1983 Limited Edition
04-25-15, 07:42 AM
#1
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1983 Limited Edition
I'm in western NC and have one-owner 83 Limited Edition with a dead engine, otherwise in good / excellent condition. I love the car but have run out of options to get it back in running condition, hearing that 12A parts are impossible to get. I'm a reasonably handy guy but I'm not a gearhead, so simple is the way I need to go. Any suggestions? Or should I part the old girl out and move on? Thx!
04-25-15, 07:57 AM
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Last time I tried cranking it, blew white smoke everywhere and couldn't keep water in the radiator -> blown coolant seals, according to an RX7 friend I trust. It had been getting progressively harder to start, finally ruptured a coolant hose while driving.
04-25-15, 08:28 AM
#4
Repair it, there are still plenty of 12a engines and parts out there. You need to get the current engine dried out. Drain all the coolant, including the block drain. Then get it started one last time. Let it run for a couple of minutes. Next pull the plugs and shoot some oil in and turn it over by hand to smear the oil around. Leaving the coolant in where it not supposed to be will rust every thing quick. Kevin Landers is near you as well, Rotary Resurection. Pineappple racing out here in Oregon used to have alot of 12a parts.
04-25-15, 10:35 AM
#5
12A rebuild candidate for sure, very nice looking car!
If the engine has reasonably low miles, you might get lucky and have most of what you need in terms of rotors, housings and irons.
But if not, these parts are available and for a reasonable price if you find the right deal, you just need to do some searching.
If the engine has reasonably low miles, you might get lucky and have most of what you need in terms of rotors, housings and irons.
But if not, these parts are available and for a reasonable price if you find the right deal, you just need to do some searching.
Last edited by ray green; 04-25-15 at 10:51 AM.
05-12-15, 12:43 PM
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Thanks for all the comments. My main problems 1) I'm not a gearhead so my skills are limited and 2) I don't have time to rebuild an engine. I was hoping that I could find someone who would be willing to take on a project for compensation. I hear conflicting info on parts; a nearby RX shop says a rebuild is only possible if the core is still usable? If I could find a running 13B that would probably be optimum for my resources, but I would still need some help getting it in the car.
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05-12-15, 02:46 PM
#8
Most 12A cores don't have many reusable "core" parts. This is especially true for the rotor housings, but rotors and irons might not be reusable either.
However it doesn't follow that you can't rebuild a 12A. All 12A parts are available, you just won't find them at WalMart. You need to do some shopping and get to know the situation.
You start with what you have - tear down the motor (this is fun), snap some pics and get some opinions, of which there are a multitude on the web site. This part is easy, you don't need to be a gear head and it's actually a lot of fun, like a treasure hunt to see what you've got inside.
You go from there. Worst case scenario, you need rotor housings ($300-$500), rotors ($200-$300) and irons (these are cheap but get expensive if you have to ship).
Best case, not uncommon on a well kept engine with less than 100,000-120,000 miles, is that you've got a nice pair of rotor housings, which means everything else is probably good too.
Next you need a rebuild kit. Again, let's assume the worst case - you need all new seals, including side and apex seals. So figure $1000-$1200 here.
Then you need to put it together. Again, you don't need to be a gear head. You just need patience, good instructions, the right place to work and the right tools.
The extent of my shop training consists of 6 weeks technical training in high school, which included a week of sewing and a week of cooking. If I can do it, you can do it.
So go figure, for less than $2000 you get a fresh 12A rebuild that is correct to your rather special 1983 LE FB (a 13B would ruin it, IMHO).
And you know exactly what's in there, no short cuts you weren't told about.
You'll also learn your 12A from the inside out, which will vastly increase your driving pleasure for as long as you own the car.
And did I mention, it's fun to do?
However it doesn't follow that you can't rebuild a 12A. All 12A parts are available, you just won't find them at WalMart. You need to do some shopping and get to know the situation.
You start with what you have - tear down the motor (this is fun), snap some pics and get some opinions, of which there are a multitude on the web site. This part is easy, you don't need to be a gear head and it's actually a lot of fun, like a treasure hunt to see what you've got inside.
You go from there. Worst case scenario, you need rotor housings ($300-$500), rotors ($200-$300) and irons (these are cheap but get expensive if you have to ship).
Best case, not uncommon on a well kept engine with less than 100,000-120,000 miles, is that you've got a nice pair of rotor housings, which means everything else is probably good too.
Next you need a rebuild kit. Again, let's assume the worst case - you need all new seals, including side and apex seals. So figure $1000-$1200 here.
Then you need to put it together. Again, you don't need to be a gear head. You just need patience, good instructions, the right place to work and the right tools.
The extent of my shop training consists of 6 weeks technical training in high school, which included a week of sewing and a week of cooking. If I can do it, you can do it.
So go figure, for less than $2000 you get a fresh 12A rebuild that is correct to your rather special 1983 LE FB (a 13B would ruin it, IMHO).
And you know exactly what's in there, no short cuts you weren't told about.
You'll also learn your 12A from the inside out, which will vastly increase your driving pleasure for as long as you own the car.
And did I mention, it's fun to do?
