[D/FW RX-7] Rebuild or replace?

[FrankenRex (Kevin Wright)]

OK, folks, I have a decision to make, and you guys can help make up  
my mind.
I'm about to take ownership of a somewhat-beat '86 base model that  
hopefully has a good engine (it's been sitting for a while, but ran  
when parked.) as you may know from previous postings, my sig, and my  
website, I have a whole mess of first gens, but only one actually  
runs for any length of time. One of those non-runners is a  
cosmetically and mechanically very nice Tornado Grey '84 GSL-SE whose  
only fault is a lack of engine under the hood.
http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/grey_84_gslse.html
I do now possess the engine, but it's down on compression enough to  
require ATF to get it to start.

Presuming that the soon-to-be-mine FC engine is viable, I am left  
with a decision, and a couple of questions related to that decision.

So, here is the choice:
I can, of course rebuild the SE engine, and stuff that back in the  
grey GSL-SE as a daily driver, or, I can shove the FC engine in,  
perhaps with the FC electronics as well.

If I put the SE engine back in it's original home, I can use the FC  
engine in my FrankenRex '79 (or, the '86 itself may be viable.)

Rebuilding the SE engine is actually something that I've found  
confusing. I've looked at kits from Atkins, Rotary Aviation, and  
Mazdatrix.
Some of the 'basic' kits seem to imply that it is not always  
necessary to replace the bearings, side seals or the metal part of  
the rotor oil seal. For example, the Atkins 'rotor kit' doesn't have  
side seals, corner seal plugs, oil o-ring seals (metals), or oil o- 
ring springs, yet they say that it, along with a gasket kit is  
sufficient for a minor rebuild. It's tempting at around $600 for  
both. you don't get the oil o-ring metals until the 'C' kit ($935,  
$965 for FC) that also has new bearings.
Rotary Aviation's 'basic' kit does include the side seals, but not  
the oil o-ring metals. That, with an installation kit (external  
gaskets) is $516. The 'master' kit adds those and the oil pump chain  
- but that's $965, and still doesn't have bearings.
Mazdatrix' rotor kit is does include the oil control metals and side  
seals, but no bearings, and it's $850 with carbon apex seals, $1080  
with steel apex seals. Another $157 for the gasket set, plus front  
and rear main seals, for a total of $1021 for carbon and $1251 for  
steel apex seals! FC stuff is a bit more expensive, as usual.

Another sticky point is that Rotary Aviation doesn't have a GSL-SE  
kit, thought the only difference should be the apex seals, and they  
*do* make 'their' apex seals in 3 mm.

Atkins has a 'B' level kit that adds side seals, the oil o-ring  
metals, and Hylomar to the rotor kit and gasket kit combo for $820  
($850 for FC.)

So, I'm guessing that the bearings don't commonly need replacement -  
obviously, they have to be measured to be sure. Ditto for the side  
seals. I need to review Turrentine's rebuilding video again to check  
all this. The corner seal plugs (inserts) not being included in  
Atkin's kits until the 'C' kit confuses me, though. They're cheap  
enough to add, $22 for the set.

Since the SE engine is just down on compression, I'd bet that it just  
needs the 'minor' rebuild - Apex seals, seal springs, oil o-ring  
vitons, and all the gaskets, as provided by the Atkins rotor and  
gasket kits, or the Rotary Aviation Basic kit (if it will fit the SE  
engine...) Atkins also has an 'A' level kit that doesn't include the  
apex seals , corner seals, side seals, or oil o-ring metals or  
springs for $285 ($330 FC.) That might be of use if I wanted to use  
RA's apex seals if their overhaul kit won't work on an SE 13B.

Suddenly, I realize that I don't know as much as I thought I did...
I realize that a lot will depend on measuring tolerances on the parts  
I have, but what would you do? I think I prefer to overhaul the SE  
engine for the SE, if I can do it for a reasonable price. $600 seems  
reasonable. For Finagle's sake, Mazdatrix is kinda 'out there' on  
pricing. I can get an entire rebuilt engine for $1200...

So, basically, the question is should I put the GSL-SE or the FC  
engine in the GSL-SE (remember, this is to be just a daily driver.  
FrankenRex is going to be the hot rod), and, if I rebuild the SE  
engine, what kit, and from whom? Other options? Other vendors? Advice  
from those that have rebuilt a rotary before would be most welcome.
Most likely, I will rebuild the SE engine eventually, and will do it  
myself just for the experience, but the FC engine route is cheap and  
quick - I'm getting the car for next to nothing just to make it go away.

Kevin Wright                                                
FrankenRex at sbcglobal.net
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX                                   http:// 
www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/rx7.html

1980 and '85 Factory Service Manuals, 1979-85 RX-7 Wiring Diagrams  
scanned and on-line at http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars/rx7/ 
manuals.html

A bucket-load of first gen '7s, and a '70 Olds Cutlass named Snoopy