Ok, as most of you know, I lost compression on my rear rotor the other day, and Im pretty sure I need a rebuild. Ive been looking at lots of sites for getting the parts Im going to need, but Ive never rebuilt a rotary engine before. Im fully confident that I can, its just a matter of what the hell I should buy. So, with that in mind, let me ask a few question here...



The kit Im thinking about getting for $638.17 is as follows:



A gasket set

Apex seals and springs

Side seal springs

Corner seal springs

Corner seal plugs

Inner and outter oil O rings

Rotor bearings

Main bearings

Front main seal

Rear main seal



As you can clearly tell, this doesnt include:



Side seals

Corner seals

Oil control rings

Oil control ring springs



Now, Im basically wondering if its really that big of a deal to not replace those other parts. I can get a kit that includes all thats included in the first kit as well as all the other parts listed, but its $908 or something like that. Since Im on a budget, I just want to know what you personally would do if it was YOUR engine...This of course is all assuming I dont need new housings or something like that, and I dont plan on having the plates resurfaced unless they are out of spec.



Ok, other than the obvious seals and gaskets, what else will I need? An oil pump chain maybe? Thermostat? Fresh coolant, oil, and spark plugs are given, but am I missing anything? I hope you guys can help me out here...I just dont know what to buy!



~T.J.



PS - I obviously dont plan on buying anything until I get my engine apart to see what Im going to need, but I just want to know the basics.

 

1. expensive way: buy 2 rotor housings, all the gaskets and seals and rebuild from there, cost +/- $2200, life 100k miles



2. normal way: open it up replace the broken parts, and the gaskets and seals

$1100-2000ish like 75-100k



3. el cheapo: open it up replace the broken parts and you just buy the gasket set (needed to put it back together), cost $100 plus bad parts, life depeends on how worn everything is, 10-40k miles



4. the half stack: clamp the good rotor together pull the bad one apart fix it and put back together. cost 4 water seals, life 2 weeks to a year





if i were you, i would pull it apart and see what you're working with. that can and will dictate your rebuild budget. if you pull it apart and it looks new than you dont need much other than the rear rotor housing and all the seals. if you pull it apart and its all bad then you need to spend some $$, or find another core



mike

 

When it comes to the difference between 600ish dollars and 900ish dollars, you have to think - what is your engine worth to you? Do you want to have to do this again in less than 100,000km? I would personally go for the $900 kit, just because you'd might as well do *everything* while you're in there.



Chances are the intermediate housing on the good rotor isn't a problem, but on the blown one, I know it can end up with a hell of a lot of damage. My friend Eric blew his engine and limped it to the local rotary shop... by the time he got there and they tore the engine apart, one look at it could tell you that he needed to buy another core. Of course... he limped it 30km...so you probably aren't that bad, I'm just saying "expect the worst, so you'll be relieved *if* it isn't that"



Parts of the car never to skimp on:

1.BRAKES

2.Engine

3.Tires



You can see it's pretty high on my list. I'd buy the $900 kit and assume that the rotor housing is crap until I see proof to the contrary. You may need another rotor, or another housing, you may need nothing. Do you really wanna do a "Haynes" rebuild on your own engine? (used, but "good enough" parts). Pay what you can, Visa the rest, and keep trying for a job good enough to cover it all.



Jon

 

See, you think the same way I do, I was just wondering how important these seals really are if they arent even included in the kit. Like if they were a minimal wear type thing, then I would understand not necessarily replacing them, but the more I think about it, the more I think Im just going to go for the complete kit...



~T.J.

 

good, thats the only way to do it. if you get your car painted, would you save money by not painting one door? i don't think so. good luck on the rebuild.





late

 

nice analagy.



I agree. I'm not sure what its like where you are, but over here 12a rebuild kits are getting harder to find (and more $$). Do the $900 rebuild even if its just for peace of mind.

 

Well boys an girls...No need to worry about the damn rebuild...



I went back today to go get my car with a flat bed trailer and all, but it was nowhere to be found. I called the cops, they came, ran the plates, and said it hadnt been impounded or towed, so I filed it as stolen. Talk about your run of bad luck eh? It only sat there one whole day too...



All I can say is whoever has it better hope the cops find them before I do...



~T.J.

 

spend the same ammount and buy a new 13b.