I was hoping he would have killed the car by now... but it still runs and he gets his driving license in two weeks! I have been accepting of the car so far, as he always has me in the passenger seat keeping him slow and steady. But now I am looking at the reality of a 16 year old driving a 40 year old car .. I am taking the car to a local trusted but non-rotary shop to have it looked over for any mechanical issues that need fixing for safety. What should be looked at? If you are a good RX7 mechanic and were about to let your kids start driving on their own, what would you check? Have cash set aside if needed. And no, I am not buying him a Volvo station wagon. (Tried that, got a hard no).

1981 RX7 FB. Around 165k (original engine!). Have around 500 miles on it personally in last six months. Drives like a 40 year old car, stiff brake pedal, heavy steering at low speed, bit of a wander on the freeway, slow oil and coolant leaks but nothing not manageable.

 

If it starts and runs fine, I don't think the engine needs anything other than a compression check just to see its condition. Read the FAQ for the procedure without a rotary tester.

Other than that it's going to have 40 year old car problems. Have the mechanic look over the bushings, hoses, and check for rust.

Safety is definitely a priority. These cars aren't fast by today's standards, but there are no crumple zones or airbags. Get defensive driving drilled into your son's head, such as assuming SUVs and trucks don't see him from behind.

 

Go with him on one of those weekend defensive driving track courses. $$ well spent with controlled instruction in a fun environment.
Great bonding experience too-
Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Need to get that coolant leak fixed. Overheating kills these engines.

 

Whose the adult here? Back in the day I knew a few folks that bought these new and wrapped them around trees. You better get that kid some drivers-ed in the form of SCCA Track Nites or something.

 

^This is the correct answer. Teen brains literally haven't developed the executive function that evaluates consequences and interrupt stupidity in the moment. Have him practice on a course instead of on the streets.

 

Try to find one of these classes: https://streetsurvival.org/ Locally, the BMW Club and various SCCA Regions put these on. It is a combination of class room/lecture and hands on behind the wheel training. The day starts off with a basic safety inspection of the car to be used in the class including the importance of tire pressures. The importance of wearing seat belts and not texting and driving is discussed at length. I have been to a couple of them as a volunteer. The kids are a combination of scared and disinterested at the beginning of the day. By the end of the day, they were all smiles and confident.

Most adult drivers would benefit from this class.

On the car, it is a 40 years old and you are going to let your kid drive it. So, unless you have visual or written information to the contrary, I would assume that all maintenance items need to be inspected/replaced:

Cooling System:

• Radiator Hoses
• T-Stat
• Anti-Freeze
• Clutch Fan

Brakes/Clutch:

• Replace brake and clutch hoses
• Visually inspect brake hard lines, calipers, MC
• Visually inspect clutch MC and Slave
• Replace brake fluid and bleed brakes
• Replace clutch fluid and bleed clutch

Suspension:

• Ball joints
• Tie rod ends (inner and outer)
• Idler arm (I would expect this to be bad)
• Steering arm
• Suspension bushings

Honestly these are the things that need to be looked at no matter who is going to rely on the car for transportation.

 

Initial post was over simplified as wanted to keep the emphasis on mechanically checking an older car. Kiddo is already signed up for safety classes, got one coming this Saturday. And letting him actually drive the car from a fathers perspective? That's a long conversation best done over a beer or two. Allowing this car has been a hard decision to make. I lost a friend to a car crash when I was in high school. Against the clear and present dangers I have balanced what the car is doing for him. Its a massive lever for grades, where anything less than a B loses the car keys. its an antidote to his cell phone; working on the vehicle, taking it to car events, learning new physical skills (he knows what a hog ring is now!). Most important, its the very spark of his future life... all his classes and college choices are geared to automotive engineering and this particular, odd, weird car is the love affair that keeps him working hard at school. And it lets him be who he wants to be. His friends shop at Gap, he dresses from the thrift store (and well too, ends up looking like Nicholas Cage in Raising Arizona). His friends drive new Mustangs that dad bought them, he drives a freak of a 40 year old car that he worked at a body shop to pay for. As a Father you gotta chose your tools to work on your kid, this one is not an easy one to pick but it really does its job.

 

Much appreciated. Exactly what was needed. Will print and take to the mechanic when I drop off the car this morn. Thanks!

 

Oops, above was for Mustang. (Or should that be Mister Hammer?)

 

I think, mechanically, I would focus on anything that could cause a loss of control. Brakes, steering, wheels/tires, suspension. Stuff like that. I don't know enough to say precisely what to focus on there, but I assume a good mechanic would. The engine is the only odd thing in these cars.

The car might not be as safe as a newer car, but his attachment to it will likely make him drive it more responsibly. There's also a lot to be said for only having two seats.

Good luck.

