Building my First Rotary Engine, Turbo 13B for my Mazda FD RX7!

Today's Video is Sponsered by the Ridge! Save up to 40% and snag your Dad something good for Father's Day at ridge.com/Smeedia
While I wait for some Fabrication stuff to come in for the H6 Swapped Subaru WRX STI, I thought id kill some time by building the engine for the 1993 Mazda RX7 that we recently picked up! I have built engines for my Subrus and my old Mitsubishi Evos before but this is a first. And honesty this seems like the easiest engine I think I have ever built! We added a Half Bridge to the engine as well as a single Turbo Kit conversion. Excited to hear how this thing sounds!
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[@Smeedia]

Update: I installed the outter coolant jacket seal Wrong, so I have to go back into the engine. While we are I there, we are swapping out the Atkins apex seals for E&J seals, replacing the coolant jacket seals and swapping the solid corner seals for oem 2mm mazda ones 🫡 Live and learn, we will fix it and keep going 🫡

[@mingscustoms]

Get OEM coolant jackets and not Atkins, also make sure your using OEM apex seal springs. I had bad experience with E and J check my rx7club posts. They prematurely wore extremely fast i still have them on my table

[@Smeedia]

​@Ming Miner ordered OEM coolant seals, have OEM springs 🫡 trying to not have to go back into this engine for a while 😅 Also snagged the Oil pan shim brace thing? 😅

[@mingscustoms]

@@Smeedia Yes an oil pan brace would be a good idea as well as oil pan studs as they can strip easily

[@josephmatuszak3855]

When I assemble rotary engines, I kinda make it a point to pack vasoline into everything I can to promote oil pressure asap, and as it's a fresh build the oil will be rinsed asap anyhow.

[@Smeedia]

Making me think I should have used more 🥲

[@strongislandautoenthusiast841]

That FD chassis is really straight looking on camera, good find. Glad to see you rebuilding the original 13B-REW and I see that your going single turbo instead of a twin turbo setup.

[@Smeedia]

After seeing the pile of vaccumm lines I immediately wanted to do the single 😅 I'm super excited to bring this thing back. And with the rotary too 🥳

[@strongislandautoenthusiast841]

@@Smeedia Wankel Style!!

[@jptothetree]

Your dedication to the craft and learning new things is commendable. Quality work as always! Can't wait to see this baby come together.

[@Smeedia]

Thank you 🥳 alqays love to build and do new stuff 🎉

[@joshuawilliams639]

These cars are so underrated. I remember when they broke the land speed record with over 230 mph. Literally insane

[@Smeedia]

They're wild, love how they look 😍

[@jakehill9174]

Lmao underrated? They're literally a cult car.

[@joshuawilliams639]

@@jakehill9174 They get more hate then love. Especially from mechanics

[@sickvick83]

They are not underrated lmao the princess just gone up the roof and becoming rare to find 😂

[@jaboykingsley5421]

@@sickvick83I’d say they are definitely the black sheep of the trio, mk4 Supras and r34s get all the love and are overhyped and these get a decent bit of hate. Still a halo car.

[@Srustam20]

Tuned by Shawn is who I’m using to remote tune the elite 2500 in my FD and he’s been a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend.

[@fd3s7]

Got some bad news, the outer water seals are installed wrong. They are rectangular in cross section and the white sides should be on the sides when installed, not on the top and bottom. Look on page C-64 of the RX-7 service manual. Also, I think you are used to piston engines, you can keep a rotary engine on the stand bolted to the front iron for the entire build process. This lets you access the clutch and flywheel and install all that easily on the stand. I try and put EVERYTHING together on the stand, you can get about 90% on the stand and that minimizes time you are leaning over trying to do things in the car. For the front cover gasket use the Cosmo metal gasket, Atkins has them in stock, you just toss it on and bolt the front cover, NO oring needed, way better design than the stock paper gasket. Good luck with the project!

[@Smeedia]

I had a feeling that was the case 🫠 spme people suggested swapping apex seals as well and cornkr seals Any suggestions? Also TY for verifying that. Going to tear it back apart 😅

[@yarukineez0]

So grateful that you saved this from getting an LS swap. RX-7s should only have rotaries!

