So i have a 2004 rx8 4 port 6 speed that has a bad coolant seal. My first thought was screw it, since i have to take it all apart anyways to do the coolant seal, why not just replace all the inner workings and just go with all new seals and gaskets. 1 less thing to worry about later. My question is are there any tips you can give that help the process? Am i making a bad decision with trying to replace everything for new or should i wait til they break kinda thing? Any and all serious advice is helpful

 

Well, couple things right off the bat. If your car is a 2004 6 speed, it's a 6 port engine and not a 4 port. You also don't seem to understand just exactly how difficult a job this really is for a first timer. The probability mistakes will be made that will force you to remove the engine again are very high.

All that being said, it's better to pull the engine apart first before ordering any parts. There may be more wrong with the engine than just the coolant seals. It's far easier to just get a rebuilt engine and just swap it in. Can also be cheaper in a lot of cases when you realize "hmmm, I think that housing needs to be replaced" then look online and realize they are $800 a pop. Double if you end up needing both.

So in conclusion, you will have many more hours of labor and possibly more money invested in new parts than what a whole rebuilt engine would cost. You also have no experience rebuilding a rotary engine increasing the likelihood of mistakes that may require complete removal and disassembly of the "rebuilt" engine. It's risky, but if you have the money, the time and want to learn how to rebuild these engines, then you could go for it.

 

^^ this.
Replacing seals isn't usually the problem, the problem is having known good big parts to attach them to. When you rebuild your own engine, all you have to work with are the housings and irons in front of you (unless you want to go out and buy new ones, at which point you may as well spend the money on a new engine). When you buy a reputable rebuild, that rebuild is made of big parts chosen from a pool of new or known good used stock. It's faster/easier/cheaper to just buy one of those.

If you want the experience of rebuilding a rotary, by all means, just be aware that it may not last as long as it did up to this point.