Bridge Port / Coolant Seal Question

staticpat · 12-18-2008, 11:22 AM

No Limit Industries is helping me get a half bridge motor running. It was built by a reputable shop, and has like 100 miles on it. The motor is installed in the car now, and we were about to install the intake manifold/carb setup. One of the guys stuck his finger into the intake ports and felt something out of place.

It looks like there's a little piece of gasket material hanging into the intake port. When we felt inside the other ports, they also had some material. I assume it is one of the water seals, that no longer has a place to seat because of the porting. I don't want to rip it out for fear that the whole seal will come with it. I don't want to leave it because it seems like an obstruction to flow.

I don't know enough about the porting procedures to know if this is bad or not. Any tips/advice/information would be greatly appreciate it. I'll call the builder this afternoon to get his opinion on it.

drewski86 · 12-18-2008, 12:52 PM

If the seal is hanging out like that, it will need to be replaced. Otherwise you will have one hell of a smoke screen when you run it. I would pull it apart and find out why the seal fell out like that in the first place and resolve it. Do you know what year motor this is?

Whizbang · 12-18-2008, 12:56 PM

yea that is bad news

To_Slow · 12-18-2008, 03:02 PM

WoW... Soory, that looks bad. Replace, take the engine apart. You might need to change more that just the water seals...

Good luck

Fidelity101 · 12-18-2008, 03:34 PM

reputable shop huh? where was this at so I know to never take my block there.

classicauto · 12-18-2008, 04:06 PM

"you fucked up" - Tony Montana

-xlr8planet- · 12-18-2008, 07:29 PM

I read over at no pistons, that some guys did it 2 different ways

a. put a lil screw to stop the coolant seal

b. let it sit, and then when its hangin out like yours, cut whats not needed

The engine might still be built correctly

Fidelity101 · 12-18-2008, 11:07 PM

how did the motor get 100 miles on it? were you there to experience it personally?

RETed · 12-19-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staticpat

It was built by a reputable shop,

Why don't you tell us who this shop is and save us from doing the same mistake...

-Ted

staticpat · 12-19-2008, 08:34 AM

People on here are jumping to conclusions. I'm not mad or trying to trash anyone's work, I just wanted some more insight into the bridgeport. XLR8 actually posted some useful information, thanks for that. I now know that the seal in question will blow out like that over time.

I know the builder and the previous engine owner. It was ran for low miles. but it was in a racecar, so it was ran hard. The builder has offered to take apart the motor and reseat the seal. He didn't have to do that and I appreciate it.

The shop is fine, it wasn't a build problem and I have no problem with the builder. It apparently is the nature of the beast. Now I just need to decide whether to trim the excess seal or pull the motor for overhaul.

drewski86 · 12-19-2008, 09:08 AM

Were the seals in the same condition when the previous owner ran it? Did it smoke at all?

staticpat · 12-19-2008, 09:43 AM

I haven't talked with the previous owner yet. I'll find out.

classicauto · 12-19-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staticpat

The shop is fine, it wasn't a build problem and I have no problem with the builder. It apparently is the nature of the beast. Now I just need to decide whether to trim the excess seal or pull the motor for overhaul.

No one here is trying to knock the shop (at least not me

) but trust me when I tell you a coolant seal in a new engine poking out like that ***IS NOT THE NATURE OF THE BEAST***

Whether the engine is stock, street, or bridge ported, there's no reason ( otehr then pinching it on assembly) for the coolant seal to dislodge from its oring land. If its properly seated and the engien is assembeled, its physically impossible for the seal to leave the groove unless the groove rots away, or the seal is destroyed by heat or age.

Engine may have ran (and burnt coolant like a mofo) but it is absolutely not normal, or a nature of the beast scenario with a BP.

EDIT: Check this thread http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.ph...hlight=porting

Its got some nice pics of some special bridge ports, you'll notice how the coolant oring land is left intact so the seeals stay in place. If they've ported into that land, thats another reason the seal may have dislodged, and it won't make fora happily running bridgey either.

I used to run a 1/2 bridge engine, and although I faced alot of issues, coolant seals falling in the intake ports was never one of them.

staticpat · 12-19-2008, 11:50 AM

Okay thanks, I am getting a clearer idea now. But I am still unsure how the seal seats/does not seat with the port work. I may run the motor and see whether or not it eats coolant.

