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May be buying a GXL, htings to look out for?

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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:26 AM
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May be buying a GXL, htings to look out for?

Well after being a member on here for a good while, I may actually be buying an RX-7 sometime soon. One of my friends is selling an '86 GXL. Here's the specs on it.

'86, power everthing(except locks), white with blue interior. 75k miles on the body, 25k on the engine. Could use a paint job. It also has a problem with the headlights. They pop up, but don't come on. Dash lights work, but nothing else. So I'm gonna mess with that myself before I buy it, cause it won't pass inspection like that. It books for $2000, and he wants $1500.

My question is, is there certain things to watch out for? The engine is perfect, smooth as they get. Unfortunately, it's an auto, the only thing I don't like about the car, but I already have all the swap parts lined up, so I'll have no problem swapping over to a 5-speed.

So what should I watch out for? I rode in this car last year sometime, and it was very solid. He only put 3000 miles on it while he had it. He has too many other car, and didn't drive it much.

Any other problems these commonly have?
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:32 AM
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http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/buy1.htm
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:35 AM
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well it sounds good except for the tranny. I think that drops the price a little since you are going to have to go throught then swap. If you are willing to pay that much then ok. I payed 2k for mine and it had its share of problems but I wanted a 7 ask yourself if you are willing to deal with these problems. Look for rust check the compression on the motor, look at all the fluids to see how he has cared for it, drive it yourself and kick it around a bit.
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:56 AM
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Its funny, usually autos are worth more than manual when talking about cars/trucks in general. However thats the complete opposite with rx7's. Usually no one would want an auto if you gave it to them
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:59 AM
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if car has been driven in snow,
look for rust under the car (frame rails, floor, lines) and in the wheel wells.

Rust sucks.

hugues -
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 11:06 AM
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Originally posted by dr0x
Its funny, usually autos are worth more than manual when talking about cars/trucks in general. However thats the complete opposite with rx7's. Usually no one would want an auto if you gave it to them
Its so true, i wudnt buy an auto
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 11:48 AM
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Re: May be buying a GXL, htings to look out for?

Originally posted by thecause17
I already have all the swap parts lined up, so I'll have no problem swapping over to a 5-speed.
Are you sure about that? You will need:
Lightened Flywheel (to work with the AT counterbalance)
Clutch & Pressure Plate Assembly
Clutch Master Cylinder, Slave Cylinder, and Plumbing
Clutch Pedal Assembly
MT Interior Center Console Pieces
Manual Transmission and Shifter
MT Starter
Custom MT Mount (A stock MT mount will not fit on an AT body)
MT Driveshaft (Must be balanced)

That's a lot of work and a lot of money.
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 12:40 PM
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Turbo Driver
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Re: Re: May be buying a GXL, htings to look out for?

Originally posted by Evil Aviator
Are you sure about that? You will need:
Lightened Flywheel (to work with the AT counterbalance)
Clutch & Pressure Plate Assembly
Clutch Master Cylinder, Slave Cylinder, and Plumbing
Clutch Pedal Assembly
MT Interior Center Console Pieces
Manual Transmission and Shifter
MT Starter
Custom MT Mount (A stock MT mount will not fit on an AT body)
MT Driveshaft (Must be balanced)

That's a lot of work and a lot of money.
Yes, I am sure about that. My friend is planning on buying a MT parts car that was rearended, and we're taking all the parts from it, and putting them in this one. The only thing you have listed there that surprises me is the custom mount....I've looked into that further before posting this, and it's not that big of an issue to those who have done it. As far as the counterweight, from what I've been reading on here, it can be removed...
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 02:46 PM
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Re: Re: Re: May be buying a GXL, htings to look out for?

Originally posted by thecause17
Yes, I am sure about that. My friend is planning on buying a MT parts car that was rearended, and we're taking all the parts from it, and putting them in this one. The only thing you have listed there that surprises me is the custom mount....I've looked into that further before posting this, and it's not that big of an issue to those who have done it. As far as the counterweight, from what I've been reading on here, it can be removed...
OK, just checking. A friend of mine performed this conversion, and he would never do it again. Yes, you can replace the counterwieght and use a regular MT flywheel from the same series.
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Old Mar 29, 2003 | 08:03 AM
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Turbo Driver
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Anyone else got anything to add? That write up prety much answered my questions though, but I'm always open to anything else someone has to add.
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Old Mar 29, 2003 | 08:30 AM
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Just buy it already..
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Old Mar 30, 2003 | 08:02 AM
  #12  
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From: Delaware
I want to. I just want to save up more cash than I have right now.
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Old Mar 30, 2003 | 08:34 AM
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i got a 5speed you can have DAMN cheap if ya want

heres another how-to-buy page, it pertains a little more to the TII's but there is info here you can applie to any of the 7's

-Jacob
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Old Mar 30, 2003 | 08:34 PM
  #14  
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Turbo Driver
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You seem to have forgotten the link.
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Old Mar 30, 2003 | 09:54 PM
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lol, yes, yes i did

http://fc3s-pro.com/TECH/h2b.html

-Jacob
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Old Mar 31, 2003 | 06:59 AM
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From: Delaware
Thanks.
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