When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm getting started on my first rebuild and it's the original engine from my '04 Sport which I destroyed a few years ago when I drove through a puddle which turned out to be much deeper than I anticipated. (The car is slammed with a CAI so ANY puddle is a potential threat; I should've known better.)
This rotor is the front. Ironically it was the rear one that got totally anhillated. I would've expected it to be the other way around, I guess.
Anyway, I'm wondering if the one gouge is enough to render it totally useless? I am hoping that if I remove the remaining chunk of side seal and "dress up" the damaged area a new set of seals and springs will prevent any leaks. Maybe it would still be a weak point and lead to uneven/premature wear?
Also, if anyone spots anything else horribly wrong with it please let me know.
Thanks
(Second set of pics are the rear rotor which, I believe, is pretty much about as bad as it gets!) Front Front Front Rear Rear Rear
Theoretically, if you took a wire wheel (or file(s) or a surface grinder, or metal flattener of some kind) you might be able to re-use that rotor? I would want to get it balanced and mass-matched with the other new rotor..
Granted I have zero rebuild experience, but my understanding is that as long as the rotor is balanced, mass-matched and the seal features are allowing the seals to work properly; I think that would suggest you can still use it?
Again, I'm just some armchair 'ekspert' on the interwebs though
Ok, thanks. I hadn't taken into account the missing mass being enough to throw off balance. I suppose it doesn't take much at all.
I'll source a replacement rotor. Well, 2 replacements.
And housings and irons.
This rebuild just turned into a BUILD...
I was looking forward to it but now I'm tempted by the thought of just getting another JDM replacement. That's what's currently in the car and the only reason it's ruined now is because when I installed it 3 years ago I was unaware that my old oil coolers and oil lines should've been replaced at the same time. (Alternately, I've heard brief mention of some sort of back-flush process followed by a sealant application. Sounds iffy to me.) But that was a good motor/good price. So I guess it's the one I should be rebuilding.
You don't need to replace the coolers and lines? Did the previous engine grenade or something? Sure you can flush them, but the car has an oil filter.
Rebuilding a specific motor is the wrong idea. You build a motor out of known good parts. If known good parts happen to be in your engine bay, OK, but given these cars average age that's not a given.
You could always use the dead parts for art. Watchmaking is another of my hobbies, and I've long thought it would be really neat to make a clock out of rotary guts. That's probably above most people's heads, but I see rotors welded to housings and hung on the walls of garages all the time.
My old engine lives on as garage art. Both rotors were in excellent condition but now look better in either red or polished naked with a full set of
seals in place. This also a reminder of the rebuild cost!! 🤣🤣
Theoretically, if you took a wire wheel (or file(s) or a surface grinder, or metal flattener of some kind) you might be able to re-use that rotor? I would want to get it balanced and mass-matched with the other new rotor..
Granted I have zero rebuild experience, but my understanding is that as long as the rotor is balanced, mass-matched and the seal features are allowing the seals to work properly; I think that would suggest you can still use it?
Again, I'm just some armchair 'ekspert' on the interwebs though
^^the real joker walked into the room 🤣
if you’re broke, then you’re broke, but in general reusing rotors with any significant mileage on them is just asking for a mediocre result. It all comes down to how the Renesis is different than the previous 13B engines. The sealing is much more critical on a Renesis. Unless you think losing 30-40 whp is no big deal. That will vary some, but it generally comes down to the mileage and wear. You can’t see thousandths of an inch. In general many people can’t even measure it correctly either imo.
.
"Reusing rotors with any significant mileage on them is just asking for a mediocre result. It all comes down to how the Renesis is different than the previous 13B engines. The sealing is much more critical on a Renesis."
.[/QUOTE]
Precisely my reason for asking this question; was hoping you'd chime in. Thanks.
06-14-2022, 11:13 PM
