RuffRyder

iTrader: (1)

Well I have no mechanic skills...besides installing bolt ons like SMIC, Intake, exhaust..etc. My car has had a rebuild about year ago and is no longer in warranty. It has low compression with a possible broken seal in the front housing. So it does not need a complete complete rebuild but it does need some work. I think of buying the instructional video and giving it a try. Am I over my head? Is it way to hard to do? I don''t have any of the tools needed like to pull the engine etc. Anyone have a clue of the total cost of all the tools needed?

I have also seen a kit on atkins for like $1500 that gives you all the seals o rings etc... but i don't think i need all of this. If i pull the engine to change the seals do the o-rings and other components HAVE to be changed? Like are some parts damaged wen you pull the engine or open it. Or can I buy what I just need.?

RuffRyder

iTrader: (1)

Bump plz....no one has rebuilt their own engine?

pinkrx7

iTrader: (2)

well cherry pickers can be as cheap as 200 or so.. then u need a nice set a tools say.. 152 piece,and you need to have a lot of time it can take weeks. buy the video and you will know. and if you buy it and decide not to do the rebuild yourself at least you know more about the way your motor works and where things are..

BlueTII

You need to replace all the seals, it is not wise to reuse coolant seals, and as long as you have it open to replace an apex seal you may as well replace them all. If you have a broken apex seal in the front housing and the compression is low on all three faces then you are going to need a housing and a rotor.

DrunkenBowler

I would just buy one of those R&R videos and just follow the steps.

dubulup

I rebuilt mine. Its not hard...yet its not hard to mess something up that will kill the engine. I replaced all seals and springs.

I have 13k abused miles on it right now, boosting 17psi. I reused all bearing, and one housing and rotor, even used a S5 TII rotor with another used housing...but had the assembly balanced.

When I do it again, I will be using new housings and bearing (most likely with S4 TII low compression rotors milled to 3mm)...and will pay more attention to my side seal shape during filing.

poss

iTrader: (5)

Dubulup hit most of the common first timer mistakes, I was the same way.

However, if you have "no mechanical skill," I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you are trying to save money by doing it yourself. You'll end up doing it twice. It's not hard to rebuild one that will get you down the road for awhile, but in the end, it'll cost ya.

RuffRyder

iTrader: (1)

O.k. well you guys kind of scared me away from doing it myself. I would lvoe to try because I have a blast working on my car...but I don't want to make the situation worse. Sorry to change the subject but I was told by a friend that he can get an engine for cheap. He can get one of those engines from japan that need to be switched out after 30-60k on them. Is this a good idea? All I ever see on these forums is new engines, rebuilds, and remans but no one ever talks about swapping engines with a japanese one. Will this work? Is it worth it? Will it work with USA computers wires etc...

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

what happened to your old engine? it should have lasted longer than a year.

Saadae86

I was going to start a thread just like this but good timing man im also looking forward to other ppls post~

pinkrx7

iTrader: (2)

jdm engine... you dont know their condition.. its like a gamble somewhat.. most of the time they will run but sometimes they were left out too long some thing like that.. jdm is in my car right now so i can say.

fd0

iTrader: (8)

It's not worth it unless you're willing to lose money just to learn. Best situation would be that you did it correctly and have intimate knowledge of the engine rebuild process. Worst situation is that you spent a lot of money and you still have to get another rebuilt engine but you still get to know intimately how the engine is built.

Depends on what you want...

If you do decide to rebuild your engine, at least you'll have cool tools to play with in the future! That's always a plus.

dubulup

That alone is what made me give it a try...you couldn't imagine the smile on my face when I drive in a car I built the motor and it gets me to point B (not to mention there aren't many things on the road that can beat me to point B either )

If you are patient, can read, and watch a video...and have access to the tools required, I say go for it! My engine still pulls as much vacuum as it did the day I cranked it up (+/- minor break in...unnoticed is my point)...Is it the fastest RX-7 I've been in? NO...but the cars faster had motors built by Rick Engman, which cost about $4k more than what mine cost. I've learned what I'll do better next time, so secretly I await the day I pull it out again.

My posting wasn't about scaring you...this was the first engine I tried to build period. Before that, I'd done the bolt-ons, non-seq, brake job, fuel filter, fluids, etc...nothing big. I say if you own an RX-7 you might as well learn...because you know the motor is coming out again.

EjCabrera

iTrader: (4)

im 19 and had no prior knowledge of working on cars except for doing a tire change. i'm still doing the rebuild right now and it wasnt too bad. i find it better because you know exactly whats going on and not some lazy shady people at shops. i found a socket in my turbo heat shield, a bunch of missing bolts, and some wires were burnt by the heat. i'd say go for it but expect many delays.

Ledfoot

iTrader: (1)

...get Bruce's video and follow it closely...do not reuse any seals or gaskets...if you decide to keep and modify your RX...it may not be the only time that you need to rebuild...

Turblown

iTrader: (12)

Open the engine, assess the damage, check clearances and buy what you need..

Not trying to scare anyone either, but its not uncommon for rebuilt engines to goto **** after 5-6k miles. I see it all too often in the shop from half assed engine builders, or first timers....