New '84 GSL-SE to Restore, any Suggestions?
 

I spotted an '84 RX-7 GSL-SE. I started thinking about getting an RX-7 after my friend got one and I took a ride in it. I asked the guy about it and he said he would be interested in selling it. He said it ran before he parked it but I can't turn the engine by hand. It is carbon-locked which I can use against him to lower the price. He is expecting me to offer him a price. I haven't said anything, just looked. It doesn't have and dents/dings or any rust bad enough to make holes. I have the resources available to me to do a descent restoration job. I am on a low budget though so I am going to keep it stock. It's got a 13B engine, 14 inch wheels and all that jazz because it is a -SE. Any suggestions about what I should look for would be appreciated. My parents tell me to start offering him about $300 for it. I've got about 15 pictures of it if anybody wants to see it. Thanks

300 isn't a bad price, but you may want to start with that. Check the tire wells, take out the bins, and take a flash light in there. If there is ANY BROWN, you have a fairly bad rust problem. Its very common in rx7s, but it can be fixed. But it dosen't look like a bad find. Almost looks like the SE i bought for 500.

Thanks man but when I looked at the storage bins, they are lined with Vinyl or something. Can you check from underneath or something?

Look inside the bin of your friend's car and get the exact locations of the screws - there's only a few holding it in place. You need to see from inside the bins.

Thanks much Bass! Anybody have any more suggestions?

Check the spare tire area for water, check under the hood along the subframe. *ponders* Oh yeah, check the rocker pannels with your fingers, give them a hard shove and make sure they aren't rusted through.

Bottom line, if you can get it cheap, you can fix it. Right now im working on an SE that i have got of ebay that is stripped down to a chassis. The only thing in it is the rear end. It has no gas tank, interior, wires... just a the unibody and a rear end. I am completely restoring it the best that i can. Then im putting the s5 t2 motor in there, microtech ecu... ect... One year i will be done :)

Thats awesome Blitz0309, good luck with that, I am happy for you. The rocker panels seemed fairly solid enough to hold a nice new paint job. I haven't looked at the spare tire spot too much yet, but I will do that next time.

My heart is kind of set on this car right now so there is little chance of anything turning me away.

That is just about the worst thing that you can do. There are always more cars out there, don't get fixated on one because it's the first you've seen. You'll be in such awe of the car that your going to miss the imperfections and problems.

The rust on the outside of the car makes me think that you're going to see a lot of rust in the rear wheel wells. You should definitely look in there. Also, for the shape it's in in that picture and the engine won't turn over, I'd offer him $200 and go from there.

Yes, I have had things happen to me like that in the past, but I mean its a GSL-SE. Don't you agree its a good find? I'm in southern Wisconsin. They really aren't that popular anyway. I am looking for a fixer-upper too.

Thats what it looks like.. $300 isnt bad at all, if anything get it as a parts car, so if you find a better shell/clean interior, swap over all the SE goodies :cool:

try to start it before buying anything. i paid $150.00 dollors for my -SE.

car looks a littel rough but for 300.00 , I don't see how you can go wrong..you could always part it out and make over 300.00...

And if you need a good running engine I've got one for sale--$550 complete long block.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...postid=2672191

Running perfect before I took it out late December.

Scott

wow why does that engine look so clean?

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/2.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/3.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/4.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/5.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/6.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/7.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/8.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/9.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/10.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/11.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/12.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/13.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/14.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/15.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/16.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/17.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/18.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/670612/19.jpg

Shoot, that didn't work. You can see my pictures here:

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...elected=815896

steering wheel looks like an old wrinkled penis, and your headliner is shot. :sad:

I can replace the headliner for about $30 myself. Some mice got in it and chewed some holes. As far as I know, that's the only damage, but I mean these things are getting hard to find, right?

Rex4Life - e-mail me private on the engine that you have for sale. I'd like to ask you some questions regarding mileage, condition, state, etc.

longduck@mindspring.com

Thanks!

Well, guess I take good care of my cars. Last 7 I had after 14 years and I sold at 215,000 miles and still running great--then I bought this SE 1-1/2 years ago. Guy I bought it from let an oil leak on the oil cooler go and the front of the engine has some oil on it. Other than that no problems. Engine runs great.