so im dying to own a rx7 but i also need to learn more about how to keep it running. there isnt many people around my area that could help me either. so did you guys self-teach yourselfs about the rotary engines or did you get tutored by somebody experienced?

 

It's just a car, not a bleedin NASA project.
Change the oil, fill with gas and drive it.

You don't have to know any more about the rotary than your Mom knows about her piston engine.

 

Most of us are self taught. You learn as you go...if you have the basics down that's really all you need

 

this forum has pretty much all the info you will ever need

 

everything I have learned is here, everything I need to know is here, Just depends on the level of involvement you want determines what you learn.
Of course being basically mechanically inclined doesn't hurt either!

There are write ups with pictures, PDF manuals galore, and you can always ask if your in a bind, just remember, the search button is your friend

 

My knowledge to rotaries was very minimal, hell, even any mechanics. Took a couple high school auto classes, and did a couple things myself to my Honda. First thing I did before I bought it was find a shop that I knew had experience. Jacob, turned out to be the nicest most helpful mechanic I've ever met, he has done so much for me for no charge. Shows me things so I can do it myself and don't have to bring it to him. But after owning it, I think so many things are just way easier to work on, so much room in the bay, and everything is right there. Hardest thing I've done was replacing the OMP, and that still only took 3 hours. If I did it again, it'd only take 1. There's nothing scary about them, just do regular maintenance, and check oil more often than other cars. Although I do have an N/A

edit: +1 about info on here!! Everyone I knew was stumped when my OMP went out, I mean everyone!! Took like 1 hour to get a response from like 5 people that were all almost positive it was the OMP. Saved my ***, cause I was runnin out of ideas!

 

+1. Do lots and lots and lots of reading. I myself was a complete newby to working on cars, and now I can do just about anything on my car.

 

just get a good manual, and you'll never doubt the car (and the car is pretty easy to work on anyways...just make sure you got a good set of jackstands and tools)

 

Search button is your friend.

Helped me out of many a jam.

 

common sense...some just aren't born with it.

 

The forum, dummy.

 

1.) Forums
2.) The FSM
3.) Trial and Error

 

You buy one, then when it breaks you come on here and search why it broke and how to fix it, then fix it

Rinse and repeat and before you know it you have learnt quite alot about them

 

+1. Search and read for hours. Then do it again for a few more. My FC was my first car and I didn't know **** about working on anything. Thanks to motivation, this forum, and the occasional Haynes Manual I have changed almost every single piece on these cars.

 

school of hard knocks

I also browse threads that contain the problems of other people, I try to bank that knowledge for future needs.

What is aggrevating is when someone posts a problem, people answer- and that person never comes back on to say how it went. If people take the time to explain and even post pictures show some courtesy

 

I learned everything I know about RX-7s right here on the forum. Before I had an RX-7, I knew nearly nothing about working on cars. Changing the oil was a major task. Now, I can pretty much take the whole car apart and put it back together without a manual or labels or anything.

I haven't had to rebuild the engine or remove the transmission yet, but I'm sure I'll learn that eventually.

I would say start with a car that runs well and has been rebuilt recently. You should have less problems that way. When something goes wrong (which it will), search the forum. Someone probably has probably had the same problem.

edit:
+1

 

The oh **** method. Ie oh **** that ;did not work/ does not seem right/ or broke anoter part that had nothing to do with what I was doing. Plus I have a Freind that works at Mazmart and mechanic that I am conviced has magic hands. My wife calls him the rotory whisperer. The biggest thing to learn is do it right or do it twice.

 

This forum is a gold mine of information. Read everything you can and don't be afraid to break something.

 

Its just nuts and bolts. Buy tools, set out extra time and do what you want to it. Remember to chill when you're working on it and don't get frustrated or try to rush stuff. Also use the right tool for the job whenever possible.

 

thanks for all the responses! i was just worried because i always read all these horror stories about the car breaking. but ill remember to use that search function and of course trial and error

 

Yea like every one else said, just search, read, and after that spend 4-48 more hours searching/reading some more. Now after all that just turn to the FSM to find out how to take off/fix the problem that you found was at fault from all your reading. Then the last step is to drive the car until you have to park it cause you need to fix something else before it cost more then you have at that point in time.

 

I started with an FC, first car, i wanted something RWD, with limited slip, good brakes good balance and good handling. Doesn't hurt that the 7 looks good too. I started from not knowing how to drive stick, to tearing cars down completely and rebuilding and porting my own turbos (still haven't had to stack a motor, but I might soon)

Read and read and don't be a ricer. Also if you want the car because you saw it in Initial D or Fast and Furious I highly suggest you search for a better factor in deciding your taste in cars. Don't be "mad JDM tyte!" learn right.

 

reasearch on the forum and luckily i have many freinds with rotaries.Thats hoe i got most of my knowledge.

 

I think the Haynes manual is an excellent place to start. They're designed for beginners. I think the one for the FC is much better and more accurate than some of their later books. (For example, my DD is an '02 Dodge Caravan and that Haynes is full of mistakes and missing info.) Supplement that with the FSM which has more detailed info. It doesn't hurt to have a "mentor," i.e., somebody you know who knows something about FCs or even cars in general to guide you through your first brake job, for example. But not required.

I can still spend hours (or days) searching this forum and reading old threads on maintenance projects I haven't needed to do yet but will in the future. This forum is priceless!

Any 20+ year old car will need to have parts replaced or updated due to the age. FCs are more reliable than most cars from that period. For instance, in their day, Pontiac Fieros outsold FCs, but when was the last time you saw one that was still running?

 

Funny you mention fieros, My brother has 3 of them O.o I still prefer my 7 tho. Yeah, just read the forum if **** breaks. Really tho if you get an n/a in decent shape you shouldn't have to worry about too much. TII's are more likely to have issues I guess but thats the nature of the beast.