Looking for informed opinions.
Unfortunately, I do not know the history of this car. Im replacing the sump because it took a hit and was punched in about 1/2".
Im seeing gold colored silicone between the plates. Was it done this way from the factory, or do you think maybe this engine was rebuilt ?
Car only has 56000 miles, but i know some have had surgery before this point. The sump also had this gold silicone - Was
the sump put on with silicone from the factory ?
First time posting a pic on this site, hopefully you can zoom in ?

 

Bigger pic may help

 

Went in search of an answer - Just watched this video which explained the silicone on the sump side of the plates.
So if the sump is actually silicone sealed from the factory, this may be the original engine !

 

When I pulled the pan off my fresh reman (to install oil pressure mod) I recall the silicone all being gray.

Edit: Okay, watched that video on my lunch break and now I want to be a rotary engine builder. Maybe that will be my third career.

 

OK, now im going to have to research this oil pressure mod

Standard Permatex Grey is commonly used but it must be allowed to partially cure before assembly. This guy in the video is using a white silicone and we dont get to see the label, other than "AC DELCO". He does not let it skin over though, assembling it immediately. Your rebuilder might have used Permatex "The right stuff" 1 minute ($$$), which can be assembled and torqued immediately, but im only seeing a grey colored version of that. Im going to drop a comment under the video and see if he answers.

My silicone is definitely gold colored, and although silicone is available in every color under the sun now, none of the typically used products from Permatex are that color. Mine is probably factory stuff !

I agree on the cool video, although assembling the rotors, especially gapping the side seals, would have been neat to see. Time intensive though apparently - he could have shown us just one !

All that vaseline must have smoked BAD upon startup and surely fouled a plug or two !