"Brian D. Cain" wrote:

Hey guys, just last night I assembled my first engine using Tracy's new

apex seals.

They seem to fit very nicely without any major issues.  They look very

stout!  However,

I have a couple of suggestions for Tracy if you're monitouring this:

1)  Is it possible to assemble and package these seals with the corner

piece glued

to the main piece?  I had a bit of an issue last night assembling the

rear half of the engine

having the corner pieces on the intermediate housing side of the

equation.  When I was

inserting the outer apex seal spring, the apex seal corner piece kept

wanting to slide down

and prevent the spring from going in all the way.  I had to take the

rotor out a couple of

times.  I'm not sure if this is related to the extra length your corner

piece has over stock

or the Atkins seals but it was definitely a small issue.  I wound up

having to go get a tube

of superglue from the local grocery store and glue them together (I

sometimes do this when

I have issues during assembly like this).  The older 3-piece 2mm Mazda

seals come

pre-assembled and glued together for this purpose, I believe.  Just a

suggestion for you :)

2)  I'm not sure of what the springs are made of that you provide in the

packaged kit, but

they seem to be a bit 'soft' (atleast for what I was doing last night).

Sometimes, when I can't

get the outer (longer) apex seal spring in easily, I use the edge of

needle-nose pliers to try

and tap it in.  I noticed that the edges of your springs began to 'dink

up' a little bit.  You might

want to either take a look at that or chide me for using too much force.

Even so, great product and terrific price!  We're looking forward to

using them on this motor.

Here's a picture of the front rotor being assembled w/ these new apex

seals:

http://rx7.cyberosity.com/87GTR/pics/2003/12082003/DSC01839.JPG

Here's a link to the pictures of the total engine build-up (plenty of

eye candy for you guys).

http://rx7.cyberosity.com/87GTR/pics/2003/12082003/

The motor is a 1991 Series 5 block, half-bridgeported with large eyebrow

cuts and very

large secondary intake port outlets, small primary port outlets,

generously ported exhaust

ports, etc.  This motor was soda-blasted and then powder coated.  We're

aiming for 550

to 600hp to the drivewheels on leaded race fuel so this will be a sure

test of your seals, Tracy.

I believe your wife spoke to my friend Tony Farkas about this; it's the

same engine FYI.  We'll

let you (and you guys) know how they turn out and when they finally

break in.

B

Brian,
You obviously know what your doing  - a great job as well.
It's common practice to superglue the corners on the rotor seals, someone
did suggest a special one but I can't remember.
However they should easily slide in the slot - did you clean the slot
thoroughly and test slide them before assembly.
Perhaps one of the corners wasn't exactly flush when you glued it on - it's
a bugger of a job, especially when your getting old and blind like me.

BTW I wouldn't be hitting them with anything hard.
George (down under)

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