I found out recently that my 88 N/A seven had a blown coolant seal.. I decided that I would like to rebuild the engine. I was looking at the Atkins site and saw I can buy the rebuild kit for about $900.. The only problem is actually doing it.. To be honest, I know a lot about regular v-8 engines and all.. but with rotary I've only had about 3 months of experience with.. I saw the rebuild dvd on the site and was wondering how hard it actually is... I would pay for the cost of a mechanic doing it but nobody in town specializes in it.. so theres really no mechanics that would do it.. also to do a full rebuild how many special parts would I have to have... so basically.. how hard is a self-rebuild... or would it just be worth it to tow it like 2 hours to LA and have a shop there do it....

 

Since you live in CA, you have quite a few options in the way of respectable shops that have had members from here do business with. Options i don't have where i live, which is why i bought the Rotary Aviation DVD on rebuilding the engine.

However my engine is still young and spry, but it has a seaping coolant seal with nothing else wrong. So i may be able to get away with just the gasket set and not have to worry about the apex/side seals and springs that a higher milage engine might need replacing, which is where most of the cost and time are in a rebuild.

 

so if i was to rebuild it myself how many specialty tools would i need?

 

The standard tools for any engine job: Big hammer, and the correct gd, sh, and fu language is always necessary. Honestly, I am 1 year old to these "masterpieces", and I have done all the work, and when the time presents itself, I'll perform the "TASK".

If you have the space, and don't need it as your daily, do it yourself. The visual knowledge is worth saving the money, and doing it yourself. Just my feelings!

Good luck in whatever you decide, and if your in N. Cal, call me. I'll give you both hands to help!

PEACE THE DOG

 

If you have to ask, have a shop do it and learn from them.

It's not so much hard but finiky (making sure **** is in spec and so on).

 

i have no knowledge of inside a rotary but if the time comes...ill do it myself....give it a nice streetport and have the know how and self pride of doing it yourself!!!...

 

Your responses always crack me up.

What special tools does a rotary build really need? I've been wondering, because it doesn't seem like outside mics are going to do anything for you, and I'm not sure what exactly needs to be measured and how?

 

I would do it myself if I had a nice clean enclosed work area.

 

i talked to the only rx7 specialist in town and he was telling me that it's basically a waste to rebuild the engine becuase it wont really help. He was telling me that the rotor housing is most likely rusted and has tiny leaks in that.. so basically the atkins rebuild kit would be a waste of money.. is he just talking out of his culo or what...

 

you want to do it right?

get the atkins rebuild kit(which ever one you would like)

get the atkins rebuild dvd(and I also bought the diy 13b dvd for a different view)

get 2 new rotor housings from mazdatrix(and anything else that needs to be replaced)

you will need:
engine lift
engine stand
rubber mallet
haynes manual
socket set
openend wrenches
screw drivers
breaker bar(or air gun)
rags
tarp if no garage
plastic containers(to put parts in)
compressor to clean stuff out with air(and for airgun if possible)
and a workbench

I might have forgot a few things but that is mostly what you will need.

sitback and take some time to think but if I were you I'd rebuild it.

it took me two days to rebuild it, I did the rotors in one day and the engine the next

cleaning out the enginebay is something you would have prolly done yourself anyways(I like por 15 but ppl say it's pricey)

 

dont forget spark plugs, lots and lots of cleaning and stuff that goes with cleaning (brakleen, etc.) oil, antifreeze, etc.

 

let me just take a second out on my house, hopefully i'll have the 7 done with that.... a buddy on here told me about SMP Speed Machine Performance in SoCal where i can buy a reman engine for 2700... just the core, .. i am thinking if that's my best bet.. because if i pull mine apart then i need housings, it's going to cost a pretty penny...

 

i'd rather buy a rebuilt engine from a reputable engine builder. mazda factory remans have been known to have horrible quality control: you can either get a 100% great engine or a 70% dogshit engine.

 

Which part in SoCal u from? If u r just around my area (san bernardino county) i'd recommend R&R Rotary specialist in Upland, CA.. they are really good, professional and honest people with good reputation. their number is 951-538-7376. If u are around orange county, try to contact Mazdatrix theyr located in Signal Hill CA the # is 5624264460.
Or Rotary Power in Gardena, Ca ...310 5169959. Or Rotary Reliability & Racing in Santa Ana. There are a lot i just forgot whr i put those addresses and phone numbers. Anyway, i agree to the fact that i'd rather bring my engine to a reputable builder. u've said that u have done piston engine before but if its ur first time to do a rotary, dude, dont risk it. And good luck!

 

let a shop handle it

 

Have a shop do it and ask if you can watch. Then to learn one yourself, go to the junkyard and rip a 13b out of something that is allready destroyed. Just have some fun playing with it taking it apart. If it is not tottally wrecked you could rebuild it and keep it for a spare even!

 

uhh aren't Racing Beat and Mazdatrix both in CA ? Surely you could bring the shortblock to them and have them do it. If you screw up it's going to cost you a lot of time and trouble to fix it, just remember that. If you were on the east coast I'd recommend you get Bruce Turrentine himself to do it (he lives about 30 minutes from me).

 

I'm doing it with a group of friends one who's rebuilt an FD motor already, and one who's ported that same motor for the other guy who rebuilt it. I'm really fortunate. See if you can get some people from this site in your local area to come and help out with your rebuild.

 

I did mine myself and had never had any real experience with piston engines at the time. Spread out some plastic in a spare bedroom and built it there. An engine stand isn't necessary. I built mine on a milk crate. The way the rotary goes together like a sandwich the milk crate works perfectly. I did hook up with a couple locals that had some rotary experience that gave me some good tips. I did send my end and intermeidiate housings to Mazdatrix and have them lapped though there are mixed opinions on doing this.If you get them lapped make sure you have them sonic cleaned to get all the lapping compound out of the oil and coolant passages. I had to get new rotor housings and one rotor due to mine dying from carbon lock and breaking the apex seals on the rear rotor.If you have the tools necessary to rebuild a V8 you should have most of what you need for a rotary. As for rebuilds holding together. The dealerships in my area said they only hold together for 50,000 miles but I've got almost 90k on mine now.It's starting to use more oil than it used to and smoke a bit on startup but it stills run good and has good power for a n/a. I think my oil control rings are getting worn. Depends on how confident you are. I didn't have much choice as this was in 1998 in TN and the only places I had heard of at the time was Mazdatrix and Racing Beat. Anyway good luck.

 

Speed Machine Performance is trustworthy. The owner is the head mechnic for the Falken FD in the drifting scene. just to clear up their name


If you are going to buy housings and stuff, sometimes you could find good condition used housings for less cost.

also

have you compression tested the engine yet? is it the front or rear rotor that's bad.
just some things so consider.



good luck with it man.

 

There is a first time for everything

 

I was comtemplating the same thing for my 87 Tii but i've decided to do it myself. And i think C-Murder is right, there is a first thing for everything... but i guess i'm lucky that my 7 is not my DD, so i can afford to DIY.