Hi everybody. I tried to find an answer to this question looking through archives and every place else here, but could not find one. Please forgive me if this is a common question. I'm rebuilding my 89 13B N/A engine, first one. Is it ok to reuse the same rotor housing if it appears to be ok. Cleaned, no flakes or scratches on the inside. Around the spark-plug holes, I can see a couple of really tiny cracks but no metal missing. This engine had just over 50,000 miles on it. I tore it apart because oil was leaking from the front of the engine. I'm pretty sure all irons are ok, because I've measured them using a dial indicator, I can't feel any scratches on the faces of the plates. All the seal areas looked fine, no leak or broken marks showed up. The reason I'm asking is because in the pineapple vids, the guy says you should replace the housings. As I read or watch everybody else's rebuilds, I don't ever hear of this topic mentioned. Also if you do replace the housings, do you replace a N/A housing for a turbo housing? Is this a comon upgrade or not advisable? I've purchased a rebuild kit from Atkins, the master kit, the most expensive one. So I think I have all the small items ready. I'm keeping my engine stock. No additional horsepower items.

 

http://www.rebuildingrotaryengines.c...Rotor_Housings
http://www.turborx7.com/rereplacement.htm
http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/rotorhsg.htm

The only difference between the N/A housings and the turbo housings is the coolant passage and the exhaust sleeve.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-archive-72/removing-swapping-rotor-housing-exhaust-sleeves-401058/

If the housings are within specs, use them. If you want the turbo sleeves, swap them.

 

Turbo and NA housings are very similar. Stock turbo cars will need the rear housing to have a coolant passage. If you want the turbo sleeves on NA housings, switching the sleeves is simple.

1) located the roll pins on side of housing
2) take a welder, make a small bead on top of roll pins, make another, make another until the bead can be gripped with vise grips
3) Use vice grips to pull out the roll pin
4) remove the exhaust sleeve and spacer
5) Insert sleeve you wanna use
6) grind down the weld beads on roll pin
7) use a hammer to re insert the roll pins

only takes like 15 mins to do this

 

mazda won't produce the housings forever so soon those shops saying that rebuilds require new housings will have to change their tune or simply close up shop.

https://www.rx7club.com/vendor-classifieds-276/rotor-housing-resurfacing-services-957625/

that said if you want the best possible compression from your motor you can't beat brand new housings, but for a marginal loss to peak compression you CAN reuse the housings if they are in decent shape.

 

Thanks all for your input. And thanks for the threads you found for me. I really believe my housings are still in good shape. So I guess I'll use them and see what happens. If it turns out they're bad, I'll have learned my lesson and be able to advise the next newbie in line. The information I learn on this website is fantastic, I thank you all for that.