Mazda really hurt the Rotary Engine spirit. Here’s my plan.. 

I about cried when I saw this in the rotary groups... Really a slap in the face to the rotary community...

Rob, you single-handedly made Mazda go 🤔 “man we can make some real money off this popularity”.. I’m super happy with your dedication and support you 100%!

As someone trying to restore a FD roller, seeing that price increase was a real kick in the nuts and has honestly made be debate selling the car. This car was an all time dream of mine but it seems these cars are no longer for enthusiasts and are instead just for collectors to stare at in garages.

Not to add to your workload but you need a one rotor generator on your trailer. See it as a longterm testbed. Constant load continous rpm. Good data 😊

I truly believe that you have contributed SIGNIFICANTLY to the explosion of rotaries in the last 10 years. You have made us enthusiasts feel empowered to chase our dreams and you have shed SO much light on the “scary” parts of building rotaries. You have single handedly made the dreams seem much more accessible to the general public. I honestly think it’s quite ironic. In a sense I think that Mazda is the one that is biting the hand that feeds them lol. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us, and I am 100% on board to develop “the people’s rotary” into an engine that makes Mazda regret their choice. Thank you for everything you do!

Man, Rob. I've been here for close to thirteen years. It's been amazing to see how far you've come and how much you've grown in that time! Grabbing the bull by the proverbial horns and ramming it makes me so happy. I'll never be able to afford one of these motors, but I love the fact that you're going to provide for the community. You've done far above your duty for us, we all thank you for it. Thanks for standing up for the little guy. Can't wait to see where this journey takes you!

I admit I’m not a rotary guy. I’m here because I love to nerd out on all kinds of different tech. Getting to watch Rob learn and develop along the way, using all the tech that gets my engine going, has been super interesting and fun.

I've been saving to get a 2nd gen RX7, cheap, and build it to what I want street over the years as I grow older. I'd 100% buy parts from you over mazda any day of the week.

What great sneak peak into the big things to come. that billet "iron" (quotes since it's aluminum 😂) looks incredible. can't wait to see where it goes

The higher price really takes a hit to the LS Swap debate. I am a huge fan of the rotary, but when you can get a long block crate motor, including manifolds for less, it becomes a hard sell.

The fact rob does what he does for the community with only 1m subs is crazy. Dude deserves 10m easy with the quality he puts out

Can't wait for the day I'm able to purchase a Rob Dahm rotary engine for one of my cars!

I hope you succeed in your billet journey and can become a US provider for billet parts! I whole heartedly believe that's the only way forward for rotaries knowing Mazda's position.

One of my greatest inspirations in life, you make me proud to be a car guy, don’t give up you’re the voice for us little guys who can’t speak up

As a machinist, your projects fill me with excitement for my trade. Keep working on that rotary engine! Keep making it better! Also, that's a kickass fixture you have there with those expansion pins.

ive been working in dealership parts departments for almost 8 years. When they do a drastic increase like that they are most likely going to discontinue it in the near future. For example about 2 months ago a front sub frame for a 2008ish Ford Escape used to be about $320 list... They then changed the MSRP to about $1300-1400 and most likely will be obsolete in a couple months.

No other YT channel like it! Thanks for keeping us entertained and informed all these years! I'm so glad you show the why and how of your failures and what can be improved, but more importantly it shows a true representation of what car builders and enthusiasts go through to get their final goal, informative channels like this are rare, thank you rob! 🙏 can't wait for the 2k hp 4 rotor video and the 12 rotor start up!

Rob!!! I have been a Fd owner since 1998. I remember watching one of your first videos, with the title something like, Rx7 unreliability. I was so upset and felt that a lot was said that just was not true. Fast forward to today and I am super blown away how you have increased your knowledge and push through to find solutions. Today your have really graduated to a high level of Rotary goodness. Making your own plates is super big man and I just wanted to congratulate you. Mazda really hit us in the gut with the prices of a OEM motor. Brap on brother!!!

Keep going! Don't stop with your purpose for making a better rotary! Let us know when we can make a junk yard 4 rotor engine.

Good GOWD Mazda! I thought Subaru were jerks lol. Sorry man. Will the aftermarket standup and start making their own? I hope you pull this off man!

