12a to practice rebuilding
03-07-19, 11:57 PM
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12a to practice rebuilding
So.. am getting ready to pick up my first rx7 on Saturday. 1982, all original, in pretty sweet condition. Reminds me of one I got to drive a few times in college (almost new then), except black. not looking to modify or do anything other than keep it stock.
But, having rebuilt VW air cooled, Vespa 2 strokes, and working now on a 72 Harley ironhead, I would feel remiss not to rebuild a rotary. Not wanting to screw up a perfectly good engine, I am looking for a 12a to “practice” on. So I don’t want to buy one already rebuilt, and would like to experience a “real world” scenario.
eventually, maybe moving to a 13bt rebuild and install, but first want to enjoy things as they originally were.
anybody have any suggestions on where to look?
But, having rebuilt VW air cooled, Vespa 2 strokes, and working now on a 72 Harley ironhead, I would feel remiss not to rebuild a rotary. Not wanting to screw up a perfectly good engine, I am looking for a 12a to “practice” on. So I don’t want to buy one already rebuilt, and would like to experience a “real world” scenario.
eventually, maybe moving to a 13bt rebuild and install, but first want to enjoy things as they originally were.
anybody have any suggestions on where to look?
03-09-19, 06:42 PM
#2
Welcome to the board. 
Congrats on getting the car. I can relate to your wanting to "experience" the rotary from a builder's perspective. You mentioned doing an air-cooled engine at some point, well, that's one of my goals someday. I would really like to get my hands on one to build it.
Anyway, my advice would be to watch the Classifieds on this board, and see when something within "pick up"-range pops up for you. Outside of that, I guess you can also look at Ebay or Craigslist, but at this point, with them being fewer and farther between, I would say try to get one from a local on the board.
Congrats on getting the car. I can relate to your wanting to "experience" the rotary from a builder's perspective. You mentioned doing an air-cooled engine at some point, well, that's one of my goals someday. I would really like to get my hands on one to build it.
Anyway, my advice would be to watch the Classifieds on this board, and see when something within "pick up"-range pops up for you. Outside of that, I guess you can also look at Ebay or Craigslist, but at this point, with them being fewer and farther between, I would say try to get one from a local on the board.
03-13-19, 10:49 AM
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Hey. Thanks for the reply. Sorry to have been MIA in response. Missed this one.
Yeah, been looking locally and also on eBay. eBay scares me a bit because I understand that the rotor housings are probably the hardest part to find in decent and repairable shape. The guys here in PDX at pineapple racing apparently have a process to rechrome and surface but still not “commercial”, and probably $$$. But they do seem to know their stuff.
Looking locally, the best I seem to find are full vehicles, and my wife would not be pleased for me to stash a donor vehicle in her garage space :-)
there is is a guy here who has a few engines and trannies etc., to sell off as a lot. Way more than what I need and requiring more space than I have (until I unload my 72 HD XLCH basket case (matching VINs, any takers????) :-)
unless maybe I can find somebody who wants a tranny or two, or a 13b but I don’t really have the time to be a parts flipper.
Still awaiting my status as “human” I think to get full access to the board, but maybe my best bet is to coordinate a group to buy out this guys stuff. I don’t mind spending a weekend coordinating shipping and stuff as a one-time deal, but I have small kids and any free time is precious. if you know anyone who is looking for a 13b 6 port core or a couple of 84/85 trannies???
I just realized I entered into the danger zone. Reminds me a bit of the spiral that karman ghias sent me down. Need to avoid parts hoarding...
Yeah, been looking locally and also on eBay. eBay scares me a bit because I understand that the rotor housings are probably the hardest part to find in decent and repairable shape. The guys here in PDX at pineapple racing apparently have a process to rechrome and surface but still not “commercial”, and probably $$$. But they do seem to know their stuff.
