Hello guys. I am the proud new owner of a 1980 rx7. I got the car about 1-2 months ago, non-running. I have every intention of working on the car until it runs, and once it does, working towards making it run better. I am very new to working on cars, although I do have a couple of friends who know some stuff. I am very happy to have the car, even if it doesn't run.

So far, I have started taking out the A/C system in the car, and removed all the belt driven accessories (for now). The car has not run in 15 years, and the engine is definitely carbon locked. The problem is, The ATF treatment has not worked in the slightest, I think because the rotors are both at a point of rotation where they are in the middle of the chamber, and as a result, they are not allowing the ATF to gather on the apex seals. This is only an guess, however. The problem is, I really don't have the money for an engine rebuild, much less a new engine, as I work part-time at UPS. So, I would like to get the engine turning without resorting to either of those options, if possible.

The next question I have is, when removing the rats nest, should I wait until the engine is running, so that if it doesn't run after the rats nest is gone, its easier to trouble-shoot, or is it ok to remove the rats nest now, even before the engine is running?

Another quick question I have involves the carb. The choke **** does not budge, so I think there is something stuck on the carb, but I am not positive. I have never worked on a carb, but have no objections to working on it if necessary. This whole car is one giant learning experience to me.

If you have gotten this far, I thank you for reading through all of the potentially horribly worded questions that I have, and look forward to your responses.

 

Hey, Welcome to the forum, It seems like you have been reading through the faqs..Check out the archives and the search button on the top right. Lots of info. I wouldn't take the rats nest off yet. You have emssions over there? FIrst thing that should be done is a tune up. I would get new spark plugs, distrubitor cap and rotor, fuel filter, Change oil, battery, spark plug wires. Take the air cleaner box off and spray carb cleaner in the carb. Put some seafoam down it, capfull. Oh ya, before all this, check to see if you can turn it by hand, the main pulley. Other people will chime in. Hope all goes well. God bless

 

First things first, carbon lock: all the rest needs to wait until you can rotate the engine.

so where did you put the atf or seafoam through? the spark plugs holes, or the manifolds?

if putting it through the plug holes does not work, your next option is to remove the intake and exhaust manifolds and inject it through there.

once you get the motor so that it can physically rotate with only the starter motor, then you can step out from there.

kenn

Oh and welcome to my addiciton and the forums

 

Hi and welcome. Id go Kenns way and remove the exhaust manifold and try to get the atf in there. Also thats the best places to get a look see inside the engine and see if you can spot anything wrong. Does it move at all in either direction?

Well if the rubber hoses are old, leaving the rats nest on might be a bigger problem than removing it (because of possible vacuum leaks). Especially if you plan on ditching it anyway.

Look at the FSM. You can disconnect the choke cable at the carb end and see if its still frozen, in which case its the cable thats bad. black dragon sells them at the cheapest price (not cheap however).

 

Welcome to the forum. As stated, pull the exhaust and find out the condition of the engine internals, It may be more than carbon locked, unfortunately. Engine condition should be 1st priority.

In my sig line is a link to the FSMs and carb manual.
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Hey guys. Thanks for all the replies. I have checked the engine, and it does not rotate in either direction. I put the ATF in through the spark plug holes, I must have missed the suggestion for putting it through the exhaust manifold, so I will try that next. I have in fact been reading through the FAQs, even before I knew 100% that I was getting the car, I was browsing through the main 1st gen FAQ section.

We do have emissions tests, but cars older that 25 no longer have to pass those tests, which is why I was thinking about removing the rats nest.

Actually, trochold, I have seen a couple of your posts, and already followed the sig to the appropriate FSM for my car, and I have it downloaded to my computer. It is definitely something I will be referencing often.

Any other suggestions are definitely welcome, and I appreciate all the help that I am getting. I will keep you guys updated as I go through everything.