaries are expensive to rebuild are the ones that take their engine to some claimed rotary guru who is really a scam artist. "Oh, so-and-so did a great job and did me up a real nice street port on my 13b 6 port for only $4000!" Yeah, way to go. If it only costs $200 to get the tranny rebuilt I'd spring for that, though. I'm kicking myself for not doing that on my '2. Looks like you're off to a good start. Good luck! Keep us posted .

 

Its low compression, not no compression, just worn seals. Besides , I have 2 spare engines

Although im really considering buying new housings anyway at $390 each. I think it might be worth the peace of mind.

But worst case, a dead rotor AND housing would still only cost me $800. But i doubt itll come to that with all teh spart parts i have.

I've researched into this pretty heavily as you can tell

 

My engine was only low compression and both rotor housings were junk. But I did run it almost three years knowing it had low compression and then it finally locked up. The rotor housing was junk before it locked up. You could tell from the apex seal wear on the housing. It took a while to wear that groove in it.

 

Wow, she looks a little worn, Im kinda thinking it would be cheaper just to get a reman. engine rather than replacing all that stuff.

 

Yea, that thought had crossed my mind. But my only thing is if im going to pay the $1700 for a rebuild.... i could do it myself better..

$700 rebuid kit
$800 new housings

still only $1500 and I will have a virtually worry-free engine for less than a reman. PLus the peace of mind that I wont have to take it back out, even if it is warrentied, cuz thats a PITA.

Im kinda leaning to going for new housings, since I plan to keep the car probably forever considering how much im gonna spend on it (well into $6000+). Some peopel might think im crazy, but when can i say, i grew up in the 80s.

People of the older generation gew up around muscle cars so thats what they restore. Me? I grew up in an 84 Supra. I love 80s cars to death and want to restore one to keep for my own at any cost But anyway...


I cant wait to crack this thing open. Hardest part is finding that 52mm or whatever socket. Cheapest ive seen so far is Home Depot at $22, gotta order it too.

The miles on the engine are real vague since its not the car's orig engine. I beleive it to have between 110k and 140k , so it shouldnt be in too horrible of condition. But im really considering just getting new housings anyway, and maybe some higher comp 89+ rotors.

They can just go right in without no mods right?

Gotta buy a dremel to do a streetport too