Catastrophic engine failure.

[ca18detpowered]

Welllll the ca18 is knocking so bad that i can barely even run it.

Has anybody had experience with a ca block going like this, and when you took it apart was it salvageable. I think its a spun bearing, i know i have SEVERE loss of power, at 100k/hr i had to let it spool 10 psi just to keep doing 100k/hr, then it started dropping no matter what i did, so i pulled over before chancing putting a rod thru the block.

anyways, what have your findings been when opening a ca18 block with a situation like this.

thank you in advance for your help/suggestions.

[themadscientist]

your block should be fine. pull the motor and tear it down. The worst I would suspect is damage to the rod journal on the crank.

[float_6969]

Yea, TMS nailed it. Worst case you'll have to get some oversized bearings and have the crank milled. You're still in for a complete teardown and rebuild.

I've got $1 that say's it's the #3 rod bearing.....

[tyrannix]

join the club

the 7M in my mx83 started knocking on thursday, been sitting in my driveway since.

and it sickens me that im going to have to pay somone else to just fix it, rather than drop in a 7mgte now.

just too much on my plate right now, along with an uncertain amount of time before i wont be able to play with my cars for awhile (back surgery)

i may end up selling the ae86 and truck too (so theres only 3 vehicles to move to the new house)

but yeah, i would put money on #3 too.

BTW did you rebuild the engine before installing?

CJ

[themadscientist]

I've got $1 that say's it's the #3 rod bearing.....

I'll take that action! I say #1.

[float_6969]

Deal!

ca18detpowered, get that thing torn down so I can get my $1!!!

[themadscientist]

ain't you $1.00 yet scooter!

Why does everyone else say #3? Every CA I have torn down shows bearing wear on #1.

[ragenasian]

The CA I bought with the rod sticking out the side was on number three.


Modified by ragenasian at 12:42 AM 12/18/2006

[ca18detpowered]

It actually does sound like its coming from #3....i could be mistaken, but pretty sure it is.

ill prolly start taking the engine out after x-mas and tear it down.

[float_6969]

Muahahaha! That dollar is mine!

[bentvalves]

# 2 was spun in mine, but I also think it was a rod from a donor motor. After being oversized, it was still one gram heavier than all the other rods, at 683 grams I believe. It got mated up to a forgie that was one gram lighter than the rest.

[themadscientist]

Muahahaha! That dollar is mine!

Do you take aussie dollars?

[float_6969]

No, but you can pay me an English £!

[ca18detpowered]

Well i got you a dollar float_6969

yeh im gonna do this engine right when i take it apart. The bottom end is gonna be bulletproof when im done with it.

Any tricks or specifics i should know about ca18? or is it pretty general.

thanks again

[themadscientist]

I am researching weak points and consulting knowledgable guys on this end. I hear rods go on high-revvers and forgies for anything over 400hp. I can understand the rod thing, I think it's the bolts myself, they are small, they probably stretch and induce the bearing wear and rod knock. All this time I was damming the oiling but I am starting to think it's rod bolt stretch that's doing it. I have to price out aftermarket rods and pistons and figure out what I can afford. I may end up using OEM again with new bolts.

[float_6969]

Well i got you a dollar float_6969

yeh im gonna do this engine right when i take it apart. The bottom end is gonna be bulletproof when im done with it.

Any tricks or specifics i should know about ca18? or is it pretty general.

thanks again

So I take it that means it was the #3 rod? If so, TMS, you can send me that extra HKS cast mani if you want. We can just call it even. Heck, I'd even pay for shipping!

No tricks really. You can get CP pistons from http://www.raceeng.com. They have them in stock w/stock CR in stock diameter, or .5mm overbore. For rods I personally like H Beams.

[boost_boy]

The #3 cylinder and it's reciprocating cast owns all new CA18DET owners .

Dee

[bentvalves]

The #3 cylinder and it's reciprocating cast owns all new CA18DET owners .

Dee

what reciprocating cast? hrmmmm, was this post meant to confuse?

[float_6969]

I think Dee's schooling is starting to overload his brain....

[ca18detpowered]

hmm...thats interesting info about the rods....

im not looking for anything over the 350 mark anyways...just want it to be strong....cant afford rods at the moment, jus gonna use the stockers with the forged pistons that kit comes with. Should that hit the 350 mark reliably?

[float_6969]

Oh, I'm sorry. You said built bottom end and I assumed you meant rods. For 350HP, you should be fine with the stock rods, as long as you don't plan on running some crazy cams that require a lot of revs (more than 7500-8K RPM).

So you never said for sure, was it the #3 rod?

[ca18detpowered]

Oh, I'm sorry. You said built bottom end and I assumed you meant rods. For 350HP, you should be fine with the stock rods, as long as you don't plan on running some crazy cams that require a lot of revs (more than 7500-8K RPM).

So you never said for sure, was it the #3 rod?

ah i wont know till i open it up. If my Rx7 sells soon, then ill be able to afford the rebuild kit right away, if not it may be awhile.

wouldnt want to plug up my friends garage for 3 months would i?

[float_6969]

Dude, it is crazy how many people ditch the RX-7 for a CA! There are at least 4 ex-RX-7 members here in the CA section and I know a couple of guys locally that have converted as well. Weird...

[themadscientist]

Both revvy motors malaigned by most, beloved by those who have them. I think the rotary and the CA attract the same type of people; individualistic and determined. proud of what they have and what it can do.

[float_6969]

I love you man...not in a gay way...but I love you nonetheless. I've never had/driven a rotary, but I could imagine how they're similar.

[themadscientist]

Not so fast, you have never met me in person, I am pretty sexy. There might be another dollar in it for you

[float_6969]

If you give me one of those HKS mani's I'd gladly be your *****....for a few minutes...

[driftin8ez]

Dude, it is crazy how many people ditch the RX-7 for a CA! There are at least 4 ex-RX-7 members here in the CA section and I know a couple of guys locally that have converted as well. Weird...

Add another ex-rx7 owner to the ca owner list.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p...l.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p...7.JPG

[davidricardo86]

The #3 cylinder and it's reciprocating cast owns all new CA18DET owners .

Dee

Hahaha

Dude, it is crazy how many people ditch the RX-7 for a CA! There are at least 4 ex-RX-7 members here in the CA section and I know a couple of guys locally that have converted as well. Weird...

Make it another! I bought my first car, 1986 Mazda rx7 na "sport," when i had just gotten my license. First car and a Haynes manual and i began tooling at it. I kinda damaged some city property with it and had to pay for damages and not having insurance. Luckily i only had to pay a fee for sr22 insurance, and not the state fee ($500 IIRC). I was inexperienced and did not know what i was doing. To this day, i wish i hadnt gotten rid of that FC3S. I think after a while and im satisfied with the ca s13, i might go after another RX7. The rotary is a thing to be reckoned with! I would want to do like a 3-rotor NA on carbs setup or EFI.

[ca18detpowered]

Well....i love my rotary....to death, and i will get another one for track once i am finished school (welding ticket) and making big $$$

It is just not feasible on the road......i get to a 50$ tank....250km....maybe.....

the ca18, i was getting 400 to a 40$ tank.....and that was beating it every day.....

rotary is an awesome engine tho, i worked at a place in calgary here called Rx7 Specialties for about 6 months and picked up alot of knowledge.

Oh i will have another rx7....maybe an FD