The last year of the FD was 2002. In a lot of ways it’s impressive that you can still get a factory short block from Mazda for one of these cars. I’d imagine they’re either running off whatever inventory they have left or are making small batches of engines as needed. As an auto manufacturer retaining the ability to make an engine 20 years after the car goes out of production is impressive/ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong it sucks that this option is going away/ people are being priced out of it. But at the same time the fact that it exists at all is kinda mind blowing.

Rob and Joel really know how to sneak in an ad and you wouldn’t even know it until it’s too late

I'm excited to see what you bring! the limit of the fuel sounds really scary and good at the same time.

Im so impressed with where you started to where your at and where your going. And your 99% self taught which makes it more impressive. Keep up the great work and amazing video's brother

When you're working with resource limitations (as Mazda is doing), it's often cheaper to retool a production line than to build a totally new one. That comes at the cost of capacity for current products which in turn affects their pricing. (Admittedly they could also be using the pricing increase to drive down sales to the same effect, which is more likely when you consider the constant backorder situation these engines were in for the past 5+ years) Even if the R-EV demand increases enough to justify its own capacity/lines, we've likely seen the end of the affordable REW pricing. The good news is that this price increase drives innovation to a sector where margins weren't previously enough to justify aftermarket support/development.

My dreams of rotary swapping everything just shattered. I really hope you and others out there can provide a realistic aftermarket for the enthusiast community, because my dreams of owning one of each generation (already have my precious FB) just become even more out of reach.

Welllll all i can say is good luck on your most ambitious endeavor to date, in my personal opinion. I am stoked to see where you take this whole rotary journey. I have faith that like everything else you and your crew are going to crush it 💯👍

When I saw the price jump I was glad I just got mine earlier in September and at the same deeply saddened as a guy with an FD race car. Mazda really doesn't want me to keep racing this car is what it feels like.

sick! stoked you're building a motor for him and doing all this development.

Damn, I love the passion you have for these motors. Your videos are so fun to watch.

Thanks for all you're doing for the rotary community, Rob.

Honda did something similar to the B18C5 prices after F&F came out in 2001. A $2500 long block became a $7500 short block.

Case and point that large manufacturers just plain suck at caring about the enthusiasts. Remember Angel Motorsports video about the new from factory 13b with rust inside? Now you can pay double that for all that sweet reddish brown. Honestly, just buy stuff from experts and small companies, where people there still care about cars, and not money.

Once again, daddy Dahm comes through and really delivers! Thank you for all the hard work and dedication. Watching this channel for the last several years has madr me want an FC or FD. Keep up the great work. Cant wait to see where this goes!

I could feel your sincerity through the screen and my headphones. Loving the passion. Kudos, sir!

So glad to hear, I really questioned a lot of plans when I saw Banzai post that... As if Mazda couldn't and/or wouldn't benefit from producing these as loss leaders to vitalize their community. So insane that they'd make that decision.

Keep at it, brother. Very inspiring to see someone improving this motor.

This is the inspiration I needed, Ive been dealing with a ported renesis for far too long and have wanted an rew ever since I got my S1 but the prices are just too high. Be our voice Rob!!!

I've always enjoyed the unique nature of the rotary. Was obsessed with the FC back in the day, even bought a Haynes repair manual for the FC when I was 15, reading through it, imagining having one. Bought one (NA) and enjoyed it, but always felt it lacked power. Started to price out rebuilding it ~7 years ago. And, was surprised how insanely expensive it was then, even for just an NA setup. Now I just watch other people rebuild and destroy them. I just can't justify dumping so much money into it for fun. Many other cost effective options that are a lot of fun. I did hope to eventually see Mazda making the rotary again with new tech, and hoped it would drive prices down. But, seems to be more of a novelty now.

This is insane. Both your adventures and Mazda pricing. We just rebuilt our 13B and the OEM Mazda parts were the most expensive bits. Thin on the ground and parts like the oil control rings are just so expensive. Rotaru is ready to make 800 or so HP now though. Can't wait to see everything you come up with. The community loves you, Rob!

There are so many billet options now all geared towards the 1% very hi performance racecar. Surely there would be someone going the opposite route : parts for a streetcar max 400hp but cheaper and with all the R&D that was made by the community for reliability.

