1 piece apex seal
 

So I picked up a used engine that I tore down to check all the specs and give it a good cleaning. When I opened it I found that it had 1 piece apex seals. Does the install process differ any from the FSM? Also it appears that each apex seal has only 1 spring, is this normal for a 12a?

i tend to think the process would be the same.

what you probably have are carbon seals in that engine, and yes, 12As use one spring only.

Sounds good. Thanks for the info. Now I just need to waiting on my racing beat gasket kit and intake manifold to show up.

Be careful if those are really carbon seals (do a little research). I think that I recall that you have to glue them down in the rotor and pull start the car as they must initially contact the housing as a high speed to avoid failure (this is what I recall, but I never did it, I heard guys talking about it - 15 years ago).

Now you have me worried. Is there any sure way to tell if they are carbon. They feel metallic to me

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...2/DSCF0798.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...2/DSCF0797.jpg

Here is a carbon apex seal from Mazdatrix

http://www.mazdatrix.com/pictures/b-engprt/carbon3m.jpg

I don't see anything on the internet about the carbon seals requiring special break-in, but Mazdatrix claims only a 20,000 mile life.

that being said, does anyone have any idea what a typical lifespan was for the older carbon sealed (6mm) engines?