I recently blew my motor and went to PRMotorsport to get an idea of what to expect going into a rebuild. The mechanic I talked to specialized in rotaries and Miatas. I inquired about street porting and he advised me not to and that I'd just be running into more problems down the line and spending more money if I did. He basically told me that I'd regret it and I should keep it as close to stock as possible and just enjoy the car. What I WOULD regret is getting a basic rebuild and passing on the opportunity to street port it when I had the chance.

Does his advice hold any merit? Before anybody asks, "Well what exactly do you want from your car?", let me say this. The car will be for the most part, my daily driver. What I'm aiming for is the 300 whp mark with a bulletproof rebuild. I was planning to save about $5000 to achieve this. They said I'd be looking at $9000 for what I want and $6000 for a basic rebuild. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

You should definitely get it ported if you are rebuilding the engine. It should cost about $300-$500 extra. There are no reliability issues that I can think of associated with porting. Even though you are aiming for 300 whp now, as soon as you are used to it you will want 400 whp and that will be a lot easier with a ported engine.

 

The pros of porting is that it will help with performance. The cons is that you need more modifications to tame it. Once you get ported, you definitely need an aftermarket ECU. Smog is a little more difficult to pass with porting, but still possible. The car tends to run a little rich on porting (if un-tuned with an ECU).

 

$9000 for a rebuild and port? It's more like $4500. I would talk to some other mechanic first. Especially since your obviouslly getting ripped off. Unless he's dowell pinning or studding your motor which is still a really high price.


Go to the WEST section and talk to Ben his username is Karack. He runs a shop named Rotary Evolution up in yuba city. 4 star mechanic and tuner; ask around.

https://www.rx7club.com/member.php?f...oster&t=717631

 

I don't plan on doing the rebuild anytime soon. But when I do, with everything that comes with street porting (ECU, fuel management, etc) and passing smog, what price will I be looking at?

 

I'm pretty sure that porting it is going to make passing those strict Cali emissions more difficult, not sure how much more difficult though (of course it depends on the porting). For 300whp stock ports will be fine.

 

My motor was 3200$ Had some trashed plates, e shaft and rotor! Ported heavily...

 

that price is too high, what exactly is he doing?

 

No clue. Just asked what I would be looking at as far as ball park range. For street port he said about $9000 and for a basic rebuild, around $6000. To be honest, I think they assumed I was some punk kid with an rx7. It's kind of messed up that probably since I'm a 24 year old "Asian kid" (I'm Filipino by the way and technically I'm Pacific Islander) I just wanted my car to be "Mad fast yo!". Whatever. I just smiled and told them thanks for the info. I might not know as much as a certified mechanic, but I do know that If I'm going to pay $9000, I better be getting a blow job from Jessica Alba while I'm waiting for my car to be fixed.

 

$6k total is probably about an average price for engine remove, install, long block disassembly, reassembly, and a basic rebuild with new housings and all new hard internal parts.

A basic street port shouldnt add more than $300-$500 as stated earlier, but it would require an ECU upgrade for an extra $1000 or more plus tuning, plus porting your wastegate for probably another couple hundred. I dont think in the end your builders $9000 price was too far out of line if he was including all the supporting mods to a street port.

 

Call Rick's Rotary at (925) 484-2324. He would have many more recommendations and he would be able to explain every little detail of what you want done and the pros and cons of it

 

I've heard many good things about Rick's

 

As Tom mentioned, you need to get a price breakdown of the estimate. Just getting a "number" won't tell you if you are getting a proper deal or not.

 

I second the price break down. Most rotary places will tell you how much they charge in labor for engine removal and assembly. From there they should be able to itemize every other part you're paying for in your new engine.

If you decide to ask them to do other things while your engine is out aside from what is typically included in the rebuild (such as porting) you should get them to list out the prices, be it labor or parts, for that additional service as well.

 

I agree with mechanic. Keep car as close to stock as possible. Do reliability mods only.

As far as porting - I suggest to clean ports, make them clean of factory casting defects, etc. But do not alter them. This will ensure optimal factory designed operation without putting extra stress on your seals.

 

i agree with what these guys are saying about the cost break down. You need to really make up your mind if money is a concern, because once, you start to mod one thing, other things will need to be modified too. I know along with others here, who have actually modded their cars, that you just don't Streetport the motor, the twin might last for alittle, but porting them would be better because they are going to creep. Standalone,tuning cost and what not adds up.

Honestly, if you really feel that you want 300whp then do a tkt or similar package on a stock motor. It's been proven to make alittle more hp than 300, and you have alot of proven numbers with those packages.

In my opinion, if your planing on eventually change to a single, and standalone, then I'd port the hell out of it, but thats me.

Check around on the forum for different combos and see what they're netting. Your mechanic is also right though, be prepared if you start modding, cause these cars will take over you wallet.

Good Luck

 

Maybe he was just referring to the fact that improper porting results in reduced vaccuum of the motor.

 

Street Ports are Smog-able in California, they raise you Co's, but if it's a true street port it's doable...

As to Porting, yes porting is fun, and raises the amount of power you can make, on the flip side this is a 12+Year old car, and raising power will expose all kinds of other weaknesses, Incl. things you never expected, like your cats or your diff.

If you want to have a Daily Driver that's fun and reliable, stay as far away from power as you can convince yourself you can. And if you can't have a track car. A DD that's a monster costs monster $$ ....

I'm probably one of the worst case examples of "I just want XXX HP" and be able to drive it on the street, so I don't expect you to follow my advice, but take it to heart, and really ask yourself what's more important a car that's fast or a car that runs ? To give you some perspective, I've "Dumped" well over $50K into my car, and as of a year ago I'm finally happy !

 

that made my day... lol.... anyways I reather send my motor out then to have it done around here for hella money you know.. my last 3 rx7 were all ported.. Loved it....!! and i'm planning on doing it to the 1 i jst picked up.. All stock except for a few bolt ons... but i wanna pick up a used motor and do it to that 1 that way i can take my time!! but check ths dude out... he's pretty good

http://www.myspace.com/rotaryexperimentseven

 

Racing Rotary Reliability (RRR) is where my uncle takes his 7 and loves the place. I've been there, and I've seen the work they do on my uncles car and would recommend talking with them also.

 

+1.

I took my FD to Rick the first week I bought it back in 2005, and had him do their 30,000 mile maintenance on it. I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up the car that he went down the list, explained everything they did in detail, and informed me in what condition the different parts were in (both good and bad). I've never gone back only because I do my own maintenance, and I've moved away since then.

 

port it.

 

I had my engine rebuild and port from PR motorsports. The place they received their ported engines and the one i had installed on my car was an Atkins street port. The engine was built so horribly that i had to pump the gas pedal for a minute before the car would turn on. After getting such a bad engine, the owner decided to stop dealing with Atkins rotary and they have no other reliable company who can send them a street ported motor.

 

You're saying they had atkins port the irons and rotor housings, and then they built you a shitty motor?


Street porting a motor (properly) will not put extra stress on the seals, period. It will require adjustments to timing and fuel injector duty cycle however.

 

Wow. It's alot to take in because there are so many things to consider if I port it. Not to mention alot more moolah. For me, It's a hard decision to make. I feel like whatever I do, I'm going to think to myself that I should've done the opposite. To be honest, I really don't want to put no more than $5000 into the rebuild and all that comes with it. I just want a fun reliable car that runs great. I hope this is achievable with the budget I have.