So my friend gave me a non-GSL-SE 84 rx7 after my other car died. Only problem was, it didn't run, long story short I've thrown over $3K (engine rebuild, new exhaust) at my car and it feels like its just a money pit and I don't know if I want to keep working on it. I still need to fix or replace the clutch cylinders, and the clutch disc will need to be replaced soon. Still need to acquire and put new fenders on it then get it painted which will cost god knows how much.

Do you guys think I should just bail on this car and use it as is until I get an FC (which is what I've wanted for awhile but money wasn't permitting)? From what I can see the car has no resale value and even if I take the time to fix it up and make it good it still won't be worth even nearly a fraction of what has gone into it. Even reasonably freshly rebuilt engines I'm seeing in the parts forum selling for less than $500. I don't know, the more I think about my car and whats gone into it the more I get depressed...

 

heh cars are almost always money pits, if you just want reliable transportation, i'd just invest in a civic. Even the fc is going to be a money pit with minimal resale value.

Alvin

 

I don't plan on doing any super crazy mods, I just want well, what I wanted to start out with... the cliche "nice guys finish last" applies here regarding my car at least. I was hoping I could sell the FB or part it out for some cash to go towards an FC but a quick scan of the 1st gen car and parts sale forums took that out of my mind.

 

I hear ya, since there were so many first gens made, parts are fairly cheap, but some of the stuff you can actually get some money for, like depending on how many miles you have on your rebuilt, you might be able to get more than 500 for it. but since you have already spend so much money on your fb, why not just finish it (since you already have a drivable car and everything.) try to finish it for cheap, like buying used fenders in the right color.

 

That $3000 could get you a 87 TII, lol. Seriously though, Why bail on the 84? You already spent this much money you might as well see it as an investment now.

 

Only reason I would want to bail now is that it IS driveable so I can use it until I could get an FC like I really want. Considering the FB isn't what I wanted from the get-go it just depresses me and makes me bitter the more I think about putting work into it, and the fact that even as I said if I do fix everything and clean it up I could barely pay someone to take it from me.

And yeah I know I can't get a good running FC TII for $3K but it would've gotten me close to halfway there which is what I was saying.

Sorry everyone, as stated just the more I think about my car the more depressed I get so I'm mostly just venting right now.

 

Fairly cheap parts? where do you live? Good luck trying to find anything for a 1st gen down here miami and then try not getting ripped off..

 

Hey if it makes you feel any better I have dumped just under 6k into my suburban in the last 6 months. Keep the 7.

Good luck,
~Z

 

EL5Letra, i'm in cali, and you find a lot of 7s in the junk yard, of course, rotor housings and such is an exception, but i swear people are parting out cars left and right....

Alvin

 

I'm in your boat too buddy, but I just sourced an S5 TII motor for $900, including harness and ECU. My next project since this FKN carb is giving me so many problems.

If it's got **** or tires, it's gonna give you problems.

 

So true... so true...

 

What I mean is I know where a TII is for sale in really good shape for $3000. It's to bad your in Cali or this would be a no brainer.

 

Really now? How much is shipping? lol

 

Dude, why give up now? With $3000 into it already, you should just see it through.

My '85 GSL cost me...$300.

I'm now into it by about $2000, and I won't give it up for the life of me. Sure, I had my times when I doubted it, but getting over that makes the car mean so much more.

I'm sure others can relate on that.

 

Why would you trade your 1st gen for a 2nd gen, 1st gens are a classic car and way sick compared to plain old looking second gens of corse this is my opinion. I am holding on to my 1st gen until I can afford a 3rd gen twin turbo, then we will talk about throwing money away. You have to do what feels best tho and good luck

 

I've been in your shoes before. I picked up my 1st gen in non running condition for $500 (canadian) and have so far sunk almost $4000 into it, and it still isn't running. It was drivable for a month and a half, but the original 12A bit the dust. I've got a streetported 88 13B sitting in the engine bay right now, but it doesn't run yet. I'm still waiting on money for the $1500+ in parts I have yet to buy. But the thing that keeps me going is the fact that I own a car that is getting harder and harder to find every day. Its also the best RX-7 IMO. I've sat in a TII before, and I liked it a lot, but it just didn't have the same sporty feeling the 1st gen gives u. It also looks a lot more generic than the 1st gen.

 

what I don't like is a 12a cost just as much to rebuild as a 13b. If you don't do at least a streetport when you rebuild an engine you are totally ripping yourself off. I've dropped $3000 into the swap on my vert and it's still stock except for shop-made exhaust, a flashy HKS SBV, Torsen lsd, 680's. All the money goes twoards misc. stuff.

 

mines a money pit too.... 13g's into a $300 dollar car not including labour

 

ok go ahead and bail. more parts for everyone else.

if you cant handle fixing up your current car, what makes you think you can do any better owning an FC.

 

Are you a mechanic by any chance? I need someone to work in my FB.

 

See I'll get the FC in good, running condition and then kee up scheduled maintenance (as opposed to giving it 21 years of scheduled maintenance it never got from its previous owners, ala my current rx7). Then if the engine needs a rebuild 4-6 years down the line or however long it takes, hopefully by then money won't be so much of an issue to send it off to rebuild or find a new engine.

And as far as parting my car out about the only things I think worthwhile on there right now probably are the engine and... the engine. The tranny may still be a keeper but lord knows.

Having just started my new job though and still recovering from credit card problems (a lot due to the FB) I'll probably stick the FB and clean her up and finish it off, get some enjoyment out of her before I can move on to something else.

 

Yeah... but yours looks damn nice. After all I've done I still haven't been able to get around to the new windshield (phat crack down the center), paint, and window tinting. Cos I still need new fenders first... and the list goes on...

 

His looks damn nice due to the fact he spent $13,000. You've only spent $3,000. Hence the difference.

 

I got dibs on the fresh rebuild, $500 ok???? lol

 

True dat, true dat.