Whats up guys! Well im new to the forum as you can tell. I dont own a RX7, yet. I am purchasing a 83 rx7 in about a month. I currently drive a 05 Jetta GLI. The car im buying, has close to 200k mi. on it, but still runs, and its a 5 sp. So i would like to get some input on my soon to be purchase. Whats the life expectancy of these wankel engines? And are there any things in particular i can look for when i check the car out? Thanks! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

 

Properly maintained NA rotary can last for an extraordinarily long time. The trick is proper warm up, cool down, keeping it oiled up, and never overheating them. Sounds like quite a bit to worry about, but if you properly maintain the car, it'll last for an extremely long time.

When checking out the car, check the rear wheel wells for rust, as well. Check the model designation; a base model and a GS will have drum brakes and an open diff out back, but a GSL will have disc brakes in the rear with a limited slip differential. The GS and GSL also comes with more options as far as interior wise as well.

 

1) engine condition
2) rust (as above mentioned)
Since your looking at $1500+ for an engine rebuild, $75 at a mazda dealer to run an engine compression check (special mazda tool) is money well spent. These motors can still run but have bad seals if the seller knows how to disguise the problem
Good luck and welcome!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

welcome to the fourm... and the dark side...hope you get your 7 soon and welcom to the greatest obsession ever. The car will take all your money turn your pockets inside ut and wish you had good credit for the bank..atleast i do but hey..its worth it..nice to see new faces

 

well welcome to the forum. obsession yes......emptying my pockets ....not yet anyway. i traded a sub and a box for my car since it didnt run and it turned out being a dead battery and dirty starter terminals. If you can start it and let it warm up see if it revs fine. if it smokes dont worry haha mine does alot but mostly just the mustangs and camaros .....thats a joke btw but yeah smoking is normal on start up.

 

lucky you mines taken all my money its a project and i one day i spent over 1200 dollars my frame had to be rewelded as well as the sterring box to the frame so i spent alot doing that it still needs a structural safty LOTS more money and ALOT more work..then i need mechanical

 

Welcome to the dark side bro.

1st step IMHO is to Find the search button and then read everything in FAQ.

Anything you dont find ask, theres so much knowledge in here.

 

Hey guys. I'm new too. I sold my last Rx-7, a 85 GSL-SE in 1990 when my first kid was coming. A big mistake. Before that I had two 78 RX3-SPs, 78 RX-4 sedan and a 82 GSL. Loved them all. But, guess what, I'm looking for a '7 now so I've been catching up with this site.

 

wellcome. and gust to let you know all 83 rx7s rock

 

Welcome to the forum and the Darkside. In my sig line is a link to the online FSms, carb manual, etc.