JRust

I will start by saying I am Porsche 914 fan. I own 5 & love them. I just came across a 74 that had a rotary conversion. The motor had overheated so it doesn't run. Motor was built by Red Beat in Anaheim CA back in 98-98? Not totally sure on timing. The conversion looks to have been done very well. I am not familiar with Rotary motors at all. Other than coming from Rx7's anyway.

Originally I had planned to do a suby conversion with the car. The more I look at it & the more some of my 914 friends that have rotaries encourage me. The more I want to rebuild this motor & stick with the setup as it is. I was told it was pushing 220hp & got a whopping 5mpg. He said he had some minor work done & the thermostat was replaced with the wrong one. The motor overheated the next time he drove it. I do not know the extent of the overheating. Motor will turn over but doesn't start he said. I haven't even tried to start it yet. I just got it home monday night & have had no time to do anything to it. Just hoping to get some direction on it. I am no mechanical genious but I do like tinkering on my weekends. Any input or anyone close to Corvallis that wants to take a look. Please fire away with advice. Thanks -Jamie

RX729

nice rotary conversion...

goob_os101

Never seen a 13B conversion...love the subie swapped ones though.

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

Do a compression test using a piston engine tester. When you do, take a look at the plugs and see if they have any coolant on them.

If your compression is ok and there isn't coolant on the plugs; turn it over with the plugs out to blow out any excess fuel, then start off with a clean or new set of plugs and see if it runs. Regardless of overheating, you should be able to run the car if it has decent compression... unless there is a ton of coolant entering the combustion chamber and fouling it out.

good luck.

7 of Mine

Welcome - Looks like a fun project. Keep us posted on your progress.

rejckt

iTrader: (5)

cool!

Dualist

Interesting car mate, hope you get it sorted soon

JRust

Thanks guys. I will be pulling the motor soon. Then we will see how much damage was done in the overheat. With the porting & machine work done the last time. Hopefully things are still in spec. I do have a little more info. This is a 4port 13b out of an early Mazda truck I think. I made a mistake & bought a running motor out of an 88 thinking I could just put it in & swap a few pieces. No such luck. So a full rebuild is in store for my 4port

rxtasy3

iTrader: (2)

nice find. the early 13b's that i'm aware of has a larger "MAZDA" script inside a frame. could be from a gsl-se. but if it is a 4 port, could have se housings and 12a irons. gl with the build. i would have tried to see if it would still run before pulling it apart.

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

Likewise, the overheat didn't necessarily wreck the engine. Get it running and go from there.

If i could get a 13b dumping gobs of coolant in the front rotor to run, you can get that thing to fire up. Just keep an eye on the temp this time!

JRust

I bought it this way so I did not do the overheating. I plan to redo the whole radiator setup. 914's being a mid-engine air cooled car are a little trickier setting up. Going from 3ft of radiator hose to close 20 is quite a difference. I have a v8 914 conversion & similar issues when I bought it. I am sure I can have the cooling system on that end of things working right. I did try to start it & it will turn over. I did not get so much as a cough out of it. The starter also wouldn't turn it each time. I have a feeling the flywheel is missing some teeth.

I am going to pull it & rebuild it. I know it has issues period & while I might get it running. I would rather pull it apart & make sure it is done right. I also will feel better once I've pulled it apart & learn how the rotary works. It being winter time I won't be driving it much now anyway. So it is the perfect time for me to rebuild

boostedtrixx

iTrader: (4)

Wow I've never seen anything like this before, this is really cool idea. What do those 914s cost to get a hold of?

JRust

I am considering just selling this car. I am sure the apex seals are toast. I really should concentrate on my v8 914. I'd let it go for $3000 I think. While the Rotary motor in general has been impressive to learn about. I just don't think it is for me. Talk me out of it?

wjk0817

iTrader: (3)

curious, how much did you pick it up for? And really interesting combination of the make and the maker, keep us posted

Seattle_mazdaspeeddemon

iTrader: (2)

Sadness, To bad you've giving up on the Rotary. There a fun motor, As much fun as a V8 914 sounds, you could get quite a bit of power out of a T2 13b motor that weighs quite a bit less and have a completely different beast.

7dust

iTrader: (14)

I totally dig the 914 too and a Rotary one is super cool.

I would probably make an offer if it wasn't on the other side of the world.

_Mac_

iTrader: (9)

Cool car looking forward to seeing some progress

NismoTNR

Nice combo!

JRust

If I came accross a deal on a 4port 13b motor I could just swap with mine I would do it. If I don't sell it odds are I am going to pull the setup to go with a newer suby motor. Really considering the SVX 3.3 six. No turbo & puts out 230 stock. Anything over 200hp in a 914 just kicks. They only weigh 2200lbs & being a mid engine car they handle incredibly. My other 914 has a buick 215 v8 (all aluminum motor from the 60's). IT has a mild build & pushes only 220-230. Car is more than fast enough but mpg isn't great. I like it weight wise but if I sell the rotary car I will put the suby motor in it instead. Better mpg with more usable hp & fuel injected still.

Anyway if anyone knows of a running early 13b 4 port motor? If I could get it at a decent price. I would gladly keep the configuration. Thanks for all the help - Jamie

JRust

I placed an add in the classifieds or thought I did. It's not there & when I went to post just now in the WTB classifieds. I got a note saying I need at least 10 posts. No problem there it makes sense.

Really want to get this car running.

hyme327

Nice car! I love the 914's too. I have a REPU motor (early 13B truck motor) with a Delortto 48mm carb and Racing Beat header that I was thinking about dumping into a 914. Let me know if you decide to sell the car, or if you are interested in buying a complete running 4 port 13B motor.

hyme327

Also, do you ever track the 914's?

[c]K

wow such a sweet car, now with a 13B it's even better!

Rotarysickness

iTrader: (4)

how's that workin out for ya? little lighter than the second gen 7. Does it help that rotary pull?

JRust

I can't answer how it pulls. I have never driven a Rotary before. I have driven plenty of 914's though. I have 4 of them at the moment. Although only one runs at the moment. I tend to have more projects than drivers.

Hyme I replied to your email. I look forward to hearing from you -Jamie