I found a picture of the internals after the port work was initially done. To me it looks like what you just described, where the seal still has a place to sit and shouldn't leave the groove.

Whizbang · 12-19-2008, 12:00 PM

coolant seal maybe have move outof the groove during assembly.

12-18-2008, 11:22 AM	#1
staticpat Rally Fanboy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 147 Rep Power: 18	Bridge Port / Coolant Seal Question No Limit Industries is helping me get a half bridge motor running. It was built by a reputable shop, and has like 100 miles on it. The motor is installed in the car now, and we were about to install the intake manifold/carb setup. One of the guys stuck his finger into the intake ports and felt something out of place. It looks like there's a little piece of gasket material hanging into the intake port. When we felt inside the other ports, they also had some material. I assume it is one of the water seals, that no longer has a place to seat because of the porting. I don't want to rip it out for fear that the whole seal will come with it. I don't want to leave it because it seems like an obstruction to flow. I don't know enough about the porting procedures to know if this is bad or not. Any tips/advice/information would be greatly appreciate it. I'll call the builder this afternoon to get his opinion on it. __________________

12-18-2008, 12:56 PM	#3
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 21	yea that is bad news __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

12-18-2008, 03:02 PM	#4
To_Slow Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Shelby Twp MI. Posts: 315 Rep Power: 18	WoW... Soory, that looks bad. Replace, take the engine apart. You might need to change more that just the water seals... Good luck __________________ My link

12-18-2008, 03:34 PM	#5
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	reputable shop huh? where was this at so I know to never take my block there. __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

12-18-2008, 07:29 PM	#7
-xlr8planet- RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 679 Rep Power: 18	I read over at no pistons, that some guys did it 2 different ways a. put a lil screw to stop the coolant seal b. let it sit, and then when its hangin out like yours, cut whats not needed The engine might still be built correctly __________________ www.rx7club.com.ar RX-7 Forum in Spanish I make custom decals. Yes, you can ask me

12-18-2008, 12:52 PM	#2
drewski86 Slow Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	If the seal is hanging out like that, it will need to be replaced. Otherwise you will have one hell of a smoke screen when you run it. I would pull it apart and find out why the seal fell out like that in the first place and resolve it. Do you know what year motor this is?

12-18-2008, 11:07 PM	#8
Fidelity101 Reliable Source Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan/Illinois Posts: 336 Rep Power: 17	how did the motor get 100 miles on it? were you there to experience it personally? __________________ My Rx-7 Vids

12-19-2008, 08:34 AM	#10
staticpat Rally Fanboy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 147 Rep Power: 18	People on here are jumping to conclusions. I'm not mad or trying to trash anyone's work, I just wanted some more insight into the bridgeport. XLR8 actually posted some useful information, thanks for that. I now know that the seal in question will blow out like that over time. I know the builder and the previous engine owner. It was ran for low miles. but it was in a racecar, so it was ran hard. The builder has offered to take apart the motor and reseat the seal. He didn't have to do that and I appreciate it. The shop is fine, it wasn't a build problem and I have no problem with the builder. It apparently is the nature of the beast. Now I just need to decide whether to trim the excess seal or pull the motor for overhaul. __________________

12-19-2008, 09:08 AM	#11
drewski86 Slow Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 38 Rep Power: 0	Were the seals in the same condition when the previous owner ran it? Did it smoke at all?

12-19-2008, 09:43 AM	#12
staticpat Rally Fanboy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 147 Rep Power: 18	I haven't talked with the previous owner yet. I'll find out. __________________

12-19-2008, 11:50 AM	#14
staticpat Rally Fanboy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York Posts: 147 Rep Power: 18	Okay thanks, I am getting a clearer idea now. But I am still unsure how the seal seats/does not seat with the port work. I may run the motor and see whether or not it eats coolant. I found a picture of the internals after the port work was initially done. To me it looks like what you just described, where the seal still has a place to sit and shouldn't leave the groove. __________________ Last edited by staticpat; 12-19-2008 at 11:54 AM.

12-19-2008, 12:00 PM	#15
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 21	coolant seal maybe have move outof the groove during assembly. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook