I am looking at an '82 RX-7. It's been sitting for eight years without being run. The current owner (my dad) parked it because the clutch was slipping. I've had suggestions from co-workers. Basically change the oil, remove the plugs, add Marvel Mystery Oil to the plug ports and let it sit for 24 hours. Rotate the engine by hand after the 24 hours. If it rotates freely leave the plugs disconnected from the distributor and crank the engine. Reconnect the plugs and start after changing the fuel out. I'm looking for any advice as to the initial evaluation, as well as how to turn the engine manually.

Thanks for the help,
John

 

Yep. Seems about right... I'd back flush the fuel lines with compressed air and drain the fuel tank before I did anything though... Just remove the fuel line from the fuel filter and the carburetor and shoot some compressed air down it from the front of the car. It'll blow all the crud out...

These engines are easy to rotate by hand, Just pull on the belts... Although after 8 years, the belts might be dryrotten... Might do ya well to pick up some new ones...

The best way to get Marvel's Mystery il into the plug holes is to use the Lower plug hole. It's got a larger opening. Use a cheap, small turkey baster from Wal*Mart...

Shoot an ounce or two in, Turn the main pulley ONE FULL ROTATION... Clockwise... Shoot another ounce or two in... Turn one full rotation again. One or two more ounces... Repeat the same proceedure on the rear rotor... This gets all three sides of the triangular rotors... They turn at ONE THIRD of the rate of the main pulley. Let is sit 24 hours MINIMAL! The longer the better though... And be sure to be away from the house when you crank it up... Your yard will be free of mosquitos... As well as any other forms of life when you're done.

So yeah... Shopping list for you:

4 qts oil (Castrol GTX 20w50 sounds good)
Oil filter
2 qts Marvel's Mystery Oil (MMO... One quart goes in with the 4 qts Castrol. The other you use to treat the engine.
Belts (One for air pump, one for alternator... Both wrap around the water pump.)
Fuel Filter (Get a few, they're cheap and your tank probably has lots of rust.)
Spark plugs (They get fouled after burning off the MMO... DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use anything other than NGK brand spark plugs. Suggested part number is BR8EQ-14)

After you get the engine running again, Come back to us... There's more to do... Coolant flush, gear box oils... Brake work... Fun FUN FUN!!!

 

Listen to Pele, he knows what he's talk'n about. Good luck!

--Bob

 

You may end up having to pull the car down the road to get it to start and blow out all the crap, even with the MMO. My '80 had sat for 10 years after being parked because the clutch was weak. I cleaned out the fuel lines and tank, swapped carbs, put new gas in it and pulled it down the road about 15-20 mph and it started right up. Sometimes even with a new battery the starter won't spin the motor fast enough to get it to start when it's all loaded up.

 

I put a 1984 GSL back on the road last year that sat since 1994. I used Seafoam instead or Marvel Mystery Oil. I am having a battle with the stock carb where I will either have to replace it or rebuild it. Good Luck!

 

Thanks for the words of advice. I'll be heading up to Maine in a week and will attempt to get her working then.

Thanks,
John

 

Thanks again for the advice. I went to move the seat back and tilted it up due to the rust. I'm not going to take on the project due to time and location. The RX-7 is an '82. It has an air damn on the front lowering it down and a fin thing on the back. If someone would like the whole car or some various parts let me know. I'll be in Maine for the next couple of weeks. The car is sitting in South China, Maine 04358. Email me at celestialblackdogs@lycos.com.

Take care,
John

 

Yep.

 

Word of warning. My car sat for 3 years or so and when I finally got around to getting it going again - I had a lot of problems. Turned out I had a coat of varnish in the fuel tank - ended up coming out through the lines, clogging the in-tank strainer, etc before I realized it. Rather than hassle with cleaning it, I swapped the tank and it's been (mostly) great ever since.

 

Yeah,

These cars usually need a lot of work when they've been sitting, but it can be a very rewarding experience to get one back on the road.

Mine's been sitting for four or five years, I started working on it late last summer. To date, I've had to:

Un-lock the engine (used ATF)
oil and oil filter change
Replace the Starter
Replace the Master and Slave Clutch Cylinders
Replace the Carburetor
Purge the gas and replace the filter
Do spark plugs, wires, air and oil filters
Prestone Coolant "Super Flush"
Rear Differential Fluid
Transmission Fluid (bought it, but can't get the DAMN bolt off)

Stuff Left To Do:
Troubleshoot minor carb problem
Full brake system (most parts are in.. waiting on VB)
Full Suspension (springs, shocks, struts, sway bars, bushings)
New Gas Tank (old one's cracked) and fuel sender unit

and the little things needed to safety it, like a battery holding clamp, troubleshooting the short in the washer sprayer circuit etc...

If you weren't in Maine, I'd take the car in an INSTANT I love fixing these things up. Mine will (hopefully) see the road next spring and a new paint job and stereo next summer

I hope someone around here could give that car a good home.

Jon

 

I've sent this thread to a friend who is from Maine - there's a chance he might be interested.