I am looking at a 87 Rx-7 that i can use as a daily, but slow and surely swap a JDM 13b turbod. I am brand new into the rotoray world, and there are some things wrong with the car. Im looking for a little guidance and help if you guys wouldnt mind giving some

The car:
87 FC I belive its a base model, no wing, or power locks/windows.
98k original miles
lowerd on nonames
17" noname rims
NEEDS injectors
could use a new eghaust.

If you guys can reccomend some stuff i should look for when i go test drive it tommarow. also maybe some good eghausts maybe straight pipes exc (no need for emmisions)


(YES I FAIL at spelling, please dont critisise)

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/buy1.htm

 

We both fail at speeling. If you want a daily driver you better be the best preventive mechanic in the world. Your talking about a car that is 23 years old with a bunch of weird problems, from fluid leaks, injector problems, PD that blows up, clutch and tranny problems. It all depends on how the previous owners maintained the car. Do all the checks in Aaroncakes thread and let us know how happy you are with your new daily driver.

 

How is this car being marketed and how are you approaching the sale?

(None of the following is rotary specific...)

Is it being sold as a "runner" that sadly, has a few problems ("NEEDS injectors") or as a project car that you hope to revive?

The seller of a running car will typically (and rightfully) place a higher value on the vehicle.
Your problem here is that "BAD injectors" can cover a multitude of other, potentially far more costly, repairs...up to- and almost inevitably resulting in- an engine rebuild.

As a "project" however, your main concern would be the condition of the body/chassis and the completeness of the package.
If it ran, that would be icing on the cake but the cake itself would suffice.

In general, I'd say to a rotary newb in search of a DD, the car better well start and run nicely or you're climbing the learning curve from Mile 1.
Aside from the motor, there is nothing radically different about the RX than the rest of it's Japanese contemporaries, so if you're comfortable with Hondas, Nissans, etc., there are no scary monsters lurking in the boot.

The engine is, well...a little odd.
Basically simple, the ancillaries- all the subsystems piled on top to enhance performance (5/6 ports, OMP and the like)- can be confusing (this forum is ample evidence of that) and surprisingly expensive to deal with.

You don't mention your mechanical aptitude or financial stability.
A non/poorly running RX could just be flooded or full of bad gas (the urban myth, "I got it for $100 and all it needed was new plugs!" is quite popular here) or it could have a roached motor.

As with any car rust is the killer so if pressed for actual concrete advice, I'd say, "Look for rust".

 

Alright so the first reply was a GREAT help, after reading that i think my IQ increased by like 1000! so thank you.

My first and MAJOR two worries about the car are:
1) transmission whined worse than my 8mo spoiled brother.
2) has the dreaded 3800RPM hesitation

As ive read from Arrons, this is most likely the ECU. and for the tranny idk what to think, the guy has had the car as a daily for 7 months, and recently changed the alternator and battery along with oil, but the engine was burning oil, although i did drive teh car as hard as i could. Also i was thinking maybe the tranny was low on fluid but no way to check for sure...

What do you guys think? the car has a ok body, with a BAD rattle can job, but all the components are there and look wreck free. the engine is 98k original. and as i stated before it needs injectors, maybe thats causing the 38k hesitation? also it starts weird, you have to pump the gas, but im assuming thats because the injectors are really shitty? idk need some help ha.

 

bump / read above post

 

start with a compression test, this will tell you if the motor really only has that many miles and/or if it will need a new engine built in the near future versus "needs injectors".

 

Often times its cheaper to spend more money initially to buy a clean car that already has a turbo engine (if thats what you're looking for) than to initiate such a project.

I have a friend here with a rebuilt s5 N/A engine in a perfect condition (10 out of 10) car if you want to go that route. PM me if interested.