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Engine rebuilds and me ( a noob )

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Old 02-09-11, 01:05 AM
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VA Engine rebuilds and me ( a noob )

So I am seeing places that advertise 900 for an engine rebuild just for labor... not to mention parts. SO here are my questions

1. How much would I look to spend for a basic engine rebuild with new parts that I would need

2. Should i just pull a junkyard motor?

3. Could I rebuild it myself?

4. Is there a link that I missed on rebuilding a motor on this forum?

Thank you!
Old 02-09-11, 02:24 PM
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well, it sounds a lot like you're asking how much a rebuild costs and you can't really look at it like that. it's sort of like asking how much is a plane ticket ....

anyway, here are my thoughts:

1. the bottomline is that your engine has to come apart before you're going to get even close to a solid figure - at least, for a good rebuild. for parts, the only one thing i can say for sure is you'd need soft seals and all springs at a minimum! the labor cost can vary more or less than the $900 you said, but you may or may not also have to factor in freight, which would make overall prices the same or more.

2. you could. however, it's a crap-shoot at best. personally, i've been lucky with the handful of junkyard motors i had to buy (in the 90s). however, i have heard horror stories.

3. if you're good with details, have decent tools and have a half-decent knowledge of how the engine works, you probably could build it yourself. the bottomline is you are probably the only person capable of making this decision.

4. perhaps ... having never needed to look for one, i wouldn't know, but i do know there are videos out there for purchase. i also know there is (or was) a writeup by the user Rotary Resurrection floating around here or his site.
Old 02-09-11, 03:04 PM
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I wouldn't attempt it for the first time on a motor you're going to rely on. I've seen guys tear down motors their first in their rooms or on the front law, only to have them blow up a month later.

Pay to have this one done. Find a blow motor to mess with.
Old 02-09-11, 06:27 PM
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Wow i might as well put a ls1 into it.... seems way cheaper
Old 02-09-11, 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Starbux
So I am seeing places that advertise 900 for an engine rebuild just for labor... not to mention parts. SO here are my questions

1. How much would I look to spend for a basic engine rebuild with new parts that I would need

2. Should i just pull a junkyard motor?

3. Could I rebuild it myself?

4. Is there a link that I missed on rebuilding a motor on this forum?

Thank you!
There are a couple of rebuild videos that you can buy from different vendors (Mazdatrix, rotary aviation, etc), if you are mechanically inclined, and have the tools, go for it.

What year is the engine/car? You can get a BRAND NEW engine from Malloy Mazda in woodbridge for $3800-$4000, the catch is tha the engine is a 13B REW (the one on the 1993-1996 Twin Turbo RX-7)
Old 02-09-11, 08:39 PM
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diabolical1 gave some very good advice.

I believe Malloy Mazda does sell remanufactured motors for the FC as well - not just the FD (93+).

The worst thing you can do (read as most expensive) to blow a rotary is over heat it. Lots of parts get warped in the process. That said, rotaries are very often and very easily misdiagnosed. Some shops will work with you on motor builds and re-use parts that are within spec. Rotary Resurrection is famous for his budget rebuild but a lot of other forum vendors will do similar. RE MAN's prices might not accurately reflect those you can get in your local market if you know where to go since he is Australia.

If you suspect an engine issue, I would strongly advise having a pro give you an opinion if you are not 100% confident in your diagnostic skills.
Old 02-09-11, 11:55 PM
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I am preparing for the worse like always lol.
Old 02-10-11, 09:58 AM
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Here is the first half of the rebuild video equation, the engine disassembly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1MXfs_Srs4

And this is the continuation of cleaning the internal parts. You can see now why the labor is so high.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5A5q61bzRI

I don't have an engine assembly video up, but will soon.

I like the "LS1" is cheaper approach. Even if the engine was FREE, it would still cost at least $2000 to have a shop install it. Though obviously, the LS1 makes more power out of the box. Then again, that same $2000 will get a rebuilt 13B with port work if you do some of the cleaning and other grunt work, and it will cost less money to pull power out of the rotary than the LS1.
Old 02-10-11, 01:08 PM
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Called up malloy and they rough quoted me 2500 for a whole new system. Can't complain I just give them my old engine.
Old 02-11-11, 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
Here is the first half of the rebuild video equation, the engine disassembly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1MXfs_Srs4

And this is the continuation of cleaning the internal parts. You can see now why the labor is so high.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5A5q61bzRI

I don't have an engine assembly video up, but will soon.

I like the "LS1" is cheaper approach. Even if the engine was FREE, it would still cost at least $2000 to have a shop install it. Though obviously, the LS1 makes more power out of the box. Then again, that same $2000 will get a rebuilt 13B with port work if you do some of the cleaning and other grunt work, and it will cost less money to pull power out of the rotary than the LS1.



good videos watched them all good stuff alot of work but well worth it
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