[@Smeedia]

Thr LS swaps are definitely cool, but the roary is justv🫴

[@dandiaz4052]

BOB WAGNER!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!

[@Smeedia]

BOB!!!!!

[@fredd3.14]

the most important part of keeping a rotary running is having a good tune, so hope you actually find a good tuner!

[@Smeedia]

On the hunt for someone 🫣

[@lilmike1780]

Love watching you Lear and share, such a great build idea

[@Smeedia]

One day at a time keep learning more 🫣🔥

[@Assassin12562]

Loving these videos! Keep it up brother!

[@Smeedia]

Thanks Dan 🥳

[@robind.3651]

Watching your video's while drilling out a subaru TD04L stud makes my day a little bit less miserable! Got my knuckles all messed up but she'll be done! Thanks and keep it up m8❤️

[@Smeedia]

Drilling those studs out always sucks 😭 but glad to hear that it's going somewhat smoothly 🔥🥳

[@LanceUngerBBYFOZ]

Me and GF have been watching this build! Keen to see her running 😁

[@Smeedia]

Can nit wait to hear the braps 😍

[@erickther3d387]

Loving the rotary content

[@antonp555]

Been waiting for this! Let's go! 🔥

[@Smeedia]

🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@bradgreen987]

Absolutely amazing vid, Tanner, on the workings of a rotary engine!! Most of us always curious about odd combustion cycle. Hope she makes sauce

[@Smeedia]

Even if it only makes 400whp I'd still be hyped with it 😅

[@omialmanza1900]

Been waiting to see this happen!!

[@Smeedia]

🫣🫣🫣🔥

[@josephmatuszak3855]

Yeah, first few oil control rings ya do, ya can almost expect to get some fingertip lacerations (they can be pretty sharp). I found a badass tool for them tho. It's like a hammer made of ultra tight rolled leather. Lubed up enough and with right temp differential, goes on pretty quick. Otherwise it's kinda down to finger placement on the ring to kinda give it a roll around.

[@Smeedia]

Dude those things are sharp AF 😅 these are the atkins seals, from what I was told they're a bit tighter to get in 😅

[@8145dwerdna]

That hylomar is a great sealant that can be used in place of rtv/silicone in places you may worry about the rtv having excessive squeeze out and plugging things, like the oil pumps or even avcs ports. It's super high tack yet "non setting" It would probably be a great replacement for the new Subaru engines with the oil pickup getting clogged issue 😂

[@Smeedia]

Not a bad idea 👀 that stuff was WAY more tacky than I thought it would be 😂

[@cd5sircoupe]

Every time Tanner shaves, it feels like it's his brother making a video. The internet would tell you that the Vargas bros would be the tuners for the car, but I'm sure you could probably find someone close by. I know they fuck with Haltech & remote tunes. YMMV depending on what you think about their reputation.

[@Smeedia]

I tried reaching out to them, I'll try again. If not I'll find a way 😅

[@cd5sircoupe]

@@Smeedia Word, yeah I meant that as more of a thing where everyone's gonna say Vargas bros. They're probably pretty booked up in all honesty with all the attention over the past couple years. I've heard some bad stories about their shop Angel Motorsports here and there, but it sounds like it's mostly related to John? Mike seems to be the better one out of the two. I dunno, I'm not gonna pass judgement since I've never dealt with them. Either way, I'm sure there's somewhere in the area that specializes in rotaries. Worst case scenario, there's people in Cali. Oh, I just remembered there's Jack at HP Logic in Florida. He's got two FDs iirc, a black 2 rotor is it an RZ or R1? Some rare spec (not Bathurst or Spirit R) and a yellow 3 rotor track car. He does remote tuning for pretty much everything, Cobb, Haltech, Link, Ecutek, etc.

[@foxunfocused]

Closer to hearing some BRAAAPs on this channel every day!

[@Smeedia]

I want the Braps! 😈

[@robc1014]

Just bought an NA miata and an fd3 13b. I cant wait to get my build started.

