Osterkraut

I'm a man of wealth, and taste...

Props to those who get it, but my real introduction is as follows:
Last weekend, I was home from college (UF), and I opened up the paper and saw a 91 RX-7 for sale. Now, for a while now, I've been looking at the following three cars: MkI MR2, NB Miata, and FC RX-7. The 7 has always been my favorite, as the MR2 has so little engine bay to work in, and the Miata's a 'vert. So I called up the seller and got the details: 140k miles, black on black, 5 speed, minor dent on a rear quater panel, power everything, all records. Price? $2,200 firm. So I went out the next day to check it out. The exterior was above what I was expecting, with a few dings, paint chips, and a dull front bumper (whyyyyyyy). The interior was near perfect, minus broken power window toggles, a worn out shift boot, and a torn armrest. Everything electrically worked minus the wipers (I understand it's an easy fix). On to the most important part; the engine! He was right about the regular oil changes, he had all the paperwork. The AC did not work, but he claimed it was converted to RU134a (or whatever) and just needed to be refilled, and the car had the sticker to prove it (changed over in 1998, for the curious). Smoked a little at startup, but none once warmed up. The tranny, while seeming to have a good clutch, had a horribly lose shifter. Gonna get the bushings for that real soon. Steering good, brakes good, tires old, but useful. Mufflers, not so good. Anyway, I went home, Carfaxed it, and bought it. I had to return to college (1 hr away), so I left a check and instructions for my parents to do the picking up monday. The sale went well, I now have the world's greatest RX-7 sitting in my garage back home.

*yawn* What a sleeper. No pictures too. I'll post some up saturday when I head home to TLC it. I've just got a few (read:many) questions for you all:

1) Can somebody point out a link to getting those wipers back into shape? I've read the how-to, I just can't find the part.
2) The coolent temp gauge isn't reading. And ideas what might be causing that?
3)Can I get that front bumper shiney again?
4) Any tips on removing an old tint-job?
5)I'm thinking about getting the Racing Beat Cat-Back to fix the mufflers, and eventually doing the whole RB exhaust. Reviews are good. Any sound clips/ pictures?
6)Smarter to replace just the bushings, or should I add a short-shifter while I'm at it?
7)Anybody selling the power window toggles? (both sides)
8)Any must-do reliabilty mods?
9)Can I buy your black center console armrest?
Longer down the road:
10) Any suggestions on light-ish 16x8" (or 7,7.5) wheels that won't break the bank?
11) Whats the going price of a NA LSD?
12)Recommended vendors? Does this forum have a list?
13)KYB AGX struts seem to be a respected choice. Opinions?
14) Springs to go with those? Something like...stiff daily driver
15)More recommended suspension goodies (sways, etc)?
16) Do they make a RX-8 style shifter, but with 5 speeds?
17)Brake pads. EB Greens?
18)General rotary wisdom would be great
19)Other than what's in the FAQ, any more links I need to bookmark?
20)Anybody else at UF? I've seen a red FD, but no FCs

What I don't want:
Telling me to use the search button. I've done it.

Thanks,
Charlie

Firebird_Racer

Check out places like:

mazdatrix.com
modacar.com
andysautosport.com
rotaryextreme.com
rx7.com
i-m-racing.com
corksport.com

they will have many of the super-duper aftermarket parts youre going to be craving for and all the hot OEM upgrades for the basic parts. (also holds the answers to many of your pricing questions)

also be sure to just do a quick ebay seach for FC3S because there are many many people that part out their FCs over ebay and can get your replacement parts like trim panels, etc etc from.

as far as wheels go, they can look cool for cheap and be ok. styling can always be cheap. if youre going to take it to the track or looking for a megalightweight wheel, its going to break your bank...sorry. but 5zigens are always a good inbetween!

