12a Housing Refurb?

[wiggman2030]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to strip down my fb soon and attempt a rebuild myself. I know that housings are hard to come by now so I was wondering. Can you refurb the old ones? I know that they can be re chromed but I don't know if this has been successful. Just wanted to know what would be the best course of action. I doubt that the old 130,000 mile housings are still going to be usable. It's only low on compression. Nothing has broken or gone bang (that I know of lol)

Cheers

[TOOL]

Yeah, they'll be toast. I wouldn't be surprised if it had already been rebuilt at least once.

They can be repaired in the States and in Oz too I think, but hardly worth it with the cost of shipping involved plus paying for the refurb. I don't know anyone that's done it, nor seen any with any miles on them. It's a bit of an unknown quantity.

I've been contacted by historic racers in Oz looking for new 12A housings. They aren't refurbishing used ones.

On the other hand, good used 12A housings can be had for £100 to £150. I've got some for sale atm.

[wiggman2030]

Oh right, that's not as bad as I thought. I've also heard you can machine down 13b ones? I guess getting hold of them would be easier but is it worth sticking with the 12a? I will probably get in contact with you nearer the time about those housings if I decide to stick with the 12a housings.

Thanks again

[TOOL]

12As will be worth their weight in gold in 5-10 years time.

Currently, they're about £75 with electronic dizzy which is worth £25 all day. Money to be made if you can find useable housings

You can chop down 13B housings, but you have to machine the o ring groove too. Labour won't be cheap getting that done IF you can find someone to do it. I know a chap that I could trust to do it, but it's hardly worth it.
Source 12A stuff while you still can I reckon.

[spoddy]

i always get told to stick a 13b in when a 12a engine finally goes to rotary heaven.

fair enough, more power and easier to get parts, but i like to keep things original and when i get my fb i'll be wanting the 12a engine
it came with, or a rebuilt one, but still a 12a.

so as tool says, best picking up any half decent 12a engines if you can as they'll be worth their weight in gold after a while.
when i get an fb, there's a spare engine i know of, i'll pick up.

it's not only 12a housings that'll be running out, as mazda have ceased making the rx8, i don't know if their big rotary engine making machines
are still working making rotors and housings etc.

13bs for rx7's and rx8's might become expensive too.

i've heard that if keeping an engine out of a car, ie not connected up you can fill it up with cheap oil to keep everything protected as it sits about
and you just need to let it drain for a few days before using again?

[TOOL]

FC 13B parts are getting scarce. REW motors are still about but getting more and more expensive. Even renesis parts aren't cheap cos the bearings are all going on them so eshafts are valuable. We virtually throw away 12A eshafts as they almost never get damaged.

[wiggman2030]

Thanks for the info guys. I really do want to stick with the 12a if I can. I'm currently in the process of restoring my fb, there's still a lot to do. I can't do any bodywork til the weather gets better and the engine will be stripped once the bodywork is looking better. I just hope that I'm not trying to restore a dog as this is the only fb I've ever seen lol. It does need a fair bit of work to it but I'll persist and hopefully get the old 12a rebuilt and working as it should too Like I said I'll be on the hunt for some housings when I strip it down. Hopefully there will still be some left by then

Thanks guys.