PvillKnight7

iTrader: (16)

Ewwwwww!

The lower number is a bad seal. Could be a stuck apex seal...or a cracked/chipped/broken one.

First I'd run seafoam or water through the engine to try to remove any carbon buildup. I doubt that's the problem but that's the first and easiest thing I'd try.

The next thing I'd try is to take the exhaust off, get a mirror and a flash light and check out the apex seals through the exhaust ports. Stick a finger in the ports and feel the housing surface for scratches and gouges. They should be perfectly flat. Any irregularity indicate a blow seal.

Press on the apex seals and make sure they spring back.

IF you do all this and do see or feel anything obvious then it could be a side seal or corner seal. The factory springs very rarely go bad. The only way to find the problem is to take the engine apart, clean everything, replace the bad keep the good and slap it all back together.

JustJeff

iTrader: (13)

Some choices have been made. I'm starting my first project!!


I want a black turbo vert and my father doesn't want to own more than one vert. So starting this weekend a swap and rebuild will start. From both cars we'll pull engines, trannies, driveshafts, diff, etc.

First priority will be getting the 89 red vert back to OEM and up for sale.

After that I'll be doing my first rebuild on the JDM TII. Regardless of it being a side seal or apex seal. While the engine is out I'll rebuild it. All the TII parts will eventually end up in the black vert

A couple relevant links

My father's purchase and pictures of all 3 verts

First Project link

JustJeff

iTrader: (13)

Bringing this one back. I've let the car sit since end of last summer and am just now getting back to the car.

I did the sea foam trick to try and get the seals free but it didn't work.

Rear rotor


Front rotor


Looks like there's no way around a rebuild

rx7racerca

iTrader: (1)

Watching your front rotor video, I'd say it looks like you're getting two lows, one high, not the other way around, which would be consistent with an apex seal issue rather than a side seal. Sounds like you're tearing it down anyway, so you'll know for sure then, so good luck, hopefully no housing damage.

JustJeff

iTrader: (13)

i agree it does look like 2 lows and 1 high. Time will tell what the insides look like....

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Yeah apex seal is a lot more common, especially on turbos. The thing detonated from running too lean for the boost; i.e., not enough fuel and/or too much boost. An upgraded exhaust without adjusting things afterwards might also cause both. Or some kid in Japan did it or it was just stuck from being a JDM that's been sitting around too long (?).

JustJeff

iTrader: (13)

Yeah who knows? The engine pulled hard for a few years with only user errors so I feel like I got my money's worth considering it was put in with no rebuild. For the most part I babied the engine cause I knew I was messing with alot of unknown/bad variables. I won't know more till I can look inside.

The car might sit for a few more weeks before I do anything. My mother is having cancer related surgery and I want to be sure I'm available while she recovers. Kinda gonna play it by ear and see how her treatment goes.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Oh detonation happens all of the sudden so maybe it was one of the first couple things. May want to monitor AFR and boost on the rebuilt engine or something.