My rotor housings are shiny, chromy, but have these little lines going both direction on them (perpendicular and parallel to motion) which can't be felt, only seen. There is slight flaking on one outer edge about a inch long. I measured the edges for variance in width from the tip to about an inch in and the greatest variance was 18/1000's of an inch which is within reason according to the bruce torrentin video. Also there is one spot on the outer edge where I can catch my fingernail, which I plan on sanding down.

My rebuild blog with pics before cleaning. As soon as I get ahold my camera I'll take pics of them clean.

 

Says I dont have access to that link.

Pics of them clean would be best to determine if they are usable or not. The only thing that concerns me at this point is the spot on the outer edge that you can catch your fingernail on. That isnt good...and I dont know if sanding it down is a good idea or not. Ive never heard of anyone sanding their housings....but I havent been here all that long and I have most CERTAINLY not seen everything there is to see on this forum...so it may be possible.

Get pics as soon as you can and members will have a better idea of what you got.

**EDIT**...nm about the link...it's fixed I see.

 

well not as shiny or chromy as I had pictured in my head... but here they are.
Front Rotor Housing




Rear Rotor Housing

 

The fact that you cannot feel any grooves is excellent. The flaking usually indicates the coating is wearing off, and I've been told that means replacement. Judging by your pictures though, it doesn't look that bad at all.

I would re-use them if you absolutley could not afford to buy new ones. Keep in mind standard break in procedures when dealing with used housings..

 

How much miles on those housings???
It looks like it still has the original finish on it - dull!
Dull is better than shiny in this case!


-Ted

 

I was thinkin the same thing Ted....those housings look great!

 

Like BlaCkPlaGUE pointed out, there is some chrome missing from the edge around the exhaust port, but they look very good otherwise. I'm not expert, but I'd class them as re-usable, depending on what you want out of the engine.

 

Previous owner says the engine is a 90k mazda reman and I put maybe 2k on it.

Glad to hear that ted, I was kinda worried about the dullness but what you say makes perfect sense.

I was thinking about porting the exhaust and smoothing out the transitions for the apex's with a little bevel. Same with the side housings. I am puting mazda everything in this engine except rotor oil seals are mazdatrix aftermarket and the apex seals, not springs, are RA.

I just want this engine to last me 3 years of some autocrossing, but mostly just city driving when I plan to sell it and either get an fd or atleast a tII.

 

Maybe Im just blind...but where is the flaking around the exhaust port? I dont see it.

Anywho...if you're going to make the exhaust ports bigger anyway...then it really doesnt matter.

I'd reuse them either way I think.

 

Better?

 

ah...I gotcha now.

I was looking around the actual exhaust port.....not on the edge of the housing.

 

Those grooves are from the triangle assist piece from the apex seal.
They are normal.
Unless you're building a "spec" motor for racing, they are no big deal.
Just make sure if you reuse (or use new) apex seals, the triangle assist piece goes in the same side - i.e. don't get the rotors housing backwards.

If you're worried about sharp edges, you can known them down with some sandpaper.


-Ted