Any Mazda rotary engine experts here?

[Nateispro]

There is a kid selling a 88 RX7 for 650 bucks, He says it needs a new apex seal though, The rest of the car is in AMAZING shape, i don't know a lot about rotary engines but i do know that if that seal went out it could have completely destroyed that engine, if it didn't though how much would it cost to fix and is it something a joe schmo could do in his garage? Do you guys think it's worth it to buy even though it needs that apex seal and possibly more fixed? Also Billy, i'm sorry if this is too off topic for the amp forum, feel free to move it if need be!

[Meelocheck]

Not an expert by any means, but I think apex seals are the rotary engine equivalent of piston rings? If those go bad (had it happen to a buddy of mine years ago) I think you need to rebuild the motor. Not really a joe schmo thing...Well, depends on how schmo you are I guess.

[Dickarms]

i know enough to know that i know nothing. badass motors though.

[Nateispro]

eeehhh so if it is the equivalent of rings in a normal engine i'd be looking at a couple grand to rebuild it then right?

[flyingskull]

Rebuild walkthrough on youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlDAps9Z3rw

Would be a cool project. I have built a few V8's and other engines, never got into the rotary engines, but they look really cool.

[IAmTheKurgan]

eeehhh so if it is the equivalent of rings in a normal engine i'd be looking at a couple grand to rebuild it then right?

i used to own a '91 RX-7 GXL-SE. It costed me about 1900 to have the apex seals replaced in the engine. even after that, the motor was extremely anemic (no torque/power without revving the piss out of it, and still not much even then). On top of that, the gas mileage was about 17 open highway and 11-12 in city. When the OMP failed (Oil Metering Pump) and spun a rotor shaft bearing, i said to hell with the rotary engine. i sold the engine/tranny for $600 and sourced a Chevy Engine and V8 conversion kit from Granny's Speed Shop. the total swap costed me about 2600 including the engine and transmission. if i could have done it differently, i would have swapped in an LS style 5.3L engine.

You can get an LS style truck engine (iron block, aluminum heads) and transmisison for about 1300 and another 1100 for the swap kit. The V8 swap was the best thing i ever did for that car and made it so much more fun to drive.

Moral of the story, buy the car and LS swap it. Oh yea, for anyone who thinks that an LS engine weighs the car down, my car weighed 45 lbs less with the SBC engine in it and the engine also sat further back and lower than the rotary engine did. So the swap actually improved the F/R weight dispersion. with an LS swap, youd be looking at a weight savings of almost 100 lbs over stock. LS engines are in large availability, cheap and easy to maintain/modify and the aftermarket for them is awesome.


Don't mind the MSD stickers on the bumpers this was also before i put the stroker engine in.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL6nZ5Gn7OA[/video]

[JerkN'Chips]

There is a kid selling a 88 RX7 for 650 bucks, He says it needs a new apex seal though, The rest of the car is in AMAZING shape, i don't know a lot about rotary engines but i do know that if that seal went out it could have completely destroyed that engine, if it didn't though how much would it cost to fix and is it something a joe schmo could do in his garage? Do you guys think it's worth it to buy even though it needs that apex seal and possibly more fixed? Also Billy, i'm sorry if this is too off topic for the amp forum, feel free to move it if need be!

Have had plenty of rotary vehicles, I was a rotard.

No a joe schmo couldn't do it, he wouldn't even know where to start even though they only have 3 moving parts. Is it N/A or turbo? You will either need a rebuild or likely a new/used working engine. If you are mechanically inclined it is probably worth it, if not... not so much. Offer less.

[Nateispro]

There is a kid selling a 88 RX7 for 650 bucks, He says it needs a new apex seal though, The rest of the car is in AMAZING shape, i don't know a lot about rotary engines but i do know that if that seal went out it could have completely destroyed that engine, if it didn't though how much would it cost to fix and is it something a joe schmo could do in his garage? Do you guys think it's worth it to buy even though it needs that apex seal and possibly more fixed? Also Billy, i'm sorry if this is too off topic for the amp forum, feel free to move it if need be!

Have had plenty of rotary vehicles, I was a rotard.

No a joe schmo couldn't do it, he wouldn't even know where to start even though they only have 3 moving parts. Is it N/A or turbo? You will either need a rebuild or likely a new/used working engine. If you are mechanically inclined it is probably worth it, if not... not so much. Offer less.