 

Please no Mr Hammer. That makes me feel old

Props to you for your approach with the car, grades, phone, etc. Our world certainly needs more kids with mechanical skills and the patience to use them. An engineer with these skills is priceless.

I loved my first car like no car since. Working on that car and the desire for parts and pieces kept me out of trouble and showing up to work at my fast food job. A car can be an incredible motivator because it is tangible and a cool car has a soul. Cars and a desire to race them turned this under achieving HS student into a college graduate.

 

At least you have sound reasoning behind doing this, I'll grant you that. Good luck! Still, my first car was a Ford Pinto that I bought with my own cash but it was a good thing it was an under powered POS, cause I did stoopid things it in anyway.

 

On The Kid's auto tech classroom wall "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

 

I love this! My first car when I was 16 was a 79 Mazda Rx-7 with a four speed, that's what I wanted. My Mom helped me buy it. Taught me about earning/saving $, patience and resiliency, general automotive repair, dating... But the freedom and joy were the best part! I am 51 now, still have a 1st gen Rx-7.

 

I would never let my kids dailydrive a 40 year old car. No chanse. I would ofcourse en oursge and support an automotive hobby, but i would also be very clear that it is not a viable method of daily transport.

I dont know your economic situation, but i would spend some money on a modern car with modern safety equipment. Airbags and proper seat belts at a minimum.

Its no use saving up for college if he aint gona make it there alive

(and ofc keep the rx as a project)

 

Yeah but that was in 1986 when said RX was only 7 years old and all parts were still available new. So if OP was talking about his son DDing a 2014 or 2015 MY car it would be apples to apples.

 

I would add shocks to this list if they haven't been done already. No quicker way to lose control of a car than crappy or worn out shocks. get some good Bilsteins or Konis on there or whatever is available.

Also good tires. Probably don't want super grippy - rather something that is communicative and has good breakaway characteristics that make it easy to control.

A good phone mount or modern head unit with phone integration so they aren't tempted to be fumbling with the phone.

do new hoses, also do new hose clamps. The original hose clamps are utterly terrible.

Ray Crowe is your friend if you need Mazda specific OE parts

 

If your son is going to die or be injured, it's most probable that it will be in a car. This holds true until someone turns 50, then it is cardiovascular disease. Point is, wear a seat belt!

Maintaining an old rx-7 is a great learning experience. If you take away the car as punishment, then your son will not maintain it because he won't view it as his. Joining AAA is good for the towing service. Even a skilled maintenance mechanic such as myself have used it 3 (?) times. Starter died, fuel pump died, water pump died throwing coolant on the ignitor.

You're in Cali? If you are out of the city, there will be fewer things for your son to hit, and fewer things that will hit him. I think you should get a Neon for him. Cheap car, with all kinds of airbags.

"Low Rider" by War should be mandatory listening. And the scene in Pulp Fiction, where John Travota drives around very carefully because he is high on heroin. In the '70's when I was transporting pot plants across multiple state lines, I always drove low and slow. Double checked both ways before coming out of a parking lot.

Once the police came to my high school and showed the fatalities in auto accidents. One was of a college student, you could tell by the books, he must have fell asleep, gone off the road, and crashed. His brains were all over the asphalt. He was coming home after finals, they closed the dorms. Point is, if you are sleepy, pull off the road and take a nap.

 

Yike's

 

Yamahazda

 

This one time, in band camp....

 

Well, car back from inspection and all this may be moot.
Found what was expected and manageable. A reasonable amount of suspension and steering work needed, fixable at a reasonable cost.
But found what could also be seen as expected, and this one not so challenging. Been seeing oil on drivers side of engine, and mechanic says leak is between two of the plates. He described cleaning and dusting the engine to locate the exact source so sounds like his conclusion is most likely accurate.
When I get the car back I'll post a pic of the location and we can get into the rebuild/swap/sell discussion.

And to Midnight Mechanic's auto death rates before 50 comment... When young I had to submit myself to a medical. When done, the doc sat me me down and said 'Son, you are in your 20s. If you watch out for the three H's you will easy see 50. And the three H's are.... Hormones, Hooch and Horsepower'.

 

wear the seatbelt. In '87, I was carefully driving because of rain slick LA roads. Doing the left turn on red, a denny's waitress (still had on the uniform), and her husband (late for a VA hospital appt.), ran a red light and plowed into me. It was a ford grand maquis 1973 station wagon.

Because I thought I didn't need a SEAT BELT, I wasn't wearing it.

I broke the stick shift, and the ribs on my right side. Had a collapsed lung, and internal bleeding. Community hospital, ambulance, and emergency room charges were $25,000. Also pushed me into a few mexicans.

So who is everyone going to blame? The 14 year old ford station wagon driver, or the porsche driver?

 

^^^ funniest thing I've read here. Ever.