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Project RX7, am I in over my head?

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Old 12-27-07, 10:29 PM
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Project RX7, am I in over my head?

Ok, I am really new to rotary and all and I just purchased my new project (1990 Rx7 TurboII) It is in awesome condition, and I really like the interior. Only thing bad on the interior (other than missing stereo) is a torn up driver seat. The car has been parked since 2000 and has very little body damage. I have been researching for a few days now. The more I read the more I start to wonder if I will ever get it figured out. There doesnt seem to be as much info out on the web as there was for hondas. Unfortunantly nobody I know has any rotary background. So it seems I might have to rely alot on the local dealership which is going to cost way more than I hoped to spend on a project. Anyone know of any Austin Texas locations that do good rotary work?

The story on the car (why it was parked). Some wires near the passenger headlight caught fire. Previous owner decided to start unplugging stuff and removing engine components. I dont know what goes where (hence the researching) But the diagrams from manuals are very unclear as to what im looking at exactly. I also can't find many pictures of my engine 13bt I think (if thats the code for 13b turbos) Anyone know of Austin area meets where I might be able to meet other rx7 owners? Or should I give up and just sell it? Any offers?


Anyway, its late and im frustrated/tired.
Old 12-27-07, 10:39 PM
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https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/pictures-various-sensors-na-reference-671004/

i think post 2 and post 3 have most of the passenger side parts...
there are some reference shots for you they are from an NA but it should help out a little just to get the names of things and what not...
I would take it a step at a time, get a Haynes manual or something, look for pictures and things in there..

get yourself a digital camera and start taking shots, come over here search for what you think it is, and compare the shots, most people put some kinda shots up there, or just start a thread asking what certain parts are...

on an NA there isn't to much on the passenger side, mostly small things but all very important things, easily identifiable by a quick shot... TII should be about the same as far as identifying parts and such
Old 12-27-07, 10:48 PM
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Just stick with it. I bought my car without ever messing around with cars. I took it completely apart rebuilt it and it works . Just be careful and read alot and you should be ok.
Old 12-28-07, 08:43 AM
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ship your tII to omaha, ne 68108, cuz your in way over your head!! no but seriously yeah i bought everything that said rotary or rx7 on it for about 3 months straight and read like crazy... now i feel confident ripping my car apart. but if theres anything i've learned, its that the easiest way to learn is to go in and get your hands dirty! learn by experience foo!
Old 12-28-07, 02:53 PM
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These guys know more than you can imagine. This site alone is all the information you need. The only thing keeping me from being in over my head is the information I get here. good luck.
Old 12-28-07, 02:59 PM
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you can get it figured out.
just read a bunch and look at alot of pictures
Old 12-28-07, 03:08 PM
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I started my TII build in may 07. Never touched a car before. You just have to read and relize that the only thing diffrent about a rotary is the engine itself. IT still has a radiator, alternator, and four wheels. Take your time and read read read this site. Good luck
Old 12-28-07, 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by freemanrx7
I started my TII build in may 07. Never touched a car before. You just have to read and relize that the only thing diffrent about a rotary is the engine itself. IT still has a radiator, alternator, and four wheels. Take your time and read read read this site. Good luck
...and air compressor, and presurized cat?


Anyway, I think if anything, i'll pull the motor and attempt a rebuild myself (did it with my honda motor)

I think for now my goal is going to be a ~250hp daily (with random drifting).

MAYBE, later i'll gut it (sell interior or storage) and roll cage it for some serious drift events. I got pretty good background in drifting (worked on tv show "Driftline TV" for a long time and used to practice in my 86 corolla (pic attatched))


Old 12-28-07, 11:43 PM
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....

and heres a pic of my engine bay of my turbo del sol (built motor) I custom fab'd the intake piping (my welds suck) and pieced together my own turbo kit, including custom oil feed/return lines.



Old 12-28-07, 11:49 PM
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dude, pm me your location, i might give you a hand. if you not too far from me.
Old 12-29-07, 12:10 AM
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I can't pm yet:
"Note: Until your post count is 15 you will be able to send PMs to Staff only."



