Ok, so I started into my 81 GS project, removed carb, rats nest, slave cylinder, distributor, fan, radiator etc. All the peripherals needed to pull engine easily. Rigged a set up with a come-along and got the engine out.......

Background- I bought this 81 and an 83 donor car from a kid who claimed the 81 just had poor compression in one rotor and needed apex seal replacement. He picked up the 83 from a guy who told him the motor was running when parked. It has been scavenged for parts by PO or someone prior to my owning. Either way, I figure a rebuild on the 81 engine, a few mods and I'm stylin'.

NOW.... Engine is out, in process I notice a few oddities, such as missing a bolt from engine to tranny, "behive" oil cooler? only has one nut on bottom holding it on oil cooler is "mounted" with zip ties. LOL! various hoses with bolts plugging them. Upon removing the carb, the smaller holes in the base are half filled with orange RTV from "homade gasket" between carb and intake flange. Now....... I remove the pulleys, pull the front cover and oil pan and I find fresh oil inside, but black gunk lining the pan, with small chunks in it. I also find alot of copper colored chunks sticking to the openings in the front housing! I don't have the 2 1/8" socket handy to pull the flywheel, so I haven't seen the inside yet. I'm assuming the mains are toasted. So........ How Screwed Am I?!

What should I expect to find? housings bad? motor is garbage? Here's pics of shavings.

 

hard to tell by the blurry pix but might have spun bearings. can u turn it by hand or is it stuck?

 

Those copper flakes are from the front gear bearing. It's hard to tell until you open it up but it looks like you lost the front bearing. Could be from lack of oil pressure, strong vibration in the engine or a bent eccentric shaft. As long as it doesn't have broken apex seals and it meets factory specifications, you could rebuild it.

 

That reeks of bearing failure.

The thing is, the flakes could have clogged the oil filter, sent it into bypass, and then been pumped around the engine. In cases where you see copper in the oil, it is very likely that there is major internal damage. At the very least, you are looking at replacing the eccentric shaft and one bearing (and possibly the stationary gear it goes into). Worst case, the entire rotating assembly is junk. The middle of the road scenario is that you need to replace all the bearings and eccentric shaft.

Edit...Here are a few more examples: http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/damage.htm

 

Sorry about the blurry pix. It does turn by hand, quite easilly actually.

 

I'll bet......that is a way wicked site there, Mr. Cake. Many thanks for taking the time to photograph the examples and keep a website up for all of us to stare at in wonder!

 

I really appreciate the input everyone. Cake, that is a great site! Thanks! I'll just have to pick up a socket for the flywheel nut and pray for the best. Assuming middle of the road damage, I'm wondering if it would be better to try to rebuild, or to swap to a 13B? It seems like parts are easier to find for one of those. Any advice/opinions on this are appreciated. I'd prefer to stay N/A, not sure if that matters swap wise.

On a seperate note, I am going to do a nearly complete custom interior. Anyone have suggestions? Problems they've run into. Since I'm still in concept stage, I'm even open to wild stuff you like to see done. Ideasinspire other ideas...... ya know!

 

12A parts are getting a bit hard to find but with the help of the classified forum here, you should be able to get everything you need. Swapping to a 13B has a few minor issues but is basically straightforward.

I have a few new pictures to add to the damage page. Specifically, the transmission I destroyed earlier this year.