This is my first rx-7, it's got some problems.. I've read up a little (4-5 hours) in forums, google, etc. and got a few things figured, but wanted to see if anyone has advice:

problems:
AC blows warm air
fuel gauge
temp gauge
leak at oil cooler line
Transmission makes wonderfull grinding noises (have a 12a 5speed to replace it)
coil packs are bad (if temp in engine bay gets the slightest bit warm the car dies then backfires)
powersteering pump screams with joy everytime you turn
paint is faded
struts/shocks gone
loose steering
rear hatch shocks busted
windsheild has stars
tint on windows is butt nasty
weather stripping is mostly crap
driverside window regulator is busted
radio doesn't even try to work
leather is looking rough, no cracks, but it's old

anyone know of a rack and pinion swap for this car?

 

Welcome to the forum, most of those are common problems, mainly just because the age of the car.
If you want new hatch shocks, advance auto has the best price. Around $40 for 2 if I remember correctly, the brand is Strong Arm. A/C is probably just out of coolant, but good luck finding the old freon...maybe you want to try converting to R-134.
cpracing.ca sells a rack and pinion kit, but some people don't like it, search around and find some more info.
Loose steering is VERY common and you might can fix it by trying this http://www.mazspeed.com/steeringgear.htm
Here is some helpful info about the rotary in general if you didn't know this stuff already http://members.ij.net/mrmazda/cfaqmenu.html#FCF

Buy a Haynes manual and go to victoriabritish.com and order a free catalog, it's good for when you're not so sure about what part is right.
Weatherstripping for the doors can be bought on ebay, Mazdatrix.com, or through Victoria British.
AND NEVER USE AUTOLITE SPARK PLUGS... NGK is the best for rotary engines..

 

AC blows warm air - Good luck getting it recharged...search, you'll find someone

fuel gauge - If it doesn't work then its your fuel sender...do a search on it...some replaced it and others cleaned their old ones up.

temp gauge - This is scary, check/replace your thermostat!

leak at oil cooler line - Get new stainless steel braided lines from mazdatrix - $101.00

Transmission makes wonderfull grinding noises (have a 12a 5speed to replace it) - The SE trannies are different from 12a trannies in that they have a taller 5th gear

coil packs are bad (if temp in engine bay gets the slightest bit warm the car dies then backfires) - dunno much about this...check out accell coil packs...

powersteering pump screams with joy everytime you turn - time to replace or pull out and go fulltime manual...you can ask here, lots of the members pull their good ps pumps to go fulltime manual

paint is faded - save up for a nice paint job or DIY

struts/shocks gone - replace the shocks, struts, springs and bushings (do a search)

loose steering - replace your pitman and idler arms as well as your inner and outer tie rods...i used victoria british and they are good

rear hatch shocks busted - strongarm as mentioned above - do a search for the exact part number

windsheild has stars - used replacements should be available locally maybe

tint on windows is butt nasty - remove the tint...do a search on the best and safest way for the rear defroster

weather stripping is mostly crap - ebay set is good

driverside window regulator is busted - ebay might have a replacement for you or search the forsale section here

radio doesn't even try to work - get a new head unit from sounddomain.com

leather is looking rough, no cracks, but it's old - no cracks? then i'd get some leather softener and massage it until its soft and plyable

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your project always nice to see another SE owner

 

thanks guys,

I've got a good bit of cash to dump into this thing.. so I will begin unloading soon... just need to dig up enough info to make decitions and get to work.

 

I forgot to mention this earlier, but many car interior specialists recommend using 1 part Woolite (the clothing detergent) to 10 parts water to clean and soften leather seats, then using Lexol brand leather conditioner to protect and soften.

You can buy Lexol at many stores, but I haven't had any luck finding it anywhere locally besides the Ace Hardware store. http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...entPage=search

On another note, I don't think ANY GSL-SE leather seats are "soft" leather...they have hardened with age, but even when new I don't think they were as soft as newer car leathers. I've considered switching to 2nd generation (86-91) seats since they pretty much bolt in and most people say are more comfortable and better at holding you in. This leather is KILLER in the souths summers.

 

Sounds like he got an RX alright :-)

Welcome brother, and may God be with you.

Seems like everything was covered. But "coil packs" do you mean just the two coils sittiing in your fender? Or do you have the 2nd gen setup on your car?

 

the faded paint can probably be restored more than you would think. A screaming ps pump is probably from steering with the car stopped, try steering stopped with no ps...see how hard you got to work, now think about the ps pump. If you got no power to your radio then it could be a fuse or something. As for the transmission try to synchronize your rpms with you mph speed as you shift.
Good luck

 

if you got the cash to throw at her i'd start with this and in this order...

full tune up:
NGK spark plugs BR9EQ14
NGK spark plug wires ZE97A
K&N Air Filter
K&N Oil Filter
Castrol GTX Oil
Replace all belts
Radiator flush
Replace Transmission Fluid with Redline MT90
Replace Rear End Fluid with Redline 75w90
Get your fuel injectors cleaned
If you send your fuel injectors to get cleaned you'll need replacement gaskets
Tune your TPS as needed when working with the intake
Replace all or just your broken vacuum hoses if applicable
Replace your thermostat!!!

I'm sure I'm forgetting somethings with a full tune up...but anyways...then I'd do the brake lines...

SS Brake Lines

then suspension...

Tires
Shocks/Struts
Springs
Inner and Outer Tie Rods
Idler & Pitman Arms
Poly Bushings (just the fronts!)

This are all my preferences though...others may say to go another route to make the car faster...I like to stay as stock as possible so this is the way I've gone... hope this helps...

 

That sounds like a great restoration list, Bizarro. I'm looking into an SE of my own. Wish I had so much money to do that list

I would put the paint in there somewhere though. .. .

 

I got a good 12a transmission with this car will it swap in? and should I swap out the clutch while I'm in there?

 

I'm talking about the two coild in the front.. My multimeter is busted, but I'm almost certain thats the problem.

 

I'm sure it will bolt right up...BUT remember that on an SE tranny there is a taller 5th...no biggie I'm sure 'cept you'll have less MPG on the highways

If you are going to do the tranny swap like we just did to my car this past weekend here was my shopping list:

Exidy Clutch Kit - http://gripforce.com/clutch.asp
Tranny Front Cover - http://mazdatrix.com/g3.htm
Tranny Rear Seal - http://mazdatrix.com/g3.htm
Tranny Mount - http://mazdatrix.com/g3.htm
Pilot Bearing Seal - http://mazdatrix.com/f86-92nt.htm

The clutch kit included the throwout bearing, pilot bearing, clutch allignement tool, pressure plate and clutch disk...

The pilot bearing tool can be rented from any Autozone...it'll need a little grinding down but it will fit...