My friend and I are both techs in training at a local college in the Toyota Program. Both of us Toyota fan boys have a weakness for Mazda's RX series.

We are thinking about going to a Pick A Part to get a used engine from a 2nd Gen RX7 to rebuild in our engine rebuilding class. Is there anything in perticular we should be aware of before we go? We will try to find a RX that has a bad rear end crash which would hopefully mean the engine is not in too bad condition.

Are there any other telltale signs that a rotory is bad without cracking the block open?

Also does anyone know if they would charge us for a short block or a long block? I don't remember ever seeing a price listed for a rotory engine.

 

Pull the spark plugs and crank the motor over by hand. You can tell a little bit by how it feels and the sounds coming out the plug holes. The whooshing sounds should be even and the resistance pulses as compression builds and is released by the plug holes should all feel equal.

Pull off the oil cap and qipe your finger in the filler neck, you probably dont want it if there is anything more than just old dirty oil.

Most Pick-a-part type lots charge a set amount for all engines, doesnt matter 4, 8, or rotary. The yards I have been to usually want in the neighborhood of $200.

 

Exactly what was said above for teling the condition without the ability to crank it over on a compression test.

You should probably search for a 1986 car. These use the current 13B engine design (well the design used from 1986-2002) so they definitely have the most information, parts, and knowledge available.
The actual current design would be the 13B named the "Renesis" found in the 2003 RX-8, but it's not even for sale yet.

Get an 86+ engine

 

Ha I wish we could find a Renesis engine at a junk yard. Have to wait another 15 years for that to happen though. I love how they moved the intake and exhaust ports to the face instead of the sidewall like the older ones.

Thanks for all the help people! I'm off to pick a apart.

 

if your going to pick-your-part you get a 30 day warranty

by the way, if you see this car please get the muffler bearings!

thanks

 

Another "P-towner" Where in pomona are you?