Well, Marla finally bit the dust today on the way to work. Most of you guys probably won't know me, I didn't post often and haven't stopped by in a long time but I figured I might as well share.

I'm gonna miss her:
silver 1983 GSL
219k miles
Running on her second engine I got out of a junkyard (also 12a)
Had a wonderfull time pulling her rats nest, replaced so many parts on her, it's really just her time.
Done a couple 360's on the freeway (unwillingly, hit a deer on one occasion, and ice patches on the other two) and I'm really gonna miss her =[.

Today on the way to work I start feeling some serious drag, pop the car into netural and she stalls. Throw it into fourth and let out the clutch to get her started again and it's still dragging like a monster. Felt kinda like a mix between running out of gas and missing an apex seal. Anyway, I pull off to the side of the freeway and she stalls on me.
Takes about 10 minutes to get started, and I floor it home to keep her running amazingly the drag is gone, but she'll still stall if I don't hold the gas on. Been tinkering since I got home. All of the oil's gone, and I've got some black bits in my coolant. Been tinkering around ever since, but I can tell she just doesn't want to play anymore. She got me through college, taught me a lot about cars, embarassed me on an inumerable amount of occasions, and I'm always going to remember her. I can look back on cruising junkyards for ignitors and nice parts with fondness, or jerry-rigging the cable running to my starter to get home, how hard she tried when she lost an apex seal, and the one time I tried to take three friends out for a drive.

Anyway, I've just come to say enjoy what you've while you have it. Our cars may not be the prettiest, or the fastest (although I know there are some would easily prove me wrong here,) but they've got a bunch of heart and are a helluva lott of fun to drive.

That said I would really like to stay rotary, but I can't seem to see any good 1st gens lying around. I'm thiking about venturing into TII teritory, but in all honesty I really need a car. Anyway, it's been fun.

 

That is so sad, but you can make it better, A saturday of wrenching and you could have another engine in there.

 

Yeah, don't give up yet. Get another engine from the junkyard to put in while you properly rebuild another engine for it. Either that or get a beater car to drive untill the 7 is drivable again. Just don't give up on it.

 

I would guys, but she's really tired. That deer really did a whammy on her, the paints a mess, gas tank leaks, and she needs the bushings replaced. My engine lifts also in storage in Las Vegas and she's also got a snowballs chance in hell of passing smog the way I swap engines. She's an awfull candidate for revival, like doing a heart transplant in a 104 year old man with failing kidneys.

I'm going to be keeping an eye out for any local RX's and try to pick another one up. In the mean she's staying at our house (have 5 acre's) and when my stepdad comes back we might crack the wrenches out. I just haven't the time to swap the engine and it makes me so sad, just graduated college and working full-time, trying to find an apartment, helping the folks get the house ready to sell, too much stuff going on. The worse part is that it's getting too cold to ride my motorcycle, so I've got to get another car soon. Also getting a junkyard engine last time was a miracle there was only one place i could find in town that knew for sure if their engine even worked.

P.S. I'm thinking about burying her in the back yard..... does that make me insane?

 

It would make a good parts car. Keep looking for a decent 1st gen, they are out there. (especially in the larger cities). Be prepared to pay between $1000 and $2000 though, and even more if it's a pristine GSL-SE.


As for 2nd gens, they're no more reliable (maybe even less so), no faster (unless turbo'd) due to the excess weight, and not as good looking or fun to drive.

Besides, decent first gens are becoming more rare and will likely increase in value soon. @nd gens are dime a dozen and will take longer to appreciate in value if at all.

 

I can sympathize with your sentiment, but don't bury her. At the very least get her a good home with someone on the forum who will use either her or her parts to make a 7 live again

We've gotta keep these cars going!

Jon

 

 

Yeah, what he said. Someone buy mine so they dont go to the clown at the Mazda junkyard . I have until the end of the year to do something with them .

~T.J.

 

What all you got and do you deliver?

 

If you do want to find another engine, check with Mr. Mazda in Denver. They were parting a couple of 1st gens last year. They're also parting 2nd gens if you want to upgrade.

 

less than a month ago, they only had one 1st gen - a 79. wasn't looking for an engine, so I don't know what they had available.

 

check out Mid-West Engine Sales. I bought a 12a from them once and it was in awesome condition. I believe they offer like 30k mi. or less and maybe a warranty-don't remember for sure. Anyways, motor+shipping was only like $700.