I am going to go check out an 1987 rx7 fc with a 13b and automatic transmission this weekend. The owner says the engine on the FC can idle but cuts off whenever he tries to rev or accelerate it. He said there is also white smoke. After doing research, a lot of people on these forums said that the white smoke is usually caused by a blown coolant seal, but I didn’t see anybody say that the engine would cut off when the gas is applied. I am willing to replace the apex or coolant seals, but I might have to pass on the FC if there are many more problems than that. Does anybody have a suggestion what might be wrong this engine?

 

Sounds exactly like coolant seals to me. White smoke is almost always coolant, burning oil will be bluish and overly rich fueling would be a blacker smoke. It's dying because it's losing compression through the blown coolant seal but it could just be one bad seal as it's making enough compression to idle. Regardless it sounds like an engine rebuild is order if you end up with the car.

 

Check TPS is one of the first things i would look into. White smoke can be also fuel, if youre getting too much...which would explain just cutting out.