Rexpelagi

I posted this in the tech support forum originally, but I think it would be better here, sorry for the double post.

Ok, so I'm kinda in an interesting situation I guess.

I bought an RX7 this week, and will be picking it up tomorrow. I'm not sure exactly how it looks in the engine bay, but here is the story.

1989 N/A, 139k on the body, the engine blew an apex seal. The owner swapped in a running engine, which had no smoke at startup, 90k on the new engine.

Once the swap was completed, they couldn't get it to start. I don't know if the put much work in after that, sounded like they ran out of time. He thought it was some simple electrical fix, but they didn't fix it so I'm not sure exactly how simple it is or if they just did nothing.

So, I don't know exactly what they tried, but what are some good things to start with? Im picking the car up tomorrow and it would be nice to have a game plan on what to take a look at first.

Madrx7racer

1. go over all the Electrical system.......wires, harnesses, ALL the hoses, and connections to make sure everything was done properly.

once you are SURE everything is on in its right place

Does it have fuel??

2. check fuel system ( fuel pump TII or better) and hoses, replace the fuel filter just in case.

3. check for spark....make sure the coils are grounded and that your main relay is working.

4. check to make sure the starter works


start there...........

Rexpelagi

Ok, good info thanks.

Are you saying it would be a good idea to upgrade then to the TII fuel pump at a minimum?

Madrx7racer

wait........is this an NA to NA swap or did you DO a t2 swap? if it's an NA motor keep the NA pump but make sure it's getting power.

Rexpelagi

Yes, it is just an NA to NA swap, sorry I should have specified that.

It was just an engine swap since the original motor broke. That is why I didn't understand the TII pump.

Madrx7racer

check those things and let us know.

stevej88na

I bet they reversed the fuel lines to/from the tank!

Rexpelagi

Well, I picked it up today, and it looks ok overall, better than I would expect for $610, but I'm not sure if they ever tried to start it. The dad said he took his electric current tester and believes it is the grounds for the injectors in the wiring harness. Does this sound possible?

Also, I don't know how much of the 'trying to start' i believe, because there is no battery, the belts aren't on, coolant lines aren't connected, and the radiator isn't installed, though I believe everything but the battery is in the car. So I'm not sure why they would try to start it and take all that out?

Im going to start into it next weekend, clean out the trunk, inventory the parts, take a look at a repair manual, and go from there.

Also, there is a metal hard line under the car on the passenger side, it isn't attached to anything at the one end near the engine bay, and I have never seen a line like that before on another car, what is that exactly?

Any other advice?

Madrx7racer

WE NEED PICS!!!!!
do you have an oil cooler on there???

seriously..............take nice quality pics and post them up..............

inventory what's MISSING in this format:

1. battery
2. upper/lower radiator hose
3. etc.
4. etc

makes it easier for us

Rexpelagi

Ok, it isn't at my place since my garage is small, but I'll take some pics at the latest over the weekend.

The oil cooler is in the car, [read as in the trunk], and there are random hoses and what not all around. I wasn't expecting it to be this hacked up to be honest, so I'm gonna bring my friend in on this one, sort through everything, consult the repair manual, and see what is there and what isn't.

After that I'll post it up.

Madrx7racer

use this FSM: gave you 3 links in case one is down........the last one is a wiring diagram.
http://www.cochran-racing.com/FSM/s5/index.html

OR

http://208.62.166.66:82/guest/shop_manuals/89-91FSM/

OR

http://www.teamfc3s.org/main/factory...ual/1989_1991/

AND/OR

WIRING diagram
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=530860

Rexpelagi

Here is a pic of the engine bay from ebay.

I thought this was an in progress pic, but this is exactly how it looks now.

Somehow they tried to start it, and then took everything back out???

Madrx7racer

too small..........i see no intake, no upper or lower radiator hose, no oil cooler, belts.............are you SURE they tried to start it???? they might have said that to ya but i don't see how they can turn the car over like that............

good luck and download the FSM............my CD says RX-7 bible.......you'll learn to love it.

Rexpelagi

Will do. There is no way they tried to start it as it sits now, the alternator is in the trunk, and as I said there is no battery anywhere. I dunno maybe they tore it all out again when it wouldn't run?

Sorry for the small pic, its from ebay. I will get better ones asap.

Madrx7racer

sounds fishy............how much did you pay again?

Rexpelagi

$610, for a pretty decent looking body considering the age, 2 engines (one with the blown seal) and supposedly everything needed to finish the swap up and get it running.

Madrx7racer

hmmmmmmmm.........2 engines, nice body and everything needed to get it running...........if the body IS really clean then 650 is worth it......how long till you get it to your house?

Rexpelagi

It is at my friend's house for now, about 10 mins from my place.

He has a fully stocked four car garage behind his house, and since my garage is full Im leaving it there for now, I don't want to leave it outside over the winter, and I wont be able to work on it at my place.

The body needs slight work but nothing serious. New paint wouldn't hurt, but besides a very small patch it is rust free, the underbody is rustfree as well. I was surprised since it was a midwest car and all.

It is going to be a road course/autocross car eventually, so I wasn't too concerned with how it looked, but for now I just want to get it running.

Rexpelagi

Well finally got to work on it today... It will also be the last time for awhile.

To start off with, I am 99% sure they put an s4 motor in an s5, with an s5 wiring harness. He has two alternators/radiators which aren't the same (one of one car, one of the other), I noticed alot of sensors not matching up at all, not good.

To top it off, we tried to fill it with coolant, and the coolant and oil came pouring out of the oil feed tube. I believe this means it has a blown o-ring. Who knows how long the motor has been siting.

So I guess I now have 2 blown motors.

This would be why it is a project car, suggestions?

P.S., Im pretty sure they never tried to start this, there were still hacked up coolant lines and what not that I had to replace, so ya, this could have gone better.

Rexpelagi

Bump, anyone?

Rotory Revalution

the only thing i can say is possible a rebuild or a newer tII swap,both gonna coast in the 2k+ range depending if the housings are dmged but id replace them any ways there about 475-525 for one housing