SpiffyD

1)mazdatrix.com has it i think
2)The senor probably isnt connected
3)show a picture and will find out.. most likley no probably have to get a paint job
4)sry i dont no much about tint. if it doesnt have any bubbles in there just leave as is
5)there was a exhaust forum couple weeks back just look back youll find it no sound clips if you find one itll probably be on a different car which sounds different plus theres always the real life matter where it may sound crappy in the sound clip but sounds nice in real life ya no?
6)if you want its all up to you personally i think short shifters are better but brushings are cheaper at mazdatrix.com
7)Ebay is where i got mine from check there they have reasonable prices... but if you just are to impatient and you are rich n want brand new ones.. mazdatrix.com
8)get it tuned up replace spark plugs,compression checks, fluid levels, o2 senors minor things, check for any engine problems also like rough idleing startign problems any vacuum leaks stuff like that
9)no but i bet you can find one at the site i gave you or ebay.com
Longer down the road:
10) 16x8? i prefer 17s
11) im not sure probably not that much
12) i think they have a list somewhere around here but as i said mazdatrix.com or rx7store.net is actually pretty good. rx7.com is pricey but good also thats whta i use
13)groundcontrol?
14) very stiff? got money? you rich? dont care for driving comfort? teins
15) sways are good stick with the same brand your getting your coilovers with they work better together other then regular brands
16) im pretty sure they make em but i dont no where to get them at.. you should check out the shifter forums and how they look i think youlll change your mind on the rx8 shifters n gowith rx7 shifters
17) go to the mazda car company n ask if you can get the origannal stock ones... stock break pads is better in my opinion but its just a little costy
18) they spin... rev high they dont blow up they melt treat them good or theyll treat you bad.. there will be a lot of problems coming your way if you plan on modifying your car. always maintain your car on a regular bases just incase.. treat her like your perfect grlfriend
19)fc3spro.com maybe?
20)there just hiding from you untill you make it pretty... then theyll all come out n try racing you

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

if you're a man of wealth then you should probably be posting in the 3rd gen section. we're all "men of not wealth" here

Alex Rodriguez

iTrader: (137)

yup

SpiffyD

very true... but some people just like to dick on us n say.. look i got so much money that im going to buy your car and make it WAY better then yours n put everything that you want into my car so you can be jelous... man i wish i had a FD.. but broke people own FCs lol

josh greene

MY NAME HOV!!!! H TA THE O V.......... dont think thats what you ment but o well reminded me of Jay Z......
the short shifter and bushings are extreamly easy to replace so Id say if you did just the bushings and did the shifter later that would be fine.
I have KYB AGX's and ebaich springs I love them pretty cheep and work great.

Osterkraut

Ah, I'm as broke as the rest of you. I just enjoy that Stones song.

Jakor

4)Razor blade + acetone to remove the tint. I'd suggest not removing the tint on the back window with the defogger grid.

6)I'm planing on replacing my shifter with a short shifter.

16)I wanna get a rotor shaped shifter ****, someone said that the rx8's had them, but I can only find 6 speed shifters, so let me know if you find something

18)I'd suggest you read up on anything you can with the rotary engine. I went through looking at all the problems people have had, what makes the engine's "blow up" When doing my research on my car, I found out that when the engines blow, it's normally stupid owners who don't add oil to the car... Alot of great information is in the links in the faq on what to look for when you are buying an rx7 (even though you already bought it, you should still use it as a reference to learn about the rotary engine).

cprx7

1) http://www.fc3spro.com/TECH/HOWTO/WIPER/wiper.html for instructions www.digikey.com for the relay.

6)Replacing the bushings is not going to solve the loose shifter problem, there is a spring inside that needs to be replaced if I remember correctly. Miata short shifters seem to be an inexpensive alternative also.

13)I have the KYB AGX struts, they are very good, eight way adjustable in the rear, four way in the front. They are a good deal for sure.

14) I have the suspension techniques springs ($189 at shox.com) They lower the car 1". I am used to them now but it was a little rough at first to get used to. The handling is improved greatly though. Some people prefer the progressive type of springs such as eibach or the RB, I have never tried those myself so I can't give you an opion on those.

15)Polyeurathe bushings for the front and rear control arms and sway bars. You can get the set with all the bushings you need for $99 or something like that. The expensive part is the installation if you are not able to do it yourself. Again, it gets getting used to. I am not going to lie to you, the ride becomes quite rough. That's what you sacrifice if you want better cornering performance I guess. I would do it again, I like the current feel of my car with this set-up.
Another thing you might want to look into is replacing your motor mounts (easy job, can be done in 1 hours). I am using the http://www.mmr-direct.com/ motor mounts. With the miles on your car I bet they are shot, specially the passenger side one.

I also have a '91 N/A FC BTW with 180,000 miles now.
Pix here if you want to see her --> http://photobucket.com/albums/v43/cprx7/Rx-7/


Good luck with yours