2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Newbie 2nd time with TII need help, rebild or replace engine?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 08:51 AM
  #1  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Talking Newbie 2nd time with TII need help, rebild or replace engine?

Hi all,
I am very happy to come back to the forum and this time with the car I
always wanted: a 87 TII. I've had in the past a 1985 1st gen, then 1991 vert, a
1989 GTUs, 1986 GXL, 1988 vert and a took care of a 86 that my sister had. After I found it, I sold mi Miata and came back to the rotary world. I just got last night my TII, it is blue and has 109k on the clock, the body is in awesome shape and I even got the original window sticker and original manuals. I was told I am the third owner and the second one put a new turbo but when started the engine the coolant was going low very fast and the car got really hot. I know I need to rebuild the engine myself and will like to have you guys opinion in how to rebuild it in a budget, options and what to buy and who to buy from, sorry I have done my search and I found very interesting posting on this matter but I’ll like to know what you guys think I should do, I'll like to keep it simple and stock, probably few mods but reliable, nothing crazy. I am I'm very happy to be part of the family again especially with a turbo car. I will be positing pictures soon
Thanks to all in advance
Carlrx788
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 09:11 AM
  #2  
apreludem's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 905
Likes: 0
From: houston
congrats on your car =D
i would rebuild with a streetport..brn stage 4 ...but thena gain..you did say you wanted to keep it stock? =P
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 09:43 AM
  #3  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
It is more for reliability reason, I sold my other car so this one will be my daily driver
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 12:25 PM
  #4  
dr.jones63's Avatar
It's a Hammer
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Richland WA
The awnser is dependant on your budget.
JDM = $1250
rebuild using used parts = $2000
Top notch rebuild = $3500

JDM's can be had for less but thats the price of one thats guaranteed from a reliable trusted source. I just got a JDM long block from japan2la and plan on selling my leftover parts also which should drop the price even more.

Rtek + exhaust mods + no emissions + FD fuel pump = +100hp

Last edited by dr.jones63; Jun 3, 2005 at 12:29 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 01:05 PM
  #5  
jhammons01's Avatar
Carter 2.0
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,262
Likes: 7
From: Irvine Ca.
Dr. Jones, when you need a rebuild can make all that money off of you??? Where did you get those prices, your local Mazda dealer??

Carl, If you look at a thread called "13B rebuild parts list" By Karack. In it you'll find lists with part numbers, prices and sources. Using this list you can buy all the parts needed for less than $600. (those are "new" parts)

A Rebuilt or Reman from Mazda with a 1 year warrantee is Approx $1800.

Kevin Landers (who is closer to you than an LA supplier) advertises rebuilds for $1000+

A JDM motor is a Japan Junkyard motor. The Motors here in the US are hard to get a "REAL" mileage figure from and I can usually talk to the guy that pulled the motor. How are you going to garantee that the JDM motor has only " 30k" (or whatever low mileage figure they quote).....(yea, right). In my Opinion putting a JDM motor in your car without rebuilding it first is rediculous.....just a band aid. So if you take my advice and rebuild the JDM, then why go that route at all. You have a rebuildable motor sitting in your car right now. Only thing is, it doesn't have to travel 7000 miles across the ocean and then another 3000 miles across the US to get to you!

So let's see:
You rebuild yourself.....................................$1000 (parts, plus you may need special tools)
Send it to Kevin............................................$ 1000 + shipping (The core has no real probs)
JDM............................................... ................$1250 + shipping (and in my opinion Rebuild ad $1000)
Buy a Mazda reman.....................................$1800+ labor at your Mazda dealer
Let me rebuild........................................... ...$3500 (that includes shipping, Mazda Parts porting the intakes. Using Dr. Jones pricing I make $1800!!!! whoopeeeee!!!)


I know I am going to be real un-popular after what I said about JDM but........whatever.




P.S. I don't really rebuild for others, I was just making a point.
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 01:12 PM
  #6  
Bukwild's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,702
Likes: 1
From: DC Area
yeah I am a advicate of rebuilding jspec cores. Its a crap shoot and if you rebuild right away you know you have a good core to work with. If you wait unti it blows your rebuild will be more expensive because you will need a rotor housing. Plus you can port during a rebuild. And 15-20 extra hp with good compression is worth the money.
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 02:26 PM
  #7  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I am going to do the job myself and I think porting and rebuilding looks like the way to go. There was a JDM TII engine for 87 for $900 but who knows what is the real mileage, I am with you on this one jhammons01, thanks and I hope get more ideas
carlrx788
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 02:34 PM
  #8  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I've reading in all forums since I knew I was getting the car plus my past experience, and I know porting is the way to go, how difficult is it to do or is part of the video? I just can wait to start working on it but I want to know all my options before.
Carlrx788
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 07:46 PM
  #9  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Ok guys as I promissed here are the pics, it is rainig here so sorry I took some of the pics for you guys to see my TII




Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 10:07 PM
  #10  
jhammons01's Avatar
Carter 2.0
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,262
Likes: 7
From: Irvine Ca.
Nice car, Ihope you have good luck with it. Can you make those pics smaller?
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 10:38 PM
  #11  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I'm sorry
Next time I will
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2005 | 11:40 PM
  #12  
trainwreck517's Avatar
Rx-hippie
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 0
From: Torrance CA
Rebuilding your self will be a nice expreience and can get cheaper then 600$ is you use all your old hard seals if they are with in spec (Oil control hard seal) and just replace apex's and soft seals. Also since it seems a coolant seal is gone, check to make sure housing and irons are not warped and with in spec. So if your are confedent about rebuilding it youself go for it, it is a fun expreince. But if you have dout and have enough money it get rebuiilt proffesionaly. Since you are in Florida, there are a good hand full of rotary shops to choose from.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2005 | 12:21 PM
  #13  
jhammons01's Avatar
Carter 2.0
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,262
Likes: 7
From: Irvine Ca.
^^^That's also true!! Soft seal and apex seal would be really cheap.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2005 | 07:25 PM
  #14  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Hi all,
THis is the update, I jump the car up and did fired right up but a huge cloud of white smoke came out of the exhaust. The car has good oil pressure and I got it to warm up a little beat but a warning buz and the smoke made me sut it off, what do you guys think this is it?
Thanks in advance
Carl
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2005 | 08:27 PM
  #15  
trainwreck517's Avatar
Rx-hippie
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 0
From: Torrance CA
Warning buzzer could just be your colant buzzer going off since your enegine drank it all.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2005 | 08:57 PM
  #16  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I actually checked all the fluids before start it ans they were ok including the coolant level, even the oil looked like new
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 03:33 PM
  #17  
jhammons01's Avatar
Carter 2.0
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,262
Likes: 7
From: Irvine Ca.
Check inside the radiator. There may be an exhaust bublle hitting the sensor that is located right on top of the radiator.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2005 | 09:20 AM
  #18  
carlrx788's Avatar
Thread Starter
Turbo fever
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I'll do that, well I needed to moved the car and I started again and the white smoke coverd all the houses next to mine, kind of embarasing. I reseached and I'm almost sure the porblem is the coolant seals, I beleive this means rebuild the engine correct? The car sound sweet and is has goo oil pressure but hey I got it as a non runing car.
Thanks for all you giys help
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
trickster
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
25
Jul 1, 2023 04:40 PM
zuesskroph
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
0
Aug 13, 2015 06:05 PM
KAL797
Test Area 51
0
Aug 11, 2015 03:47 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:19 PM.