Anyway, im in Austin, Tx... now im off to be a post-*****...
Old 12-29-07, 09:02 AM
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im in houston.... and i sure could use a vacation......
Old 12-29-07, 10:38 PM
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im i killeen, about an hour or so away from austin. which part of austin you live in?
north, south, east or west?
Old 12-29-07, 10:49 PM
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download the FSM w/c has blow-outs for the motor n/a and turbo.good luck on the project.

assuming you did the work yourself on the del sol,w/ research and reading you'll figure it out just fine.if you were able to turbo a N/A car, a car that came w/ a turbo from the factory should be easier,just a matter of reading.
Old 12-30-07, 02:24 AM
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Originally Posted by glh-fc
download the FSM w/c has blow-outs for the motor n/a and turbo.good luck on the project.

assuming you did the work yourself on the del sol,w/ research and reading you'll figure it out just fine.if you were able to turbo a N/A car, a car that came w/ a turbo from the factory should be easier,just a matter of reading.
Yup, just gonna take time.. No hurry tho...



Anyway, I met 2 FC owners tonight one was a real TurboII and the other just looked like one (hood and such) Both looked awesome, I can't wait to get mine running. Both guys told me I should sell them the car... I seem to get that alot. Is the car rare? Anyway, I plan to go through with gettin it runnin and drift ready. Since I had so many offers to buy it, i'll just say now $1700 cash will take it off my hands (picked up)... everything has it's right price... Once I get started, it will not be for sale. Should be around summer...
Old 12-30-07, 08:28 AM
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Don't hate my V8

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man, keep your trubo rx-7. they prolly only tell you to sell it because they want it, lol. A boosted 7 feels like nothing else, ive ridden and driven DSMs, nissans, etc... and nothing turbo or like wise felt quite like my old Turbo II. these are awsome cars and i want to keep mine for as long as posible.
Old 12-31-07, 03:31 PM
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alamo rotary used to do all my work when I lived in SA. Always great work. I've heard people say that they are mostly a 3rd gen shop, but they always did good work on my s4
Old 12-31-07, 03:40 PM
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lol, good luck. i'd kill for a TII, but dont give up. 7's are the way to go
Old 12-31-07, 03:54 PM
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A T2 is a keeper trust me worth the wait and the build just to feel the power these things can make
Old 12-31-07, 04:43 PM
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I'm going crazy with my car too.
Old 12-31-07, 07:30 PM
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You should find plenty of info by searching these forums. The FSM in the FAQ should have wiring and other info. Haynes manual may help too of course. And if that fails you can always take pics and ask for help here like people said. I'd keep it.

You should be able to hit 250 bHP with just an exhaust, but a nice conservative tune as well will be a good safety measure. Rotaries are very sensitive to knocking (and overheating and no oil pressure, for that matter). And, as with any car, maintenance comes first.

Rebuilding a rotary yourself is easy (compared to a piston), but parts are expensive. It is a good excuse to do engine work though.
Old 01-04-08, 01:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Hello Roto
ship your tII to omaha, ne 68108, cuz your in way over your head!! no but seriously yeah i bought everything that said rotary or rx7 on it for about 3 months straight and read like crazy... now i feel confident ripping my car apart. but if theres anything i've learned, its that the easiest way to learn is to go in and get your hands dirty! learn by experience foo!
That's another thing, right there, dude! I dont have a TON of experience, but I feel confident because I read like crazy as well, and researched all kinds of "how to" and troubleshooting threads before ever owning my first car! It feels nice to know about rotaries, and be able to do 90% of the work in your garage when the time comes for extensive repairs, like suspension overhaul, or engine rebuild and drivetrain swaps, wiring, etc. I feel pretty damn confident that, even if I screw something, up, SOMEONE will be able to help me sort it out either on here, or through the FSM.


EDIT: Also, dont sell your car, dude! I was recently considering getting a 190E, but then I realised how much MORE of a pain in the *** it would be to work on that compared to a 1st gen, or an FC. The FC has been my favourite car for a long time, I would do honda, and maybe DSM, but... one thing... RWD rotary!
Screw everything else!

Last edited by Asterisk; 01-04-08 at 01:32 AM.
Old 01-04-08, 02:32 AM
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Canned. I got CORNED!

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If you can fab up a turbo kit, you can get a TII running.

My RX7 has been sitting since 2001, and my previous owner blew the engine, yanked it, and left a general mess of the engine bay.
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