Jdm or rebuild?
 

Im new to rotary engines. I've been a mechanic for about 15 years now but other than doing regular service on a couple I haven't done much work to one. I recently bought a 89 rx-7 with a turbo 2 swap done to it. The engine has a coolant leak internally. I was planning on buying a jdm engine and installing that in the car while I did my first rebuild on the engine that's in it now. But I read that the jdm engines should be rebuilt before being used. So Im looking for advice one weather I should get a jdm engine and install it while I rebuild the other one or if I should just rebuild the one I have? And it does have some slight up grades but nothing to crazy so what kit should I use for the rebuild?

A lot of places sell JDM engines and Guys go "ok,let's put this in".
The thing is that Those JDM engines are usually Worse than the engine you pulled out.
Remember those engine are 20 years old,been stored,junked,whatever so that they can be brought over in a shipping container to get sold as a "working LOW KM engine"..
HERE: this is Case and Point:.LOOK:
https://www.rx7club.com/bad-fugly-bu...gines-1017301/

Being a mechanic Don't you want to see what it looks like in there ? Then if it's pooched do what you got to do . you won't know what kits you need till you look . Good Luck :)Gerald m. There must be a lot of rotaries in the bay area I see that all the time .

I agree with Gerald!

Jdm engines are nice but there's no garauntee that it will be completely solid, in most cases you'll be fine but there's always that chance you're getting a bad engine.

A rebuild is the best option, while a rebuild will cost as much as a jdm engine you'll have peace of mind knowing all the wearable seals that need to be replaced will be and the engine will run the best it can for its age.

A jdm engine is used and most have probably been driven hard, however if money is no object you could always get yours rebuilt and get the jdm engine too.

Personally i know the blown coolant seal could be causing deterioration inside the engine if the coolant hasn't been drained and you may have to replace some rusty parts.

The better the quality of parts in a rebuild/engine the longer it will last period.

Obviously engines are expendable but I really don't think you'd want to go through two engines if you could have one last as long as two that were low quality builds.

Yes I do want to see what's inside the engine that I have. But the question about getting a jdm engine and just dropping it in was I want to drive it so I wanted to have the jdm engine installed while I did the rebuild on the one I have. But if Its best to rebuild the jdm engines before it gets installed then I don't see a point in getting one. Yea I do see quite a few fcs out here defiantly more than I see fds. I work at an independent repair shop I think most of the guys go to one of a couple rx-7/Mazda specialty shops. So I haven't really done any kind of major work to one. I know I won't know what parts list I'll have till its apart. What I ment by what kit to get is in regards to the apex, coolant, and housinging seals. It's kinda hard to decide with so many different options. I know everyone has a different opention on this but I plan on running mid to high teens boost so is the oem Mazda seals still the best option for me or should I get some of the hardened typed seals.

Rebuild with warranty.