94 R2 rebuild from engine fire

Ed R · 12-13-2009, 10:43 PM

I have removed my damaged engine from my car and have evaluated all of the parts I need to replace. My engine will also need to be rebuilt since there is rust damage inside the rotor housing due to coolant that leaked in. See attached pics. This is gonna get expensive! I have come to the conclusion that I should just buy another long block. I have located several JDM engines from different suppliers, but would love to hear some advice from the experienced members if this is the best way to go.

Ed from Peoria, IL

Garfinkles Motor Works · 12-14-2009, 09:32 AM

If you are going back stock I have alot of the stock plastic parts,innercooler and ducts,tubes chambers ect . If you are going modified then just plan ahead for the parts you will need .I have oil pan braces,idler to replace the air pump engine torque brace, plus more . Good skill to you .

Max777 · 12-15-2009, 12:21 AM

If you are looking to get a j-spec just to get parts from it, this is a good idea. However if you plan to swap it in with no rebuild, there is no guarantee that it wont blow up after 10 miles down the road. I have done a little reading on j-spec motors, and it seems like a lot of them end up sitting in a yard for extended periods of time, which is not good for a rotary, and you may end up with a corewhich is not much better than your own.

No matter what you do, you will still need to order up some gaskets, refurbish injectors, replace vac hoses, delete emissions, get engine mounts, etc...

In your best interests, I would suggest to send the engine out for a rebuild. Kevin Landers has proven himself reputable, and he also might or might not agree to take both engines, and use the best parts from both. Don't quote me on this but it might be possible... :Wink: He's on this forum, so send him a PM or an email.

Also, order up a rotary engine stand adapter, it's a very useful thing to have!

This looks like a fun project, looking forward to it!

PS: IS this the engine in question?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-M...Q5fAccessories

Looks to be very complete, and in decent shape from the pictures...

moremazda · 12-15-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed R

I have removed my damaged engine from my car and have evaluated all of the parts I need to replace. My engine will also need to be rebuilt since there is rust damage inside the rotor housing due to coolant that leaked in. See attached pics. This is gonna get expensive! I have come to the conclusion that I should just buy another long block. I have located several JDM engines from different suppliers, but would love to hear some advice from the experienced members if this is the best way to go.

Ed from Peoria, IL

The route you take depends on what you want to use the car for and how reliable you need it to be. There is one source in particular (Japan2LA) that will get you a reliable salvage motor that could be used with reasonable confidence. He is not the cheapest source but he does not sell stuff that should not be sold.

On the other hand if you are looking to setup the car in the most reliable fashion than you need to build the motor from the ground up... yes it's pricey but you will at least know exactly what you have under the hood. Even with the best of salvage motors you will still have a salvage motor under the hood.

Ed R · 12-15-2009, 11:13 AM

I plan to go back to stock setup minus the emissions and I want it to be very reliable. I agree that I should have the jspec motor rebuilt if I get it. My motor seems to pretty far gone. The link that MAX777 attached is the engine that I was considering. It is one of the best I have found - I just wish I was closer to Texas so I could go look at it in person.

P.S. Why is it that I never see any bids on these JDM engines offered on e-bay?

Max777 · 12-15-2009, 05:36 PM

bcause of the above stated reasons. IF this was an RB, or any honda engine like a K20A or the like (popular swap engines) then they would go like crazy.

20B engines sell for a good penny for example, but stock 13b-rew has low demand and high~ish supply.

David Jerome · 12-16-2009, 12:27 PM

I offer prebuilt shortblocks, with warranty and streetport, ALS seals starting at $2850.00 Shipped. Longblocks minus wiring harness around $3500.00 Shipped. These are fresh rebuilds and not rolling the dice like the J-specs. www.rotaryrebuildstore.com

Heeley · 12-16-2009, 09:24 PM

i would totally recommend getting a reputable rebuild.. i don't post on here much, i'm more of a lurker, but after buying my car with the engine already grenaded (much to my dismay, and the dealer's mirth) a rebuild is really the least expensive option in the long run, esp. if you can do your own Re & Re... I ended up making great friends with the builder that did my car as well. double win!

rx4ur7 · 01-01-2010, 04:06 PM

The reason you do not see offers on JDM motors is because most of them are good for about as far as you can throw them. There are plenty of write-ups on this and other forums as to how good they are. For myself I have not come across one good one.