Looking locally, the best I seem to find are full vehicles, and my wife would not be pleased for me to stash a donor vehicle in her garage space :-)
there is is a guy here who has a few engines and trannies etc., to sell off as a lot. Way more than what I need and requiring more space than I have (until I unload my 72 HD XLCH basket case (matching VINs, any takers????) :-)
unless maybe I can find somebody who wants a tranny or two, or a 13b but I don’t really have the time to be a parts flipper.
Still awaiting my status as “human” I think to get full access to the board, but maybe my best bet is to coordinate a group to buy out this guys stuff. I don’t mind spending a weekend coordinating shipping and stuff as a one-time deal, but I have small kids and any free time is precious. if you know anyone who is looking for a 13b 6 port core or a couple of 84/85 trannies???
I just realized I entered into the danger zone. Reminds me a bit of the spiral that karman ghias sent me down. Need to avoid parts hoarding...
03-13-19, 01:36 PM
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There are 2 FBs near me in junkyards, both have motors with roughly 145,000 on them. How much are you looking to pay? Shipping would be around $300 to $400 by truck freight.
03-14-19, 12:42 AM
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I was hoping to get away for about $500 or less all-in, assuming that the housings might need some love. So if I can’t drive there, probably not. But thanks.
Anyway, may be a bit moot. As expected, I failed emissions horribly. HCs way out there in triple digits, and I still think the tech is recovering from the CO in his bloodstream.
Havent taken the sheilds off the exhaust yet, but believe everything is original, and the cat is probably toast. Not sure how to verify without dismantling. Any hints?
but....I seem to have lost a significant bit of coolant over the last couple hundred miles. Still present in overflow tank, but barely. Going to do the cold run and hunt for bubbles this weekend.
If it does seem to be a water seal, I guess a rebuild is coming sooner than I had hoped. When it rains, it pours. But, I am looking forward to it in a masochistic sort of way.
Not being sire what what to expect, is it standard to replace side seals during the rebuild, or are Apex seals typically enough?
Anyway, may be a bit moot. As expected, I failed emissions horribly. HCs way out there in triple digits, and I still think the tech is recovering from the CO in his bloodstream.
Havent taken the sheilds off the exhaust yet, but believe everything is original, and the cat is probably toast. Not sure how to verify without dismantling. Any hints?
but....I seem to have lost a significant bit of coolant over the last couple hundred miles. Still present in overflow tank, but barely. Going to do the cold run and hunt for bubbles this weekend.
If it does seem to be a water seal, I guess a rebuild is coming sooner than I had hoped. When it rains, it pours. But, I am looking forward to it in a masochistic sort of way.
Not being sire what what to expect, is it standard to replace side seals during the rebuild, or are Apex seals typically enough?
03-14-19, 05:49 AM
#6
Old [Sch|F]ool
I'd start with an RX-8 engine myself, they're common.\
Good 12A rotorhousings are easily worth $1000+ each nowadays, unfortunately, and I haven't even seen any good rotors anywhere.
Good 12A rotorhousings are easily worth $1000+ each nowadays, unfortunately, and I haven't even seen any good rotors anywhere.
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03-15-19, 08:45 AM
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Ok. So this local guy has some stuff he is trying to sell of as a lot.
Last edited by diabolical1; 03-15-19 at 02:27 PM. Reason: reference and quote of ad to sell parts deleted
03-15-19, 11:33 AM
#10
Unless you can see a engine run, or trust the person, a used assemble engine is worth less in my eyes then one that is disassembled. This is because it's like an easter egg and you don't know what's inside or it's condition. As for those rotor housings in the picture, it's hard to tell, but they seem to be missing chrome which makes them useless. If they are good, I'd put a price of $200 per good housing. As for the transmission, it's always good to have a spare, but again, you don't know the condition. It's a tough call.
03-16-19, 12:08 AM
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My sincere apologies if things came off that way. Not at all my intention! Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt.
Probably learning by error in a lot of ways here, most that could be avoided.
go ahead and close this thread. I will start over when I fully submerse myself in the chaos.
Probably learning by error in a lot of ways here, most that could be avoided.
go ahead and close this thread. I will start over when I fully submerse myself in the chaos.
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