[@josephmatuszak3855]

That combo turbo with a semi port, w/ 2000CC worth of injector per rotor... it'll be making some serious power, and quickly. The response should be pretty uncanny even with that size turbo.

[@Smeedia]

Ohhhhh that's what I like to hear 🤭🔥

[@snewstead1388]

This content is amazing. Honestly so cool to watch something new. Borg Werner is top quality man. Precision has got nothing on Borg. Much more research has gone in to them.

[@Smeedia]

Tbh, I like the Bob Wagner based on physical properties so far compared to pte. The rx7 is such a breath of fresh air 🔥

[@snewstead1388]

@@Smeedia agreed. I had a PTE 6260 on my FA20dit and I swapped it for the Borg EFR 7163. It’s smaller for sure but amazing quality and performance.

[@snewstead1388]

@@Smeedia one last thing. Since your doing a stand-alone ecu, u should 100% get the turbo speed sensor. Makes tuning and performance much better also.

[@frederick1969]

so jealous of the regamasters. I love them so much especially in white with the red decals

[@Smeedia]

Wanted regamasters for years, big hype I finally got a set 🔥🥳

[@7sunsetmaro7]

Think it's awesome that you are rebuilding the Rotary vs. just going LS. I love LS engines but I think keeping the car powerplant TYPE the same is really neat.

[@Smeedia]

Figured we had to stick with the rotary 🔥

[@kodyklutts2850]

So glad to see one not ls swapped

[@albegt98]

curious to hear that rotary turned on 💪👍

[@Smeedia]

We want the braps 🫴

[@fredmortensen5107]

All the Sauce!!!

[@Smeedia]

SAUCEEE!!!!

[@Christosan88]

sick!

[@Smeedia]

🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@uknterror508]

The sxe series borgs respond very well, the efr series is strange, its more oe oriented and seems to be more suited for specific power range and operation, not as versatile as the other models of any brand. I personally do not agreed with their price point for performance in the setups Ive experienced. I think youll be very happy with that turbo!

[@ivanperformance100]

Mannnnn I saw this today this is so dope 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 I was like hope you or the other guys make a Rx7 and you did that’s awesome 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@lilmike1780]

I like the engine stand holding the housings and what will be the complete rotary, but I always see a lot of Home Depot buckets being used as a engine stand.

[@Smeedia]

Figured the engine stand would work just fine 😅

[@rotaryperfection]

On the oil passage o-ring on the front housing. Rubber o-ring with white plastic outer spacer. The plastic ring keeps the inner rubber o-ring from expanding and leaking.

[@jasonkirsten-matrone1017]

thank you for your subie spark plug video (thowback). you just saved me like $470. num two, ur content is top tier. love watching ur subs go up. num three, keep kicking a$$ man. im mega excited for blu but also for the mazda. like button is rainbow and purp ending

[@Smeedia]

I'm glad to hear the spark plug video helped 🎉 One day at a time we're doing the stuff and the things 😁

[@Daniel-vf5oc]

Such a strange design. Definitely killer content 👌

[@Smeedia]

Super easy engine to assemble 🔥🫣

[@Daniel-vf5oc]

Stupid sick content!!!

[@Daniel-vf5oc]

Just watched it again 😅

[@BoostedBrando]

“Is it in?” “Now that it’s in it won’t flop out” That’s what she said

[@Smeedia]

😂😂😂😂

[@Sora_Kumo]

love to see the skyline rotor swap XD

[@Smeedia]

Right?! Can't be too hard? 😅

[@subiemod6776]

Man hats off to you bro! Congratulations on the new journey w rotary motors!! #BlessingsToTheFam convince Matt to build a 911 RWB style 😅😅

[@Smeedia]

I'll see what I can do but no promises 😅

[@subiemod6776]

@@Smeedia 🙃🙃🙃🙃

[@RadDadisRad]

My Dorito sense was tingling. I know why now. I AM EXCITED, NO I AM NOT YELLING, JUST A SLIGHTLY ELEVATED VOICE THAT IS STILL CONVERSATION MODE.

