hey, I just got a 1981 RX-7.
has a few problems, but pretty good for $1500.

headlights won't flip up, Instrument cluster with the fuel lvl, oil lvl, and one other thing doesn't work, Dash won't light up, either will the heat and Defrost area.

material on sunroof comming off, and around rear window.

damn. this'll take some work. lol

 

Welcome to the forum.

Looks like some of those are just fuse problems.
Check the fusable links in the engine bay for the headlamp problem.
The fuse box for the gauge problems.
First check fuse for the instrument lights, if not that then it could be the dimmer control on the dash that is bad.

 

Good luck with it!

 

It's worse than a drug habit!!!

Welcome to the forum.

- David

 

hahah thanks guys. Nice to get into the RX-7 world.
I'm also in the Nissan 200sx (S12) Club. It needs an Engine now. Water pump seized, and head gasket blew. Oh well.

Man, the rx-7 is so much fun, despite the few problems I gotta solve.

Is it true that the 1st gen's are way heavier than the 2nd or 3rd?

 

Not 'way heavier'. A GSL-SE, the most laden of the bunch (sunroof, bigger rims, power everything, the most sound deadening, etc.), sits at 2,590 lbs, or 240 lbs heavier than the ultrastripped base model S.

 

Congrats on the 7, and welcome! You won't find a more knowledgable bunch than right here. Always check the FAQ's and the archives. Good luck!

 

Yeah, and the biggest boob is the one in the middle!


(couldn't resist. You set'em up, we hit'em outa the park!)

 

1st gens are the lightest of the generations, the 2nd and 3rds come in at 2800+ lbs, with the vert being the heaviest of all, iirc. Imho, the 1st gen has the most nimble handling, the 2nd gens feel like a boat in comparision.

Welcome to the forum and the Darkside. In my sig line you will find a link to the online FSMs, carb manuals and other rotary related material.

 

thanks alot guys.

Yeah my friend Adam has a 2nd Gen, he just imported a new B13 t from japan.
He's been giving me trouble saying that I wasted my money and that he got a 2nd gen for $1800, And that the 2nd and 3rd gen's have way better weight distribution and handling.
I told him I wanted to put a Cosmo engine in it, and he's like "it's not worth the money on your 1st gen. get a second gen!"

I just think he's a idiot, and that if I put the cosmo's 3 rotor twin turbo in my car,....
it'd destroy a 2nd gen.

 

He's a bum! don't listen to him.
If I listened to my friends I'd have herpes right now. Now thats just good sense.

 

for the headlights- check the levers that open them, they may have just popped off (right behind each headlight, attached to the fender) when i bought mine, it was missing the bushing that holds the lever to the ball, so the drivers headlight occasionally dosnt pop up

 

dido , that is a pretty common problem . sometimes the rod pops off , i have 2 rx7s that have worn out bushings . and they are not cheap either , i improvised and made bushings at work lol .

 

The most common problem with the headlamps(being both sides) not popping up is the fusable link.

As far as the bushings go, it is a common problem that they wear out and break. They are available thru the dealer and are sold as a short and a long rod with bushings installed.

 

Rotaries don't have heads or head gaskets for that matter.

What you blew was probably a coolant seal. Don't try to use radiator stop leak or any type of additive that isn't specified to work on rotary engines.

Good luck. And there's a ton of information here if you just SEARCH.

Nector

 

Your friend has his head up his *** as the weight distribution between all 3 gens is nearly identical. I have a 2nd gen as a DD, but when it comes to play time, the 1st gen runs circles around it when setup properly.

A 1st gen, with a 13BT installed and the supporting suspension and brake mods will send both the 2nd and 3rd gens home with thier tails between thier legs. Tends to **** some of them off when they get smoked by 'that old car', lol.

 

i think he was talking about the nissan that he also has