Jeff Spitzer wrote:

I'm practically giddy.  I finally got my engine delivered and began tearing
into it.  I don't think I'm going to be disappointed.

I bought the engine from an importer in Fresno, All Engine Distributing.  I
was told by another ACRE subscriber that this guy had some real low time
13B's and 20B's for sale.  We flew up there and took a borescope.  The
story was Mazda had been warehousing tons of engines from "test programs".
Many engines were claimed to be *real* low time if the test involved a
crash or something.  The story continued that restructuring at Mazda forced
a fire sale of these engines and this importer picked up a handful.  I
wasn't sure if I was buying  the story at the time.

We looked in a bunch of engines and when I saw mine it was love at first
sight.  There was no evidence of road dirt, the rubber and plastic was all
supple as new, and an internal inspection looked like new.  The price was
also right.  $1300 for a '88 13B turbo fully dressed including harness,
alternator, etc.  So I bought it.

Now as I'm pulling it apart I think I'm buying the story.  I've found the
word "test" written in a couple places below the level that the recycler
could have written it.  Better yet it's written in torque stripe paint.
That's right, the same torque stripe that's all over the critical
fasteners.  Has anyone ever seen torque stripe on a production engine?  I
haven't.  I'm thinking this gem is a one of a kind.

So, if you hear about a "test engine" that appears to have low time it just
might be true.  This thing has some cherry parts for anyone who is
interested in buying them.  Any rebuilder types out there need a turbo or
manifolds for a car rebuild?  If not I'll be offering them to recyclers.

Jeff Spitzer

 
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