That price is crazy. I bought a short block from a Mazda dealership for $1800 in early 2000’s.

Mazda: Chooses dishonor... Rob: Fuck it! We'll do it live!

Good thing Keeps is backing Rob. Considering how often he wants to pull his hair out fighting all the gremlins. That keep poping up in his cars.

Here i was wondering what happened to all that material science you learned on the earlier videos, it was all going for this project. you could try adding a Single/Double Rotor generator on the Trailer, you could use the information on prolonged use and constant RPM, although this would have to be on a scaled down form.

rob should get in contact with the LIQUIDPISTON guys, yeah... it would prob end up being an engine for a cross cart// Miata but it would literally give none piston engines a push in the right direction.. in my head, stacking 8 of those engines and adding an electric motor to the shaft is the future.

Can’t Waite! So stoked to see what the future has in store!

I've never been as patient as I am for you Rob, you're the only person who puts their skills where their mouth is and I respect it heavily, keep up the hard work 💪🏻

20 years on since the last 13B, we can be thankful they still make them at all. I suspect a lot of the original plant to make them is either dying or dead, let alone the people who knew how to run the factory plant have probably retired!

Crazy how busy you are non stop lately; happy for you.

My Man! Rob doing his thing trying to support the community. Very good stuff. Very interested in the in-house billet builds. The CNC machine going to pay its self off here soon lol.

Rob as a fan of yours and from South Rockwood MI. And a Rx-7 fan boy. I’m so happy you are doing us right.

As a spaniard I couldn't be more glad that I started learning english some years ago so now I can fully understand what all Rob Dahm great content is about. You keep inspiring me to work hard to create a masterpiece of a rotary car in a future. Greats from Galicia dude.

I have to say I love the enthusiasm and commitment it's very refreshing to see so glad I got to see you at English Town ur absolutely a legend.

go for it man, your passion shows and is infectious! and talking of fuels, nitromethane is crazy! if you can fit the volume of fuel in the rotary motor?

Love it. Keep it up Rob!

A 4 rotor on methanol is gonna be one hell of a fuel system. 6 or maybe 8 injectors per rotor. Talk about a possible spaghetti bowl of fuel lines and taps under the hood can't wait to see what it looks like!

Without looking in to the price increase at all, the first thing that comes to mind is does mazda get EPA/CARB fines on the rotary crate engine and if so did something change with regulations?

Rob Mazda Now sells a Hybrid with a Rotary, its a single Rotary unit but its big bore 700cc or 800cc cant remember… Anyway itS the biggest single rotor that you can buy from Mazda and its direct injection too. Might be an option to stack some of those to build a 4 rotor direct injection unit…

So excited to see what you and Hert do!

i love the way you went in on this XD keep doing you man and i speak for all saying, were excited to see whats next

Really good video here Rob, thank you for everything

That 12-Rotor singing will be worth all the hard work! as Koreans say, FIGHTING!

I'm happy this man still has his Diablo! Every time I see it in the background I get a little excited we'll see a video lol

I wanna see Rob take the MX-30 Engine and make it into a 2 rotor. I bet the increased displacement and direct injection would make the motor pretty good.

Content about to be crazy! Keep pushing Rob!!

I love what you do on your channel. I'm thinking of swaping my E46 (Diesel) to a Rotory. I know it will be a hell of work to bring it to life but i will do it. Also i would buy new parts from you instantly.

Amazing inspiration of a man 🎉

Probably the first time I've ever seen rob had enough! Thank you for keeping rotary engines alive.

cant wait i been hopeing for this day to come & excited to order

Can't wait to see what you come up with for Hert!

I totally understand your thought processes.

Kick ass man your project is amazing 🔥

I love everything you do. Thank you!

