Node got an FC today!!!
Thread Starter
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,383
Likes: 3
From: Stinson Beach, Ca
Node got an FC today!!!
Well, how to start.
The Discovery
My friend saw a guy getting out of an FC and asked "Is that one of the cars with a rotary engine" and then they talked and the owner said it was for sale soon for $400. So my friend gave me his name and phone number since he knew I liked RX-7's.
At First Site
I called and talked to him, found out the info, then I went to test drive it. Drove good, no rust but a smaller than a dime shaped spot in the paint under where the hatch sits, and on the sunroof (bleh).
Now For The Real Scoop
The Good
It runs good, idles smoothly at around 750RPM. Has 78,500 miles on it. Original owner and original engine. Has a 2 year old stock exhaust (although I'm baffled).
The Bad
It's a piece of crap auto, and really sloppy too. But that will be replaced.
And along with that, it needs a new front left tire because the previous owner recently hit a pothole or who knows what, and broke the belt in the tire and it's bubbled on the sidewall.
And the front brakes are gettin thin which means shitty braking. The previous owner gave me new pads to put on so I will have that taken care of.
Of course I will have the tire and brakes fixed IMMEDIATELY (next paycheck come friday), but the auto is next to go
Next to those serious problems, it needs plugs, an ATFing, a tune up, and who knows what else.
The Ugly
It has a dented fender from someone backing into it, however it is only the front left so it is replaceable and even could be repaired easily, only the paint is cracked on the fender.
The paint was pretty bad. It is sunfaded very badly, it's orange in the right rear quarter panel, the hood is flat red and I'm guessing because of no clear coat or who knows. But paint is not a problem.
It also is missing some stuff, like radio surround, radio, strut tower speaker covers, a vent. The drivers door handle is broke and from what I read must be replaced. The sunroof has some very very tiny rust bubbles starting to form which I didn't notice during the testdrive, and needs a small nudge to help it up which I hope can be fixed. Other than that the sunroof is good.
The radio surround cracked to pieces when the previous owner was installing a radio.
And Sold To The Highest Bidder
I went to AAA today, and got the title transferred (to my dad on account of insurance being about 1/2 of what I'd be charged).
And best of all, the car was only $400. That was not a typo. The owner felt it was a unsafe 15 year old nickel and dime car, and was going to junk it when the inspection sticker ran out (august). All sorts of luck for me!
And My Plans
Hopefully in July (paycheck not going to major repair items), I can get a parts car, manual drivetrain, LSD (most likely S4 which means clutch which means the LSD is probably dead from high mileage. And 5 lug/4 piston brakes. Hopefully I won't have to rebuild/replace too many of the parts when swapping.
But I would like to get new pads, rebuilt calipers, some new brakelines (silicone coated, stainless braid covered teflon lines while I'm at it). Slotted rotors and some decent pads later on.
I would also grab a door handle, radio surround, fender, and if it was an S5 I would take the rub strips, front and rear bumpers and taillights.
I'm going to get an exhaust very soon. And I would like to do some intake mods (IM porting, 6th port sleeves, intake and cold air box, TB mods too).
Hopefully I can get a paintjob (budget paintjob lol) in a couple months once I find body panels/S5 body parts and have the sunroof and fender taken care of. Stock color of course.
This will all take a while to happen, but seeing how I have a job that I can stand now, it won't be so bad.
I would like to go turbo, but I don't see that happening until early 2003 at best. And I'm not even going to think about that because it's a definate wildcard and a half. For now N/A will be more than adequate.
And remember I'm very ambitious and quite the dreamer, but dream #1 of getting an FC is all good
And now to just see if I keep it because of great rust free body, or get better.
And Here Are Pictures
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/meanrex/l...src=ph&.view=t this link is only temporary.
Enjoy!!@# I know I am
The Discovery
My friend saw a guy getting out of an FC and asked "Is that one of the cars with a rotary engine" and then they talked and the owner said it was for sale soon for $400. So my friend gave me his name and phone number since he knew I liked RX-7's.
At First Site
I called and talked to him, found out the info, then I went to test drive it. Drove good, no rust but a smaller than a dime shaped spot in the paint under where the hatch sits, and on the sunroof (bleh).
