im looking to purchase a family members rx7 its a 84 GSL 12a turbo.

Now what should I look at or do before trying to start the car? Off the rip I know I need to get the carburetor rebuilt.

 

Since this is a 12A turbo with a carb, it's not stock. Can you post some pics? Since it's sat for some time, you'll need to do the basic stuff for a car that has not been driven in a long time. Empty the tank, coolant, check the oil and ensure it spins over. New fuel filter, stuff like this. Ensure it runs before changing the oil.

 

Just cleaning the carburetor may be sufficient. If the floats are good and the needles don't stick, then clean is about all that matters. A strong battery and new plugs will be a big help in getting it started.
If you haven't already, download the FSM.

 

i'm cheap and lazy, so i do a small inspection first, then start it, and then once you know that it runs you get to change all the fluids/filters and whatever else is bad

Inspection:
make sure the engine spins, you can kind of make sure it has compression here and if not then you're done
check the oil, we're making sure there is some, and coolant too. the fluids are bad, but we can fire it up on the old stuff, and see if the engine is ok before you go buy anything
look for anything obvious, disconnected stuff, chewed wires, etc. the car was parked for a reason, and you will find out why.
charge or replace the battery.

Starting:
if you can disable the fuel pump. then put the battery in and crank it until you have oil pressure. you should be hearing a "puh puh puh puh puh puh" which is the engine having compression. if it just sounds smooth, or its not even that is bad.
hook up the fuel pump, and try starting it. it will either work or it wont...
if it doesn't work, you can try spraying something flammable (like starting fluid) in the carb, and see if you get any action.
if still nothing, put a timing light on it, and make sure you have spark, if the engine has spark and fuel it will run....

once its running:
this is where you need to change oil, and coolant and all of the filters and plugs and stuff. plus whatever else it needs.
or if the engine is bad you can pull it and build it or whatever

 

Last time engine was running was a year ago.

I was told to take the engine out fill it with diesel then empty it to lube the seals is that required?

I found out a lot more about the car its a 12a turbo with bunch of gsl se parts like tranny diff and brakes all around also suspension parts.

 

Good Gawd, no!
Dry-cranking (run engine on starter with no fuel pump running, no spark) as suggested to get things moving and lubed, which includes the built in oil/metering pumps that will get oil where it needs to go. As suggested earlier. If the APEX seals STICK (compressed and locked into the grooves they are mounted on the engine piston/rotor), then your compression will be insufficient for start up. Often this is caused by carbon build up in the grooves and/or long storage. Best solution I know of (others may add here) is to pour some 50ccs-ish of SEAFOAM into the carb primaries (one for each chamber), dry-crank the engine a few strokes to let the Seafoam circulate, then let sit a day or 2. Be WARNED, on start up after a Seafoam application (congrats! Its started!) it will SMOKE like a forest fire. Neighbors will not be pleased. Totally normal (*cough*)-

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Thanks much appreciated should I keep the dellorto and rebuild it or get a new carburetor

 

up to you. i would plan on at least taking it apart and cleaning it.

 

I would keep it! IMO its an upgrade that you might want later!! If you don't want it I'm sure someone on here would buy it

 

Picture of under the bay it needs to be cleaned up its not all polished anymore like this.