Put the 7 away... or dont??
 

I'll be leaving for college in a week and I have to make the decision now whether I should put her away for the year or let her be driven occasionaly and otherwise bascially negelcted by my dad. The engine is a fresh rebuild along with the carb and many other new parts. Would it be better for the car as a whole to be properly stored for the year or occasionally (if that) driven/ turned on.

If the weather in Jersey is anything like it is up here in Syracuse, NY I'd definitely put her away for the winter.

Winters here (or actually the salt on the road) is terrible for these poor cars... or actually, any car in general :-)

:withstupi

I put mine away because of the salt.

You said the car would be neglected if you left it out for the winter so I agree with the put it away.

Just remember to:

Change the oil - Used motor oil is full of acid, bad for engins

Either drain the gas tank or fill the tank and add fuel stableinzer - if you put the car away with some fuel in the tank the tank can rust from the inside out and then you are stuck trying to replace a gas tank which sucks ...

Fog the Carb (if Carbed)

Remove the battery - Don't keep the battery on cement that will ruin the battery, batteries like to be kept above freezing if not being used every day

I put moth balls in mine to help keep the bugs and mice out.

Another good thing to do is wash the car befor you put it away.

I don't put my car up on blocks, but I do set my wheels on plywood it is better on the rubber in the tires then the concreet.

Then she sits untill the first nice weekend in April or May

If you want to keep this car for any amout of time Storage is the only way to go.

Well either way she would be kept in the garage along with the GXL (much to the dismay of my mom) just like last year.... But last year she was still being worked on and I was still living here so it wasnt an issue. I guess from what everyone is saying its best to put her away completely. It just sucks that I wont be back from school until mid-June. Just a few questions, fog the carb?? I've never heard that before, please clarify. Should I put her up on jackstands to take the weight of the suspension? And even if shes garaged would a car cover be needed to help from ruining the paint (new custom purple pearl, I really don't want to mess it up). Thanks a lot for the help.

There is an engin storage spary that you can buy that you spray through the carb, is is to keep stuff lubed and prevent drying out.

A cover is a good choice. There are diffenet schools of thought on putting the car on stands.

I don't, I don't think it is good for the suspension to hang like that. The suspension is desigened to have a load on it at all time, not hang in the air.

This is just my opinion...

I have stored my RX-7 for four years the way I discribed above and have had no problems waht so ever.

Good luck,

A

well i guess you all in NJ have different issues to deal with but if it were me I think I'd rather have the engine ran at least once in a while to keep everything lubricated. You don't want to come back to your moth ball infested 7 that has dried up seals

I start mine 3-4 times during the winter and just let it get up to operating temperature, then shut it off again....

I addition to what the other fellas recommend above, here's what I do when I bed my RX here in Alaska for the l-o-o-ong winter (and she just sits out doors!):
-full tank with gas stabilizer (you really need to manually pour gas into mine till its full to the brim. I use a gas can for the final top-up because the pumps at the station cut off too soon. Mine's an 80 and this may be a problem with earlier SAs only.
-disconnect the fuel pump (or pull the fuse if that will do it - pump connection is under the metal cover behind the seats. pain to get at...) and RUN THE CAR TILL IT DIES. This way all the fuel is out of the carb
-I pour about a 1/3rd of a quart of new oil down the carb throats, splitting it between the 2 rotors.
-with the ignition DISCONNECTED, spin the engine a few turns to spread the oil around
-I then cover the carb mouth with a plastic bag and seal it, placing the air cleaner back over it. The idea is to prevent air (and thus, moisture) circulating in the engine. Moisture = rust
-Likewise I bag the EXHAUST tips for the same reason.
-spray all the locks and moving bits (power antenna for eg) with WD40
-DON'T engage the hand brakes!!
-I also plastic bag the distributor to prevent moisture
-mothballs especially in the engine compartment are a FAB! idea so mice won't chew the harness (ask how i know...:( )
-DON'T put them IN the car!! use an open box of baking soda instead
-throw a cover over it. Even a bed sheet (assuming its indoors) will do, so uncle Fred doesn't scratch it all up when he puts the Xmas decorations box on your hood as he slids by
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
I've done this for 7 years now and she hasa always started with the first turn of the key. Bit smokey for a few moments cause of the oil you put in the motor, but never a fowled plug.