I have a recently built motor out of a shunt involved vehicle. Driver wrote off the tub. Email direct or check out shop website.

BurnVktm · 01-06-2010, 02:56 AM

Mine too had an engine fire from the previous owner who opted to sell it rather than fix it. It was caused by old(read: Stock) fuel lines that were never replaced after the recall.

I opted to rebuild the engine. Rebuild kits are a good way to go if your keeping it stock(ish). If not just take it to a rotary engine builder for the application you wish to pursue.

Max777 · 02-04-2010, 10:46 PM

updates and pictures?

12-15-2009, 12:21 AM	#3
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 19	If you are looking to get a j-spec just to get parts from it, this is a good idea. However if you plan to swap it in with no rebuild, there is no guarantee that it wont blow up after 10 miles down the road. I have done a little reading on j-spec motors, and it seems like a lot of them end up sitting in a yard for extended periods of time, which is not good for a rotary, and you may end up with a corewhich is not much better than your own. No matter what you do, you will still need to order up some gaskets, refurbish injectors, replace vac hoses, delete emissions, get engine mounts, etc... In your best interests, I would suggest to send the engine out for a rebuild. Kevin Landers has proven himself reputable, and he also might or might not agree to take both engines, and use the best parts from both. Don't quote me on this but it might be possible... :Wink: He's on this forum, so send him a PM or an email. Also, order up a rotary engine stand adapter, it's a very useful thing to have! This looks like a fun project, looking forward to it! PS: IS this the engine in question? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-M...Q5fAccessories Looks to be very complete, and in decent shape from the pictures... __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

12-15-2009, 05:36 PM	#6
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 19	bcause of the above stated reasons. IF this was an RB, or any honda engine like a K20A or the like (popular swap engines) then they would go like crazy. 20B engines sell for a good penny for example, but stock 13b-rew has low demand and high~ish supply. __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

01-01-2010, 04:06 PM	#9
rx4ur7 Rotary since 1972 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tucson Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	The reason you do not see offers on JDM motors is because most of them are good for about as far as you can throw them. There are plenty of write-ups on this and other forums as to how good they are. For myself I have not come across one good one. I have a recently built motor out of a shunt involved vehicle. Driver wrote off the tub. Email direct or check out shop website. Last edited by rx4ur7; 01-01-2010 at 04:10 PM.

02-04-2010, 10:46 PM	#11
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 19	updates and pictures? __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

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12-14-2009, 09:32 AM	#2
Garfinkles Motor Works RCC Contributor Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 535 Rep Power: 18	If you are going back stock I have alot of the stock plastic parts,innercooler and ducts,tubes chambers ect . If you are going modified then just plan ahead for the parts you will need .I have oil pan braces,idler to replace the air pump engine torque brace, plus more . Good skill to you .

12-15-2009, 11:13 AM	#5
Ed R The Newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Peoria Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	I plan to go back to stock setup minus the emissions and I want it to be very reliable. I agree that I should have the jspec motor rebuilt if I get it. My motor seems to pretty far gone. The link that MAX777 attached is the engine that I was considering. It is one of the best I have found - I just wish I was closer to Texas so I could go look at it in person. P.S. Why is it that I never see any bids on these JDM engines offered on e-bay?

12-16-2009, 12:27 PM	#7
David Jerome RCC Contributor Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 713 Rep Power: 18	I offer prebuilt shortblocks, with warranty and streetport, ALS seals starting at $2850.00 Shipped. Longblocks minus wiring harness around $3500.00 Shipped. These are fresh rebuilds and not rolling the dice like the J-specs. www.rotaryrebuildstore.com

12-16-2009, 09:24 PM	#8
Heeley Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Snowbelt, Ontario! Posts: 57 Rep Power: 18	i would totally recommend getting a reputable rebuild.. i don't post on here much, i'm more of a lurker, but after buying my car with the engine already grenaded (much to my dismay, and the dealer's mirth) a rebuild is really the least expensive option in the long run, esp. if you can do your own Re & Re... I ended up making great friends with the builder that did my car as well. double win!

01-06-2010, 02:56 AM	#10
BurnVktm The Newbie Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 20 Rep Power: 0	Mine too had an engine fire from the previous owner who opted to sell it rather than fix it. It was caused by old(read: Stock) fuel lines that were never replaced after the recall. I opted to rebuild the engine. Rebuild kits are a good way to go if your keeping it stock(ish). If not just take it to a rotary engine builder for the application you wish to pursue.