Well, finally, after like THREE MONTHS, I got me a car.
The Specs:
1988 10th AE.
87,540KM
White/black interior
PERFECT in every way, shape, and form, except it needs some motor work (no compression on back rotor, either an apex seal or the oil seal)

The Pics:

 

2:

 

3

 

Questions:
can I still drive it with the bad seal, if I can get it to run?
I'll probably be rebuilding the engine, so if this will damage the internals, I don't think I'll do it.

What works best to clean up the leather? it's all REALLY dusty/dirty inside.
What works best to clean up the paint? I'm going to try NuFinish, unless any of you can think of something better. NuFinish did an AMAZING job on my fiero.

What's this car worth? I know what I paid, but what would you pay for an AE in GREAT condition (no rust or anything) but a motor that's bad?

 

If you have no compression, chances are it's an apex seal. You shouldn't drive it with a bad seal, because that would damage the housing, which may already be damaged.

Go to an auto parts store and look for a leather cleaner...possibly from Maguires. For the body, I use Maguires everything, wash, wax and polish. Other people on here will recomment Zaino brothers. NuFinish is decent too, and lasts a long time.

 

It's *VERY* doubtful that you could get it to run on just one rotor... Even if you did, it would have so little power that you couldn't pull even medium-grade hills. When my old 88 blew the rear apex seal, i had to downshift to 1st and floor it to make it up a hill near my house, and i just BARELY made it.. won't idle well, if at all, and it'll flood real easily..

But i don't think it will actually DAMAGE anything to try..

And I may as well go ahead and mention the ole' ATF trick....it has fixed stuck apex seals for some people before.

BTW..Was the compression 0-0-0? or like 0-0-8? 0-0-0 is a lot more serious....either the housing is so severly scarred that pressure leaks past it, or when the first apex seal went, it took some friends with it..

-Tesla

 

hmm
I don't remember
BamBam7, what was the compression on the back rotor?
was pretty close to zeroes all around, if it wasn't
I'll try the ATF trick tonight, I guess I'll tow it home.

 

Get Lexol Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. http://www.lexol.com/ You can not beat this stuff. As far as Wax, Maguires has a 3 step solution now that did wonders for my '91 Vert. There's a cleaner, polish and then a wax. If the paint is really bad you may want to invest in an orbital buffer. You can get a 10" for about $40-$50 and save yourself a bunch of work.

 

the paint isn't bad, its just a little dull. (and DIRTY)
I think that a good wash and some NuFinish will work wonders.

 

Hey man, nice find
btw, the rims are in incorrect orientation....heheh

 

hey!
they are!
****, I never noticed that!
hehhehe
good
I'll fix that tonight

 

Just the two fonts need to be switched.

Greg O.

 

hey terr,

shez a beauty! was that the one in pickering advertised in the trader? or was itthe one you were looking at earlier?

 

I use ArmorAll leather conditioner in my car....works great and really leaves the leather smelling new again.

Lexol whips *** for leather too though. Anything quality, really...

 

A good AE can get the same as any other S4 TII. $4k would be the max I would have paid...Nice car man!! Can't wait till you get her runnin!!

 

Hey send me your LARGE better qualtiy pics and I'll touchup & host the higher quality ones for you- atlantarotaryfan@earthlink.net

Here's the lower qualtiy ones:

 

The key to restoring old and dulled paint is to use dish washing detergent to clean the paint! Yes! Dish washing detergent! This step removes old finish of wax, grimes, and oily substances that are embedded into the paint itself. Clean the paint thouroughly with dish wash (clean it two times). Remember to rinse with lots of water.

After that, do the following:
- remove grime with tar and bug remover
- clean the car again with dish wash detergent.
- Get clay bars from mother and use it on your car
- Polish your car with Mother's polish
- Use sealer and glaze from mothers
- Use NuFinish as a final finish.

That is what I use and the result is amazing. if you clean your car with dish wash, your paint will be a lot clear compared than using car wash detergent.....

 

Antoehr 10th AE. Looks clean man!

 

Whoo!
I cleaned it, kinda disappointed at the resluts. Still lots of crud in the paint. I'm going to do what telus.net suggested, and if that don't work, maybe repaint next spring.
Going to do the ATF thing in about 15 mins - as soon as I figure out how to get it in there!

 

oh, yeah
the interior cleaned up VERY nicely.
I LOVE the inside, it's WAY more comftorble than anything else I've been in.
Towed it home, even had fun doing that.

 

Before you paint it, wash it with some diluted degreaser and lots of water. I did that to mine, then buffed it out. It looks like a different car

 

what's so good or more desireable about a 10th Anniv anyway?

 

and rotate the front tires, they're backwards

 

Looks good!

if you are not happy with the paint, I would reccomend taking it to a bodyshop. They can buff almost anything out and make it look like-new again. It might cost you about $100 (ask). Than just polish/wax as normal

Good luck, and nice car!

 

only 1500 made. (so they're rather rare) (second rarest rx-7, after the GTUs).

sit inside one and you won't want to get out, they have the nicest interior of any car I've ever seen. AE seats ROCK.
umm, that's about it.
oh, unless (like I do) you dig the monochromatic paint.