[@Smeedia]

😈😈😈😈🫣🫣🫣🫣

[@mainelybuilt]

Dang, your chin must be feeling the breez dont get a sunburn it has not seen daylight in a hot minute

[@Smeedia]

My face can feel the sun again 😂

[@mainelybuilt]

@@Smeedia i like it

[@chrisschuster6451]

Was chasing down a loose crossmember or something like that turned out to be endlinks previous owner. Relieved

[@Smeedia]

Glad to hear it was an easy fix 🔥🔥

[@dogdog4173]

I hope one day to be like you and just do something like this and learn along the way instead of paying a shop

[@Smeedia]

Sometimes gotta just jump into it 🫣🔥

[@Pukefroth666]

I work in a warehouse where we ship certain parts to borg warner. I'm only referring to them as bob wagner now 😂

[@Smeedia]

Bob Wagner is the way 😂😅

[@PhantomShane914]

RGHTBrainDesign is one of the best rotary tuners in the game right now. He'll take care of everything you need remotely, or he will even come out to you and tune in person if you pay enough

[@Smeedia]

Appreciate the tip! I'll reach out and see what he thinks 🫡🔥

[@PhantomShane914]

@Smeedia he's on vacation this week so don't expect a response too soon. But he is probably your best choice.

[@stevendurbin9006]

Best in the game rotary world wise for building/tuneing ext is my guys at Angle motorsports Vargas brothers or Bust 🤙

[@Smeedia]

I tried contacting them but never heard back 👀

[@weebingdanperformance4594]

Hey before you stack your torrenting bearings and your pulley you need to put that engine vertical again you don't want any of those Torrington bearings to slip off and you end up crushing it.

[@Conranos]

"Now it's going to make a lot of power" Called it

[@theinternationalhobo001]

That car is going to be your new favorite, shes coming along nicely. Question for ya though, did you put gasket maker on the irons around the dowels before you mated all the housings together? I didn't catch if you did or not. Don't want you to start it up and discover some new swear words

[@Smeedia]

On the bottom of the engine I did 👀 On the top side I used the provided O rings 👀

[@HugoHardinge]

Wob Bagner 🤌

[@Smeedia]

BOW rengab

[@HugoHardinge]

@@Smeedia I laughed lol

[@slcbuilds3687]

I know this is old and you have disassembled the engine again, but you talk about sealant on the outer edge of the iron at 7:57 in the video, but when you first drop the housing on at like 9:06 in the video I don't see any sealant. Hopefully you caught that on the next rebuild when you changed all the seals? Great video BTW and one day hope to rebuild my rotary which will likely be soon since I'm at 87k original miles on my 94' FD.

[@ahhason]

My mans a savage using a knife! lol

[@Smeedia]

All I had 🔥🤣

[@PhantomShane914]

The 366sxe will max out around 650whp on a rotary. Gonna be a ripper for sure!

[@Smeedia]

Ohhhh glad to hear that! Any suggestions on injector sizing for a set up like this?

[@PhantomShane914]

@Smeedia there is a formula on rx7club to calculate necessary fuel flow but I can't remember the calculation off the top of my head. You could probably get away with quad ID1700s but I'd spring for 2600s and be safe to 800ish for future upgrades.

[@JLWalker101]

You know prople always ls swap these things or throw k20s i think it be funny and also awesome for someone to do an awd subaru ej swap in one just to see everyones heads roll

[@Smeedia]

I'd be lying if I haven't thought about it 😂

[@Ne1vaan]

Downtuned is perfect. Now it'll be more reliable!

[@savvypaul]

Take that beaut to Josh Bader mate. That dude will find every inch of power. He'll probably want one too after he's done with yours.

[@Smeedia]

We've talked about it but rotary cars can be finicky to tune 🫣

[@PhantomShane914]

​@@Smeediahe needs to take it to a rotary professional.

[@nixter1618]

Hey Tanner, reach out to Lucky 7 racing in Duarte, CA for tuning. They live and breath rotaries. If Mike at phatbotti tuning does rotaries, he would be my next choice.

