What Do You Think of These Engine Builders?
 

I give up. After two broken socket wrenches and four attempts by four different local shops to remove my front pulley bolt I am giving up and ordering a rebuilt shortblock. Here is a list of builders I have found on this and other forums. Let me know what you think of the builders, stories good and bad.

Atkins Rotary
Rotary Resurrection
Mazdatrix
Mazdarotaryengines.com
Pineapple
rx7.com
rx7store.net
KD Rotary

I have read alot of comments on most of these, but it doesn't seem like there is a consensus on which is best.

that's because, if I can build a rotary engine and have it last over 10k miles pushing 17psi everytime I start the car...anybody with access to tools can probably do it, I'm definitely no mechanic or musican

you can rebuild an engine for $750 and have it last 100k miles or pay $7k and have it break tuning...it's not rocket science but you have to pay attention to detail and understanding tuning and you'll have your turbo rotary fun.

takes two to tango

I dont think there is a "Best engine builder". Most of those shops can build a quality engine or order you a Mazda Reman. Your best bet is if you cant get break the main pulley is go with a Mazda Reman. Most engine builders are going to require a good core and inspect it before refunding a core fee. Have you tried heating up the bolt with a torch?

I have tried a propane torch for about 15 minutes, with no luck. However, I have heard that you need to get it hot enough to glow before that works. I have also heard that heating is only relevant for removing nuts, not bolts.

Do you think the engine builder would not use any of my core if they can't get the bolt off either? Seems like some of the engine could be used if the bolt was cut off/out.

You might check this section:

https://www.rx7club.com/questions-about-members-102/

It's has a lot of good and bad posts for most of those places you listed.

pettitracing.com

yay

Where are you located? I always try to use someone "local" to me, so if there is a problem I can deal eyeball to eyeball. If you are not local to anyone on your list, I would ask for someone within 300 miles. If that doesn't concern you, Kevin at Rotary Resurrection has integrity, great feedback, and priced right. Or you could call me tuner, Rotary RX in Albuquerque, NM. He is rebuilding a REW for me right now, then build a TII hybrid. He is honest and does quality work. His number is 505-922-1115. Ask for Tommy.

Yeah there are good shops everywhere, your location would be the best place to start. Seth at Pure Sports really knows his stuff. But I'm in the San Diego area.

We engine builder types can get the bolt off, I assure you ;)

I can't say we have ever encountered a bolt that couldn't be removed. The most difficult ones need to have the flywheel locked in place and use a 3/4" breaker bar with a jack handle for leverage, but we never use a torch.

lol, You shoulda try'd the one on my last motor in my white FD.

literaly had a 6 foot breaker bar, and still couldnt crack it...

Ended up taking the block to atkins and having them heat it and have 3 people jump on a 3 foot breaker bar to get it to break lose.

Hopefuly this next motor in my black FD is going to be easyer to crack *crosses fingers*

If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll give you my builder's info. He's reasonable for what you get. He has over 25 years of building engines, has and built his own lapping table and laps every housings, specs every single parts, and best part, he cranks every engine on a table and goes thru several heat cycles over 3-5 days. I've witness all this (took about 2-3 months to get it back).

By far best builder I've met.

come on man...you've met Rick Engman too ;)

Broke that same set up on a flywheel nut. I've since gotten one of those 50,000 lb/ft Impact wrenchs (OK it's really just 650 lb/ft). But either way, it'll let go, or the car will turn over in the stall. :D
Seriously though nicad2, when I had my trouble someone correctly suggested it was the quick application of torque that was needed, as in a large impact wrench. Do you have access to one?

In most cases, we use a "50,000 lb/ft" impact wrench too :)

My engine was built by Rotor Sports Racing in NC, It pulls 20 in/hg at idle. Very strong motor and the local RX-7 Shop here in N.O. (Darrell) was pretty impressed with it as well.

Props to Brian and Rusty...

http://www.rotorsportsracing.com/

Conclusions and good news!

Conclusions first. Thanks to everyone who provided info, my list has gotten pretty long.

Atkins Rotary
Rotary Resurrection
Mazdatrix
Mazdarotaryengines.com
Pineapple
rx7.com
rx7store.net
KD Rotary
pettitracing.com
Rotary RX in Albuquerque
Pure Sports
Marvelspeed.com
Rotorsportsracing.com

From your comments and from reading the good/bad guys forum I can make at least two conclusions.
1) Rotary Resurrection is highly rated
2) Atkins Rotary has had some recent bad ratings, but is good overall.

It is really hard to say much about the others as there wasn't as much data.

