Hello all, just purchased an Rx-8!
03-10-2017, 07:25 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello all, just purchased an Rx-8!
Hello everyone, just purchased an 04 rx-8 manual with 195k miles for $700 lol. The interior is in near perfect condition surprisingly, and the body is nice besides needing a new front fascia. I am going to assume that the engine has been rebuilt before, as i have never heard of a rotary lasting that long, let alone this generation of 13b.
These are the issues that I am currently seeing with the car:
The car will start after sitting overnight, but if it doesn't get warmed up all the way it has to sit until it un-floods itself. It has codes for random misfire, mainly "cylinder 2". Obviously the car is having compression issues because it will go back and forth between barely running, and running halfway decent. I have read on other forums that replacing the coils, and premixing fuel can sometimes help with compression loss but i am afraid that this engine is too far gone.
I would like to rebuild the engine myself (i have a friend that owns a 93 rx-7 but has never rebuilt one before). I have rebuilt v8s, but have never done a rotary myself. I guess my main questions are: Should i buy a mildly used engine to swap in? Send mine off? Or go ahead and dig into it and see what all will have to be replaced? I know with these engines a typical diy rebuild could cost anywhere from 1600 or so to upwards of 4000 if a rotor, rotor housing, or iron needs replaced.
My goals or goal i should say, would be to get this car back to working condition and have some fun/possibly make some money on it once it is all in order. How much would you estimate the car is worth with a fresh engine/clutch? Also, would it raise the value if a turbo was added?
I feel that i could handle doing the rebuild as these engines are quite simple, i just don't want to lose my butt dropping money into a car that will never return my investment.
Thanks.
These are the issues that I am currently seeing with the car:
The car will start after sitting overnight, but if it doesn't get warmed up all the way it has to sit until it un-floods itself. It has codes for random misfire, mainly "cylinder 2". Obviously the car is having compression issues because it will go back and forth between barely running, and running halfway decent. I have read on other forums that replacing the coils, and premixing fuel can sometimes help with compression loss but i am afraid that this engine is too far gone.
I would like to rebuild the engine myself (i have a friend that owns a 93 rx-7 but has never rebuilt one before). I have rebuilt v8s, but have never done a rotary myself. I guess my main questions are: Should i buy a mildly used engine to swap in? Send mine off? Or go ahead and dig into it and see what all will have to be replaced? I know with these engines a typical diy rebuild could cost anywhere from 1600 or so to upwards of 4000 if a rotor, rotor housing, or iron needs replaced.
My goals or goal i should say, would be to get this car back to working condition and have some fun/possibly make some money on it once it is all in order. How much would you estimate the car is worth with a fresh engine/clutch? Also, would it raise the value if a turbo was added?
I feel that i could handle doing the rebuild as these engines are quite simple, i just don't want to lose my butt dropping money into a car that will never return my investment.
Thanks.
03-10-2017, 07:54 PM
#2
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Welcome.
With that many miles I would think swapping a used engine might be your best bet.
Any car at 200k will start having issues, like suspension parts wearing out, alternators, starters, fuel pumps. etc.
While the engine is pretty simply designed, rebuilding them is precision work from what I gather.
Maybe swap in a used one for now, and try your hand at rebuilding the old motor and see how it goes.
Good luck!
With that many miles I would think swapping a used engine might be your best bet.
Any car at 200k will start having issues, like suspension parts wearing out, alternators, starters, fuel pumps. etc.
While the engine is pretty simply designed, rebuilding them is precision work from what I gather.
Maybe swap in a used one for now, and try your hand at rebuilding the old motor and see how it goes.
Good luck!
03-12-2017, 08:56 PM
#3
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well i pulled the engine and tranny out yesterday, not sure what route i am going to take as far as which motor i go back with. I am not going to rebuild mine, so either a used jdm engine or an overstock rebuild off of ebay are my options. Yet again, not sure which route i want to take with the car.
