So my engine builder called to tell me that 3mm/13B Apex Seals are "On back-order indefinitely" according to his Mazda dealer. I looked up Atkins site and they show 970 sets in stock, but when I called they told me the same thing; "Back-ordered indefinitely. Not dead yet, but nobody can get them".

I realize this only affects 74-85 13B's so it's a fairly small market for Mazda (compared to all the 2mm 13B Apex Seal engines '86+) but it's affecting ME right now, and everybody else reading this who has an older engine to rebuild. If Mazda really is stopping production on these then the 12A seals will be next.

My builder is going to use either I-Rotary (*) or Goopy seals and tells me I'll have to double the amount of pre-mix I've been using. If I put the OMP back on I'll still need to pre-mix so the harder seals don't wear the housings prematurely. My car isn't subject to emissions testing because I have a PA "Classic Car" registration, but anyone who still has their emissions equipment and is subject to yearly sniffer tests could be affected by the smokey exhaust and possible cat. converter fouling.

*I-Rotary hasn't made 3mm/13B seals in several years, but MazdaTrix shows them in stock. We're going to call them when they open today and use those if they're really in stock. My builder says they're a little easier on housings than the Goopy's (my engine's a NA street motor).

 

Mazda USA shows an ETA of June 14th... https://www.amayama.com/en/part/mazda/n30411300a

Seals come from Nippon Piston Ring

 

you mean the high dollar i-Rotary ceramic seals (Gold or Silver), right?

Just making sure you don’t order the lower cost Steel version instead since they offer them all, but it looked to me like Maxdatrix has the 3mm OE seals in stock. For the best engine sealing life you can’t go wrong with the i-R ceramic seals on an NA engine.

https://mazdatrix.com/product/apex-seal-13b-74-85/

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No, I meant the I-Rotary steel seals. But MazdaTrix didn't have any in stock. My builder orders from I-Rotary and said they haven't made them in 3mm in several years and have no plans to. I'd love the ceramics but, $$$.

 

people on here and social media are recently experiencing warped i-Rotary Steel seals bowing/clearancing in the center with compression loss under only break-in and dyno time, but they’re turbo applications

you should just be aware of it, no direct experience myself, but was surprised to hear it and am sitting on the fence since I have a set on the shelf waiting to go in the future

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread.../#post12513565

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