From: peon@pacific.net.au
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 05:45:14 +1000
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Subject: Re: 3-rotor Engine Availability
Reply-to: leon@aerota.com
Message-ID: <3F83A46A.11939.DDD6F5@localhost>
Priority: normal
In-reply-to: <list-2627185@logan.com>

Hi Jarrett,

Just read your post.  20B's were and still are imported into 
Australia,  as are the cars.  The engine only came out in a 2 door 
Coupe called a Cosmo.  (The same car also came out in a "poverty 
pack" 13B 2 rotor version).

However,  the 20B engines are becoming REAL thin on the ground 
as there were limited numbers made and they are just about all 
"retired" from Japan's roads.  Current prices for a S/H 20B is in the 
vicinity of $7,000 AUD.

I can still get them - have one on the way from Japan at the 
moment - but they won't get any cheaper or more plentiful over 
time. These engines all have 100,000 + kms on them,  and would 
have to be rebuilt to make them safe for use in an aircraft.

Interestingly,  ALL parts are still available brand new ex Mazda in 
Japan (including eccentric shafts and Intermediate plates - most of 
the other parts have commonality with 13B stuff)..  

If your budget isn't too tight,  it is eminently possible that a Brand 
New 20B could be assembled from ALL brand new bits for about 
$15,000 AUD ( I recently did the pricing exercise).  Using 9.7:1 
rotors, some judicious inlet and exhaust porting,  that would make 
in excess of 300 BHP with the correct inlet and exhaust systems.  

There are also some people here and in NZ who modify a norrmal 
centre housing to make a 3 rotor from a 13B,  and make 3 rotor 
eccentric shafts to suit.  However,  I'm still not convinced at this 
stage how durable these will be,  and I continue to ponder the 
wisdom of the really long thru bolts (more like violin strings!).

Whole 20B Cosmo cars are also still available,  and currently sell 
for $12,000 - $15,000 AUD landed here in Oz (depending on 
condition).   An importer mate of mine  has 2 whole cars in stock,  
and they are currently being made compliant for Australian rego.  
This process adds another $5,000 AUD to the price.  Unfortunately, 
 they were only ever available in "right Hook",  so getting one into 
the USA for road use would be hard yards.

Please feel free to contact me privately should you wish to 
discusss this futher at:

leon@aerota.com

Cheers,

Leon


>     I was reading Tracy's old newsletters last night and noticed that
>     he had
> an adress of someone in New Zealand whom a person could contact about
> buying a 20b overseas. Can anyone tell me if the Cosmo or some other
> Mazda car w/ the 20b was exported from Japan to New Zealand [or
> Austrailia]?  I don't have the address/name of this gentleman right in
> front of me but does anyone know if he's still selling them?
> 
> Thanks again for the great list!
> Jarrett Johnson
> 
> 
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