Rebuild my LHD, or dump the LHD and rebuild a failed RHD?
 

I have a LHD RX-8 2004 Renesis HP with about 110.000km on it. At 100.000 the engine problems became noticable, at 110.000km it was simply done. We could still make it run by pushstarting it and we could still drive it, but it didn't idle without adding throttle, lots of smoke and backfire.

I got it to the local RX-8 specialist who services and rebuilds RX-8's for a compression test and a prospective rebuild. The front rotor had 62/60/61psi, distribution was healthy but the compression definitely was not. The rear rotor was simply dead, with an uneven distribution of compression of 30/23/15psi. The starter turns at 300rpm, so just imagine what the normalized pressure to 250rpm would be.

So, I live in Europe full of RHD cars, and I have a LHD. The rebuild is pricey, but definitely worth it since I get a warranty on the engine and high quality of parts and service. But recently I started doubting whether I should rebuild my LHD RX-8.

The entire point is that the LHD RX-8 was very cheap. It costed me 2750 euro, had 75.000km on it, engine was very decent. But even with a rebuilt engine I won't get more than 3500 for it because noone wants a LHD around here, especially not in Prague from what I understand. If I consider the residual value and the rebuild costs, I would make a significant loss if I would sell the rebuilt LHD later.

RHD RX-8's around here with a rebuilt engine go for 7000 euro. Failed RHD RX-8's cost 1500-3000 euro, and with a rebuilt engine I can sell it for atleast the same amount as it cost me in total or make a small profit. I won't sell it, but you get the idea of value of LHD and RHD in this case.

I brought the car in with the intention to get the engine rebuilt, but after seeing the unhealthy rear rotor I am also wondering whether an apex hasn't destroyed the entire housing, which will only ramp up the costs of the rebuild. Hence why I would go for a failed engine, but only if it has equal compression among faces.

So I plan on cancelling the rebuild plans for my LHD, and getting back to the rebuilder with a RHD. But what do you guys think is the best way to go with the rebuild? Stick with my LHD which has everything perfect besides the engine, or go with a RHD, get a rebuild and fix everything else that needs to be done on it? Either way I want to rebuild it so I have a fresh engine and the knowledge that some guy didn't fuck up the engine it its first 10.000km after a rebuild.

Personal choice really. What I have seen though, is that if you plan to go turbo in the future, it seems the LHD guys have it a bit easier due to the steering column not being in the way.

It's not impossible either way, but it does seem easier with the LHD configuration.

If you're going to rebuild the engine regardless, isn't the dead rotor a non-issue? Is it a problem that can increase the cost of the rebuilt?

(I'm not sure if I understand correctly, since the whole engine is taken apart and re-assembled, right?)

You are going to take a significant loss regardless of what you do. Either you lose the money trying to sell it before the rebuild or you lose the money trying to sell it later after the rebuild.

Honestly, I think there is something to be said for staying with the chassis you know.

Your concerns about the bad rotor aren't unwarranted. If you were in the US, I'd say you should shop around for a Mazda remanufactured unit (which retail for ~US$3000 over here). If you want to shop around for one closer to you in Europe, search for the part number "N3H3-02-200R-V0" (for a 6-port high-power engine) "N3Y2-02-200R-00" (for 4-port low-power engine). In the US, all of the wear components (irons, housings, seals, etc) are all new.