Now For The Real Scoop
The Good
It runs good, idles smoothly at around 750RPM. Has 78,500 miles on it. Original owner and original engine. Has a 2 year old stock exhaust (although I'm baffled).
The Bad
It's a piece of crap auto, and really sloppy too. But that will be replaced.
And along with that, it needs a new front left tire because the previous owner recently hit a pothole or who knows what, and broke the belt in the tire and it's bubbled on the sidewall.
And the front brakes are gettin thin which means shitty braking. The previous owner gave me new pads to put on so I will have that taken care of.
Of course I will have the tire and brakes fixed IMMEDIATELY (next paycheck come friday), but the auto is next to go
Next to those serious problems, it needs plugs, an ATFing, a tune up, and who knows what else.
The Ugly
It has a dented fender from someone backing into it, however it is only the front left so it is replaceable and even could be repaired easily, only the paint is cracked on the fender.
The paint was pretty bad. It is sunfaded very badly, it's orange in the right rear quarter panel, the hood is flat red and I'm guessing because of no clear coat or who knows. But paint is not a problem.
It also is missing some stuff, like radio surround, radio, strut tower speaker covers, a vent. The drivers door handle is broke and from what I read must be replaced. The sunroof has some very very tiny rust bubbles starting to form which I didn't notice during the testdrive, and needs a small nudge to help it up which I hope can be fixed. Other than that the sunroof is good.
The radio surround cracked to pieces when the previous owner was installing a radio.
And Sold To The Highest Bidder
I went to AAA today, and got the title transferred (to my dad on account of insurance being about 1/2 of what I'd be charged).
And best of all, the car was only $400. That was not a typo. The owner felt it was a unsafe 15 year old nickel and dime car, and was going to junk it when the inspection sticker ran out (august). All sorts of luck for me!
And My Plans
Hopefully in July (paycheck not going to major repair items), I can get a parts car, manual drivetrain, LSD (most likely S4 which means clutch which means the LSD is probably dead from high mileage. And 5 lug/4 piston brakes. Hopefully I won't have to rebuild/replace too many of the parts when swapping.
But I would like to get new pads, rebuilt calipers, some new brakelines (silicone coated, stainless braid covered teflon lines while I'm at it). Slotted rotors and some decent pads later on.
I would also grab a door handle, radio surround, fender, and if it was an S5 I would take the rub strips, front and rear bumpers and taillights.
I'm going to get an exhaust very soon. And I would like to do some intake mods (IM porting, 6th port sleeves, intake and cold air box, TB mods too).
Hopefully I can get a paintjob (budget paintjob lol) in a couple months once I find body panels/S5 body parts and have the sunroof and fender taken care of. Stock color of course.
This will all take a while to happen, but seeing how I have a job that I can stand now, it won't be so bad.
I would like to go turbo, but I don't see that happening until early 2003 at best. And I'm not even going to think about that because it's a definate wildcard and a half. For now N/A will be more than adequate.
And remember I'm very ambitious and quite the dreamer, but dream #1 of getting an FC is all good
And now to just see if I keep it because of great rust free body, or get better.
And Here Are Pictures
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/meanrex/l...src=ph&.view=t this link is only temporary.
Enjoy!!@# I know I am
Last edited by Node; Jun 9, 2002 at 03:37 AM.
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: Caldwell,ID
damn it node has a car now
well the FC world is fucked as we know it
but anyway good find node... looks like it needs some touching up but glad to hear you have a car and hope you have fun and do not ruin it
well the FC world is fucked as we know it
but anyway good find node... looks like it needs some touching up but glad to hear you have a car and hope you have fun and do not ruin it
Full Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver / Brandon
Dude that paint doesnt look too bad.. Mine was like that when i first got it ... Just give it a wash... Go by the clay bar for it... do that... then get maguires heavy cut wax, then medium cut, then yellow wax, then swirl remover, then show car glaze, and that car will look sweet... You will even notice a huge difference with the heavy cut and the wax... the paint will come out again
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Thread Starter
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,383
Likes: 3
From: Stinson Beach, Ca
bye bye sunfade orange! And I was planning too, but that paints pretty bad, hood is VERY dull, rear quarter panel is just weirdAnd I have orange peeling on the side skirts and on the bottom of the sides after rear wheel.