03-13-2017, 05:38 AM
#5
RX-Heaven
iTrader: (6)
A rebuild is of course the best option. However, for me, I couldn't afford the rebuild so I set out to find a good used engine. I ended up buying almost an entire car..well everything minus the rolling body for $700. The seller allowed me to remove the engine and trans myself as well as all of the other parts. I compression tested the engine cold and it was fine. I spent a month soaking the internals in MMO and turning it over daily. I replaced all of the gaskets, o-rings, hoses etc, cleaned the manifolds and SSV's, installed a new clutch, and put the engine in. That was a year ago and the engine has been running great. There is hope of finding a used engine if you are determined to go that route. Again, a rebuild is of course the best option. Any more pics of the car to share? Also, do you know any of the car's history? Did the engine have a blue reman tag behind the coil bracket on the front cover?
03-13-2017, 08:31 PM
#6
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A rebuild is of course the best option. However, for me, I couldn't afford the rebuild so I set out to find a good used engine. I ended up buying almost an entire car..well everything minus the rolling body for $700. The seller allowed me to remove the engine and trans myself as well as all of the other parts. I compression tested the engine cold and it was fine. I spent a month soaking the internals in MMO and turning it over daily. I replaced all of the gaskets, o-rings, hoses etc, cleaned the manifolds and SSV's, installed a new clutch, and put the engine in. That was a year ago and the engine has been running great. There is hope of finding a used engine if you are determined to go that route. Again, a rebuild is of course the best option. Any more pics of the car to share? Also, do you know any of the car's history? Did the engine have a blue reman tag behind the coil bracket on the front cover?
03-14-2017, 09:59 PM
#7
40th anniversary Edition
http://black-halo-racing.myshopify.com/
RX-7 & RX-8 Performance (Pettit Racing)
Pineapple Racing
Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists
http://rotaryperformance.com/
Rotary Resurrection
RX-7 & RX-8 Performance (Pettit Racing)
Pineapple Racing
Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists
http://rotaryperformance.com/
Rotary Resurrection
Last edited by gwilliams6; 03-15-2017 at 06:48 AM.
03-14-2017, 10:02 PM
#8
40th anniversary Edition
RX8 Club’s recommended maintenance schedule, more comprehensive and proactive than Mazda’s schedule.
30,000 miles:
- Replace Ignition coils
- Replace Plug wires
- Replace Spark plugs
- Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor)
- Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor)
- Reset ESS profile
- Clean power steering connections
- Clean battery terminals and clamps
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended)
- Replace air filter
- Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line)
~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
every 60,000:
...all 30,000, plus...
- Clean all chassis electrical grounding points
- Replace accessory belts
- Clean OMP lines
- Replace rear differential fluid
- Replace thermostat
- Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins
- Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins
- Inspect catalytic converter
- Clean / Inspect intake valving
- Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early
~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
90,000:
...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus...
- Replace coolant bottle
- Replace radiator hoses
- Replace radiator
- Replace front O2 sensor
- Replace motor mounts
- Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks
~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
At 100k, anything original in the cooling system is really suspect and failure prone. It represents the biggest threat to your engine.
__________________
30,000 miles:
- Replace Ignition coils
- Replace Plug wires
- Replace Spark plugs
- Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor)
- Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor)
- Reset ESS profile
- Clean power steering connections
- Clean battery terminals and clamps
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended)
- Replace air filter
- Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line)
~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
every 60,000:
...all 30,000, plus...
- Clean all chassis electrical grounding points
- Replace accessory belts
- Clean OMP lines
- Replace rear differential fluid
- Replace thermostat
- Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins
- Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins
- Inspect catalytic converter
- Clean / Inspect intake valving
- Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early
~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
90,000:
...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus...
- Replace coolant bottle
- Replace radiator hoses
- Replace radiator
- Replace front O2 sensor
- Replace motor mounts
- Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks
~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
At 100k, anything original in the cooling system is really suspect and failure prone. It represents the biggest threat to your engine.
__________________
03-20-2017, 01:03 PM
#9
Congratulations with your purchase!
Before starting the rebuild I would thoroughly check the other parts, as the car is old and the mileage is high.
If the other parts are in good condition, then the best solution would be putting a new used engine.
As an alternative, you can also swap it with multi-cylinder engines, but it will take more efforts.
Before starting the rebuild I would thoroughly check the other parts, as the car is old and the mileage is high.
If the other parts are in good condition, then the best solution would be putting a new used engine.
As an alternative, you can also swap it with multi-cylinder engines, but it will take more efforts.