So the car currently does not need it, but it has about 52000 miles, so chances are it will need it fairly soon. Should I have it rebuilt now, and save some money (less damaged parts) or just wait for it to pop?

 

That is only 83k km...not even an FD engine is taxed enough that it can't last till 100k, especially if it isn't flogged

Not sure how much an FD-engine RRR is in Calgary, but around here it is close to $6000.

 

I can rebuild my engine now for about 2000 less than if it was blown.

Hmm do I wait or go ahead now and save the money even though I don't know how long this engine has left in it.

 

I'd say if you can afford to do it now. Both in terms of paying for it and have the allowable down time then do it now.

But if you need to drive the car now (it is summer after all) then wait till winter or even untill it blows.

 

If you wait for it to pop then you will be opening yourself up to replacing more parts then you need to be. Is the motor out now???? when mine popped i had to get a new housing and 2 new rotors

 

you could at least do a compression check to gauge the current health of the engine. although other factors, such as premature death through knocking/detonation, can't really be accounted for...

 

Compression is very good, and the engine is strong, but I am affraid that it will be more prone to failures from detonation since it has over 80000 km on it.

 

I would have thought that detonation is independant of mileage.

 

It just seems that so many FDs give out at about this millage that I am getting nervous.

 

If the engine still runs good and has good compression don't waste your money.

Maybe start researching what to do when it does blow so you will be ready. Decide on what mods you want and maybe even learn how to rebuild it yourself.

Is your car stock? If so, do you plan on modding it?

 

Car is near stock. Has Pettit ECU, DP and CB but thats it right now. I have future plans, but who knows when that will happen.

 

sounds like you are making mountains out of molehills.

I'd drive it till it pops, which could be 5+ years down the road... worry about rebuilding it then.

 

whats to worry?
drive it and enjoy it, if its really bothering you tear it down in the warm garage when the snow's flyin'
if you're really paranoid then baby it the rest of the season, thats not a whole **** load of miles anyway, my 87 has 110 on the orginal engine and still runs flawlessly...although ill probably be taking my own advice throughout the winter months...

just my 2 cents

 

I say pull it out, send it to me....I'll port it and rebuild it for ya.

 

Gee... Its not even broken in. My 7 is 20years old and has 200,000km on the original motor and has never been opened up. If it's healthy, then drive it!

 

Just FYI, he drives a 1994 FD3S with the 13B-REW motor which is not the poster boy of being reliable and lasting over 200,000kms like the unstressed NA rotary in your car.

 

I realize that, worked for Mazda for almost five years. But with proper percautions you will get more then 100,000km out of them.

 

Better yet.. Go buy one of those imported engines from Japan or whatever.. Rip it apart and rebuild it, keeping your original engine still running.. Once the engine is finished or your original blows then swap em..

 

except FD jspecs aren't cheap nor plentiful, like FC jspecs.

 

as long as your metering pump works well and your cats aren't clogged (not that a rotary should have them) your engine should last a long time. I've had 10 first gens and 1 second and I beat the **** out of all but the most recent as now I have a kid. I had 2 motors go on me and one due to an overheated exhaust from a clogged precat and the other I was stupid enough top let my buddy reinstall my metering pump and he didn't adjust it and I was stupid enoughnot to check...I made about 100km from my driveway and dropped the rear rotor(car still did 155km/h on the highway with one rotor...took forever to get there but it did it. Long story short regular oil changes and proper maintenance, it should last you another 50-100,000 miles even if your running it hard (within reason)

 

I have 192,000km on mine and it still runs great!