Kilsom

I am currently about to buy an 87 RX7 FC... i hope im correct in saying its an s4 single turbo with the TMIC. The car will start but blows out loads of smoke and the idle is irradic and needs the gas held to 3k RPM or it shuts down... the owner says the apex seals are blown.... could this just be carbon build up and able to be cleaned and run fine? Or should I rebuild the entire engine with a kit? I dont know much about the motors but am willing to learn and have really only picked up what I have read thus far. I have been told to swap my 350 into it but i want the rotary engine, thats what makes it an rx-7.... Any help would be greatly appreciated. If anyone that reads this is around I'm from houston tx and you can expect me to be around once i find out exactly what i need to do to get this beast running... i have the shop and tools just need the advice and info. Thanks again in advance.

pfsantos

iTrader: (1)

Is this a factory stock TurboII?

"its an s4 single turbo with the TMIC"

This is the setup for the TII, but I want to make sure you don't have a NA conversion.

I would do a compression check (see FSM link below) to get more info on the internal sealing of the engine in question. If any apex seals are bad, you'll know right away.

Kilsom

Yes, it is factory from what the owner tells me.

sharingan 19

iTrader: (16)

If he thinks the apex seals are gone, then you should get it for a steal, if they are, then you will have to rebuild the motor. When you test the compression you're looking for 3 pulses of at least 85 psi on each rotor. Any pulses of "0" indicate a lost apex seal.

If you're lucky you'll only need to replace the seals, but if the apex seal "had a lil fun" on its way out you might need a new housing or rotor as well.

If you're brave and patient you can rebuild it yourself, there are walk through videos available from Atkins and other shops. Or you could send it out to be rebuilt (not sure what your budget or power goals are) Now would be the time to consider porting or coolant/ oil passage upgrades but that is another thread for another time.

Oh, and don't you dare drop a V8 in there or I'll kill you!......j/k.....................kinda

Kilsom

I wouldn't drop a v8 in a rx7 shell... that pisses me off... its no longer an rx7 then... its a 87 v8 hybrid mazda (note not saying rx7 but mazda) I have patience and will rebuild the motor if its not just a simple carbon buildup. Thanks for the compression info that helps in determining the problem. How is the porting and what not done on these motors? Like I said, im new this will be my first rx-7, but im going to try and squeeze as much street legal HP out of it i can. I am already looking for an FMIC to plumb into the system with an upgraded turbo... probably a clipped and ported DSM turbo of some kind.... depending on how the factory one spools. I keep reasing about 2 stroke oil premix with gas for these cars? I don't want to mess this thing up before i have it.... I am just curious as to what oddball things are there about this car that I should know about, generalizations even...

Thanks in advance,
Rodrick

pfsantos

iTrader: (1)

Do you have the FSM yet (see my sig. below)? You should have it by now, if you're serious about getting to know these cars practically intimately. It is invaluable - and one day the link may not work.

Have you searched and read through the FAQ in the Sticky section of this sub-forum? A lot of people are gonna say "search", and some will not say it politely. Notice the nice tone I'm writing in. The reason, is that you can post a question and wait, and then not get anything close to thorough. By searching, you'll get tons of info and you will learn very fast. I've learned that searching is truly your best friend. For example, I could elaborate on pre-mix, but I know better answers have been posted already.

Kilsom

I don't have the FSM thank you for pointing me int he right direction! I have been a member of many forums and what not for my other project cars in the past, and iI know what you mena by searching... however this serch includes text held within threads... for example "replacing apex seals" turned up hundreds of threads containing ALL of those words but in no relevance to what i was looking for. I get what your saying but im not some 15 yr old kid getting his first machine, im rather just new to rotaries and very much intrested in tuning this car the way i have countless others including mitsubishis (mainly, but not eclipses.... galants) honda preludes.... (sad but true) and my first project ever was my 1995 ford escort LX with a probe GT engine swap turbo and tuned... I would like to learn something a bit more "challenging" and fun not to mention something that is different from the norm in my area. I will search and hope for the best. Thank you for the FSM link though.

FirebirdSlayer666

iTrader: (3)

Bad idea. The DSM turbos are too small for the flow capacity of a 13B. You can get more boost out of the stock Hitachi HT-18 by porting the wastegate, then when you are ready for a bigger turbo look into TO4 turbos or bigger. Post pics!

Kilsom

Thanks for the info on that... I didn't know the DSM turbos weren't of capacity to really boost this engine for all its worth... I plan on keeping it streetable but i want to upgrade to a FMIC and bigger turbo. I'll talk to the guys at Gotham about tuning it up for most PSI on pump gas I can get reliably. I hope it works out alright. I have seen a few threads elsewhere about converting the tii to FMIC and its mainly a plumbing thing, dosent really seem too difficult. I will post pics as soon as possible.

Kilsom

One more question... I have looked but couldn't find this... are there any guide on porting the sotor housings on my own? I just want similar to a street port with a little bit wider flow. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

MidnightOwl

You can purchase templates from Pineapple Racing to port the irons yourself. Aaron's website has a quick way to tell if the motor still has compression. It's: http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/blown.htm

Kilsom

Sweet, thanks for that info. I hope to have er ported and running by next spring. This is my winter time project since i cant play paintball.