Feasibility of 13B buy/rebuild/sell by an RX8er
11-03-07, 09:34 AM
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Feasibility of 13B buy/rebuild/sell by an RX8er
Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some advice about the current market for 13B engines. I'm an RX8 owner who is only starting to appreciate the wonders of rotaries. I want to learn about them in as hands-on a way as possible, without messing with my $30k daily driver. So- I'm thinking about buying a decent 13B engine (just the engine), doing a complete disassembly and rebuild, and then selling the thing. I have a garage and a good set of automotive and other tools. If anyone can offer advice about the following questions, I would be really appreciative.
a) Is there any particular engine model that is in relatively high demand that would be a good choice? A quick scan on the forums suggests that the late-model twin-turbo 13B's are what some people are clamoring for. If I'm confident I can re-sell it, I will shell out the money for it.
b) Is there a decently-reliable stream of engines being bought/sold out there? I DON'T want to do this if there is a good chance I'll be unable to sell it at all or at a significant loss.
c) This project is mostly for my education and not to make lots of money. I would be getting all the instructional books/videos I can get my hands on. Still, is it reasonable to expect that I can buy an engine and a couple hundred dollars worth of parts (new gaskets, seals, etc) and ultimately be able to sell it either at a profit or at least break even?
d) Any details on what I should be looking for as far as degree of wear? I don't want a project engine that is nearly destroyed and that I, a novice, won't be able to service properly. Still, I don't want something that looks nearly new, will cost a lot, and I will probably loose a lot of money on.
e) Any knowledgable Long Islander's who'd want to help me with this? :-)
Thanks again, from one of those 'other' rotary guys...
-Andrew
I'm looking for some advice about the current market for 13B engines. I'm an RX8 owner who is only starting to appreciate the wonders of rotaries. I want to learn about them in as hands-on a way as possible, without messing with my $30k daily driver. So- I'm thinking about buying a decent 13B engine (just the engine), doing a complete disassembly and rebuild, and then selling the thing. I have a garage and a good set of automotive and other tools. If anyone can offer advice about the following questions, I would be really appreciative.
a) Is there any particular engine model that is in relatively high demand that would be a good choice? A quick scan on the forums suggests that the late-model twin-turbo 13B's are what some people are clamoring for. If I'm confident I can re-sell it, I will shell out the money for it.
b) Is there a decently-reliable stream of engines being bought/sold out there? I DON'T want to do this if there is a good chance I'll be unable to sell it at all or at a significant loss.
c) This project is mostly for my education and not to make lots of money. I would be getting all the instructional books/videos I can get my hands on. Still, is it reasonable to expect that I can buy an engine and a couple hundred dollars worth of parts (new gaskets, seals, etc) and ultimately be able to sell it either at a profit or at least break even?
d) Any details on what I should be looking for as far as degree of wear? I don't want a project engine that is nearly destroyed and that I, a novice, won't be able to service properly. Still, I don't want something that looks nearly new, will cost a lot, and I will probably loose a lot of money on.
e) Any knowledgable Long Islander's who'd want to help me with this? :-)
Thanks again, from one of those 'other' rotary guys...
-Andrew
11-03-07, 10:30 AM
#2
The problem you are going to have selling it is guarantying that the engine will work. Without being able to fire it up, all you can do is turn it by hand to make sure its making "any" compression. However whether it will run is completely different.
The other problem is that people aren't going to pay top dollar for someone's "first rebuild". It sounds like a good project if you want to learn about the engine. However, I wouldn't expect to get your money back out of it unless you personally plan to use the engine. You would probably be better off building a Renesis motor which you can keep as a spare.
The other problem is that people aren't going to pay top dollar for someone's "first rebuild". It sounds like a good project if you want to learn about the engine. However, I wouldn't expect to get your money back out of it unless you personally plan to use the engine. You would probably be better off building a Renesis motor which you can keep as a spare.
11-03-07, 10:50 AM
#3
You will need to build up a reputation first by rebuilding a dozen or so engines and having several people (your buddies perhaps) run them in their cars for at least 10K+ miles.
The idea that people are going to pay for a rebuild from someone with no expertise in FDs and who has never even owned one is not plausible.
See Rotary Resurrection (http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/), for example, to get a sense of what you would be up against.
The idea that people are going to pay for a rebuild from someone with no expertise in FDs and who has never even owned one is not plausible.
See Rotary Resurrection (http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/), for example, to get a sense of what you would be up against.
11-03-07, 02:46 PM
#5
The problem you are going to have selling it is guarantying that the engine will work. Without being able to fire it up, all you can do is turn it by hand to make sure its making "any" compression. However whether it will run is completely different.
The other problem is that people aren't going to pay top dollar for someone's "first rebuild". It sounds like a good project if you want to learn about the engine. However, I wouldn't expect to get your money back out of it unless you personally plan to use the engine. You would probably be better off building a Renesis motor which you can keep as a spare.
The other problem is that people aren't going to pay top dollar for someone's "first rebuild". It sounds like a good project if you want to learn about the engine. However, I wouldn't expect to get your money back out of it unless you personally plan to use the engine. You would probably be better off building a Renesis motor which you can keep as a spare.
11-03-07, 06:29 PM
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OK...thanks for the advice guys.
This idea came to me cause I've seen rx7 engines (in fairly poor shape) selling for quite low prices....while renesis engines are always loads of money at the moment. But yeah, it makes perfect sense that no one's going to want to buy my project engine, especially if it can't be tested and all that...
Also, in the large-scale physical components department, rx7 and rx8 engines are very similar. Different porting and layout in other ways, but they still got 2 rotors, so... The two cars are extremely different, I believe, from an electronics / engine management standpoint. But for learning about rotaries in general, I thought this would be a way cheaper option.
Thanks for the good pointers. I'll see what happens. I think I may just buy a realllly beat up old engine for 200 bucks and dismantle it, and get my curiosity kicks that way.
This idea came to me cause I've seen rx7 engines (in fairly poor shape) selling for quite low prices....while renesis engines are always loads of money at the moment. But yeah, it makes perfect sense that no one's going to want to buy my project engine, especially if it can't be tested and all that...
Also, in the large-scale physical components department, rx7 and rx8 engines are very similar. Different porting and layout in other ways, but they still got 2 rotors, so... The two cars are extremely different, I believe, from an electronics / engine management standpoint. But for learning about rotaries in general, I thought this would be a way cheaper option.
Thanks for the good pointers. I'll see what happens. I think I may just buy a realllly beat up old engine for 200 bucks and dismantle it, and get my curiosity kicks that way.
11-03-07, 06:35 PM
#7
I'd suggest buying an 86-88 non-turbo motor. They can usually be picked up for as little as $50 for a bare block, and rebuilding that.
If you're going to do it right, you'll end up spending more money on the blown 13B-REW (engine code of the 13B-TT from the RX-7) and the rebuild kit than you can sell the motor for when you're complete. You also have to consider, sometimes rotors and housings will be damaged beyond repair, irons will need to be lapped, etc.
If you're going to do it right, you'll end up spending more money on the blown 13B-REW (engine code of the 13B-TT from the RX-7) and the rebuild kit than you can sell the motor for when you're complete. You also have to consider, sometimes rotors and housings will be damaged beyond repair, irons will need to be lapped, etc.
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