This question applies to all rotaries, but my question specifically involves the FC so....

I have read Aaroncakes website about restoring a poorly stored rx7, HOWEVER, I need the quickest fix possible.. Because the car in question is far from my home, I do not have time to remove spark plugs, drain gas tank, clean the fuel injectors, etc etc, on someone else's driveway!!!

I am strongly considering buying a FC that has been stored outdoors for around 5 years. the car is auto and has some tranny linkage issues, but I'm more worried about the crap in the engine and fuel system that might cause it to die on me and my 70+ mile journey home (too expensive to tow so i'll probably drive it home)... I've been considering simply putting in some fuel system cleaner, putting in a new battery, filling the tires, and hopefully drive all the way home without a hitch. Am I just being plain stupid or might this actually work? Is there anything else I may be forgetting??? The car has been stored outside for a good while...

Any tips or insight is greatly appreciated

EDIT: Auto NA, first motor 95k miles if that helps

 

how much are you buying the car for. if there are any problems while you are driving it then it might not be worth fixing it. and why whould you buy an AUTO rx7.

 

car is going for $1k... seems to be in great shape except for the auto tranny linkage which needs adjusting (according to the owner)... minor rust on the sunroof and usual parts.... paint is faded on the side where i'm assuming the sun hits it hardest in the afternoon.... well, i thought it was a pretty good price... guess not?

 

if its an auto s4 and it doesnt run properly, its not worth 1k IMO

 

1991... s5

 

id say go for it. for $1k, its not like you are going to lose money if anything goes wrong.

 

i paid 500 for my s4 rust on quarter panels and bottom fenders, and faded paint but i had to do some work on it to get it on the road. ran great though.

 

yeah i was thinking 1k can't go wrong...

but back to the topic...

ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET HOME WITH MINIMAL OR NO "UNDER THE HOOD" WORK

do you guys think adding fuel cleaner, pumping the tires, and adding a new battery will at least make the car driveable for 100 miles?? am I missing anything else here?? I don't want to get lost in the middle of nowhere and end up having to call someone or get the car towed, which is what the whole purpose of me driving the car home is trying to avoid.

EDIT: once i get home i will do the proper restoration of the car, i just need it to get there!! also, i've heard some not so good things about additives to fuel... is fuel system cleaner one of those??

 

its hard to say...if the motor is blown then putting fuel cleaner, a battery and air in the tires wont help. try and do the 'poor man's compression test'. start it and see if it idles, watch for smoke. new spark plugs, wires, and fuel filter wouldnt hurt either

 

i would take a buddy. drive down there with the battery, and pump. and standard tools. mainly a spark plug socket and a variety of metric wrenches and sockets. just to be safe.

 

Get a tow bar from U haul and tow it back the 100 miles

 

You know.... Aaron cake's guide is VERY complete. Read through it and write down the thing you think you COULD do in the time you have... do those... live with the results. Beggers can't be choosers man. If you don't have the time to do it right, do it "good enough", drive it home, then do the rest. Just try and avoid driving it hard or for longer than you have to until you do it.

 

I would verify that the car is a running car after being stored for so long. Get HIM to compression test it.

 

+1!! Good call

 

you could just get AAA with the plus package, i think its 70 dollars and they tow your car free for 100 miles, after that they charge you per mile. This is an investment every rx7 owner needs. Ive seen my car towed so many times i could do it myself. One time my tranny gave out while on the way to buy a new tranny =(.

 

If its been sitting for 5 years, and there was any fuel left in the tank when it was parked the fuel tank is rusted out. And no additive can help you. It may start and run, but 2 miles down the road when it sputters and dies, know that your fuel filter is clogged with rust. You should at least drain the tank before buying it so you'll know if its rusted or not. Otherwise bring an air compressor and some tools so you can clean out the filter every 2 miles all the way home.

 

or pay less than 1K and make it worth the tow.


here's what I would do:
1. Spark plugs
2. wires
3. fuel filter
4. good gas
5. the rest of the crap you thought of.

if the guy won't let you do this work ( 2hrs. MAX) in his garage/land in order to get the car OFF his property then screw him, push it to the street in front of his house and do it there ( it IS public property)

 

wow... thanks for the input you guys... can't check this forum at work so i'm afk 9 to 5

I just got back home and received an email saying that he'll drop the price down to 900... so in essence he'll be paying for half my tow truck + trailer fee... outta my pocket it's going to be 1100... does this sound like a decent deal? i mean, it's very generous on his part... but the fact of the matter is i'm going to be paying 100 more than what was priced just to get the car to my driveway

and like somebody said.. beggars can't be choosers, and i'm very surprised at his gesture to help out

the rusted fuel tank post is well noted... that's what my main concern was (that and water mixed with engine oil)... while on the phone, I got the impression that he didn't really know much about rotaries when he told me "i don't really know much about these cars" so i'm going to have to assume that the engine is in horrid shape, like "close to rebuild time" horrid... interior is pretty clean for a 91, no tears or anything, and the exterior is, well.. like a decent 91 that's been parked outside for 5 years *shrug*

so... being the car is auto with the engine life expectancy reasonably low... why not just do a t2 swap when the engine goes... this will be a project car and i'm not going to DD this car anyway, so i can take my time sourcing parts and whatnot...

what you guys think about his offer?

 

Offer him $500 or save your money and buy a decent RX-7.

 

So basically you are paying 1.1k for a 91' roller? Doesn't sound to bad to me, TII engine swap sounds like a good idea, and when you're doing that why not just tranny swap it too...

 

did he say there was water in the oil. casue if there is thats a whole different ball game. i wouldnt pay 1k for one with a blown motor.....

 

IF you get the car to run,I would be worried about How the Car is Going to STOP..has anyone even thought about the Brakes on this car?(it has been sitting For FIVE years outside?..Rusted rotors.)..Do yourself a Favor.Get it Towed.I would like to read that you got the car home Safely..not ABOUT your Accident in the Newspaper...another thing..don't EVER let someone Rush you into Buying a Car.It is YOUR Money until you hand it over.If he Seems like he is Pushy,Then Walk.A crook can smell Money a Mile off.And there are More Rx7's out there than just "this ONE"..So I am going to Bet you that IF you do buy this one,Within One month you will be kickin your *** because you have Seen One that is a Better Bargain than the one you are lookin at!.But anyhow,It is Totally up to you.I hope your Quest for a Good runner is successful!..

 

thanks for the reality check, i appreciate it. I jumped on this deal because i saw this car, i thought:

1- Auto... not abused
2- Low mileage NA... possibly many more miles left... possibly....
3- S5
4- Price (I seen some pretty banged up FCs on here going for more than 1k, thought this was a pretty good price to be honest)

All these factors come together and honestly, it makes my heart beat a little faster....


NONE of you guys can fault me for that... and even still.. it seems to be an ok deal... except for the towing costs, which the owner is now going to subsidize... I'm really on the fence here so I'm trying to have you guys sway me one way or another...


The owner seems legit, he's not really pushing to sell the car and he's giving me some space, he seems like a genuine guy who's trying to get rid of a car that he's neglected for some time.


As for the car, I don't know if there is water in the oil or not, but knowing how the car has spent its previous five years, i'll have to assume the worst and call this a $1.1k roller, as Ishibubu said. If it runs, well then that's just a really pleasant surprise. I totally understand that this car needs major restoration and I am willing to suck it up... this is going to be my project car... actually my FIRST project car, so I'm willing to do everything myself properly and learn all the aspects of "fiddling" with the car...

I'm going to call back and ask to see the car in person.. then we'll definitely have a solid understanding of where we're at