OK guys, I need help from all corners of the world here!



Before I start i'll give my spec first (I dont think it needs to be in much detail, just enough to get an idea of the work load)



92 JDM RX-7 Type-R

Re-built from new as a tourer/track car for jap privateer (HKS sponsored)

Ported engine (in some form)

Single Turbo

Custom V-mount (v big)

Custom HKS ecu

No ABS or AIRCON



Right, the story



Since taking ownership of this beast I'd noticed a few niggles that were dogging what should have been race performance. It was burning oil on boost, not running correctly on boost, and the final nail in the coffin was of course losing coolant.



On The 2nd of March 2004, I took the car to a company called Tuning Japanese in Aldershot, England. I carefully explained the problems to the owner Tim Enderby, he took it all on board and seemed knowledgeable. He seemed to think I would have the car back in three or four days.



The first week rolled past and I thought I'd give them a call to see what was going on. I spoke to either one of the mechanics, or to the receptionist but not Tim. The chap told me Tim would call back to let me know his findings.



Four weeks passed with no call back. I called them seven times during those four weeks until finally I sent them an angry e-mail. They returned an apologetic e-mail promptly with a detailed description of the status of my car. I was happier knowing things were happening. They had discovered the following was required



1. Engine rebuild, bearings, rotors, the lot to be replaced

2. New clutch (twin plate and conversion kit)

3. New injectors

4. Upgrade to the Power FC ecu



and of course the numerous rolling road sessions that would be needed to setup the car.



I write this on the 15 of june 2004 and still do not have my car back. Tim claims it is due to difficulty getting the clutch, ECU and injectors from Japan. Also the cost is estimated at £ 7280.30GBP



What do you guys think of my current situation? am I being ridden like a cheap ***** or is this cost and time scale just?



I know that most of the guys posting here are from the US or AUS but I really need some comparable figures for UK rotary rebuilds.



Let the fireworks begin.



El Hombre'

why not ask on the UK board ? www.mazdarotaryclub.com



Why not take it to a specialist and get a second opinion, the price you have quoted doesn't suprise me as thats a lot of work.



EDIT - you've already let them start the work DoH ...



Mike

I think you're getting the royal bend-over.



Even with London topping the most-expensive-city-to-live-in prize, I tend to multiply UK prices by 1.5 just to get a round-about figure.



The rebuild would cost US$5,000 normally. x1.5 and you get US$7,500, but that's still off by SEVERAL THOUSAND US DOLLARS if I do the GBP to USD conversion.



Upgrading to the A'PEXi Power FC should not be necessary. This is a sign they don't know what they are doing, and they should've turned down the job on the first place. If this is a true HKS sponsored vehicle, their tuning is top notch and should've been messed with.



Anyone who requires fuel injectors to be replaced are always suspect, as fuel injector cleaning services can usually solve 90% of the problems. When some shop recommends replacing your fuel injectors, a red flag goes up - I'd demand to see proof how the original fuel injectors are buggered.



I'd also like to see how a multi-plate clutch can get damaged. If these guys are not willing to show you the proof, I'd start to sick the lawyers on them.







-Ted

I don't recognise that company name as a rotary specialist. In general you need to compare $ to £, so a $5000 job in US would expect to be £5000 here.



I too think you are being shafted, unless you took them the car and said 'its not running right, give me race car performance', in which case I hate to say, but you should expect big bills.



I would contact them and see what the get out is to take it to a company who ONLY do rotaries. There are several near aldershot.



And if they told you that you need new rotors and not new housings you should get your car back ASAP, unless you just did a precis of their report in you first post.

Let me add this. Just because it came from Japan and was sponsered by HKS does not mean it doesn't have only stock injs running a big single on the edge of blowing the **** up. I know of a car that was built by an HKS dealer, side ported motor w/new rotors/ rotor hsgs/ seals with a T51R kai mounted to it running stock injs. When the motor was pulled apart because it ate water it was found that this HKaSs shop had reused the water seals, YES, REUSED WATER SEALS, installed JUNK rotors(I consider old apex seals imbedded in rotor faces junk), and had just cleaned up the outside of the rotor housings that had 3" long gouges in them. I almost forgot to add that there was no porting either. Let me add that this is not the first big name Japanese shop that I have seen to do this kind of work, and I'll go one step further and say it IS the NORM.

These guy's no nothing about rotary engines seems a strange choice to take it there. When there are well known rx7 specialist dotted around the country. Who having had you car as long as these guy's would not not only of sent you back an email but also your car with all required work done for a lot less.





rgds

Thanks For all your help,



Just to add a few points



In actual fact, Tuning Japanese had previously worked on my MR2 and did a really good job, OK so it wasn't quite as hard as stripping a rotary but it was substantial work.



Before I got the work started, I actually found that they did have some experience with rotaries, and seeing as they were the closest to me I jumped straight in.

Unfortunately 'some experience' really doesn't cut it with rotaries. They must be a specialist if you want anything more than a basic tune up.



'Jumped straight in' does seem to be right though as they appear to think that they have been offered a blank cheque

i think an fd engine rebuild around here is getting up to $6500, theres so much wrong with the car (motor mounts, mop lines, injectors, fuel damper, clutch, all the water hoses, engine wiring harness, etc etc) that they need a lot more than the engine, which has also gone up to about $2200