Thank you Rob, make rotarys great again! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

I owned an RX-7 for nearly 30 years. Had an NA FC that I bought used in 91' with 210,000 miles already on the car. I beat the ever living crap out of that motor for another 67,000 miles and went through a rear diff, 2 rear subframes and at least one transmission rebuild before I finally cracked a corner seal while racing a motorcycle at 130+ MPH. I still drove the car an entire summer before driving 1,200 miles to Winter Haven Florida to have the motor rebuilt. It made it the entire way ON A BLOWN MOTOR going over 100mph almost the whole way and still getting 21mpg @4,000 RPM. Put in 89' rotors regrooved to 3mm, had the oil passages enlarged and used a turbo oil pressure meter and had the full rotating assembly balanced. That motor was indestructible at that point as with the stock 87 computer I could never hit the actual redline of the motor. It went from street car to mostly track car to pretty much only a track car. But then I bought an EV and as much as I loved the Rotary I saw the writing on the wall. I no longer saw the point in trying to modify an ICE vehicle and all the supporting mods when an electric motor offered sooo much more potential with far fewer things to go wrong. I applaud you for all the work you are doing on Rotaries but what I think Mazda is doing is they know ICE vehicles are coming to an end and the cost of building crate motors and supporting a dead platform could not be maintained at even the already inflated price. One of these days I would love to do an EV conversion of an FC RX-7. I still love that car and the rotary, just not all the noise and fumes and troubles that come with it. I still have the original 276,000 mile rotors and rotor housings. Not sure I ever want to part with those.

Count me as a furious RX-7 owner but I absolutely love that you're going to give us an option for billet plates made in the USA.

You give so much to those f us who can’t afford to build rotary engines and cool cars thank you from Uk wish I had the cash to buy one never mind build one keep it coming again thank you

Thank you, Mr Dahn. The basic problem of the three-arc rotary piston engines according to Felix Wankel is the very unfavourable combustion chamber with external mixture supply. If only air with 1:100 to 1:400 oil is supplied externally but the fuel is injected into a very small combustion chamber in the rotor, it is possible to run with a very high excess air lambda, such as greater than 1.444, at high power. The rotor damage you showed in the picture points directly to a lambda 1.15 mixture including the self-igniting diesel type (oil content). The very ideal ceramic coated combustion chamber shape you see in the Mazda Diesel engine with adjustable compression. You want to have approx. 600 KW per litre perfectly long-distance race-proof at the expense of the MAZDA development department? That will not be very easy. That's about as hard as trying to optimise the compression work of the charge air in the compression phase with a dry ice aid system that is pulled through a carburettor that mixes in distilled water and a little pop gas. To then make the whole thing usable with fuel of your choice injected into the combustion chamber. Humour is when not only every third person laughs. With professional regards Michael Frithjof Mueller

Don't stop Rob. Go get that 2000hp!

Man way to go Same reason why I had stepped away from the Platform years ago. Way to go rob. We support you

Thank you Rob!

Can't wait to buy a dahm crate engine, hopefully you price them reasonably for us young people

lovely result

I’ve been watching since the ls fest vette and will continue to watch every video. Love this stuff

Rob, you embody innovation. Finding the nuanced flaws in good ideas to make them better.

For all the praise that has already been sung, I still believe it is worth to show my support in this awesome endeavor. You guys are truly innovating and providing a priceless resource already, so I'm hoping for all the best in your future so that you can achieve even greater heights.

Can not wait for this collab

Drag guys have been making 1600bhp on 2 rotors with compound turbo setups for a long time. You would need to compound turbo the 4 rotor to "push" anything. Mazda had 900bhp out of the NA 4 rotor in 1991.

Ata boy. Good to hear. You will sell lots. Thanks

Daddy dahm with the back to back videos. It's a good week

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I have a dream of one day building up an FC, and hopefully a lot of the parts going in it will be made by you/your company/your partners based on all the testing and engineering you've been doing. What Mazda has done has only made it all the more likely that's going to happen, and sooner than expected. Looking forward to seeing this adventure unfold, and I wish all of you the very best in this endeavour.

I'm looking forward to watching this! 👍

Damn, so stoked that Rob tells us stuff this way.

Your the man I'm totally buying one I promise I've been watching you from the start ❤❤❤

Rob talking like a mad scientist it’s freaking awesome ❤

As someone that sells wholesale parts for a *certain Japanese car company* they do this all the time with their "older" parts. They increase prices across the board for all their parts about once per fiscal quarter and the parts for older vehicles usually get hit the hardest.

This news is music to my ears! You're a national treasure, Rob

best of luck Rob

How is no one talking about Rob building an engine for hert. I have been waiting on this for SOOO LONG