RoadWarrior

Well ive recently decided to sell my mustang and try something new. Ive always liked the RX7's and decided thats what ill go for. But what do i need to know when buying one. Im probably gonna be limited to a 1st gen due to money but im hoping ill have enough extra to do a few things to it. What should i keep my eyes open for? I would really like to get a turbo one but i dont know whats available. What type of performance can i expect to get out of one of these cars.

RoadWarrior

Anybody?

jayroc

Well, you're not going to find a turbo 1st gen cheap as they were not stock here in the US. There are a couple threads already detailing what to look for when buying a used rx7. Just look around and do your research to see what you're getting into.
Good luck.

1984special

I'm suprised noone has told you to search the forum or the internet... because that's what you should do.

This is a good site I found when I was doing some research on RX-7s. There are no factory turbo first gens in the USA. The turbo ones around are built with a great deal of custom work. Read the stickys and the archives, they have a great deal of good info.

Good luck, welcome to the forum.

85rotarypower

Welcome to the forum. First off, this is the 1st gen RX-7 forum. There are others, but this one is specifically for the 79-85 RX-7's. 2nd gen is 86-91 and 3rd gen is 93-95.

There are 3 series of 1st gen RX-7's. The series 1 is from 79-80, series 2 is from 81-83, and series 3 is from 84-85. All the series 1 and series 2 cars had the carb 12a engine. This engine made 101hp. Series 3 cars had an engine option that was in the top model, the GSE-SE. It is a FI 13b engine that makes 135hp. The weight of these cars ranged from 2300 pounds for the 79 base model to 2500 pounds for the 85 GSL-SE.

There were no turbo 1st gen cars produced for north america. The performance is based on what you do to the car. By just using bolt ons, you can get up to 150hp out of the carb 12a, and up to about 170hp with the 13B if you convert it to a carb. Where these cars really excelled is in handling. They can hang with corvettes and vipers in handling. The only thing that you have to worry about is the dreaded snap oversteer. This happens when the rear suspension gets loaded to its max.

When buying an RX-7, the one thing you should really watch for is maintainence and how hard it was driven. A car that was well maintained and driven to redline about once a day will generally last longer than a car that was granny driven and not maintained well.

Good luck with you search. I would check the for sale section for cars. There are normally lots on there.

BTW, the search button is your best friend. You should use it a lot.

hiboost7

if your tight on money but want a turbo rx-7 get an s4 turbo II. you can find them pretty cheap, lots of potential.

RoadWarrior

Sounds like im gonna need to learn a bunch about these cars. Basically im just hoping to find something that will be alot of fun to drive as it is. And ive heard about problems with apex seals on some of them. But yeah like i said i think money is going to limit me to either a 1st or 2nd gen.

grantmac

Where abouts in Canada are you? I'm sure if you find someone on here in your area they would be happy to take you for a spin in their car so you can see if you like it.
Grant

RoadWarrior

Im in Edmonton Alberta. Home of -40c weather right now.

grantmac

Ouch! Check out the Canadian forum, there are a fair number of them from the cold country so you should be able to score a ride from one of them to help with your decision.
Grant

RoadWarrior

Ya i talked to one of my friends with a turbo II and he gave me some info but no ride from him till the streets are clean. Just out of curiousity how crazy would i be for getting a N/A 1st gen with the intentions of putting in a 3rotor motor in it? Is it crazy hard? Ive done swaps in mustangs but i dont know how much different i could expect this to be.

KehoeAutomotive

I kjnow where you can get a Turbo Charged mercury Capri (93) convertible for cheap. Got the Mazda motor in it. Flies too!

hotty

******* cold here now -47 tonite and i walked home from university.. mad as ****. after you search and are still curious, there is an RX-7 club in edmonton.. you might find some info about it in the canadian forum.

RoadWarrior

Ive done the mustang thing and i want to try something different. Otherwise i would just keep with my 7.5L mustang project.