[@Smeedia]

I'll shoot them an email 🫡

[@nixter1618]

@@Smeedia they're really good people when it comes to anything rotary. Can't wait to see this on the roads near puyallup.

[@iamchrisdammit]

I remember you porting the irons but I don’t remember you porting the rotor housings. Did I miss that part? Turndown tunes and they’re pretty solid. Lucky7 too

[@Smeedia]

I did not port the rotor housings, only the iorns 👀

[@iamchrisdammit]

@@Smeedia 😳

[@Rynowhite14]

Subaru to rx7? Dude, you just can't work on a "normal engine" can you? haha Such a rad car! That's funny, I just got a Mazda as well. I'm taking a break from my bugeye as well, traded the right hand drive CRS for a 94 MX5 m edition and some cash. Still building my other CRX, but I'm rocking the mx5 during summer, taking advantage of working AC! Autocross, and maybe some drifting. Keep up the good work bro!

[@Smeedia]

I had the inline 4 in the evo for a bit 😅 The MX5 sounds like a blast though 🔥👀

[@Rynowhite14]

@@Smeedia Evo was sick! 💥You know, this year you can import the Evo 5....just saying...lol

[@levihutchins8467]

Tanner and his walbureau 450s 😂. Jk tho man love the videos

[@Smeedia]

Lol I'll never change 😂

[@qwerrqweert6899]

Mr. smeed w/o the beard isa different man.😅😅

[@Smeedia]

It'll be back in like a week 😅

[@stevenewman3185]

Turbo takes out the brump brump. But gives brum

[@Smeedia]

It'll be music 🫴🔥

[@PowerRageSTI]

Lucky 7 racing is one tuner shop I know of in cali

[@Smeedia]

They do tuning?! 🫣

[@PowerRageSTI]

@@Smeedia yes

[@PowerRageSTI]

@@Smeedia they also have allot of parts for rotary’s too

[@Soobas]

I’d love to see you focus more on cosmetics than power for this build. Rx-7’s can look so good

[@Smeedia]

Totally agree but to get it running to today's standards we gotta update it 😅

[@Soobas]

@@Smeedia ofc, get it running nicely first.

[@Savantrovert]

Did you sell the GM8? Haven't seen it in the background lately... So sad, I was looking forward to that one

[@Smeedia]

It's in storage atm 🫡

[@HythEquinox]

Well in order to find my dad the perfect gift, I need to find my dad.... one step; at a time @Smeedia

[@Smeedia]

Baby steps ❤

[@josiahayala3501]

I wonder if Angel Motorsports can do remote tuning. He did Adam LZs 4 rotor swapped Supra. Both are brothers whove been in the rotary game for a long time.

[@mingscustoms]

You will regret using Atkins Apex seals for anything other than stock HP. I've melted a set of them with some high EGTs. They also sell counterfit coolant seals which degrade at a faster rate than the OEM coolant seals.

[@Smeedia]

Good to know 🫠 when it comes time for a rebuild, any suggestions on what to snag?

[@mingscustoms]

@@Smeedia RA Classics, and run 2 oz per gallon minimum premix as they are harder seals

[@da9pauly]

I would be so intimidated to build that engine

[@Smeedia]

Suuuuper duper easy to build 🫡 just like making a sandwich 😅

[@da9pauly]

@@Smeedia 🤪😆🤙

[@BushidoPhoto]

I'm hungry for Dorito's now. lol

[@Smeedia]

🤭🤭🤭

[@BushidoPhoto]

My STI made 450 hp on E85! I am not used to that power. lol

[@Smeedia]

POWAAAAAA feel good though?!

[@thepcmrtim]

You’re going to hate yourself for putting solid corner seals in your car. There goes like 30+ psi of your compression.

[@Smeedia]

That's just what the kit came with 😭

[@jacobstephens8447]

Seals out the wazzu

[@Smeedia]

All the seals 😅

[@kaboom1077]

You should buy a foxbody to spice things up 😂

[@Smeedia]

I do like the fox body🫣🔥

[@kaboom1077]

@@Smeedia it would be pretty cool so have some old American muscle mixed in with the imports 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tommanning7337]

😎🤘🏻🤘🏻🔥

[@Smeedia]

TOMMMM!!!!

