jbars

Hi all
I am at a crossroads with my 93 rx7 I have an apex seal that has been giving me issues. I have 55,000 kilometers on this rebuilt engine when the apex seal issue happened. Would I rebuild with what I have or... I have found a company JDM imports motors. This guy purchases engines out of japan with low k's and sells them to the public. These engines are compression tested and from what people have indicated these engines are better than a rebuilt motor with aftermarket seals etc. Has anyone done this import engine thing and are they and how would they be better than a rebuild.
Thanks for your time.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

What is your source for this endorsement? I'll take a rebuild any day over someone's word that their USED engine is better.

FührerTüner

iTrader: (5)

Its a gamble.

jbars

Its the word of the seller ...trying to sell of corse

jbars

The gamble is $1,700 to $2,200 from this company JDM import motors. Says they have low k and top compression test .
or $10,000 for a re build.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

guy sources engine in Japan..auction sells engine to broker..Guy buys engine taken out by a 13 year old with a Samurai sword and adjustable wrench..
Cleans up engine with a Pressure washer to make engine look all Nice and fresh..puts on Pallet.Soaks the living crap out of it..but it looks good now..(perfect..!..blubb..no brapp)
Pallet travels eventually to a sea container where it under goes a "whale test"(how long can you hold your breath before breathing in salt water?).
engine arrives at Buyers location.
engine SOLD to guy needing a "less than 60K and has good compression" engine...oh lets not forget the guarantee...!..(that yes it is an engine..not a dolphin.)

Dude installs engine and is disappointed after it ***** the bed upon start up..Calls Dealer.

Dealer says tough luck and have a nice day.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Sorry..I had to..it gets to be common around here...Flipper says HI!

Honestly you take a gamble when you buy from brokers/dealers of JDM import engines as they themselves do not know what the status of the parts are.They just get parts cheap and want to flip them as fast as they can.
You may want to take a cup of coffee and let your fingers cruise through some of the threads and responses of Guys that have bought these so called "perfect running engines" on this very Forum.
If I had to give it a Percentage rating I would comfortably say that 10% get a good one and 90% get crapped out engines or a parts engine.
Most will buy a imported engine just for parts OR KNOW that they have to rebuild it anyways as honestly, Who are you gonna trust?..right?..a couple hundred guys that have already been through the whole ordeal or a guy sayin he wants your money because he has a "good engine"?
My BEST advice..before you go and commit 2k or so to a JDM paperweight..Take the time to tear down YOUR engine..IF it or any pf the parts are usable then that makes it all the less for you to spend if you get it rebuilt.You will now have a good idea of what you got and what you need.(*check the rebuild videos out on YOU TUBE or get a CD from Atkins or RacingBeat).

I just don't want you to spend good money on a big Turd,..which unfortunately a lot of guys end up doing as they are none the wiser when they start this "rotary journey".

Don't JUMP IN..ease in..and try to get as much info under your belt as possible...THEN,and only then can you comfortably venture into the game.
Good Luck to ya.

DC5Daniel

iTrader: (10)

That's not a gamble, that's either robbery or stupidity.

Just to put this in perspective, IRP is selling BRAND NEW Mazda sealed engines for like $5500 shipped. Anyone building anything short of some record breaking race motor for $10k is taking advantage of your ignorance, or that's including some SERIOUS upgrades beyond the keg.

This topic has been beaten to death. It's such a bad idea, and so rarely ends with even salvageable parts, that proper, well established shops refuse to accept JDM motors as cores. They're 9 times out of 10, a paperweight.

SuperSixONE

Have no direct rotary experience, but plenty with other JDM car engines.
There are countless JDM engine depot places, all engines are all "less than 60k miles", "actual photos shown", and if they say it might need a rebuild, that's almost certainly the least of your problems.
There are people selling blown motors for more than $1,700, so if you think you will be getting a low k good compression motor for that you are mistaken. Also not sure where you got $10,000 for a rebuild in your head...

FührerTüner

iTrader: (5)

$10k for a rebuild lolzers

TomU

iTrader: (11)

IRP is selling new 13 brews for $4,400

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

Does that include shipping? Does it include peripherals or just short block? Does it include removing the old engine? Does it include swapping any peripherals (manifolds, turbos, sensors, pumps etc) over to the new block? Gaskets, hoses, fluids? Does it include labor to re-install the engine?
Don't get me wrong, 10k for a POS imported JDM engine installed should still come with Vaseline and something to put between his teeth. But if he's not able or willing to do any of the work, he might have close to that in IRP's engine too. It's just going to run decently afterward.

TomU

iTrader: (11)

IRP is selling new 13 brews for $4,400

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

Yeah, got that...for a short block plus shipping. Not a bad deal if he needed a new engine. But he'd have about double that by the time it runs. To answer the OP's question in his initial post, he should probably find a reputable shop and have his engine rebuilt.

