Ok, everyone.. On a scale of 1 to 10.. 10 being hardest, how easy is it to rebuild a rotary if you have the video from atkins?

 

Video from Rotary Aviation is better.

If you have mechanical experience, and it's just a straight rebuild, maybe 6? If you have to ask, maybe 9?

 

So it's a 6 to 9 then?
I wouldn't want to do it by myslef. If I had someone around who was experienced and he/she could tell me everything I needed to do then I'd be all about it,.

 

you can do it by yourself... the major things are to check clearances and ENDPLAY IS VITAL. if you can follow directions use some mechincal common sense and have the right tools.. you should be good. TAKE YOUR TIME what have you worked on on yor car so far? 6 to build READ THE FACTORY MANUAL and follow the video.. factory manual is the only way to avoid headaches

 

doable....just be slow and sure that everything is in place the correct way... no I think so... my first time was a jumble but runs pretty hard now....

 

I don't think it's really that hard... I did everything properly just using the info from the Atkins video. None of the stuff required is really 'TECHNICAL' difficult, just maybe frusterating difficult... Like pulling off the flywheel, cleaning off all the parts, and maybe getting sticky hylomar everywhere... The actual rebuild process is not THAT difficult. I'd say pulling the motor out of the car and putting it back it correctly is 10x more difficult for a n00b than replacing the internal seals etc. You got a friend (with Rx-perience) close by who can help you?

 

I have started my first rebuild and i must say that the most difficult thing so far has been the city. They want to tow my car, that is sitting in my drive way cuss they say its a public nuisance. Other than that, no major problems so far that you wouldnt expect for a car thats 17 years old.

 

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Seriously now, with video and no prior experience, I'd give it a 6 or a 7, or at least that's how it worked out for me. No experience going in, just a video, and I even ported and I wouldn't say it was too hard.

 

How difficult would just pulling the motor be? I have alittle mechanical experience but I'm not sure how difficult it would be. I'm going to get a rebuilt motor soon and I could save a few hundred dollars by removing and installing it myself. I have no smog, p/s and a/c by the way, that may make it alittle easier.

 

Pulling it out is easy and straightforward. Rebuilding is straightforward as long as you're patient and meticulous.

The pain in the *** part is putting everything back together. Remember where each hoses go, each bolt, and every connector. I'm going to take a bunch of pics to help me remember where to put everything back.

 

its easy to take the engine out. The hard part is putting it back together. I just took pictures and labeled everything i could with masking tape. After your first couple of times youll get to know the car and then it will be so easy to you will have it done in like 30 min.

 

Great advice! So many people tear down a car so quickly, they forget how to put it back together again! Baggies, masking tape, tackle box, photos... whatever you need to keep it straight. Take your time and keep your work area clean. With the vid, proper tools and patience, you'll be fine.

 

If You've successfully re-built a piston engine and have the Bruce T video and the proper tools/ measuring devices... the difficulty is about a 2

If you've never rebuilt a motor before at all, but have a basic knowledge of mechanix, the bruce T video and aquire the tools, you at about a 6.

If you are a friggin nerd whe gets the garage to do everything, don't buy the video and don't know anybody who has done it.... its about a 15...

Rotary engines a re MUCH simplier to rebuild than a piston engine, however, there are some tricks, tools and procedures that you need to know that only the video or someone who has rebuilt one before can give you. Trying to do it with the FSM alone will be a frustrating task at best.

Also... If you put all new seals in it... EVERY seal... it may cost more, but you will greatly same on time and the "did i measure that 100th of an inch correcly" pucker factor.

 

cool.. thanks, everyone.. i do have a buddy who has had two s4's.. so he'll be able to help a little bit..

 

The consensus seems to lie in the number 6. I'd have to agree that if you've never rebuilt a motor it would be about a 6 with the video (I've seen some of it. lol). I've rebuilt a bunch of rotaries and it's pretty damn easy the second time around and a cake walk after that. You just need to be patient and organized. And when you pull the motor.... disconnect the harness from the ECU and pull the motor out with the harness on it

 

Then again I just did a re-rebuld for a kid who thought it was a 6 and had the video.

This individual (feel free to insert sarcastic name here) thought the bottom piece off of a three piece apex seal had to be in place with his new two piece seals. He broke most of the springs and tore up the rotor housings. He was lucky its an S4 and I have a boat load of housings.

One day I ahve to post the pix for all to chuckle at.

 

I'd call it a 9.
About the only thing more difficult is a transmission rebuild.

Although the procedure might look simple, there are a lot of tricks that can help with the process.
One of the hardest things to do is check all clearances - if the clearances are not right, things can go very wrong very quick.
Proper clearancing micrometers and gauges are VERY expensive, and I don't think most DIY'ers do this properly.
It takes a lot of time and experience to be able to do this confidently.
The first few times might reward you with bad running engines, and that can get expensive.
That first time can be a really frustrating experience, because rebuilds very rarely go without a hitch.
If you can pull of a good rebuild your first time, my hat is off to you.
Even the most experience rotary engine rebuilders have run into stubborn rebuild problems.


-Ted