rx-7 problems...

[Captain KRM P5]

how much you think an inspection would cost me?

a decent all the way around inspection should be in the neighbor hood of $60. well spent money for peace of mind.

 

[garretts77]

I will be doing the same thing soon. I am looking at an FC though since I an a fan of fuel injection. You can use a compression tester to check the compression, but a rotary compression tester works best due to the way that a rotary works. Apex seals wear out or go bad and need to be replaced. Sometimes you can get away with just replacing the seals, but usually it scores the walls and machining or replacement of the housing is required. The apex seals are the equivilent of piston rings. If they are worn, it causes low compression in the combustion chamber. Since it is a two rotor, there are six seals. To check compression, you need to compare the compression of each chamber. It is kind of hard to do accurately with a normal compression tester, but it can be done.

I am still new to rotary engines. I plan on picking up one to mess around with and rebuild, hopefully this summer. There was an 88 GTU around the corner for $800 that I am pretty interested in. Just need some funds. The new job hopefully starts next month and then its on like DK...

Plenty of info at the rx forums:

http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/buy1.htm


http://www.nopistons.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=47941


http://fc3spro.com/main.html

http://www.teamfc3s.org/main/retailers.shtml

http://www.fd3s.net/

http://www.rx8club.com/

EDIT: the above are just a bunch of rotary related links that I have found while reading up... maybe they will help somebody...

 

[batmang]

so, for having 93k miles, do you think the seals are already busted?

i know jack s*** about rotories, and thats why it may not be the best daily driver for me to get, hah. cause it may end up being my daily work-on project.

 

[garretts77]

You really couldn't say just based on miles. Some had to be replaced at 50k, some at 200k... You would have to have it checked out to know for sure... I don't know if this number is right, but I seem to think that the rebuild kit is like $1000, but it includes all gaskets and seals and everything. Assuming that the housing istelf is ok...

 

[garretts77]

But a piston engine could be screwed up as well, don't let me make you think that just because it is rotary, it is a bad deal. Piston engines need to be rebuilt too...

 

[batmang]

hrmm, it just seems too good of a car for $1,500..

only 93k miles, one owner, non smoker... something has to be wrong with it... or something is wrong with the lady who owns it, lol. im gonna go look at it tonight.

 

[garretts77]

FC's are pretty cheap. They carried a reputation for being unreliable which makes them cheap to pick up. People just don't understand the rotary engine, and so it kind of has a bad name. I see them for $500 now and then. In fact, that is how much Natey sold his for. $1500 is a good price for that car, and as long as it checks out, I would buy it...

 

[batmang]

how long do you think it would last as long as i kept up the maintanence, etc. as in, if everything checks out ok, as in the apex seals, etc, i should be good for another 50-100k miles. which is all im asking from it. then, if the motor did die, i would just park it and keep it for a future project, its not like $1,500 is a lot for a car.... especially something with so much god damn potential. ive always wanted an rx-7, preferably a fd... but we all know fd's arent cheap.... fc's are just as good.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

FCs were some of the more reliable rx7s around. FDs were plagued with hundreds of problems and most dealers did more harm working on them than good.

 

[garretts77]

FCs were some of the more reliable rx7s around. FDs were plagued with hundreds of problems and most dealers did more harm working on them than good.

I know. My point was that the general public veiws them as unreliable. I sell cars and hear it all the time...

 

[Captain KRM P5]

gotcha

 

[batmang]

so how easy is up-keep on stable used fc's?
what am i looking at when it comes to general tune up's and maintanence?

 

[Signal 2]

so how easy is up-keep on stable used fc's?
what am i looking at when it comes to general tune up's and maintanence?

Look at it close just like any other car. IMHO, not even the FCs were as quite as "bullet-proof" as a Honda or Toyota, but if this really was a "one owner" was decently maitained at 93k, it should be good (and have the same problems) as many other 12 to 18 year old cars.
Unless it's been changed, you can bet the clutch is pretty worn. There will be other nagging little things, a bad sensor here, worn suspension components, worn belts, interior rattles etc.
Personnally, even at the relatively low price, I might think about investing in a quick compression test. I'd also want to see it start COLD and after running it awhile, see how it starts hot.

 

[garretts77]

Yep. Check out that first link that I posted earlier. It is a checklist on what to look for when buying an FC

 

[batmang]

oh, and this fc is not a 5 speed, its an automatic, which is perfectly fine with me. this will be my commuting car, not something im gonna ***** on a track. AFTER next year, im going to be getting a new car, cause i will be selling my ek hatch. then... if i get this fc... it may become my project car.

 

[dinux]

pictures...

Ok, so he it is. It's an 82 Mazda (obviously) RX7. It has the 12A engine in it like you all said. It's carburated. Let me know what you guys think. I am going back over to my brothers house this weekend to see if we can get it started.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

needs alot of work, thats about the condition mine is in

 

[garretts77]

looks like fun...

I met these guys at MazdaFest earlier this month, and the guy was telling me how to make the 12a a 300hp sleeper... If you feel like putting some money in it:

http://www.atkinsrotary.com/

 

[JOS3]

that timeslip is insane.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

no joke