Hi, I just bought an 86 FC and the problem with it is that it has low compression. I don't have the car just yet as paperwork is going around for the title and such, but I still have to talk to the mechanic I am buying this from and figure out what he really meant. If it is just one rotor or both or whatever is going on.

I was doing research, if you can call it that, on the engine itself and it hit me last night; Do I have to rebuild the whole engine, or just replace the seals on the rotor itself?

I don't know if its a stupid question or if I am looking at a rebuild anyway, but I just wanted to know what some of y'all thought. The car was never driven hard, to my knowledge. The previous owner was an elderly gentleman, and then no one. It sat in the same spot for 3 years now, until I got it.

Another question, where would be the best place to get a rebuild kit or just seals? I have seen places that sell them on the net, but I was wondering if there were any places that are the best to get them from, and what brand or who makes them would be of fair quality.

Thanks in advance to any who help.

 

you're gonna have to rebuild the whole thing...its gonna cost around $1000-$2000+ if you cant do it yourself. it will run a little while if it has LOW compression, but if it has NO compression on one rotor you're gonna have to rebuild it right away. i hope you aren't paying more than $500 for this car...

 

Yes be prepared for a rebiuld and other small things that will happen along the way....Read the Faq's

 

Well, it depends what he meant by low compression. If its just low compression, then it should still run but you should start planning on a rebuild. It is NO compression, then that means it popped a seal and it must be rebuilt. Once you find that out, let us know and we can go from there.

As for rebuilding it, if you replace anything you replace everything, basically. Once you pull apart the motor you have to replace all soft seals - coolant seals, oil o-rings, etc, and all springs unless they are brand new. You also need to replace the apex seals unless they are low mileage. The other seals can almost always be reused.
You can buy the parts at www.atkinsrotary.com . You also need to get a rebuild video, preferably the one from www.rotaryaviation.com but the atkins video is good as well.

 

+1 for the good info for this guy!

 

thanks for the replies. im getting the car for 250.

it doesnt run though. it might be because it has sat there so long and was never really turned on daily. maybe once in a few months at best.

i also remember that the guy said that he had to put transmission fluid on the spark plug and the engine would run, then die when the transmission fluid burned up. i don't know if thats relevant or not.

 

atf or engine oil is used to build compression in the combustion chamber...if you have a blown apex seal though, dont even bother.

 

well i will find out more when i get the car in my backyard and see what it does when i try to start it.

and i know i gotta ask that guy what he knows about it, or if i can get it to a diagnostic machine.

 

...but only temporarily to start a flooded engine...

 

http://www.atkinsrotary.com/store/pr...4&cat=0&page=1

would this work for just a basic rebuild?

*edit.

http://www.atkinsrotary.com/store/pr...cat=591&page=1