an RX8er's rebuild thread
Thread Starter
what was I thinking
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From: Converse, TX
an RX8er's rebuild thread
Well I took the leap and with SARX (that is both San Antonio and South Austin RX)
removal and teardown went fairly smooth but it looks like a significant event took place with the rear chamber (photos below)....soliciting feedback
I am certainly going to go with new housings due to cracks but there was no visival chrome flaking and very minimal pitting on only 1 of the housing.
This is a N/A build btw (next build will have boost with it)

its out

nice throwout bearing

rotors (it looks like the zinc coating is only bad on 1 side of 1 rotor)

slight wear on the edge of the rotor bearing

rear stationary gear with significant wear

rear housing

intermediate housing rear face

intermediate housing front face

misc housing pitting

housing

uhh ho


plug pitting


not sure if this wear is normal but its on both of the rear rotor housings, it measured out to about .005 (notice the significant scratch)


front housing

front cover (notice spider cracks)



e-shaft, looks pretty decent (pilot bearing did come out in pieces and there is a small discoloration in the bottom of the bearing hole but no maring or anything like that


stationary gear wear


Well this is certainly an adventure for a novice engine guy but where there is a will (and RX forum)
there is a way
removal and teardown went fairly smooth but it looks like a significant event took place with the rear chamber (photos below)....soliciting feedback

I am certainly going to go with new housings due to cracks but there was no visival chrome flaking and very minimal pitting on only 1 of the housing.
This is a N/A build btw (next build will have boost with it)


its out


nice throwout bearing

rotors (it looks like the zinc coating is only bad on 1 side of 1 rotor)

slight wear on the edge of the rotor bearing

rear stationary gear with significant wear

rear housing

intermediate housing rear face

intermediate housing front face

misc housing pitting

housing

uhh ho


plug pitting


not sure if this wear is normal but its on both of the rear rotor housings, it measured out to about .005 (notice the significant scratch)


front housing

front cover (notice spider cracks)



e-shaft, looks pretty decent (pilot bearing did come out in pieces and there is a small discoloration in the bottom of the bearing hole but no maring or anything like that


stationary gear wear


Well this is certainly an adventure for a novice engine guy but where there is a will (and RX forum)
there is a way
Considering this was a reman with 40k on it, it is hard to know how the parts were when they put it back together. We do know when they put the remans together you get new bearings and since you changed the oil like clockwork using Castrol GTX 5W-20, we can probably say that the oil just didn't hold up all that well in this heat since there was significant wear on the bearings.
We also know you did not baby this engine either. I thought I noticed some Idemitsu on the shelf in your garage, you also premixed a bit right? The carbon build up on the rotors wasn't too bad. Also, that sludge in the coolant passage could have been due to oil leak through from that coolant seal as well. If coolant was leaking into the oil that would definitely affect the oil in a bad way.
We also know you did not baby this engine either. I thought I noticed some Idemitsu on the shelf in your garage, you also premixed a bit right? The carbon build up on the rotors wasn't too bad. Also, that sludge in the coolant passage could have been due to oil leak through from that coolant seal as well. If coolant was leaking into the oil that would definitely affect the oil in a bad way.
Bit of an expensive build... but that's the right way to do it. Then change the water pump, oil pressure regulator and you're good to go.
I'd actually just call Paul @ Mazmart and buy an engine from them, it's probably going to be cheaper, more reliable and better built overall
Without measurements it's hard to say but i would at least relap the side plates, replace the front cover, housings and stationary gears. New bearings, seals etc.
Bit of an expensive build... but that's the right way to do it. Then change the water pump, oil pressure regulator and you're good to go.
I'd actually just call Paul @ Mazmart and buy an engine from them, it's probably going to be cheaper, more reliable and better built overall
Bit of an expensive build... but that's the right way to do it. Then change the water pump, oil pressure regulator and you're good to go.
I'd actually just call Paul @ Mazmart and buy an engine from them, it's probably going to be cheaper, more reliable and better built overall

Thread Starter
what was I thinking
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,408
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From: Converse, TX
Yea over all I am thinking replace both housings, all seals, all bearings, reuse front cover, e-shaft (after more measurements), rotors, lap all the irons. slap that bitch together and see what happens
Thread Starter
what was I thinking
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Converse, TX
but I will defend shady and attribute them to alcohol and sleep deprivation.He just better watch his hands next time.............I think his 8 saw him cheating with my 8 and threw a fit when he tried to leave.....had nothing to do with the neutral saftey switch

yea there were a few questionable moments
but I will defend shady and attribute them to alcohol and sleep deprivation.
He just better watch his hands next time.............I think his 8 saw him cheating with my 8 and threw a fit when he tried to leave.....had nothing to do with the neutral saftey switch
but I will defend shady and attribute them to alcohol and sleep deprivation.He just better watch his hands next time.............I think his 8 saw him cheating with my 8 and threw a fit when he tried to leave.....had nothing to do with the neutral saftey switch

Thread Starter
what was I thinking
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 0
From: Converse, TX
Thread Starter
what was I thinking
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 0
From: Converse, TX
i did breakdown and get a few more brass brushes to do some final touchup.....next build we just need about 100 of them it was sooooooo much easier.....oh wait.....walnut blasting for the next go round
You can either get fd corner\side seal springs or there's a manufacturer in the UK that also makes better ones, according to PhillipM.



Well Shady had a hard but that was because he has homo tendencies