2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

External differences w/ jspec engines?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-03-02, 11:16 AM
  #1  
Mod Powers...gone!

Thread Starter
 
DomFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
External differences w/ jspec engines?

Ok, I know the differences between the US S4 engines. My question is...are there differences w/ the Jspec S4 engines that will help me identify the year of the engine. I have a 88 Turbo II. I was told by the previous owner that he swapped in a Jspec engine in it (supposedly an 88), but he was unsuccessful in getting it to run.

Engine would crank, but wouldn't start. So, I'm in the process of figuring out if he wired up the car properly or not.

Any help or suggestions on checking the possible year of the engine (and whether it is US or Jspec) would be greatly appreciated.
Old 09-03-02, 02:51 PM
  #2  
Mod Powers...gone!

Thread Starter
 
DomFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I know someone here knows the answer. Dave? Ted?
Old 09-03-02, 02:56 PM
  #3  
RX-7 Bad Ass

iTrader: (55)
 
DaleClark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 15,401
Received 2,442 Likes on 1,511 Posts
To tell if it's an '87-88 engine or an '89-91 engine, look for the knock sensor - if it's on the center iron housing, it's an '87-88. If it's on the rotor housing above the spark plugs, it's an '89-91.

The only real differences between Jspec and US-spec motors are in the intake manifold, throttle body, and the like, which may have been swapped out.

I'd just start on the typical no-start issues - vaccuum leaks, flooded engine, and timing not set right.

Dale
Old 09-03-02, 03:13 PM
  #4  
Full Member

iTrader: (1)
 
88turborx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 239
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Look at the oil metering pump in the bottom right front corner. If there is a wiring harness coming out of the bottom of it then it's an 89-91, if not, then it's mechanical and an 87-88.
Old 09-03-02, 11:10 PM
  #5  
SOLD THE RX-7!

 
Scott 89t2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by dcfc3s

The only real differences between Jspec and US-spec motors are in the intake manifold, throttle body, and the like, which may have been swapped out.

hmm the TB is different? I am about to buy one to port and swap onto mine. whats the diff?

hmm I just thought of something. throttle cable pulling from other side of car?
Old 09-03-02, 11:58 PM
  #6  
Damaged Little F*cker

 
FC Drifter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: High Point, North Carolina
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the 89+ tb is setup to have dual TPS. some vac lines are also different.
Old 09-04-02, 12:09 AM
  #7  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes on 20 Posts
No EGR valve on the Jspecs
Old 09-04-02, 12:15 AM
  #8  
Super Raterhater

iTrader: (6)
 
SonicRaT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NY, MA, MI, OR, TX, and now LA or AZ!
Posts: 10,629
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
not to mention the BAC doesn't have a screw to adjust idle on the j-specs, also the intercooler says Rotary Turbo, not turbo II
Old 09-04-02, 03:13 PM
  #9  
SOLD THE RX-7!

 
Scott 89t2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hello Dale

what's the diff between US and J-spec TB's ??
Old 09-05-02, 01:39 AM
  #10  
SOLD THE RX-7!

 
Scott 89t2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
grrr
Old 09-05-02, 02:03 AM
  #11  
Senior Member

 
Funklord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Naha-City, Okinawa, JP
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the IC on a j-spec says "rotary"
Old 09-05-02, 02:10 AM
  #12  
Super Raterhater

iTrader: (6)
 
SonicRaT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NY, MA, MI, OR, TX, and now LA or AZ!
Posts: 10,629
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Scott: I got a series 5 jspec TB, if you want I can take some pictures of it and we can compare (I'm not aware of any differnces)
Old 09-05-02, 02:15 AM
  #13  
SOLD THE RX-7!

