jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

background information: my oil control ring on my front rotor is fuxored. this isnt a big problem, but my front rotor housing collects oil if the car sits for more than 4-5 hours (overnight) so it smokes like a mother when i start it cold every morning. i have been wanting to get a rebuild for months now... i finally have the funds to pay for a rebuild and some other small mods, so this has given me an excuse to do so.
i have about 3 weeks to get everything done before i go back to school and i'm trying to have the least amount of down-time possible because i have a job and a girlfriend and i'm not sure if i'll have transportation during this project. i have about 2000 dollars so i think i have a few options on my hands...

option #1
take my car,new clutch, and new tranny to kevin landers and wait about 3 weeks for him to get everything done. this would be good cause he knows his **** and has a good reputation, but the only downside is the wait.

option #2
Buy a rebuilt ported engine (need some options here) and use my friends shop to install the trans, clutch, and engine.

option #3 (a little different)
buy a '90 black GXL from a friend of mine for 500 bucks that has a blown automatic transmission and great compression on both rotors. take it up to my buddys shop, put the new trans (and other manual transmission necessities) in it, and possibly rebuild and port it with extra money.

the problem i'm having with making this decision is i dont really know how much alot of the stuff costs (with buying engines, prices of other rebuilds, prices of seals, etc). i will have the new(er) transmission and clutch soon so i wont have to worry about that. i have about 3 weeks and i'm trying to get some opinions/options about what i should do...

what would you do in my situation??????????????

zjbarra

iTrader: (2)

It really comes down to where you get a rebuild at. Pineapple racing does some of the best rebuilds you can buy but they're out of your 2k budget by 150 + shipping from oregon to you which is probably going to be a pretty penny. I personally would like to see someone build my motor for me that really knows what they're doing well (Pineapple racing) just because it makes a huge difference having it done right. Those engines use new rotor housings though which is quite a bit of cost. Given the condition of your engine (seals are all good) I would see what your local rotary guy (Kevin Landers?) could do a build for. If you could, I would pull the engine out myself and take it to him and save yourself a few hundred dollars in having him do it for you. I would imagine if your side housings are in reusable condition you'd be looking at something in the ball park of 1300 or less. If you have a lot of confidence in your own abilities, I say give it a shot yourself and try and throw a seal kit in it. There are a lot of guys on the forum that rebuild their own motors, it is just not something you have any room to screw up with.

SureShot

#1 is best bet - You can drive it there & back, which makes it easier, cheaper & faster.

Option #X - Throw some motor honey in it, sell it, & buy a nice fresh S5. (The new owner can take it to Kevin)

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

well, the only problem with #1 is i wont have transportation for at least 3 weeks. that would be tough.

my local rotary guy is a buddy of mine that has a shop in lexington (about an hour away) Landers is down in tennessee (still not too far)

and yeah, i believe my housings and irons and rotors are all in great shape. my car still pulls good. only problem is the oil control ring on the front rotor.

i was thinking i could have my friend rebuild the engine and install the trans and clutch (hes the guy selling me the transmission) that way he could get all the seals, the trans, the clutch, etc. and have everything together up at the shop so i could just bring car up there and have everything done within a week hopefully.. and it SHOULD cost around 1500 or less, that way i could use my extra money towards some spray..

anyone else have any input on this?

bejbis

id go with option #2, its honstley not that hard to replace the motor, espically if you have access to a shop like your buddy has, all you really need is an engine lift. and a whole car lift is a nice thing to have for the tranny. but you can make it easy on yourself and pull the tranny and engine as one unit. you can also put it in as a unit. its honstley not that hard, if i had all the parts, me and a buddy could do it in a day. a few days if you wanted to go ahead and be **** about painting the engine bay and rewrapping the wireing harness, and stuff like that.

-Daniel

zjbarra

iTrader: (2)

I think your best bet would be rebuilding the motor you have in it now. Unless you can find someone that will do a rebuild with a motor you know and trust to have good housings, you should have yours rebuilt. You know the condition of the engine you have now. If you can't be certain of the rebuild you're getting, get yours redone. That's my advice.