Im beat..... nite........zzzzzzz......
Hks Ownz Me (
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
From: corona,CA
node many congrats..... you finally got one, i remember first coming on these boards and you not having one with the shaking avatar head and stuff.... but now im still only 15 and owned two FC's so far both being t2's ( gotta love living in socali 
) anyways i hope you make that one fast *** monster!!!
-josh
CONGRATS NODE!!
just cant wait till july ill be driving
) anyways i hope you make that one fast *** monster!!! -josh
CONGRATS NODE!!
just cant wait till july ill be driving
20B N/A Wide Body FC3S
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 797
Likes: 1
From: Okinawa Japan
I didn't see wheels any where in you list... I'd take that next pay check and pick up a descent set of used wheels with tires on them... then you won't need to worry about the broken belt in the front tire.. I'm sure sombody's got a decent set lying around for cheap..
Hks Ownz Me (
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
From: corona,CA
trust me right now i'd rather be node..... having a nice turbo 2 sitting out front saying DRIVE ME OH PLEASE DRIVE ME... IT ******* SUCKS!!! i cant wait another 40 days... imma kill someone before its over...... omg .... someone is going to die!!!! oh well at least get to drive with my dadddy in the car.. he lets me go fast lol.
sweet!!! its about time.
my car was that faded when I got it. it had not washed in 3 years the owner parked it outside after the engine was blown.
I after it got new engine I droped it off at a detail shop and I didnt recoconize my car when I came back to pick it up.
my car was that faded when I got it. it had not washed in 3 years the owner parked it outside after the engine was blown.
I after it got new engine I droped it off at a detail shop and I didnt recoconize my car when I came back to pick it up.
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Nice!
I've found that having an RX-7 that isn't in perfect condition is actually a benefit. Crawling around wrecker's yards looking for pieces to fix it up is more fun than it sounds.
I hope you're enjoying it now that you've finally got one.
Bye,
ScruffyChimp
I've found that having an RX-7 that isn't in perfect condition is actually a benefit. Crawling around wrecker's yards looking for pieces to fix it up is more fun than it sounds.
I hope you're enjoying it now that you've finally got one.
Bye,
ScruffyChimp
Rotorhead
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,136
Likes: 39
From: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Congratulations!
Hey, that dent is an easy fix - just pick up a body panel at the salvage yard and change it out. I don't see a problem with the paint, either, just as long as the car isn't rusting (all sunroofs have rust). The door handle doesn't need to be replaced unless it is physically broken, as about half of the time it's the nylon rod clamp that opens up, which is an easy fix. The brake pads are an easy fix, too, (see the online service manual) and you can take the rotors to your local auto parts store and have them turned for a very reasonable price.
The AT is why you got the car so cheap, as this is a major problem. It is very expensive to fix the AT, and a MT conversion is a real pain, and requires a custom-made mounting system.
I suggest driving the car around for a while before being dead set on upgrading to the 5-lug suspension. I liked the 4-lug suspension and non-LSD in my SE just fine, and the car handled very well with the reduced weight. The only reason I upgraded was because of the 20B conversion. Replacing the 3.909 rear would probably be a good idea, though.
Hey, that dent is an easy fix - just pick up a body panel at the salvage yard and change it out. I don't see a problem with the paint, either, just as long as the car isn't rusting (all sunroofs have rust). The door handle doesn't need to be replaced unless it is physically broken, as about half of the time it's the nylon rod clamp that opens up, which is an easy fix. The brake pads are an easy fix, too, (see the online service manual) and you can take the rotors to your local auto parts store and have them turned for a very reasonable price.
The AT is why you got the car so cheap, as this is a major problem. It is very expensive to fix the AT, and a MT conversion is a real pain, and requires a custom-made mounting system.
I suggest driving the car around for a while before being dead set on upgrading to the 5-lug suspension. I liked the 4-lug suspension and non-LSD in my SE just fine, and the car handled very well with the reduced weight. The only reason I upgraded was because of the 20B conversion. Replacing the 3.909 rear would probably be a good idea, though.
