okay once i get this apart what are some key things i need to look at first to get a general idea of what big things need to be replaced.....and what is considerbly worn that the little manual book wont tell me.........i want to know this BEFORE i get into the engine i know you guys can understand

 

1) Scraped rotor housing, includes scratching, chaffing, cracked or missing finish, or any grooving. Go staright to the junk pile

2) Dented rotors, apex seals driven in the side of the rotor, grooving etc. Go straight to the junk pile.

Those are the 2 major things, after they pass the visual inspection, then comes the micrometer inspection. The factory mazda manual has spec's in it. They should at least pass them, cuz most the figures are,at best, marginal.

As a matter of course, all seals, gaskets and o rings need to be replaced with new ones. ($800 investment for a 12A)

If you have a perfect motor inside, then 800 + a gasket change over kit (about $100) is all you will need. But I have only ripped apart one motor that could have been totally reused minus the new seals and stuff...It very doubtfull you will have 2 perfect rotors and 2 perfect housings...