Just purchased a 85 GSL 12A last month on ebay. Picked it up yesterday and had a great 250 mile drive back home. Forgot how much fun these are to drive. Had a 79 a number of years ago. This 85 is loaded unlike my 79 but not that I care that much about power windows and such.

I plan on ordering a racingbeat exhaust system. Other then that for right now looking for other ideas to increase performance.

Whats the best way to do away with the AC?

What oil weight/brand would be best. Any thoughts on changing to a synthetic oil if the RX7 has only been using regular oil and has 160k on it. Seems to run great now and has Castrol 20/50 in it. How about oil filters? A while back one machanic who I talked to was not a fan of changing to synthetics. Don't think I'll bring this to him anyway because I don't think he knows anything about Rotary Engines.

What about K/N air cleaners?

 

Stick with castrol 20/50


use purolator filters


K&N air filters are great



Just rip that AC right off



Deffenatly order the RB exhaust



You're gonna have alot of fun with your new car. Welcome to the forum.

--Alex

 

Whats involved with removing the AC? Anything to reconnect or connections needed to make? Up here in northern WI only need AC a few days a year and thats why the windows go down. (70mph air).

 

What about gear lubs? Any suggestions.

 

first, welcome to the forum. now, if the a/c is still charged, u'll need to discharge it properly. then it's just a matter of disconnecting the lines and unbolting it from the block. probably wont need to tear the dash apart to remove the evaporator.

 

Red Line, or Royal Purple.

 

Is there a better oil cooler I should look at? Larger oil pan? Noticed the 85 12A takes less oil then the 79 I had.

 

Your 79 had a front mount oil cooler like on 2nd gens and the gsl-se had, your 85 has the "bee hive" style cooler located under the filter. It is a very worthwhile upgrade to stitch to the front mount style cooler as your capacity will go up and your oil will run significantly cooler. THe bee hive setup runs much hotter wich can lead to the dreaded "dowel pin" leak between the rotor housings.

 

dont switch to synthetic oil, it will **** up all your oil seals.
castrol 20/50's the way to go.
congrad's on the first gen.

 

Welcome!
Change the fuel filter and look at NAPA or Wix oil filters. They are hands down one of the best oil filters out there that you can get. Do a search on the topic- it's worth the read!

I use a K&N filter that came with my car, but some prefer the paper elements..

20/50 is good. I use Castrol.

A/C- disconnect from the firewall and move your way back to both ends.

If you do away with the stock exhaust for a full RB set up, you might as well consider removing the rats nest. Do a search in the 1st gen section. Pratch and Carl have an excellent write-up on doing just that. You should invest ina dual alternator pulley if you perform this mod.

Ask around for carbs or even carb mods if you want. There are a lot of choices!

Again- welcome!

 

I use K&N for oil filter. It's supposed to be the ****.

 

wisconsinrx7, where in Wisconsin do you have the car registered ? Removing the rats nest is an emissions issue in some areas of Wisconsin where registration is required.

Have Fun ; )
David
Wauwatosa, WI

 

Just picked it up on Sunday so haven't registered it yet. But up here in the Northwoods "we don't need no emissions". We're lucky they even know we are part of WI down in Madison, most think Eau Claire is North. LOL.

What you need is a cabin up here to register a vechical at.

 

Do full RB exhaust 1st. I put synthetic Amsoil in the trans & rear end on both my 81 7s in one weekend in the driveway. 20/50 Castrol GTX in engines. My GSL w/ >200k miles on original engine runs smooth as glass.
WECOME.

 

Would you all recommend the 20/50 oil for someone in hot summer Oklahoma or just for cold states?

 

I recomend it for all RX7s

 

yup, that's what I use. Castrol GTX 20W50.

 

Seems a near a Consensus on the GTX 20W50. Going to stock up on some.

Any other thoughts on the Amsoil .vs. Redline or Royal Purple for gear lub? Amsoil is made right here in Superior WI so I could be partial to Amsoil.

Funny story about Al Amatuzio (founder of Amsoil) a few years ago he was the keynote speaker at the local annual chamber dinner. During speach he started to rip on the local government officals that he could not even get his products used in trials by them even though he has contacts with NY City and such. Really set a fire with some people as they walked out during speech. Most of what he said was true (local government isn't easy to do business with). Most wouldn't have to guts to tell it like it is.