Well I just finished a deal to buy my first rx7. It's a Fc3c s4('88). It's in good shape all over. I didn't see any rust on it at all. The used car check said it would need a new battery and front brake job (oh and the a/c button needed to be held in to work), but otherwise was in really good shape. The current owner said he'd take care of all of that (minus the a/c... I was gona remove it anyways. My honda civic never had the airconditioner turned on, that's what windows are for =p Plus I'm in Northern California.) I easily talked him from 3500 down to 3k (A little above blue book, but it's a rotary.... and number two on the top 3 cars for me to own in my lifetime. )

Normally you would have someone ask stuff like "What should I do first?" Well, I'm not looking for any ideas right now. I will have enough going to thuroughly clean hte interior(which is in good shap). And a couple small projects of my own to get it ready. I have a 12" kicker subwoofer in my 86 civic si right now. It won't fit in the Fc3c as it is, so I'm gona see what I can work out with that. And I would like to replace the stock shifter with a short throw. The shifter was kinda bugging me during the test drive. I had already checked into short shifters for an 88 rx7, but they are unavailable through any of the local autopart stores. One store could get 3rd gen shifters, but I didn't know how much a swap like that would take. I ran accross this site and first thing I noticed was the miata swap. I'm thinking that's the way I'm gona go with it.

I'm not sure if my fc is gona have a LSD or not. I didn't get under the car when it was in the air to check. And I obviously can't tell by driving it as I normally drive a FWD civic. If I don't I'd like to swap one over, but I'm thinking of going with the '94+ miata's LSD. I am in no way ready for this conversion, but I am looking foward to getting it done nonetheless.

Not many people out here work on rotary engines, but our mazda dealer sells rx8's and have the equipment to work on them so in the WORST case senario...

I will get some pictures up next week as I will be gone this whole weekend to make the exchange with the owner. I can't wait... But I had to tell someone about the car, so I had to post.

Anyone have any suggestions for me, as I am always open to them? I'm not some big automechanic, but I'd love to work on this car Also is anyone from around the Eureka, California area (It's on the Oregon border.) I have most of my online contacts listed in my profile. Everything I've read about the rotary engine has made me love it more (The only people I find who hate it don't understand it.)

 

Never take your car to the dealer....you're fired.

 

3k might've been a little steep, ($ wise) but if you're happy... well, there you go.

Do a compression test (search) and make sure you get good numbers of around 100psi per 'rotor face'.

There's probably no need for a short-throw shifter (at this point, honestly). What bugged you was more than likely due to "bad shifter bushings" (search).

Unless your car is a TII, (s4) GTU, or GXL you DON'T have an LSD.

Your only hope with this car, is to learn how to do the work yourself (or find a local dude to help you). Try posting in your 'regional section'...

Have you checked out the FAQ section?

 

Ya ya... I know dealers. I do plan on doing everything myself, it's just nice to know that rotary engines arn't completely forgotten out here in the middle of no-where!

EDIT:
I've heard the 1988 convertibles came with and without LSD's I mighta misread that somewhere.

I'll check the bushings, but I still think I'd like to have a short throw shifter I wanted to put one in my civic after I dove my friends del sol.

I'm happy with 3k. There isn't many options out here, and every other car out here is quite a bit overpriced anyways.

 

cool.....post pics when u get it.

 

I cant wait to see pics and I just have to say wow to your first post. I mean so many people come in here asking stupid questions withough searching and what not, i know i did.

good luck with everything and i second the short shifter as my bushing are worn but if your going to mess with putting new bushings in why not just get a short shifter to.

 

Comes from moderating other boards (I put up with "newbies" everyday). I've also got the (good) habit of editing posts instead of double posting. But thanks for the compliment =) I had heard all the rumors that surround the rx-7 and had done a tiny bit of research in the past, but when it came down to buying one, I REALLY wanted to know what I was getting into. I knew I had to search out everything before I committed to buying the car. It's much easier to see what's out there than to ask for what isn't. That's also a big part of buying a car. If there is no fan base for the car you're gona have one hell of a time trying to work on it.

I noticed in the tutorial that the poster used a shifter off of ebay. I was wondering what you guys would suggest as far as shifters. I frankly don't have much of a budget with buying the car (I'm 18 and trying to establish some credit while keeping my savings intact). I see miata shifters for $150 on sale, $400 not on sale, these would have to wait a while if I was going to use one of them. I see e-bay has a few for ~$50 and this is more in my price range

This is more of a long term project car for me but a car that I will be driving everyday, and as I stated: I don't really have much of a budget. (With gas money/insurance/registration.... gotta love all the extras)

 

First off if you decide to just fix up your shifter you should get this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...spagenameZWD1V

For short shifters theres a few choices.
http://www.mazdaracing.com/ShiftKit.asp
http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm <- There is a video demonstration of installation on this site.
Then theres the C's shifter if you can find one and of course the miata short shifter with the writeup on this site.

Whatever you decide to go with, good luck and I hope you enjoy your new 7!