 
Scott 89t2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it won't help much unless you can get some pics of a US one too cause mines on my car
Old 09-05-02, 02:17 AM
  #14  
Super Raterhater

iTrader: (6)
 
SonicRaT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NY, MA, MI, OR, TX, and now LA or AZ!
Posts: 10,629
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
hahaha, good point I think the only difference was the number of vacuum nipples, I think the US has 4 and the jspec has 3. That's the ony difference I noticed at least.
Old 09-05-02, 02:20 PM
  #15  
Full Member

 
SLOWT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: new hampshire, middleton(a town so small we have no conveince stores)
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the j-spec engines are backwards, the fuel system runs backwards.
Old 09-05-02, 02:37 PM
  #16  
RX-7 Bad Ass

iTrader: (55)
 
DaleClark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 15,401
Received 2,442 Likes on 1,511 Posts
Originally posted by Scott 89t2
hello Dale

what's the diff between US and J-spec TB's ??
Hello!

The major difference on the throttle body is the Jspecs have a primary throttle stop adjustment screw that looks kind of like the TPS adjustment screw. They let you play with the primary throttle stop in Japan . On the US throttle body, there's a small jam nut on the primary throttle stop.

Besides that, they're pretty much identical.

Dale
Old 09-05-02, 02:39 PM
  #17  
RX-7 Bad Ass

iTrader: (55)
 
DaleClark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 15,401
Received 2,442 Likes on 1,511 Posts
Originally posted by Icemark
No EGR valve on the Jspecs
The '89-91 US motors don't have EGR either, so it's not a good indicator.

The examples I gave above are to identify the *core* motor, not the stuff that's bolted onto it, which can easily be swapped over during an engine install.

Dale
Old 09-05-02, 02:58 PM
  #18  
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
 
Icemark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes on 20 Posts
Originally posted by dcfc3s
The '89-91 US motors don't have EGR either, so it's not a good indicator.
Ah good point... I had forgotten all about that
Old 09-08-02, 12:59 PM
  #19  
SCCA Rookie

 
Barwick's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by SLOWT2
the j-spec engines are backwards, the fuel system runs backwards.
you mean they pull fuel out of the air and put it in the gas tank?
Old 09-08-02, 07:29 PM
  #20  
Full Member

 
SLOWT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: new hampshire, middleton(a town so small we have no conveince stores)
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the primary and second rails are switched
like when you do a nos fogger kit the line you have to tap for the fuel feed is diffrent cause the rails are switched
Old 09-09-02, 12:51 PM
  #21  
Shelby Tuner & FC badass

 
GLHS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Seminole, Florida
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I got a Jspec engine one time, that had a taller intake, and larger turbo and the manfold had no emmissions nor did it have a brake vacuum hole.

I was told by a Japanese guy who sold me the engine, that it had 220 hp stock!
Old 09-09-02, 01:08 PM
  #22  
Full Member

 
turboGXL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just to clear things up, the jspec 89-91 TB has 0 vaccum nipples on it. The only vacuum nipples close to the TB are on the UIM, there are 6 of them. The jspec TB, has the same throttle cable hook-up as the US spec. The primary idle screw was also mentioned, pretty cool thing to have, you can actually adjust the idle with the IC on =). Why does the us spec TB have all those nipples??!

The jspec stock IC has 0 vaccum nipples as well. The top says "Turbo Rotary" as opposed to Turbo II. The IC inlet/oulets are a little larger as well as the entire IC being a little bit bigger.

The jspec's BAC valve adjust screw is on the end of the BAC.

Yes, no EGR valve.

Also there is no upper radiator hose fill cap on the jspec's.
Old 09-09-02, 01:11 PM
  #23  
Full Member

 
turboGXL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by Barwick


you mean they pull fuel out of the air and put it in the gas tank?
ROFLMAO!

No, I think he meant that the fuel starts at the primary rail and returns via the secondary rail. I didn't realize that this was backwards from the US spec versions though.
Old 09-09-02, 01:35 PM
  #24  
Legend in my Spare Time

 
kllntyme's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Honaker, VA
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think it's the position of the rails that is backwards.
Old 09-09-02, 08:25 PM
  #25  
Full Member

 
SLOWT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: new hampshire, middleton(a town so small we have no conveince stores)
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yes that is what i was talking about


Quick Reply: External differences w/ jspec engines?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:13 AM.