Snetterton 1, RX-7 0

alexb · Post by **alexb** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:19 pm

Hey Guys,

As some people will have seen, I found an oil leak in the engine bay at the end of my second session at Snetterton on Wednesday. the leak was near the oil filter which on an FD is below the throttle body.

Turns out the oil is coming from the oil seals on the turbos

and making it's way all through the intercooler etc until it leaks out of the join between the inlet elbow and the throttle body.

As soon as I took off the elbow (to look for leaks on the sandwich plate for the oil temp gauge :roll: ) and saw the amount of oil in the pipe I knew to fear the worst...

So after a discussion with Andrew at Jimmy's yesterday and him having had a look today I'm faced with the following main choices (loads of permutations obviously):

1. New/2nd hand turbo pack plus labour to remove engine, replace turbos, refit engine - approx

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:32 pm

1). If you have the facilities, tools, equipment, time, info, ability, or if option 5 becomes your only option, go for option 4 8)

2). If lacking one or more of the above, go for option 3 :roll:

3). If you're feeling flush go for option 1

4). If you come up on the lottery, go for option 2

5). option 5 ain't an option.

Maybe you should add a poll.

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:39 pm

Depends on whether you have the cash - I would say option 3 is the most viable

alexb · Post by **alexb** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:01 pm

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Well I'm currently saving for my wedding next year so the timing wasn't the best

Just received some offers of 2nd hand turbos in various conditions so that's encouraging.

3 is appealing from a cost point of view but the turbo pack is a total nightmare to get to if it's still on the car and some of the bolts will be practically welded in!

Currently I'm leaning towards option 1 as although the engine will have to be out again probably next year it seems the best combination of time/cost/hassle if I can get hold of a turbo pack cheap and hand it over to Jimmy's for fitting. Once the wedding's out of the way next year I'll be more receptive to a

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:39 pm

Wedding

May as well part chop for a Fiesta now.

alexb · Post by **alexb** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:49 pm

Gerry H wrote:Wedding May as well part chop for a Fiesta now.

Lol I'm pretty lucky - Tracy would have been at Snett on Wednesday as my passenger if she'd been able to get out of work earlier, she's been telling me to keep the RX-7

and she's already got a fiesta

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:52 pm

Phew! You are lucky. Back to the options then

Post by **Ben** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:57 pm

- doh doh and it was going to well mate .... can't sell it ... simple.

I'm sure there are enough mechnically minded people on this site to get the engine out together .. after seeing how much Gareth removed from his with his knowledge you're not far off getting down to the block itself.

alexb · Post by **alexb** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:30 pm

Nah, you're right. It was a pretty nice feeling caning it down the back straight after nailing the exit from Sear (not every time, but enough

) and realising I could take the Bomb Hole and Coram quicker and quicker.

That is definitely an option if garage facilities are available, if it's a case of lifting the block & ancillaries out in one go and then tackling the turbo pack it may not be too bad.

Cheers,
Alex

Post by **Stuart** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:00 pm

Don't forget the unit Alex.

We have several cars in various states of rebuilds at the moment (some plain storage,some like Meccano) but we may be able to help.

In terms of your project, I think the answer is simple once you've asked yourself a couple of questions.
a) Do you envisage keeping your Rex long term?
b) If the above answer is 'yes' then what can you actually afford?

If you have the will and the means I would get the best you can run to. There is no point in avoiding an imminent rebuild when you really should tackle this, well not in my opinion anyway.

Best of luck. Let me know if I can help.