So my 1983 Rx7 GSL started for the first time in... probably half a decade today. But not all was well. She ran for maybe 5-10 seconds (video included) and then died. If I tried to give it gas, it died. I’m thinking maybe it’s a carb? Fuel pump and filter work just fine, brand new. If it is the carb, what new one would you recommend? I was looking at the Weber carb?

 

Best bet is to remove and clean the one that’s on the car. The Weber is not a bolt on and go,you’ll be fiddling with slow jets,emulsion tubes main jets. Every engine is different in what it wants jetting wise.
Carburetor on your car is jetted exactly right for your car in stock condition. If you have to contend with emission certification where you are the Weber carb may not pass. While you are thinking about what you’re going to do,contact your DMV and ask about aftermarket carb and emissions requirements- before you spend a big chunk of change on the Weber and find out you’re not emissions compliant.

Did you drain the gas that was in gas tank? In the amount of time car sat dormant the gas would be seriously degraded.

 

Now that you have run it, check the fuel filter -again. If it is plugged, then you have run gas mixed with tank debris, maybe clogging fuel line. As suggested, you should have drained the tank and used fresh gas prior to first startup. Often when a gas tank is parked with fuel in it, the condensation over multi-season heat/cold cycles will cause the insides of the tank to shed material that will now constantly be re-plugging your fuel system. If the tank's interior walls are compromised you will need to drop the tank, have it cleaned. I would go the extra step of reCOATING the insides of the tank as a follow-up, using a product like POR15's gas tank coating kit.

Also check your carb float glass windows (fr and rr) to see if they are 1/2 full as they should be. Front can be viewed fairly easily, back is a biotch. But even the gas level in the front one may offer insight into whether the fuel, and the correct amount of fuel is making it to the carb. Let us know what you see.

Stu A
80GS
AZ