JDuncan

iTrader: (3)

Well, I went to the junkyard yesterday to look for Miata rear subframes to study the feasibility of a swap into my 80. No luck on finding a Miata. In fact, we hadn't found a single RX-7, even though they usually have 6 or so. We gather some parts for the Probe, which I truly believe is more Ford than Mazda, and are making our way out. Then we see her. Sitting back next to the fence. A 88 TII. The car was straight, had all 4 wheels and looked out of place. No wreck, decent paint, and upon closer inspection, the only thing pilfered was the shift ****. I immediately became infatuated with the thought of this car. Every single interior piece was intact and in good order except the stereo surround which had a couple of cracks. Every, and I mean every vent was perfect. On the windshield was written Bad Turbo, Good Trans and a word that sent sadness through my heart. Sold. Well, we continued our way to the front, and at the counter, I went ahead and asked about the car. The guy told me that if it was in the yard, then it definitely wasn't sold and if I wanted her, it would take 250 to get her. After debate with the wife, and another trip back to the car we bought her. With the help of my friends, I picked the car up this morning and have spent the day working on her. The turbo checked out ok, with no shaft play and reasonably free on the compressor side so I figured the turbine would be blowing oil due to the original note on the window. I had spark, and we actually got her to start using ether, but she wouldn't run. We took the fuel line off above the filter and found no gas coming through. After a check, we realized that we couldn't hear the fuel pump. Pulling the pump revealed that it was toast. One of my friends had a 2G Eclipse Turbo fuel pump, and volunteered it for my use. After we put it in, lo and behold she started. She ran smooth and had a reasonable idle. I was shocked. This car is operational for only $250. Have driven her a little bit tonight and the only problem left to diagnose is a oil leak around the manifold, which I think may be a loose OMP line. The turbo didn't smoke, either, so I am truly blessed. I really don't know which is better. My 80 which had only 52,800 miles on it and only cost me $100, or this TII with 110,000 for $250. I love these cars. Did I mention that so far, none of the usual S4 electrical gremlins are present. Windshield wipers work in all settings, Logicon functions and every light works on it, and the clock is nice and clear, with no flicker. I am still in disbelief. That someone would allow a car to be totalled for only a fuel pump is proof positive that mechanics are scared of rotary motors. My 80 which "needed" a new motor according to what mechanics had told the previous owner, only needed to be unflooded. ATFed her, and she is at 80,000 miles now.

So what do you guys think? Am I the luckiest guy in the world?

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

In a word.. YES

Now that you've got the TII, swap it in one of your first gens and you'll be all set

With the list that you have, you could make one wickid 1st gen with all that.... TII swap, GSL-SE rear for LSD and Disc brakes.. perhaps use the '79 or '80 because they're lighter... take the best tranny, rebuild the engine or use the one that runs best (or has the least miles)

Frig, I wish I had as many Rx's as you do!

Jon

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

bastard! my $200 t2 needed a motor, the po ran it out of oil, and it had all of the gremlins.

my $350 83 is great though, all it needed was the acv fixed and it good

mike

mperformance

yes you are VERY LUCKY!

ridebmx

on that note there is a 87 parts car on ebay, prob doesnt have much time left on it, i just searched rx7 rx 7 rx-7, should be right at the top on first page

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Holy crap! You lucky bastard!

xlversatilelx

******* **** i thought my 81 with 46xxx miles for 500 was kool but **** your awsome

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

Sweet deal dude, know you got me wondering what all is in the junk yards around here.

Maguire

iTrader: (1)

yes, you are a lucky bastard. I hope all the manifold gaskets are in good shape, cause they are a pain in the *** to replace. And again, good find, cant wait to check it out later.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

james, i hate you. now stop gloating. oh yeah, and i need to book some garage time to get this exhaust on.

JEC-31

Yeah, yeah, scoring a rotary that was only playing dead is lucky.

Scoring a Turbo that was playing dead is even more lucky. They're almost always found truly dead.

But what blows me away is you got an 110K FC without electrical gremlins! Holy Cold Solder Points, Batman!

I dare you to make it your daily driver and see how long your electrical luck holds MUHAHAHAHA!!!

BRealistic

Did you get a clear title??? I would be tempted to clean her up and sell it for a tidy profit. But that is just because I can't fit the the standard sunroof TIIs.
You are lucky. But you took a big chance- that car could have needed everything.- engine, turbo, trans, rearend, CPU connection, etc... . .

any pics?

81Rex6port13b

nice score.

i would slap a fuel pump in it and sell it. you can prolly get aroun 3-4k if its in good condition. then put that money in to a first gen buy 3rd gen front clip and do that swap mmmmm.

Keaponlaffen

Yeah, I hope you checked it for leans, etc before you bought it Otherwise your $250 mint condition TII could turn into a $1000+ car with a lean on it that you can't register or sell without paying off the lean. My friend had that happen to him with an '86 Buick Skylark... bought it from a guy, took the papers to the insurance office the same day, found out there was a $1000 and some change lean on it, so he went back to the previous owner, he was an ******* and didn't give his money back, so the $250 Buick skylark turned into a $1250 buick skylark....

bliffle

Good score! I'm pea green with envy. But you deserve it for having the smarts to see it correctly and fix the pump.

Another 7 saved from the crusher!

B

Rotary7s

Or he can have one fast *** 80 for $250.

Either way its all good..

I got lucky but not that lucky..

79 cost me $50. and it run ..sold it 2 weeks later for 200.
84 cost me $175. 1-2 weeks later and $125. its running. I turned down a $2000. offer

88 10 AE Turbo cost $1200. still runs rough.Everythings there,Im the third owner..and hoping it willbe on the road next year.complete rebuild/port..and paint..

Coal

Damn you all and your cheap wicked cars!

LOL!

JDuncan

iTrader: (3)

Well, the title is free of liens. First great news. I have made contact with the previous real owner, who was the 2nd owner of the car. He had give up on her around 97 or 98 after his mechanic told him it needed injectors and quoted a price of $2000 to fix her. He donated her to a school in Oldham Co., Ky, where supposedly it was used to teach kids how to change oil and coolant in a vocational program. How it got from them to the junkyard, I have not ascertained yet. From what I can tell, the school never retitled the car, so the title is still in the last owners name, and he sounds willing to get a duplicate title and transfer her to me, as long as I pick up the expense. Frankly, I am so excited anymore that I don't think I can stand it. I guess I should decide who gets the car in the event my heart pops. It would have been Jeremy, but he keeps telling me he hates me.

buddah9543

DAMIT post some pics. i love when people get lucky. But i want to see pics. I m happy for u man. Now get some pics up now!!!

JDuncan

iTrader: (3)

Coming off the trailer at the house... All I have right now, as my friend took these. it cleaned up very well. Tomorrow, it will clean up more. Wax is a coming.

V8kilr

I would be more lucky if you broke up your huge paragraph into smaller ones

JDuncan

iTrader: (3)

Aww, come swap my SE suspension into my 80..
Jeremy misses you.

81Rex6port13b

damn, that thing is clean, i dont see any major dents.

verry verry nice

RH-7

Ha! That was definitely a lot of reading. Good story though.

TheTwinTurboRX-7

If it makes you feel better I hate you too.