Needing some help with motor swap
 

I recently bought my '88 GXL for $200, has a blown motor but came with a '91 motor rebuilt 40k miles ago. Both my husband and myself are car buffs, himself with Nissans and myself with turbo Dodge. However rotary is a brand new undertaking for the both of us, and we need some help.

When purchased both motors were dismantled, I'm guessing because the previous wanted to get the car going. Now all we have is a car with a bad dismantled motor in it, a dismantled spare motor and a bunch of miscellaneous parts that we have no idea what they are.

My problem is, how do I know what parts go on which motor? Like I said before, these cars and these motors are new to me.

as far as the short block goes you need to make sure the counterweight and flywheel match the rotors. mixing up the housings and irons isnt a big deal. the series 4 rotors (86-88) have a rough casting on the pit of each rotor face. the s5 has a smoother pit IIRC.

I'll keep that in mind, thank you!

Use the same series housings though, ie S5 front housing and S5 rear housing or S4 front and s4 rear housing. You can use whatever series irons, but the rotor housings have to match. You can easily tell the difference by the spark plug holes. They are in slightly different positions between series. If memory serves me correct the s5's will have the lower plug hole lower then the s4.

You will want to go with the S5 rotors because they are lighter and have higher compression, you will need to use the S5 counterweight. If you can't figure out which one is which you may be able to do some hunting around this forum or at mazdatrix. Worst case is they are super cheap to pick up another one and ensure you are using the right one.

You will want to build up any short block, and then use all S4 accessories because the wiring between S4 and S5 is different.

My main issue here is the external stuff, ie: intake and vaccum system. I have no clue which intake and which series of parts making up the vac system is S4 or S5. It's just a heap of parts the previous owner had spread all over his storage rental. We're not fooling with the internals at all, being that the new motor was rebuilt 40k miles ago. The block has not been taken apart.

Ah, well in case the best thing is probably to find some pics of an S4 engine bay and start figure out what is what.

I wonder why I didn't think of that....thanks!

Okay so here's another question...I'm wanting to buy the seal kit for the exhaust and intake, but which motor should I buy it for, the '88 or the '91?

Which seal kit are you referring to? You got a link to the ones your intereted in buying?

Easiest thing to do is, seperate the parts, take a few pics of them and post them up. We'll be able to tell you which is which as far as s4 and s5. Since you've got an s4 car, you'll want to use the s4 externals (intake manifolds, throttle body, injectors, wiring harness, etc) and s4 gaskets.

Linky here

I was under the impression the '88 motor (which my intake and whatnots is coming from) has a different seal kit than the '91 motor I'm swapping them to. Since the original seals have been comprimised when the previous owner removed the intake and exhaust, I need a new seal kit for when I put it all back together. Wondering if this is the one or I need a '91 specific kit.

You need the kit that fits your intake manifold, the rest of the seals are the same.

This kit is for a turbo btw, if you have a GXL, then you probably have n/a motor and that makes a difference.

Yea, that's the kit you'll want. Just be sure to use the S4 externals. You can use the S5 intake manifold, but that'll be a little bit of a project in itself. Easiest way, stick with your series for externals.

That kit is for an NA.. S4 NA.

Okay cool, so this is the kit I need. I thought so but wasn't sure...thanks guys!

Fine, you look at the title, and I will look at the description.

A La Ebay Description
"Up for auction is a full external engine gasket kit for an 87-88 turbo 13b engine."

Though the actual kit looks like an N/A.