Build thread

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:14

Sorry man. I can't believe this situation. Let me know if you need any help.

Operator · Postby **Operator** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:14

I so feel you pain man. My spring modding has not gone smoothly either. Car was on jacks for over 2 weeks. Finally took it down the night before I tripped out, and I ended up having to limp it home in 1st and 2nd before I even got out of my neighborhood. I'm sure you'll get things figured out!

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:14

I have pretty much all the bits to rebuild your engine on hand if you need them, just let me know.

EDIT: Let me know if you need anything, will help in any way I can. Would not be the first time we pulled, tore down, rebuilt, and re-installed an FD engine in a couple of days... right Pat?

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:14

Operator wrote:I so feel you pain man. My spring modding has not gone smoothly either. Car was on jacks for over 2 weeks. Finally took it down the night before I tripped out, and I ended up having to limp it home in 1st and 2nd before I even got out of my neighborhood. I'm sure you'll get things figured out!

Damn that sucks. I had no idea. I have your tires (i mean, my old tires lol) too btw. Andy brought them over tonight.

D Walker wrote:I have pretty much all the bits to rebuild your engine on hand if you need them, just let me know.

EDIT: Let me know if you need anything, will help in any way I can. Would not be the first time we pulled, tore down, rebuilt, and re-installed an FD engine in a couple of days... right Pat?

Thanks Don. I might get those parts off you. Are they OEM Mazda? If I rebuild it I'll be doing it myself though.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

I have OEM Mazda and Goopy parts on hand- I keep at least two OEM O-ring kits on hand at all times- and have side seals, Atkins and Goopy solid corner seals, etc. on hand.
Your welcome to bring your engine up here and tear it down and rebuild it. Assuming its just a part that needs replacing and not a damaged housing you can do it in less than a day, and be more likely to not have to wait on having some obscure part overnighted in. If the housings are damaged I may have a spare or two on the shelf or know where to get one in a hurry.
Give me a call and we can see what I can do to help you out.

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

It should just be a torn/cut oil control o-ring, improperly installed oil control ring tray, or backwards oil control ring spring. I would hope with less than 1000 miles, all done in brake in conditions, the all new seals and housing should be good.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

Less than 1000 miles you say? Please tell me more about:

Which Apex seals used
Condition of housings on rebuild
Which Corner seals used
What spec were the side seals gapped at
What "portwork" was done

And anything else related to the rebuild of the engine.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

Yeah I'm hoping it's just something simple with the oil control rings.

I started using/losing oil with under or around 1000 miles on the break-in. It was a year ago so I don't remember how many miles it was exactly, but I do remember I wasn't even finished with the break-in.

The apex seals are RA Super Seals. I talked to another friend Saturday and he said Rotary Aviation switched to a different supplier that uses different materials and they eat the housings even worse now. He said they had something like 8 cars built with those seals and they were all back within a month for new housings. YIKES! He told me to do a compression test before tearing it down just to be sure the housings are still good. So I might be getting new apex seals just for the hell of it.

The housings weren't brand new but they might as well have been. Very low usage but I don't remember the exact miles, and they looked great.

I believe all other seals aside from the apex seals are stock, I know the corner seals are anyway.

Supposedly this engine was race-spec'd, but I'm not sure what all that entails.

It has a very large streetport. I should still have pics from the build.

I don't really have time to bring the engine up there to rebuild it, but I appreciate the offer. I can't take off work this week and I'd like to have it back together by this weekend, barring any major damage to where I'd need to replace major parts.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

If you are going to get new seals go with ALS. I have an engine stand Eric don't know if you have one or not. I can help you out next weekend before i head out to the field AGAIN!!!!.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

I would recommend Goopy seals, but I am highly biased after using them.

Let me know if and how I can help, be glad to.

EDIT- ALS seals use the same material as an early version of the GOOPY seals, they have gone past that now.
If you need them I can get a set of resurfaced housings sent in from Goopy for you in case yours have chatter or other damage.

JTurton7 · Postby **JTurton7** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

Anyone else got a vote for 100% stock seals except maybe some viton water o-rings? It just seems that every other seal have some sort of big down side to them for mild to negligible benefits.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

no

the drawback to the OEM seal- breakage- is a lot worse than a little early wear.

most of the chatter people complain about is actually a result of not replacing the apex seal springs, or not using the correct (FD springs are specific) springs.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

ALS are being used on Drag Racing applications boosting over 30psi. Do some research on 7club about ALS seals you will be amazed. OEM seals are design for stock power levels obviously I rather spend the extra money and have the peace of mind, they are brittle and if they brake say good bye to your housings and turbo. I'll recommend ALS all day every day because my experience with the owner, great customer service.

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

ALS seals are the bees knees!!

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:14

Thanks Eduardo. I think we have an engine stand but I don't know for sure.

I started pulling the engine tonight. I drove it today to test out what Rich suggested one more time. Leaving the oil cap off and OMP disconnected. Still lost a lot of oil. I'm so sick of this BS.

Well I'll check on which apex seals to use. I may as well swap them out while I'm in there. One thing about stock seals...you know the materials they're made of aren't changing or you'll hear about it lol.

Build thread

Who is online