Back from 20 years ago! Had a 2nd gen in my 20s, always wanted a 3rd gen. Just got one site unseen. I was told it had just a rear housing coolant seal leak, turns out the whole motor is seized, front plugs look worst than rear, lots of rust shrapnel, milky oil, oil leaking everywhere underneath, hacked at, been sitting over a year. Aka a bad situation.

So now I’m searching for a new motor and plan to send it to Banzai for a rebuild.

Plans for it are the current G35 turbo on it (rebuilt), haltech, haven’t pinned down internal work yet. Maybe aggressive street port. Not looking to get too crazy. Just a all around fun fast driver (not primary)

My question is what is your advice or recommendation on where to find a good motor??

I’m worried now of buying something on marketplace and it end up being another turd. I plan to immediately have it rebuilt.

I see JDM motor and trans online for $7500 shipped.

I really only NEED the short block but with how this car has been treated I wouldn’t mind having the extra parts to piece back together. Oh PS and AC was ripped out too. Extra trans? I’d probably eventually send to Pettit (I’m in Florida) for a rebuild but not needed.

any help or direction would be great as I re enter this cool expensive rotary world again….

 

its a lemon of a market when doing online engine purchases through "engine importers". you get what you get. ideally, you would find someone here that has one ready to go or one in pieces that can be assembled. they're not all that uncommon in the for sale section. buying one here from a member is just a safer and more reliable path. you also keep the money in the community. new is always an option for 15k lol

 

yeah I’ve seen the new prices. For me I would still want to rebuild it to do the mods. Seems sacrilegious to tear into a new Mazda motor…

but thanks for the advice, I’ll poke around in the sale section

 

before the price jump, people were buying them for the purpose of tearing them down actually. it was just more economical to do it that way. you start with all new parts and build from that instead of using whatever you had. if you do decide to go with a new motor, they are available at dealerships and i think some of the other vendors here have them in stock. if you need help sourcing one, we can assist.

 

yeah that makes sense, I like new. I was quoted $8900 for a new short block. I just feel like once I start tearing into this I’m gonna want the rest of the motor to pick from.

Man, I see you’re in Tampa, I’m in Brandon. Wish you had a good connect for used motors. I use to work on Florida ave, Hondaland. Knew some of the guys at Mazda there but that was long ago. Used Maztech for tuning but I guess they are gone now too….?

 

8900 for a new motor is a deal. A super deal. If nothing else, get it just to secure that price. Yes, Jeff has retired. It's was in 2019 I believe. Shortly after we opened, people mentioned him to us and noted he was closing soon. Never had an opportunity to meet him before that happened. Rumor has it he still has the shop but have not gone over there to see.

Feel free to drop by whenever and say hi if you'd like. We typically have 1 or 2 things to look at in the shop 😅

 

Welcome to forum

 

Thanks again for the help and I’ll definitely come by at some point to check you guys out!

 

Welcome to the forum. Hope you find your search!