[@kevinbean9380]

See like I said in the last video... oh shit we accidentally made way more power =X. lmfao.

[@Smeedia]

It happens unintentionally 😭

[@MTNorville]

Apex seals have me feeling kinda iffy. What keeps them from scraping the front or back of the housing after you push them in like that?

[@PhantomShane914]

I think you mean the irons, not the housings, but they're literally made to ride along the irons.

[@Smeedia]

As said. That's their job 🫡 no different from a piston ring riding on the cylinder wall of a piston engine

[@MTNorville]

@@PhantomShane914 I’ve never seen them installed before. What if the seals are too long or something along that matter?

[@PhantomShane914]

@morgannorville7586 they're never too long. Watch some more in depth videos of motor assembly.

[@junit7590]

Braps for daze

[@ndog1234765]

Please bring back the beard. I miss it already.

[@Smeedia]

It'll be back in a few days 😅

[@josephmatuszak3855]

Keep it well lubed, and don't run her lean, she'll love ya back for a long time. Kinda sounds like married advice 🤣

[@Smeedia]

😂😂😂😂

[@DreamLikeLunch]

When do you pick up the new VB?

[@Smeedia]

Waiting on an engine harness to come in. As soon as it's in we pick it up

[@DreamLikeLunch]

I'm picking mine up Monday I'm excited. Will be following your build and hopefully you'll be the guinea pig and find the faults for me 😂 love your content

[@adomicgamingspace8959]

I still just want to know what happend to the 2.5 rs even if it was sold

[@Smeedia]

It's in storage, just don't care to mess with it right now 🤝

[@downhill_84]

What camera do you use?

[@Smeedia]

Canon R5 🫡

[@Touringrcarg]

hi Smeedia, how many hp does it have

[@stevencarrington5613]

Dude you shaved and I don’t know if I’m scared or not cuz you look different 😮😂

[@Smeedia]

😂😂😂 the beard will be back in a week 😂

[@stevencarrington5613]

@@Smeedia lol say less I got used to it so that’s awesome can’t wait 😂😂

[@tslamcyt]

brap brap brap?

[@Smeedia]

Hopefully soon 🫣

[@tslamcyt]

@@Smeedia i am super hype for blue, but the rx7 is really exciting to see and i cant wait until it's brappin

[@stephngibson5517]

Not to get into drama or anything but why dont you mention the mod garage anymore?

[@Smeedia]

Just went diffrent directions 🤝

[@Christosan88]

the rx-7 is like a better looking corvette

[@Smeedia]

For real 😅

[@plav032]

That moment you watch him put the first housing on with no RTV on the bottom legs, then the iron... no rtv... then the next housing... no rtv... Oil leaks finnabe errawhere

[@Smeedia]

They have RTV Black on them 👀

[@matthewmaguire8527]

@robdahm can tune for you cuz 😮

[@Smeedia]

I don't think he tunes for other people 👀

[@PJs_Rage]

It looks soo sexy with those wheels broham. Te amo

[@Smeedia]

Thank you ❤ wanted a set for so long 😁

[@weebingdanperformance4594]

I'm not gonna lie this video was giving me anxiety lol

[@Smeedia]

Lol same 😅😅😅

[@karl2004rex]

Whoa tanner ya shaved?

[@Smeedia]

🫣🫣🫣

[@o0oCircleso0o]

You shaved!

[@Smeedia]

I did! 😅

[@GavinVillarrubia]

No way

[@Smeedia]

🫣🫣🫣

[@johnlexus1]

Hahahaha I thought you were going stock ?

[@sonnyrico]

Sure cleaned up nice,, not you, the motor😂

[@Smeedia]

😅😂😅😂😅

[@duncanluther6990]

What happened to your face tanner 😂

[@Smeedia]

I woke up like this 😢

[@stuartharvey7677]

Turbo lag for daaaays!