Hello, I'm relatively new to rotaries, and I recently bought an 88 NA with an engine that doesn't run. I've found a stripped down short block for sale in my area that claims to be rebuilt but has been sitting since 2008.
I plan to go check the engine soon, I have a compression tester, but I'm worried that the rubber seals in the engine may have dried out in the time they've been sitting.
I am aware that most of these tests involve the engine being warmed up, I was wondering if anybody knows a way to properly test the coolant and oil seals on just the stripped short block, or if the seals drying out should be a worry to me at all?

 

welcome to the board.

i think i'd be more concerned about where and how the engine has been stored for the last 16 years than i would be about if the seals could dry out. was it inside or outside? have the openings to the chambers been adequately sealed up? did it get rotated every so often over the years? are there 6 distinct, strong pulses when rotated? that sort of thing ....

out of curiosity, what is the issue with your engine? low compression? no compression?

 

Sorry for no reply, I've done a lot of research and have gone down a completely new route. I'm currently in the middle of my first rebuild. If you'd be willing to check my new post I've done the brunt of cleaning and am currently trying to assess my rotors