Dear Paul:   My search for an engine for the aircraft has benn
fruitful.My first attempt of going to a Junkyard to see if they had a
junked RX-7 around was rewarded when the kid in charge told me that
there was one around the corner in the back.When I went there.on top of
another car in full openness to the elements sat a 1986 RX-7. I asked
how many miles,he said 188k,and that it was a run out.I immediately
though about the chromed surfaces of the housing face;was there any
scoring,pitting or any other unrectifiable wear on the surface,At the
same  time my thoughts ran to the wear of the rotor seals,and how much
it would cost the overhaul and refurbish these components.

At the least,I
already was committed to replacing the seals with the latest technology
ones,and coating the 2 rotors with ceramic coatings to increase rotor
life and aid in the heat dissipation of the engine.Cost $300.My thoughts
started to race about the mount,the inter cooler,the turbocharger,the
radiator(s),the PSRU,the oil cooler,the EFI,the braided
tubing,muffler,prop (2,3,4 bladed},fuel pumps,high strength rubber
hoses,air,oil cooler intakes,their defuser designs(it's a pusher,similar
to all of our popular canard pushers).The weight,385... :-) ...?

Paul how does the mileage number sound in terms of engine integrity?
Does any other of the membership have any suggestions on that
topic?Please drop me a line.BTW it should be bulletproof.
Regards.   Dave Young

Forget the ceramic coating on the rotors. It comes off and
ruins the rotor housings.

The 188K miles depends on whether it was taken care of by changing
the oil and not letting it over heat. Also if there is any
water in the engine it is junk. That happens to many junk
yard engines.

Is it a 13B or a 12A?

Paul Lamar


The Rotary Engine NewsLetter. Powered by Linux.
ACRE NL web site. http://www.rotaryeng.net
Copyright 1998-2006 All world wide rights reserved.