FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

ok, ive been lookin at this 87 TII for a little while now and i was seriously considering buying it. So i had it taken to the mazda dealer here to have it looked over and see whats up with it, make sure everything is working ok. well the compression test came back low and it will probably need new seals or a new engine. the rest of the car is in good shape. i dont know how low the compression was but it seems to drive pretty good either way. the guy was asking 4200 for it but he said with the test comming out that way, he could go down to 2700. is this a good deal still? is it cheaper to rebuild or just drop a new S5 jspec engine in? i really like the car, i just dont wanna get screwed over by it right away.

Rx-7Addict

iTrader: (2)

Well depending on the mileage and other aspects of the car, price can vary in worth of the car.

If you feel the car was worth 4200 in top running shape, 2700 seems justifiable. Considering you can pick up a S5 JSpec for under $1000. Personally, I havent seen many blown motor cars go for much, no matter how nice they are.

Also, maybe you could get a rotary specialist to see if the chambers are simply clogged and ATF will work or if a seal is bad etc etc. Worth looking into since it could just need some love (ATF) and be in fine shape thereafter

Good luck!

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

yea.. i wasnt planning on giving him the 4200, but its in nice shape..93K miles. thats true, maybe some ATF would fix it. then id get a hella good deal.

InfiniIIIREX

Yeah sounds like a good deal to me if your getting $2500 off, thats more than enough for getting a J-spec and cost of installation. I'd say get it if the body and interior are in good shape. Maybe you'll get lucky with the ATF trick.

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

awesome. i knew i could count on you guys to boost my confidence. maybe i can pick it up this weekend

vaughnc

If every else looks sweet but the compression #s are low, sounds like a great deal to me.

Have you taken it on an extended test drive? Watch the idle and see if it accelerates smoothly and has good boost. Make sure there's no clunking, it shifts reasonably smooth (shiftings always a bit notchy) and doesn't grind, etc.. etc..

If you 95% sure you want it, spend 3 hours looking over the car. Open everything, look at the spare tire, jack compartment, engine, underneath, etc..

Make sure the nose & plastic underbody in front looks in good shape.

Hope it's a dream car

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

yea just the compression is a little off.. it can still hold an idle and runs fine. i drove it around for about 15 mins. got thru all the gears, up to 80mph. it pulls pretty damn good for a car with low compression. but i will do an extensive look-over of the car before doing anything. the guy is pretty cool, he doesnt have anything to hide.

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

ok. i just went to the mazda dealer to pick up the report/pay the bill..heres the results:

Front Rotor: 5.8 5.8 5.9
Rear Rotor: 5.4 5.2 5.4

also it says that coolant pushed out of radiator..advise replacement of engine.

What do you think? does it need to be replaced? any opinions now?

Rx-7Addict

iTrader: (2)

If you can afford a new engine (Figure around $1000 if you do it yourself, much more for dealer/ rotary specialist) I would say, yes get it.

Offer the guy $2000. Due to bad compression, he is going to have a hard time selling the car. Unless he finds a buyer who does not get it compression tested.

Good luck

akageals

If it pushed coolant out of the rad. that's from leaking seals in the engine. I WILL have to be replaced / rebuilt soon. That engine is on it's way out. I'd say $2000.00 IF you can afford to replace the engine.

Todd

I paid 2K for my TII...had replaced engine with 60K on it. Ran good but needed paint and interior. I've got over $6000.00 in it now and still counting.

Andy

I don't think that it pulls hard really means much, the previous engine in my TII still pulled hard with 3.1 - 3.5 in the rear rotor and it would still idle, but rough. Definitely plan on a replacement engine in the near future. I wouldn't try to lowball too badly, he may just wait for a sucker like RX-7Addict said. The guy that sold me mine did........

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

i have about 6G saved up for a car, but i dont have an engine hangar or anything to be able to do the swap myself. The guy at the dealership couldnt give me a quote for how much a engine swap would cost..he said that the rotarys are "real brittle, if they even make them anymore for that car" i told him i could get one for about 1000, but he couldnt give me even a general idea. ahh so confused.

Erik

i still have the receipts for my n/a rebuild done by the previous owner. he had it done at Ramsey Mazda in NJ. i think for the rebuild and labor it came to about 1800. this was with new seals and gaskets and everything, but i think they used the same housings or else the price would have certainly been more..(cause housings weren't on the receipt).

so, i'm not sure that they make the "complete" motor to drop right in...but they still sell new housings, seals, and everything for Mazda to build a new motor. i just don't think they come in "crate" form like chevy V8's and such.

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

well ive seen engines from www.corksport.com and other sites for about 1000 for a complete S5 motor, i just dont know how much it would be to pull the old one and put the new one in..and i dont know if anything extra is needed for a S5 motor in a S4 car (engine mounts, ecu, etc.).

Brian_TII

Nah... don't waste your time with a TII. Buy something with displacement...

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

well, decided not to get it. guess ill keep looking..if anyones interested in a black 87 TII in NJ, lemme know and ill give you the guys #..thanks for your help

vaughnc

FCRyosuke07,

Well if you can find an average/fair one with a new/rebuilt motor at a good price or a dirt cheap one with emaculent interior & body with blown engine - those would be my recommendations.

Check www.thepartstrader.com in the rotary for sale section if you haven't already.

Also hit those "unknown" adds on autotrader.com and ask them if it's a Turbo II. I found mine that way

-- vaughnc

No7Yet

Hmm, since you seem to be sooo in love with displacement and dinosaur technology, Brian, how about this: I'll trade a 2.0 litre 20R 1975 Celica for your TII... :p It's got more displacement, so it must be better, right?

(this is Brandon from Moroso, BTW)

Brandon