Hi, I'm in a weird/odd situation and I'd like some feedback on what would be best.

Situation: I have a 87 N/A that just blew it's niffty apex seals (or from what people have told me anyway, it seems like I have 30% of my horses working). The car is essentially worth about 2k, and I have about 1k worth of mods (exhaust, intake, headers, presilencer) on the car. What I'm wondering is should I just get a used engine first and start work on the old engine, or should I get a rebuilt engine from mazda recycling for $1600 (I have to pay $300 since I dont want to give up my old 13b), or just save up 4k so I can rebuild my blown 13b with a big street port? I currently get to work with a purple escort - so I'm sure you feel my pain. I was thinking about just getting a turbo second gen. but I really just want a all motor second gen. Another factor is the fact that I'm moving out and once I do - I will not be able to drop 2k a month on the car

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

4k for the port is kinda expensive. If you find a machanic that works on rotaries, have him rebuild the engine & port it at the same time. It will be cheaper since the engine is already apart for the rebuild. A mechanic ive heard of does porting for 50 an hour, so 10 hours is 500 bucks -- which is a lot less than 4k

 

Damn, I have NEVER heard of a street port costing 4K!!!
They are usually about $400!!
I would just rebuild your blown one, or find someone who will do it for you. But be warned, there is a chance that your apex seal, in the process of blowing up, could have scarred the housing....
When my engine went, I pulled it out, and sent it to a guy who rebuilt it for me, and did a port job. (I Didn't have a garage at the time) I also got a few extras, and I required 3mm seals, since one seal channel was deformed from the carbon jam that locked the engine...
All together, Under 3K Canadian... but my housings were good, as was everything else... only needed seals.

 

Sorry maybe I should have mentioned that the 4k basically included totally rebuilding the engine, in adidition to to street porting it, taking the engine out, and putting it back in. I wish I had a garage, but unfortunetly I dont and so therefor I have to pay someone to do practically everything. A nice rotary shop here (in the San Fernando valley) quoted me 5 bills to take out the engine and put another one in. Tri Point on the other hand said they'll do the same thing (taking engine out, putting another one in) for 1k to 1500. I called around and I found some engines for about 6 bills, but both were over 80k, so I'm wondering if it's even worth it to drop them in.

thanks for the advice

 

Hehe.. all I had was a driveway on the other side of the city!
That was fun...
Don't put in a used engine... rebuild a junk engine, or your engine.

 

I think you should buy a rebuilt one from Mazda Recycling for $1300 and give them your blown one. You aren't doing anything with it now so what makes you think you ever will. Plus I wouldn't buy a blown 13b for $300. Just my opinion.