Francois Badoux wrote:
<< After Sun'n Fun, we'll beat the hell out
> of them and see what gives. I attach 2 pictures, one of a Mistral
> casing compared to a Mazda one to show some of the differences and
> another one of ME housings viewed from different angles. Do you have
> suggestions on the seal materials we should use?
> Best regards,
> Francois Badoux >>
Outstanding pieces. Is that the same size as a 13B housing?
Lynn E. Hanover
Thanks Lynn for the compliment. Yes, they have precisely the same geometry as the 13B. However they won't be interchangeable and won't fit on a Mazda
side-housing as we brought a few modifications of our own, mainly:
- the face-sealing o-ring grooves are on the rotor housings rather than on the side housings.
- Notice the extra hole in the oil pan support? We have integrated the external oil gallery that we have on our engines into the short-block casings for
weight and cost savings... it will also give a neater and more compact installation.
Before surface treatment, they weigh 400g less than Mazda's (basically the weight of Mazda's steel insert).
Francois Badoux
If it were me Francois I would not mess with the nicosil. I would get some steel det gun cladding
plate, form it into a trochoid and furnace braze it into the rotor housing.
Or cast the det plate in when you have the rotor housing cast. Preheat it to 900 F before inserting
it in the sand mold. My aluminum foundry here in SoCal cast in steel inserts all the time.
When I get back I will send you some pictures of the process. You might want to
contact them in the mean time. American International in San Fernando CAL.
They know all about rotary engines. Ask for Ward.
Your technological risk would be way reduced as then you can use the same apex seals
and surface treatment Mazda uses and be assured of the same results.
Paul Lamar
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