Thanks to a borrowed Nikki that an old friend dug up (I only have it for a couple of weeks before he puts it in his new project )
I have my Rex running!
It surprised me. We slapped the carb/manifold/other crap on, put fuel, oil, fluids, and all that fun stuff in. Replaced the plugs. Checked all things. Put the key in, turned, and, after a few tries, it started! A Rotary with damn near 200,000 miles, running! I personally thought they pooped out after 100K, but I guess that's just a rumor (and I've learned better anyway from this site )
Seems like she has trouble at low revs though. Like she's hesitating. The LSD works beautifully, the brakes bite just right.
This is my first time driving a rex, and it's freakin' awesome!
There does seem to be this metal grinding noise. I'm not sure if it's a characteristic of Rotary power, but I can get used to it if it is. Had a really loud backfire the first time I turned it off, but the second and third times it was hardly noticeable.
The suspension felt great, but a little, how do we say, timid?
It's gonna be tough getting used to a 5-speed with no power steering, quite the opposite of my 3 speed automatic P/U that I drive
I'm so exited to have it running, despite a couple of little things here and there (The CD player doesn't have any power going to it?)

BTW: I'll have some pics up soon enough, just as soon as my camera turns up from 'missing status'

Peace,
Jay

 

Actually 2nd gen RX7s (1986-1991) DO seem to poop out at about 100k. But the 1st gens usually go well past the 100k mark when well maintained.

I'm not saying a 2nd gen can't last past 100k, it's just rare to see one go past 150k.

 

Aren't first gens just so much better? Maybe it's somehting to do with 2nds being 13bs?

 

fbs just feel more solid IMHO

 

Well the GSL-SE has the 13b, but for reasons unbeknownst to me, 2nd gen 13b's just don't seem to last as long as 1st gen 13b's.

 

the NAs can, but I think its the turbo that causes them to crap out so young

 

that makes sense, the turbo thing
Any word on how long the Savanna turbos last?
And my friend (some friend) already took his carb back. Not even a week

 

I have heard of a 2nd gen w/ 400k on it not turboed. The problem with the turbos is that no one takes the time to do cooling mods to keep the engine from slowly burning itself up.