Engine Building

In this page we will show you the processes required to build a quality performance rotary engine. Also you will find many of the available options to fit your specific rotary needs.

First step is to get your motor, whether you drop it off in person or we pick it up at the freight company.


Tear it down


and inspect the parts


Now we can determine what parts are needed for your rebuild and give you an accurate estimate. We stock some new parts. As for used parts we stock a small selection due to the reality that a hard driven rotary engine core yields only a small amount amout of re-usable parts. Per Arizona Rotary Rockets policy we will re-use no internal parts other than rotors, e-shaft, stationary gears and oiling system. Plates are generally re-usable, however we strongly recommend resurfacing in nearly all cases. More often than not we find the rotor housings unusable. Most of the time rotors are usable unless you have broken an apex seal or there is other visable scarring or damage.


Parts are now ready to be cleaned before final inspection


A nice parts washer really helps here!


Now on to the media blasting and parts look almost new!


Now we come to porting, which is an optional process. There are several types of ports that can be done including but not limited to:
street port
race port
half bridge
bridge port
peripheral port

We can flowbench your ports if you desire.

Here is a finished intake port


The exhaust is included with our porting options and these can go anywhere from nearly stock to insanely large and suitable for off road use only.



Next step is to finish the plates with a resurfacing process that leaves the plates perfectly parallel and well within the 15 rms spec set by Mazda.

Below is a quote from Paul Yaw of www.yawpower.com, on why we grind, not lap.

1. Grinding ensures that the opposing surfaces remain parallel. Lapping provides a flat surface, but does not have a mechanical reference to the opposing surface. Grinding involves mounting the housing to an electromagnet which is parallel to the grinding wheel travel so that dimensional accuracy is maintained.
 
2. A housing that is lapped mirror smooth will have little or no oil retention. This is clearly illustrated when applying assembly lube to a mirror finished housing. Rather than spreading evenly across the surface, the lube will bead up much like water on a freshly waxed car. Our process leaves some grain intact to hold oil on the surface, and the light finish lap flattens the top of the peaks ensuring that the seals have a smooth finish to ride on. This approach is more time consuming, and so more expensive, but has proven to us to give the best housing and seal wear, along with a quick break in period.


Then we re-clean parts. This is one of the most critical steps of a successful rebuild and is ongoing through the entire build. Any single part may be cleaned a dozen or more times through the process because even the most minute foreign object, be it dust or a horse fly, can completly destroy your brand new rebuild.


Now we spec out rotors


Install new bearings to the rotors and stationary gears (if needed)


using some of our pretty Mazda tools


then clearance the side seals and build the rotors.


Now the motor is ready for assembly


and final adjustment with a rubber mallet, just kidding


The final product in our pretty blue paint