g'day

i'm new to all this.. and am currently looking to buy a rx7.. i have been spending hundreds of hours looking up info about them on the net but i still have a hundred million questions, if anyone would be able to help me with some of these it would really be appriciated.

what year did the s2 start?
i assume the s3 finished at 85?
whats the main differences between s2/s3 ?
how hard is it to drop a turbo s4/s5 engine in them ?
how long do the engines last ?
whats the go with the 2 + 4 seaters? was it a option or are some series 2 and others 4 ?

hmm all i can think of right now

thanks heaps!

-ashley.

 

Welcome Ashley.

This page might help with some of your questions.

Cheers

 

Hey, another aussie. Welcome.

1) S2 was from 81-83 and S3 was 84-85.

2) See above

3) Main differences include:
Better stud pattern and offset allowing a much greater selection of aftermarket wheels.
Bigger Brakes and 14" wheels standard.
S3 have a crappy oil cooler, which is easily replaced by a S1/2 item with the respective radiator
And it's late so I can't think of anything else.

4) Easy, any rotary workshop will do it for you if you've got the cash. Otherwise it depends how much skill you've got. It's been done lots of times, so any potential problems have already been faced. There is a thread at the top of this section which will give you heaps of info.

5) A well built engine that's cared for will last a long time.

6) In Oz they were all 4 seaters.

Also, jump over to www.ausrotary.com for an Australian rotary forum.

 

thanks dude, you've been a great help... someone was telling me today that the main problem with rotarys + maintaining them is that they break seals ?

is this true ? and if so how often am i looking at rebuilding my engine ?

 

Nah, they don't know what they're talking about.

A figure I read recently was 160000k's with a well maintained engine. Though i've also heard of engines lasting a lot longer than that even... And of course shorter, but there would be a reason for this.

They have no tolerance for detonation so as long as the car is looked after kept in a good state of tune etc, you'll be fine.

Any of the good workshops around Oz will be capable at building good reliable motors that'll last.

 

Mine is s Stock S2, with the Original 12A and has just passed 200,000Km, as is still as strong and my friends S3 with a rebuilt 12A that is 15,000 Km old! and i drive it like its suppost to, when im in the mood, up to redline and occasioanlly above, especially on the back country roads to the South west of syd.

But i warm mine up every morning, and whenever the choke will hold itself out, change Oil regularly, and generally perform routine maintainence. runs for ever.

 

The 12A and NA 13B have no problems reaching and exceeding the 200,000km mark with proper maintinence. Hell, my old '82 was beat to **** when I bought it, and it still ran strong at 230,000kms when I sold it for my deliciously low km '79. 300,000kms is probably the outer limit for the majority of motors, which is very good indeed. The only wildcard is the turbo. Turboed rotaries don't last as long as NA ones, just like tuboed piston engines don't last as long as their NA counterparts.

Matt
1979 SA22C

 

Hi ash,

Good to have another Aussie onboard.

Seems most of your questions have been answered. Series three finished late 85.

Main diff between s2 - s3... Cruise Control, rims, bit better built engine, few minor changes here and there in the engine and trim, but nothing really drastic.

Not very hard to drop in a Turbo s4/s5 engine.... up in Bris there should be some really good rotary places that will help you out.

As for the engines... one simple word: MAINTENANCE. Look after your car, and it'll look after you.

Put it this way. I'm on 253,418km with my ORIGINAL 12A motor, exhaust, carb, etc.....

Rx7's are certainly built for 2 max! though the list as a small 4 seater with the small seat in the back... but, unless your either 5ft or smaller, or have a baby bro/sister that doesn't mind laying across the seat, it's def only a 2! basically, my back seat is my boot, as I have a sub in the wheel arch at my rear.

Anyway, happy driving