spedy7

Hello everyone, recently got an '85 RX7 GSL-SE from my uncle. Very new to rotaries and older Japanese cars in general, and was wondering what should I be.....doing.....I guess. It has 250k highway miles on it (California car, minor rust here and there), taken care of by Rotary Power. If I remember right, the motor was rebuilt recently too. Its just been sitting for a few months with startups here and there until recently (we think due to bad gas), and just trying to get it started again with fresh gas and fuel filter. Interior is stock (radio and speakers too!), clean minus some water that got in in the hatch seal where a rust hole started, just rusted out the spare fortunately. It is salvaged due to a front end collision but was repaired professionally back in the 80's, everything from the motor back is original or OEM replaced.


One question that I do have is OEM parts, is there a specific site to get hard to find stuff or is it just a crapshot on ebay? It'll be a daily and a project too, so just some quality replacement parts in general is fine. Is there a way I get a copy of the dealer/factory service manual? Any special tools I should consider buying as well? Any upgrades that are worth doing that aren't overkill to bump up power and driveability/reliability?


Thanks!

Richard Miller

Every part is a piece by piece basis. Honestly, if you enjoy a challenge you should have a great time owning a RX7. That said, if you come from Ford Mustangs or small block Chevies you will find procuring seemingly simple parts to be frustrating.

Taino30

Welcome. I have been able to find almost every bit of info about my GSL-SE in this forum. I started with the FAQ section, which has the links for the shop manuals to download. For many parts Rockauto.com is a good start for many basic stuff to get it/keep it running. A lot of parts you will only find at Atkins rotary, Mazdatrix and/or Racing Beat. Also in this forum's classifieds, Ebay, and independent shops.

Keep in mind that not everyone's ideas, visions, purpose, motivations, experiences, opinions are the same. That includes the ones about owning a car like this. Read and learn as much as you can a out the generalities of your car, especially the GSL-SE. And also consider all options available before making any repairs or modifications. Bottom line, there is lot of fun to be had with this cars, a high learning curve, required patience and tenacity. Just remember to have fun. Enjoy.

84rtaryrcket

generally very reliable. its a good idea to add some premix, from what ive found the oil metering system could do better so i premix just to be safe. my gsl se has 95k, my previous one had 130k before the coolant seals went and i was a dumb teenager and parted it out. fix it enjoy it. many parts still available, but some stuff is hard to come by, good luck!

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Congrats and welcome to the Fold. SE's are (by most) regarded as the primo 1st gen, tho they are also the most complex,
Fab that you have bought a car with a known history. If it has sat as you say and has start/running issues, I would suggest:
-drain the fuel tank - SE has a drain plug (my 1980 does not...). Don't make it worse by using crap gas.
-change the fuel filter. Old/bad gas could start plugging it
-throw a can of SEAFOAM treatment into the next fresh tank of gas. Great for whole intake system and a nice de-carbonizer for the engine.
I drop a full can in once a year.

While it is fun to start thinking about mods and upgrade, make sure you have covered the basics first.
-when was the last time the radiator was flushed, coolant changed? Important stuff in AZ!
-when were rad and cooling hoses last changed?
-oil in Diff an tranny? Lot of folks here run Red Line synth in these.
-belts?
-are the battery cables originals?? these WILL be failing and without adequate juice to the engine, all sorts of annoying electric gremlins can be trolling, esp in a car with more sophisticated (read: complex, demanding) electronics. New cables work wonders.
-plugs and cap/rotor
-when as brake/clutch fluids last purged and replaced?? water collects and lines and hydraulics rust!

enjoy and great car!

Stu Aull
80GS
AZ (Sedona)

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

its a little of both, Mazda has lots of parts still, but the new catalog does not cover the car, so you are on your own for looking up part numbers...

happily all the known manuals are here Foxed.ca - Mazda RX-7 Manuals

spedy7

Yeah, that's expected lol. From what I've been told, 70's and 80's are just crap for cars. I have an old Mustang myself, but work in the automotive field so shouldn't be too difficult...*knock on wood*

Thanks for the RockAuto plug! Just ordered 2 new fuel filters (closeout deal at $3 each! ) and what looks like the correct hatch supports. My main goal is to keep it mostly original, maybe a header on it and high flow cat, but not much else.

We drained the tank and got a couple fuel filters, have the plugs sitting in an accetone bath to clean them off a bit. The radiator was re-cored (?) recently, original brass one, hoses are a bit stiff, but just want to make it run and get up to temp first. Coolant looks relatively new, but can't say how old it is. Don't think the rear end was done, don't know yet if it has a LSD or not either. Cap and rotor look good, wires are a bit stiff and may replace them. Belts are new. Cables look original, but no corrosion, although the negative one needs to be replaced as the terminal is split on one side. As for the brakes, probably going to need a new booster as the master cylinder may be leaking, nice rust spot running down it. My uncle bought it at 50k miles and has driven it ever since and has had it serviced at shops that know about these cars through and through. Hoping the dash doesn't crack and everything else doesn't dry out here in AZ though, currently don't have a garage and it alrady ruined my rear seats in my Mustang .

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Get it out of the sun. The interior will crumble and fade easily. Throw a cover or tarp over it at least.