Red94fd

iTrader: (5)

When i was looking into buying a fd used engine, i came across a jdm inport company in jacksonville. I sent them an email saying that i was interested on the engine they had for sale . They said no problem, the price $1300. I told them i was local and i was going to stop by to take a look at the engine. The address led me to a town hose and they never reply again. If its not from a reputable shop or If you dont get to test the engine dont buy it.

jbars

I had someone rebuild the engine and turbos back in 1999. I believe they used the same block ( not sure) with the labor and the turbo rebuild my final total out the door was $8,500 .
I have 50,000k on this motor and seems compression is low and the back apex seal may be stuck as the engine is thrusting at ideal. ( says mechanic) Only 50,000k and I have to rebiuld it again WTF.

I have gone to the only two guys in the Vancouver BC area that work on winkles and believe it one guy is pushed me a price of $10,000 out his backside.
The second guy said they would put in a custom wiring harness and a full rebuild engine only for yes $14,000 big ones.

I am currently driving the car as is and it is what it is . Its pulling decent and as long is it remains reliable ( loaded comment) it makes me happy.

Maybe I should take it across the line to belingham Washington and have another opinion?

FEED AFFLUX v5

iTrader: (5)

Rather than speculating why not just call ForceFed in Abbotsford?

They will give you a quote for a quality rebuild and if i am not mistaken from your location, you are right near there.....

jbars

Ya, that's the guy (force fed) " a quality rebuild for $14,000 " ??

FEED AFFLUX v5

iTrader: (5)

Yes, and what did that include? I am not trying to be an ***, I just think a lot pf people underestimate how expensive this stuff is if you are not doing the work yourself. Average shop rates in Canada are usually over $100/hour and you will likely have two guys working on your car.....$200/hr adds up really fast.

Also, what of the following was included in the quote?

New parts? (housings, rotors, seal kit, bearings etc)
Porting?
Fixing up old electrics?
ECU?
Wideband O2 sensor?
Fuel Pump?
Dyno time

And don't forget the mandetory +12% BC gouge tax on everything


FYI The last "basic" rebuild I got done in 2009 (not at ForceFed) included only a simple street port and two new housings and cost me around the $15,000 mark after all was said and done.

Just my 2c



I wish my recent rebuild only cost $14,000

LuckyNo.Sleven

OP sorry to hear about your engine issues. As people have already stated, don't fall for those scams. Wiring money to China with my buddies in college to get cheap Jordans was the first and last time I'll try to import something to get a good deal (well...R34 will be legal in a few years ).


Anyways, Sgtblue said it well.

jbars

No worries, I didn't find you comments offensive. I have to come to grips with having a car such as these comes with a heavy cost.
I paid 25,000 for the car back in 87 at the time I thought it was a deal of a life time six month later I found the turbos and engine were cooked. That 25k went to 34k . The cost to own is a big one

Redbul

iTrader: (26)

With a gasket/seal/etc set from Mazda Canada running C$3500, before you even crack open the engine you can imagine the costs are going to run up.


My car came from Japan in 2014 with low compression, and Tyee put in a $1500 used crate engine (from US or Japan) no charge, and I got a year and 14,000 km from it before I blew a corner seal, through no apparent internal fault of the engine.


Considering the low initial entry cost of the RHD, I always budgeted for an eventual rebuild and that used crate motor gave me time to accumulate several donor motors for when THE DAY came.


I've got 11,000 km on my rebuild and it is running so well it makes me nervous. But I have a three year warranty from the shop, which gives me plenty of time to accumulate my next set of donor motors.

H_M

iTrader: (7)

Don't bother with jdm importers. They sell bad engines and don't warranty them. You'll end up with a bad engine and will never get your money back. Two local guys here bought engines from importer in Montreal. One got a good engine and the other got a blown engine. Guy #2 never got his money back because "rotary engines don't have a warranty." That's what every importer will tell you.

Also, don't trust any importers about compression numbers. They have no idea how to compression test a rotary engine. I called 5-6 importers last year looking for an engine. When I asked about compression numbers a couple told me that the engines had 140psi compression, two sent me videos of 60psi compression and claimed that's normal, one sent me compression videos of a blown engine saying that it's 100% running, and the last one refused to even send me a compression video. Just look up youtube videos of importers compression testing rotary engines and you'll see how little they know.

A rebuild would be your best bet. You can do it yourself and spend about $1000 if your major parts are still good. $10k for a rebuild sounds like robbery for seal replacement. If you have to replace housings & rotors then $10k would seem fair depending on how much would have to be replaced.

Red94fd

iTrader: (5)

I am agree, $10k for a rebuild is to much money,. Long time ago i paid $6k for a good rebuild, set up my single tubo with fuel system and new intercooler, setted up my dual oil cooler, new clutch. That engine has never given me issues. Believe me the guy who did it is good.
$10 k and up is a rip off.

Redbul

iTrader: (26)

I think we are quoting C$ in most of the threads above.,,,and there is an about 10% sales tax embedded in those costs.


The shop quoting C$10 - 15,000 up here has a continuous line up of cars waiting to have their engine bays rebuilt or upgraded and I would guess they have an over 75% local market share. So demand is strong for their services.Their range is more like $5000 to $ (Sky's the limit) depending on what you need (or think you need). They are now pre-rebuilding 13Bs, so you can have a replacement PDQ. Also embedded in the cost is a three year warranty, which is a very (very) brave thing........