Now for the good news. Around midnight last night I decided to try one more thing before placing my order. Given that the bolt was only tightened to 200 ft*lbs it should have come loose with just my 2' breaker bar. Further, the 700+ ft*lb air gun really should have gotten it off. Therefore, it was clear that the loctite was contributing an incredible amount of resistance. So I checked the Loctite website for how to release this stuff. They claim their standard Loctite breaks down at 325 F. Assuming my propane torch didn't get it that hot, I upped the stakes. Enter the Oxygen+Mapp gas torch! Three minutes with this bad boy and a 4' x 1" pipe and that unholy bolt gave up!

Here is a post I made that describes what I tried. My favorite part was when five Mazda service techs, were in the back of my tiny Nissan truck trying to get that damn bolt out.

http://www.nopistons.com/forums/inde...howtopic=58100

So, for now I will tempt fate and go back to trying the rebuild myself.

good call and good luck to you.

I am 50/50 on the subject for the 800 extra I would have sent it to Kevin Landers. For those new parts freaks I would have sent it to Rx-7 Specialties in Calgary, AL, Can.

Just my opinion.

USE A MAP GAS TORCH! And heat it up good. Propane will not get it hot enough. You have to get the threadlock heated up and it will come off, still with a little work though.

MAP gas is in the yellow bottle. The MAP gas kit with the torch head is around 45 bucks I think.

Mazdatrix is also extremely helpful. They'll get the job done.

Yep, that's what I did. ;) See my previous post

"Assuming my propane torch didn't get it that hot, I upped the stakes. Enter the Oxygen+Mapp gas torch! Three minutes with this bad boy and a 4' x 1" pipe and that unholy bolt gave up!"

That true.. never mind.. Rick Engman IS the best builder in USA.

Bump for Rotary Resurrection! Im a completely satisfied customer and would gladly go back for my next rebuild!

That is of course if you arent gonna do it yourself...

Anybody had luck with Nick Nugteren at Rotary Reliability & Racing?

I took my motor to a place that fixes semi-trucks and have them use one of thier impact tools to get the bolt off. Tell you the truth, it took longer to drive to the place, rather than get the bolt off.

hey nicad2 if you do go back to wanting a shop rebuild for you i would highly recomend talking to Chris Sanders at Banzai Racing (www.banzairacing.net). he rebuilt my motor about a year ago and cost, quality, return time and customer service were the best i have seen in any business. i got a web page.... actually multiple web pages of pics that showed the progress of my motor since i live 2 hours away. it felt like i was there everyday watching him work on my motor. he had it done before i could get the money which didnt take that long. he was quicker then i was lol. i had to replace an iron and before i knew what was going on chris already had a replacement for me and gave me an awesome price for it.

i had my motor streetported, and acouple of other things done. its an auto 89 vert. kinda a slow rx7, but just last night i smoked an audi TT on the highway. he had no chance to catch up. and the motor has taken some beating. and its running better then the day i got the car back.

i will trust chris on anything for my rx7 for the rest of my life. im planning on moving to florida soon and i will drive or ship my car up to indiana for any of the work i need done.

my motor build: http://banzairacing.net/winnie_02-05.htm

I would also include Banzai Racing, I have ~10K on my motor and I've beat on it everytime I drive the car running 15psi without any issues. I've been taking my FD there for 2-3 years now, and Chris and Elaine are like family. They will take care of you.

Bottom line, it's not so much about the builder, but the buyers' budget, expectations/mods, and how they treat the car afterwards. You need to decide what you really need from your build, and whether that warrants a $3000+ price tag or not. Everybody has different needs and wants from their setup, so there is no one best builder or setup.

Lots of people can build good strong engines; it's the condition of the car it's going into, and the loose nut behind the wheel that determines how good it will end up in a year or 2's time.

Food for thought.

I'd say you are partially right Kevin.

I feel the builder plays an important first step in building a solid motor correctly. My ~1400 mile rx7store built/broken in/tuned motor only had 102 psi compression on the front and 85 psi compression on the rear rotor. And that was a $2k+ rebuild w/ street-port that they broke in for 1200 miles using a new front housing and other supposedly new parts.

The last guy I took it to also recommended that right after he twisted off his 3/4" to 1/2" adapter :o. He also said places that deal with construction equipement have these very large air tools (1"). The problem is that they would not likely have metric sockets of that size, so you have to be lucky and they have an equivalent standard socket.

I am also a big fan of Banzai Racing. Chris Sanders builds great engines that last. My Fd takes more abuse than most, and keeps coming back for more. If I was you ship your engine up to Chris and get a soilid rebuild without all the hassle.