Stefchu

Well this is my first post here and i was helping you guys could help me. I have loved rotarties from the first time i took a ride in my buddy's 1980 RX-7 alas he has moved out of state now and i have nobody to help me now.
anywho I was at my Rugby clubs alumni game and at the party afterwards i notice a first gen rx-7 sitting in the guys barn. well as the party went on the owner of the place we where using came out to get some food. I asked him about the car and we went over to look at it. He bought it like 2-3 years ago and was going to put a new exhaust on it when he found one and resell it (he does it with lots of cars) It is a 1984 GSL-SE and it has 88k miles. He said it ran great when he parked it last year and he hasnt ran it since. He knew it had a 13b motor so i am assuming he knows something about rotaries. He is putting the new exhaust on it soon and is going to sell it. I was pretty drunk when i was talking to the guy and couldnt really make a good inspection there, but he gave me his card and told me to give him a call about it when i am done with classes. I did a couple of searches and found out a few things i should check but i was hoping you guys could help me with some more things to look out for. heres what i got so far

1. turn engine over to check for compression
2. check all rubber to see if it is acceptable condition
3. check all fluid levels(oil, coolant, tranny fluid and whatnot)
4. when i was there it looked like it only had a little surface rust on the hood, other than the rocker pannels, hatch and wheel wells is there anywhere else i should look in particular?

also is there anything i would want to replace right there before i sarted it up, i am thinking it could probally need an oil change and new plugs right away.

Well thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me. I have had those crazy triangles spinning in my head for a long time now and hopefully this will all work out now.

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

I also have an 1984 SE. First of all, like you said, turn over the engine and see if it is locked up or turns and has compression. Check for rust under the storage bins behind the seats. If you do buy it, replace all fluids including fuel, oil, coolant, etc..

Kent

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Remove the rear sotrage bins behind the seats to look for rust on teh inside of the wheel wells...

Remember. You can fix an engine and stuff like that... If the body rusts out, you're screwed.

MarkPerez

Ask if you can buy it as is,, cheaper. and if he wants too much money as is, walk away. some here have paid
alot of money ( to me ) for thier SE's. bottom line is you have to drive it. warning !! as soon as you do....sold !
Also these cars HAVE to be maintained. at least once a week check all under hood fluids. welcome aboard !

Stefchu

Thanks for the quick replys. The new exhaust was sitting in the passenger seat when i saw it. as far as i could see(again from my brief and drunken inspection) it was in perfect condition for someone like me to buy. Exterior not in the greatest shape(faded paint a little surface rust ect). but hey if it has good compression and it runs i think i am already sold(pending deeper rust inspection). the guy selling it seemed really nice and would probally be willing to help me get it in decent shape before i got it on the road(guy had like 12 mid 80s early 90s cars in his barn you would think the guy is running a small used car lot in there). I think i am going to give him a call during a study break sometime this week so i will post more as i know it
thanks again

PS Congrats on your 1000th post Mark Perez glad it was in my first thread here

claytonjh1223

you might go ahead and get some gas in there and make sure fuel pump and filter are in working order!

hanman

My strong suggestion would be to pump some ATF into it and rotate the engine. Then come back in two or three days and do it again. After that try and start it, but I wouldn't try and start it till you do that first. After sitting that long the apex seals can stick permanently in place and when you start it, you ruin the engine. Ask me how I know this.
It is worth the small amount of patience extended.
You will love the SE, I have two of them.
dave

Stefchu

Forgive my lack of knowledge but what is ATF(automatic transmission fluid????) and how exactly would i pump it in? I dont know exactly a ton about engine work but i do know that apex seal health is key to the longevity of the rotary engine. also whould it be too much to asume that the current owner of the car who is competent mechanically would he be able to complete this procedure? I really need to stop thinking about cars so much and study hard(at least for the next week and a half)
Anywho thanks again in advance.

MarkPerez

ATF or MMO, either one. pull the plugs. it goes in that way. not a ton of the stuff either. thanks, i passed 1000
post's long ago. then, server upgrade wiped them out. but thanks anyway.