I haven't got a response yet from him but i believe that it isn't a turbo model.. Me and my dad are both pretty mechanically inclined, the downside is if we would have to pull the motor i dont have any way of doing that

[TurboPablo]

LS1 is the correct answer.

Seriously.

[IAmTheKurgan]

or just ignore the large post about them being horribly problematic, inefficient and underpowered engines as well as very costly to maintain/rebuild. can't say i didn't warn you.

[ComOp]

LS1 is the correct answer.

Seriously.

/thread

[IAmTheKurgan]

LS1 is the correct answer.

Seriously.

this. well, any LS style engine (LQ4, LM7, LQ9, ect).

if you get an LQ9 (6.0L VortecMAX engine), it has the 4.000'' bore. the L92 heads are direct swappable onto the 4.00'' bore engines and bump up compression considerably. not only that, they are all-around one of the best head designs for any of the LS series engines from the factory. a factory LQ9 6.0L engine with a cam, tune and L92 heads would easily pick up 70+ to the wheels for about $1300 bucks.

[Nateispro]

That would be pretty sweet to get a big V8 in a little car like that... the entire reason i want one is to mess around/get in trouble with and with a v8 in it i could definitely get in trouble I would really like to get it and set it up for drifting

[IAmTheKurgan]

the LS swap is for you then, bud

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0DUfZtue9g[/video]

[IAmTheKurgan]

oh yea, these sites might help you find your way:



www.norotors.com

www.hinsonsupercars.com

www.grannysspeedshop.com

[OverDriven]

I've owned 2 RX7s (both GenIIs) - one turbo and one NA. I rebuilt the engines in both of them by myself.

My opinion after many years of playing with those cars? They're fun, they can be fast, but don't buy one unless you like to mess with cars. Rotaries are the most temperamental engines I've ever dealt with.

About the apex seal - a blown apex will require a full rebuild as you won't have compression on 2 of the rotor faces, and you can't take a rotary apart and just replace one part. The way they are made (like a sandwich) pretty much requires a full rebuild if you open them up at all. The worse part is that apex seals almost always score the rotor housing when they blow. That's fixable, but you will have to buy a new rotor housing because a scored one will never make proper compression. You can get a used rotor housing usually for around $100 - $150 online. I actually had to buy one for one of my rebuilds.

Also, if you have a shop do it then bring it to one that specializes in rotaries. They are nothing like piston based engines and they require a lot of rotary-specific knowledge to correctly rebuild.

So basically, my opinion is stay away from it unless you plan to become a rotorhead and really dig in. Oh, and forget the LS swap. That shit is blasphemy (no offense RGG). The magic of the RX7 is in its high revving, extremely lightweight engine. If you want a cheap V8 based car with plenty torque then get a mustang.

[Nateispro]

Alright thanks guys!!! You really helped me out here! the body is in real good shape but i think i'll pass on it it's a little too much money for me at the moment because if i bought it id just end up sitting on it because i know we have no rotary/mazda work ships here in town.. I think i'll just keep my eyes out for a nissan 240sx or something similar

[Eirik]

ah dang. I was gonna say grab it and buy a 13b in a front clip from japan and call it a day.

[TurboPablo]

LS1 is the correct answer.

Seriously.

this. well, any LS style engine (LQ4, LM7, LQ9, ect).

if you get an LQ9 (6.0L VortecMAX engine), it has the 4.000'' bore. the L92 heads are direct swappable onto the 4.00'' bore engines and bump up compression considerably. not only that, they are all-around one of the best head designs for any of the LS series engines from the factory. a factory LQ9 6.0L engine with a cam, tune and L92 heads would easily pick up 70+ to the wheels for about $1300 bucks.

I don't know the tech specs on Ls1 engines like I do Fords. What I do know, is that these LS1 motors are becoming a dime a dozen in the junkyard. They are the new Ford 302 so to speak.

I will put one in a Mustang someday. With the front mount distributor kit and a Spyder style EFI setup. Most people walking by probably won't even notice that it's a Ls1 in a Mustang.

[marshallnoise]

oh yea, these sites might help you find your way:



http://www.norotors.com

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com

http://www.grannysspeedshop.com

Would so rock an FB with a 5.0.