Looking to buy A Mazda RX-7 FD3S JGTC-spec

[MAZDA_206]

here's the link to the craigslist ad...a lot of mazda rx7 owners tell me not to buy a automatic...and if i did buy an automatic how many more upgrades can i do to it thanks

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1624473140.html

Rick

 

[Shadow102]

dear lord thats alot of work for an autotragic FD. Price seems quite low though i would be wary about the engine/turbo condition

 

[lil_red_wagon]

first, other than the 99-spec fogs, i don't see what makes it so jdm. that is just splitting hairs on the ad though. nothing to you at all.

auto FD's are/were very common, so it is very common to make the swap for a manual trans. there are many write-ups on it if you look around, so if you are wanting to swap, it's not that big of a deal to do. $9500 is a pretty good price overall, but they don't do a lot of interior shots (???). i would check it out in person rather than take it sight-unseen.

i would play it from the angle that you wanted a manual and you don't know if you can buy the car considering the automatic trans. tell him that you have a couple of other prospects and they are all manual, but you could entertain his car for the right price. offer him $8500 and leave him your number. he is probably going to turn it down on the spot and call you back later. i used to be in sales, so i always try to find angles when buying cars.

 

[Signal 2]

I agree with lil_red_wagon on the hyped "JDM" crap. Personally it would be worth less to me if it really was. It's LHD...that's a plus in my book.
The body-kit and wing isn't to my taste, but I've seen worse and overall it looks clean. The mileage is good too but if it's the original motor your probably looking at replacing coolant seals in the next 20k miles.

I don't like going against moderators, but disagree with lil_red_wagon on the ease of swapping to a 5-speed. If your buying it with that in mind, off the top of my head you'll need the transmission, drive-shaft, pedals, ecu, engine harness, pedals and some interior panels. Not cheap and a boat-load of work. Probably why the asking price is relatively low IMO.

 

[FD3SEngineering]

Lets see... Eric owns that car. I believe when he first got it, it was believed to have questionable coolant seals. However a simple bad AST was found.

The auto to manual swap requires the following:
Clutch Pedal ($250 new)
Brake Pedal ($250 new)
Clutch master cylinder $50 used
Clutch slave cylinder $50 used
5spd transmission with good 3rd and 5th gear syncros $400-500
Drive shaft $100 used
Power Plant Frame $100-300 used
5spd Differential (auto can be used) $300 used
Clutch, flywheel, ect $500 (Can be found for less)
Starter $50 used
5spd ECU $100
5spd wiring harness (optional) $400

You have to wire in few things like reverse lights, clutch lock out, ect.

But that car would be worth $12k if it had a 5spd.

I have not seen it in person, but I would trust the seller.

 

[lil_red_wagon]

I agree with lil_red_wagon on the hyped "JDM" crap. Personally it would be worth less to me if it really was. It's LHD...that's a plus in my book.
The body-kit and wing isn't to my taste, but I've seen worse and overall it looks clean. The mileage is good too but if it's the original motor your probably looking at replacing coolant seals in the next 20k miles.

I don't like going against moderators, but disagree with lil_red_wagon on the ease of swapping to a 5-speed. If your buying it with that in mind, off the top of my head you'll need the transmission, drive-shaft, pedals, ecu, engine harness, pedals and some interior panels. Not cheap and a boat-load of work. Probably why the asking price is relatively low IMO.

you aren't disagreeing with me. i never said that it was easy, but that it wasn't that big of a deal. it's already a beaten path so the details have already been sorted out. there is no guess work.

Lets see... Eric owns that car. I believe when he first got it, it was believed to have questionable coolant seals. However a simple bad AST was found.

The auto to manual swap requires the following:
Clutch Pedal ($250 new)
Brake Pedal ($250 new)
Clutch master cylinder $50 used
Clutch slave cylinder $50 used
5spd transmission with good 3rd and 5th gear syncros $400-500
Drive shaft $100 used
Power Plant Frame $100-300 used
5spd Differential (auto can be used) $300 used
Clutch, flywheel, ect $500 (Can be found for less)
Starter $50 used
5spd ECU $100
5spd wiring harness (optional) $400

You have to wire in few things like reverse lights, clutch lock out, ect.

But that car would be worth $12k if it had a 5spd.

I have not seen it in person, but I would trust the seller.

the auto diff is geared different. it's a matter of taste whether you want to use it or not. auto diff will give you better gas mileage, but manual will give you better power light to light.

a swap would be worth it in my opinion, but if you don't have a tool collection or the knowledge, i wouldn't mess with it.

 

[lil_red_wagon]

also, with some modification the stock harness can be used.

 

[Signal 2]

Although I generally enjoy wrenching on these cars, my reasoning (admittedly imperfect it may be) is tallying up the work hours doing the auto/manual swap....including time to hunt down parts. Then paying myself even minimum wage for those hours. Add to that the cost of parts, including shipping costs. And those almost always turns out to be more than what you first think....example, add to the above list rear trans. seal, pilot bearing, throw-out bearing, clutch fork, trans. gear oil, etc.
Now take that money, add it to the cost of that car. Now compare prices to another car that is already a 5-speed and won't need coolant seals in another 20k. (which in reality is a full rebuild).

Now that formula changes if you can talk the price of that car down another $500 to $1500.
Just my .02.