Last edited by ray green; 05-12-15 at 02:51 PM.
05-12-15, 05:37 PM
#10
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
1st Generation RX7's (SA's & FB's) = 471,018 worldwide produced - 377,878 made it to the United States: that's a LOT of engines and parts support.
Of those cars, LE's were special order cars with dedicated wheels and other features making them the upscale version at the time. The car you have there is in classic silver, and the body looks to be in great shape.
Keep it on the road! You'll learn a ton thorugh rebuilding that engine (or having it rebuilt and installed), and this is the place to learn everything you need to know to keep it running. Good luck,
Of those cars, LE's were special order cars with dedicated wheels and other features making them the upscale version at the time. The car you have there is in classic silver, and the body looks to be in great shape.
Keep it on the road! You'll learn a ton thorugh rebuilding that engine (or having it rebuilt and installed), and this is the place to learn everything you need to know to keep it running. Good luck,
09-27-16, 05:52 PM
#12
Yuge billows of steam with hard starting!! Little kids thought it was cool.
Bar's Alumina Seal solved the problem. So why not put $8 down, and throw the dice.
Bar's Alumina Seal solved the problem. So why not put $8 down, and throw the dice.
Last edited by speedracer_not; 09-27-16 at 05:58 PM.
09-28-16, 02:03 PM
#14
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I'm not a gear head either. I loved mine so much that I swapped out motors, twice! Get a Haynes manual, not too difficult to do. If you love the car, you'll regret selling it.
09-28-16, 06:01 PM
#15
I rebuilt my 12a in my spare time in 2014 when I was 63.
Had less schooling than Ray.
Haynes manual.
Factory Service Manuals (follow the link in one of the sticky posts at the top of the forum).
My budget went over what Ray quoted as I replaced other items outside the engine.
It was extremely rewarding.
Before I rebuilt the engine, I treated it gently being 30 years old. After the rebuild I knew what was inside as I had cleaned and touched every part. I don't drive it gentle anymore. Way more fun.
Had less schooling than Ray.
Haynes manual.
Factory Service Manuals (follow the link in one of the sticky posts at the top of the forum).
My budget went over what Ray quoted as I replaced other items outside the engine.
It was extremely rewarding.
Before I rebuilt the engine, I treated it gently being 30 years old. After the rebuild I knew what was inside as I had cleaned and touched every part. I don't drive it gentle anymore. Way more fun.
09-30-16, 05:34 AM
#18
That's a good question. I came up with the idea for those logos and the admin staff approved them and I was one of the original test mules for the logo. The logo was supposed to change on its own but it never did, lol. I should try and message the admin staff again to see what's up with my logo. In two years, I'll need the 15 year one, lol. Looks like you'll need it next summer. I think a 5AE rotor may appear below the 10. However I have seen a 15AE design floating around on someone's profile.
Yes, the car would make a nice project. It would be a long haul down there to buy it but it would be more than worth it! I've wanted to restore an 83 Limited for a long time. They are just next to impossible to find around here.
Yes, the car would make a nice project. It would be a long haul down there to buy it but it would be more than worth it! I've wanted to restore an 83 Limited for a long time. They are just next to impossible to find around here.
10-02-16, 09:20 PM
#19
Well it looks like Hank has sold his 83 Limited Edition, I wonder who bought it?
Here's a couple pics, one of Hank with his much loved LE and one of Hank and his wife, who is celebrating the occasion of seeing it gone from the back yard.
And dang, his LE sure looks a lot like the one that just showed up in my yard. Coincidence or what?
Here's a couple pics, one of Hank with his much loved LE and one of Hank and his wife, who is celebrating the occasion of seeing it gone from the back yard.
And dang, his LE sure looks a lot like the one that just showed up in my yard. Coincidence or what?
10-02-16, 10:35 PM
#21
Yep Michael, I saw it on Craigslist last Wednesday and I knew he was serious, sent him sixteen messages that day.
The Train Wreck 12A is going into it, the Rotary Gods will be pleased.
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...k-12a-1061516/
The Train Wreck 12A is going into it, the Rotary Gods will be pleased.
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...k-12a-1061516/
Last edited by ray green; 10-02-16 at 11:26 PM.
10-03-16, 08:40 PM
#22
Yep Michael, I saw it on Craigslist last Wednesday and I knew he was serious, sent him sixteen messages that day.
The Train Wreck 12A is going into it, the Rotary Gods will be pleased.
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...k-12a-1061516/
The Train Wreck 12A is going into it, the Rotary Gods will be pleased.
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...k-12a-1061516/
10-04-16, 07:04 AM
#24
Will do Dave, you are next in line after Hank, he has right of first refusal.
I'll post some pictures when I get it cleaned up, it is a most excellent RX-7.
I'm not sure I should take it to an OGTA meeting Fred, I don't want to make those FC and FD guys jealous.
I'll post some pictures when I get it cleaned up, it is a most excellent RX-7.
I'm not sure I should take it to an OGTA meeting Fred, I don't want to make those FC and FD guys jealous.
Last edited by ray green; 10-04-16 at 07:06 AM.