Is this leak normal, is it fixable? pic inside
 

I was just checking my engine outside again and discovered this spot near the exhaust port on the rear rotor housing was leaking.

Attachment 490700



In the picture its the hole to the right of the stud sticking out above it.

The front housing seems to be weak in that same spot but there's no hole-yet.

1)What's this black sealed hole for?
2)Is this break normal, is it fixable? 3)Is this housing garbage now?

I also tried pushing the apex seal down expecting it to push in and it to spring back up.

1) Are my apex seals stuck?

Rotary >Pistons

Just trying to get more info so I know if I'm wasting my time to try running this engine.

If not I'll be rebuilding it using both my blocks.

Rotary >Pistons

i don't see anything wrong.

the ports are for EGR and air injection from the ACV, they're normally clogged with carbon on older engines.

So that's just carbon in the holes then.

As far as the apex seals not feeling like they have a spring to them, is that normal or should they push in fairly easy?

If they should spring back I'm guessing its due to carbon so they're stuck , I'll use zoom cleaner or something similar to clean the carbon out if I decide to run it.

Rotary >Pistons

That's how carbonized it looks inside.

The apex seals look clean, the rotors look full of carbon.

Attachment 490714

Rotary >Pistons

You had compression on all 6 faces in your other thread. Exactly how much compression is unknown, but there aren't any signs of a blown/stuck seal. Pretty much any engine is going to have carbon unless it's constantly running a water auxiliary injection.

the seals are a little difficult to push in, yes they should spring back out.

as for the rest, looks like a typical 100k mile engine.

I'm likely going to compression test it and run the engine after I get the end play issue fixed.

I'm hoping it gets at least 95psi

Rotary >Pistons

Looks like shit, just rebuild it while its already right in front of your face.

Lol I love your comment, have you built one before?

I'm leaning more and more towards doing a rebuild so I know its the best it can be.

Rotary >Pistons

My dad showed me how wankels work when he rebuilt one when i was 14? 15? By then i was already big into dirt bikes, atvs, racing go-karts and what not so i understood the importance of specs specs specs!! I rebuilt and ported a 12A when i was 17? but had to sell it before i could ever run it, i did find out it ran after someone else bought it off me!

You got the engine right there, do you really want to go through all the effort of installing it just for it to possibly pop shortly down the road? Then have to pull it out and rebuild it? Seems like a gamble considering its certainly not a low miles engine.

There is some very good videos you can watch to show you how to properly inspect each part to find out how usable everything is. I had the OLD atkins rotary rebuild tape, god was that boring but surely most helpful.

Crack open the block, make templates on cardboard or something to place each part on so you know exactly what spot it came out the motor. Clean the living shit out of all the parts, then break out the measuring tools and find out whats still in spec/ worth using. From there you will have a good understanding of what its going to cost you in parts to assemble it again.

Do it right or do it twice. I have always done it twice because im an idiot, dont be me.

Yea I still need tools to get everything apart, mainly the big 54mm/ 2-1/8" socket to take the engine apart and something to stop the flywheel with and I need many other tools as i only have your basic tools.

My main problem other than tools is workspace.

I'd have to convince my mom and her bf to let me do it downstairs somewhere in the basement, which is fully carpeted.

Rotary >Pistons

The thing I hate about rebuilds is they're expensive. From what I see they're 500$ for the most basic kits which don't include any near bearings or side seals, etc. Then they jump up around 1k and include those things. That's if you're doing it yourself.

About the carpet, just put plastic garbage bags down in your area.

My girlfriends moms boyfriend has been a heavy-duty mechanic for well over a decade and when he rebuilt his first engine, albeit an old V8 when he was in the army, he said it cost him thousands in tools alone just to do the job properly. After reading RotaryEvolution post in another thread about the tools needed to complete a rotary rebuild I would just get it done professionally.

Either way built myself or by someone else its going to be rough either way since my budget sucks.

I was considering sourcing most of the rebuild parts myself (since i can do it over time), and to reduce cost to the builder to labor.

If rotaryresurrection or anyone else would rebuild it for labor etc (me providing rebuild kit; apex seals etc).

Basically I'm on a limited budget, I will get this project done , it'll just take a while.

Its nearly impossible for me to save $1300, so I can slowly accumulate the parts I need and more easily afford a rebuild.

Rotary >Pistons

a hammer and chisel will work to take the rear nut off but to put it on you need the proper tools, or at least a good 1/2" pneumatic impact gun and the large socket. the nut will be pretty much toast by the time you get it off.

I hope I figure out something soon, as I'm at a standstill.

If I send it out for rebuild they want a short block, if I take it apart I'll likely need to do it all on my own unless a builder will make an exception.

I have two blocks so obviously I don't want to send both , I'd like to check both and get the best usable parts.

I probably can't do it at my house because mom/her bf have no garage and don't want me making a mess.

Maybe rent a storage unit for a month and build it there? Just a thought.

Rotary >Pistons

steam clean it.

Never heard of that being done to clean an engine

Rotary >Pistons

then u r missing out big time

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...thread-949720/

The real question is , is this engine worth installing?

I've yet to compression test it

Rotary >Pistons

if it's got 3 piece original seals now is the best time to refresh it.

what exactly was it supposed to be leaking?

Probably does have original seals, what makes the 3 piece seals bad?

The problem is if I refresh it, it may take awhile because of my budget. So no matter what route I take there's a big drawback :(

What the leak was from what I was told is a port for the emissions acv/egr that's just clogged with carbon.

Rotary >Pistons

most turbo engines rarely lived past 135k miles, mainly because the seals are fairly well worn by that point. that engine looks like it's on its last legs.

Yea you're probably right.

Do any buildersc(including you) do builds for just labor charges if the person provides everything needed?

Reason I ask is because it'd be easier for me to do it that way.

Rotary >Pistons

Kevin landers of rotary resurrection is the man when it comes to budget rebuilds, if he can't help you then i dont think anybody can.

He did my last one, it ran well until I blew a coolant seal after 6 years/25k miles.

I wanna say it blew from improper care to the coolant system by me combined with age.

I used lots of tap water mixed with coolant on it and never used distilled water.

The engine had 146k on it when it was rebuilt and needed a new iron from a blown coolant passage.

I was pretty new to rotaries back then and know much more now, but I'm still learning and I'll never stop.

Rotary >Pistons

dollar for work performed you might be surprised.

i include rotor housing resurfacing on housings that need it included in the price, which either replacement housings or the service alone costs $200+ outside of the rebuild in some cases for only a single housing replacement(bead blasting the housings is part of the rebuild and not included in that price).

add in goopy seals included in the price for modified turbo engines.. you start to see that you do get more for only a little bit more money.

but not to start a pissing match, i just do try to provide the best work for the least amount possible. it just bothers me a tiny bit when the amount of additional things i throw in i see comments like that made.

i probably should update my website to actually reflect some of those changes..

Thats pretty badass that you do during your rebuild process. If i ever want to get a short block rebuilt i will get in contact with you. I have some S4 street ported housing that have some chatter marks i always wanted to restore.

As for the OP, what is holding you back from contacting Kevin again or this man right above me formerly known as Karack.

I know your work is good , though I haven't personally seen it, I have seen you represent a vast amount of knowledge and I believe you and Kevin are both very good builders.

Rotary >Pistons

My lack of funds, trying to figure out what I should do.

Plus the fact that I have two blocks and want the best of the parts from both, but sending both seems impractical.

Edit - was thinking of disassembling them and selling the extra good parts for money towards rebuild but idk how I'd go about that...since builders want an assembled short block that's been untouched *scratch*

Rotary >Pistons