New Member RX-7 Technical Post your first technical questions here, in an easy flame free environment, before jumping into the main technical sections.

To Rebuild or to Replace

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 05:15 AM
  #1  
Cruising Dad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Can Post Only in New Member Section
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
To Rebuild or to Replace

Hey Everyone,

I picked up a 94 fd and it has 220K+ miles on it. It had a engine rebuild done about 7 years ago but I want to make it a daily driver for commuting. I plan on installing a few mods (Nothing crazy need to pass CA Smog test) but what you all think,

Replace the engine or to Rebuild it again (2nd time)

Thank in advance
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 07:37 AM
  #2  
roTAR needz fundZ
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 31
From: Freeland, MI
To Rebuild or to Replace

2nd time? if you rebuild it, and its the original engine, it probably close to the 3rd or 4th time its been rebuilt

BUT, tear it apart, you NEVER know what shape the internals are until you crack it open
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 09:15 AM
  #3  
diabolical1's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,998
Likes: 349
From: FL
welcome to the board.

have you checked the compression on the engine as it is?
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 10:48 AM
  #4  
Cruising Dad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Can Post Only in New Member Section
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Originally Posted by lduley
2nd time? if you rebuild it, and its the original engine, it probably close to the 3rd or 4th time its been rebuilt

BUT, tear it apart, you NEVER know what shape the internals are until you crack it open
Thats true, I've been reading the forums and going to take it to Lucky7 in So Cal. I guess I'll let them rip it apart and hope for good news lol.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 10:50 AM
  #5  
Cruising Dad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Can Post Only in New Member Section
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Originally Posted by diabolical1
welcome to the board.

have you checked the compression on the engine as it is?
I haven't check the compression. It runs great and only thing I've seen wrong with it is not driving it enough lol.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 11:26 AM
  #6  
roTAR needz fundZ
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 31
From: Freeland, MI
To Rebuild or to Replace

if it runs great than whyworry? just have lucky7 do a compression test on it, if it checks out good, don't worry about it and drive it more, they are meant to br driven
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 11:58 AM
  #7  
diabolical1's Avatar
Moderator
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,998
Likes: 349
From: FL
tune the car up, perform the basic reliability mods (cooling system, vacuum lines, oil lines (cooler too, if not already there), etc.) and drive the thing. work on getting it back to good systematically - brakes, bushings, that sort of thing - and then drive it. enjoy it.

when you have a solid platform, you can go ahead and do whatever other mods you had in mind.

have the engine checked for health. if it's good, then there's no need worrying yourself about a rebuild right now. if you have the finances and storage space, then maybe you can get a usable core engine and have that built, but if this is not a project car that you plan to tinker with, then that's probably a waste as well. if the engine is good, then cross the rebuild bridge when you get there.

check out the Gen III section and the FAQs thread.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 01:31 PM
  #8  
AceFd's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Orange County
If it starts easy and has even compression across the rotor faces I wouldnt see a point in rebuilding just to do it especially being turbo. Use the money elsewhere & rebuild the motor when needed.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2015 | 04:45 PM
  #9  
Cruising Dad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Can Post Only in New Member Section
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Alrighty I'll do that. I spoke to Lucky7 this morning and got some quotes, was hoping hoping to do the rebuild for two things peace of mind and kinda wanted to get a street port done lol. I guess I can get the manifold and throttle body ported still. > I'll do what you recommend Iduley.

BUT what you guys say makes sense. I'll just get it checked and put the money elsewhere maybe I'll even get my seats wrap in ostrich leather =). Also I do plan on doing all the upgrades for cooling and as you stated diabolical1 the reliability mods too. I know in LA I'll be stuck in traffic a lot.

Yeah AceFd it starts up with no issues. I'm still in Nor CA I may just take it to get a diagnostic while I'm up before I drive it down to LA. I was looking through the forums and didn't come across any preferred service locations for San Jose but getting it at least looked at will give me that peace of mind I want too.

Thanks for your input on this.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Th0m4s
Build Threads
25
Feb 26, 2019 02:04 AM
hoofhearted
NW RX-7 Forum
23
Feb 2, 2019 11:50 AM
sYnth.
Build Threads
0
Aug 19, 2015 06:27 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:50 PM.