update on rx-7 nightmare...project

[cody]

Any chance this beast will make a showing at a meet?

[Dewey]

Wow, that is going to be sweet. I cant wait to see the final product.

[subierex09]

any chance of seeing pictures or videos of the final product any time soon?

[100_Percent_Juice]

Welcome and thanks for bumping this thread. Lets have an update!

[murphy]

OK NEW UPDATE...after many problems with getting it started and keep it running It NOW WILL RUN and start very easly..
some of the problems from before. the Crank angle sensor was physically set wrong..I had it set to the stock 11 tooth offset when the start map was set in the ecu to the 3 tooth offset. That is why I was reading 7k rpm at the crappy idle. Fixed. Re-timed the engine too. it now reads what it should -5 tdc for leading and -20 tdc for trailing. Also had to change a sub setting so the computer would fire the seconday spark right..it needed to be set to distributer (did I spell that right?) and not direct fire. wired the coils into a better supply of 12v.
So yeah its more alive than before. we did a count of how long the turbo will spin after it shuts off...almost 1 min. Love the BB turbos. All pressures and temps were ok and reading. We gave it a little throttle and it makes about 1-3 psi of boost at 3500rpm free revving..AND LOUD AS FU$K..
Will take some vids Saturday and post youtube link here.
Thanks all for the good comments. And yes it will someday make it to the meets.

[murphy]

The Project is OVER, DONE, KAPUT. after running it last night everything was fine..saw a few minor water leaks..temp sensor..fixed them today. Then I was going to run it to get the video...and WHAM motor seized..would not move clockwise or back counter clockwise. First thought starter jammed took it out, everythings fine. Ok to much fuel..took out plugs and tried to bar it over again, nothing. Checked oil condition..looks GREAT. So I use the fiberoptic camera to look in the spark plug hole..I see on #1 rotor housing a nice shiney wide scrach marking..so I pull entire intake off and the exhaust to check the other sides...same thing. #1 rotor destroyed and I'm betting the rotor housing too. I might put in an old school chevy V-8 that has 13.5:1 compression. I don't know yet what I want to do with this.

[Dewey]

ahhhh, that sucks.

[cody]

Weak.

[sperry]

Dammit.

With all the turbo goodies you've got for that rotory, you thing you could break even selling it all and picking up an LS1? I've always loved RX-7's, but I'm scared off by the finicky turbo rotory motors. A Vette motor in there would be a beast, and a way more reliable. Plus I hear the handling isn't effected all that much because the 350's weight distribution isn't all that much different than the rotory, aside from the CG being a bit higher.

What's a kit LS1 go for these days? These guys are known to be overpriced, and they've got a new LS1/LS6 w/ 390hp for $7500:

http://turnkeyenginesupply.com/street_57390.htm

I gotta figure with some hunting around you could be at the 400hp level for $5k.

[murphy]

Well Merry Christmas all..As for the engine I have found a built 327..well actually its the motor out of my dads 66 chevelle.. It pushed the full weight boat using a 150 shot of nitrous to a 10.8 in Sacramento. The engine runs a 13:1 compression. I have found a company that makes drop in cradles and tranny mounts that require no welding or cutting. They pretty much make everything to swap in a v-8. The down side is that I would not be able to get the engine until late spring or early summer.
the last couple of days I've been removing the high dollar parts so my friend can put the car outside to make room in the shop. I will be pulling the motor out, tearing it down to see what failed. I was able to get ahold of my old engine builder and he is being very helpful so getting it rebuilt might be an option. On the other side I have also found another 13b-re engine for a good price, would not take long to swap parts to it and install it. Would not hurt to have an extra engine around.
I will post pics of the failed parts when I get it apart.

[murphy]

Up date. Found what failed..no internal engine damage. Lucky me..was a bearing under the timing chain..when I got it off engine spunn easly. Pic of damaged stuff.

[Dean]

Holy crap. That looks like it was unlubricated and under extreme pressure.

Glad it wasn't an internal.

Project back on?

[sperry]

Wait... that's not normal?

*runs off to order more SVX parts*

[murphy]

I found another broken bearing..its under the one in the pic.. It goes around the E-shaft..it appears to have a broken area in it..so I have to remove the stationary bearing and remove it from e-shaft. the parts are easy to get so I'm still hopeful that I can come out on top. I'll see how much more damage is done before I decide on keeping the project alive dean..but it looks like I'll continue with it..hell had it going so..I'll see how I feel..

[murphy]

Bad update...bug into the motor some more today..well its not good I spun a stationary gear bearing..its fuzed itself to the e-shaft (crank) so that is poop to. So a list of parts damaged..
1: stationary gear
2: E-shaft
3: thrust bearing
4: bearing plate
5: counter weight seal
I need to replace both stationary gears can't mismatch. Would also need to replace the water seals if I tear apart engine to replace shaft. Me not happy right now. So project is looking to be getting the AXE

[murphy]

Project is well OVER...LET THE PART OUT BEGIN!!!!!