So just a stupid question but I have never rebuilt a rotary before. When replacing a apex seal which might be cracked do I also have to replace all of the o rings with gaskets etc. Found a short block with a possible cracked apex seal for sale.

 

Anytime you crack open an engine, you do a full rebuild. You can't just replace the one bad seal and be done with it.

Not to mention it would be silly to just half-*** it.

If you've never built an engine before, it might be worth having a shop do the work for you. There's LOTS of things to screw up. If you're really mechanically inclined and are curious about trying it, there's a number of rotary rebuild videos out there - do a search on Google. Get one, watch it, and see if it's something you can tackle.

Dale

 

Thanks for the info I have built plenty of motors but just havnt touched a rotary before. I am going to buy the mazdatrix dvd. Was just wonder because I found a sr motorsports short blocked which is ported that the owner said when he took it out it had a very slight lump in the idle and that he thought it might have been a crack in the apex seal.

 

if you have built motors before .. it`s gonna be a piece of kake .. i also rebuild pistons before .. ( plz dotn shoot me ) ... and i never will again after going rotary ... it`s just simpler i find ...
get some videos .. some info .. some clearances specs and you will build a good motor ...
my first attempt at rebuilding got me 25000 km`s ... 80% of which at max boost .. high rpm ...
lost an apex seal due to improper octane .. long story ...

you will be fine .. just do a full rebuild ..

 

crack in the apex seal could mean damaged rotor,rotor housing and possibly Irons.Since you never rebuilt a rotary engine this is the perfect time to learn,just take under consideration that this little project of yours will not be easy and will definitely not be cheap.

 

Thanks for the info guys I will just keep my current motor and do a 3m rebuild on it and port it. My radiator blew on mine when my buddy drove it. Got the car with no information on the car or history got I running then the radiator blew. My buddy said it did not overheat but to be on the safe side I'm just going to start over fresh.

 

if you don't NEED to do 3mm apex seals, don't bother, it's just an extra expense.

 

I found a whole rebuild kit on rotary aviation for 1160 with 3mm apex seals and the 2mm seals were 20 bucks cheaper. Is there an advantage to using the 3mm seals vrs the 2.

 

this is an endless debate and I have yet to choose a side, but this is what I know: if the grooves in the rotors are still within spec it is MY OPINION that there is no reason to spend money having the rotor grooves milled for the 3mm seals. However if they're out of spec, then yes, 3mm seals are a good alternative to purchasing new rotors.
there is speculation based on logic that the 3mm seals resist detonation better, but the difference would seem, once again in my opinion, marginal at best. I believe that if you're getting enough detonation to blow up a motor on 2mm seals, it's only a matter of time before those 3mm seals go too, and it might not even be that much time. If you're REALLY worried about bad gas in your area (although in Cali I wouldn't think it would be much of an issue like it is here in bum-****-Nebraska) then perhaps you should look into the ALS "unbreakable" seals.

searching can provide a lot more information than I can provide. I have yet to need to rebuild a motor so I haven't done as much reading/research in that department as I have in others. Also this is all based on my reading, I have no experience rebuilding motors, however I read and listen to the experts all that I can.

best of luck

 

Thank you for the great info luckily I was a machinist before my current job so I can mill the rotors just fine but thanks for all the great information and responses.

 

absolute precision is necessary in this, check the FSM (available in the stickies) for propper clearances for the stock rotors, I am unsure what they are for either 2 or 3 mm seals, a search should yield what you're looking for, and if not, answers are only a phone call away to any number of rotary builders.

 

when on a path of revenge dig two graves
when rebuilding a rotary for the first time, buy two engines :-P

i tore apart one engine already and there are only so many things you can learn from a book, manual, or videos. i did irreversible damage to that engine. (i didnt plan on rebuilding it anyways) but i got to learn on it.

Does that qualify me to rebuild engines? no but i know more than trying to do it all at once

good luck. its a blast to take apart, i cant speak on the tolerances and precision needed to put it back together.

And it looks like you use vaseline to hold things together. my kind of party... lol