I got myself an 87 sport just a week ago and my mechanic told me the engine is no good. He said he dont know how to rebuild them rotary engines so I been searching the forum and found videos. So I got basic tools to work on cars. Is it easy to do rebuild myself?

Im also want to slamm it low to the ground. What do I need to get to do that?

 

First, how is the engine proven to be bad? Was a compression test done? Or is it just perhaps severely flooded? When you crank it, does it sound like this:

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/blown.htm

As far as "slamming", you'll need a set of coil overs and then camber plates so that you can at least get something close to proper camber. The result, of course, will be a car that is hell to drive and handles terribly.

 

The engine wont start at all. The guy I got it from said that it probably has a blown apex seal. It just keeps cranking and cranking and still doesnt even still like its trying to start.

 

Gotta love when a mechanic can x-ray vision into the block and pronounce apex seal problems.

there is only one way to verify the health of your engine and that is to do a compression test. Do that and you will know without having to guess.

I mean he basically contradicted himself didn't he? Saying he doesn't know about them thar rotary engines, and then telling you what the problem is doesn't make much sense.

Doing a _stock_ rebuild is not that difficult if you're handy with a wrench, go slowly, and triple check every step methodically. The most difficult part is clearancing your side seals which takes some patience. Mazdatrix, rotary aviation and atkins all have DIY rebuild videos, get a few of them and take it from there.

 

It could be anything stopping the engine from starting. Perform a compression test to check the condition of the internals.

Mechanics are very stupid. They see a rotary that doesn't start and say "bad apex seal". I bought two parts cars that way for zero money. First one just needed a fuel pump. Second one also needed a fuel pump.

 

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/2ndgen/techmenu.html

 

^^Excellent link. Read it.


If your mechanic doesn't know how to rebuild a rotary, that also means that he doesn't understand how they work, which means he doesn't know how to troubleshoot them.

If I were you, I'd go to the Regional section for TN and find a local shop or some local RX7 guys willing to come by and check out the car. Buy them some lunch or something. If you are willing to learn how to work on it yourself, check out the link Mahjik posted and check out the 2nd gen FAQ thread as well for various troubleshooting procedures and such.

Good luck.

 

If it does turn out that there is a blown apex seal, stop trying to start the car. You'll score the housing if the seal is loose in the housings which when the engine gets rebuilt it will require new housings depending on how badly there scored.

 

Chances are that if an apex seal is blown, he's not going to do any more damage to it at this point.

 

True lol

 

I'll try the compression test.

 

If you decide you dont want to rebuild your own engine I know of a guy local to me that can do rebuilds. And if you are somewhat local to myself I can lend a hand at times, Ive owned a rotary in some form or fashion for the last 5 and a half years (multiple NA's and a couple T2's) and have a S4 GXL im going to be turbo swapping in the next few months as well.