I have had this 86 2+2 auto for over 3 years now. I bought it for my now ex-girlfriend, then I ruined the motor by putting cold water into an overheated engine. ( I knew better, but I didn't have a choice).
So i bought a rebuilt motor and tranny together. My plan now is to slide in the motor/ tranny. also install new tires, brakes, shocks, alternator, water pump, battery, and maybe carpet. Possibly the suspension bushings as well. Some where in the middle of all of that I will be spraying it with a new coat of paint ( in a booth). All of this to sell it. I have two others that I would rather work on, but I think I use the money from this car to help pay for another.

Today I snatched the old motor out. I just finished cleaning the engine bay and under carriage. The paint in there isn't great. There are some scratches and things up top. And down on the drivers side there is paint that is missing, probably due to spilled brake fluid based on the location. The under side of the transmission hump wasn't pained very well from Mazda.

My question is, I am considering painting the engine bay. I know what a pain in the *** it will be to remove all of that stuff. Then make sure it goes bake to the same place. I will be painting it close to the original color.
My question is, Is it worth it?

sorry I am so wordy. I have a few pics if you are interested.

 

Absolutely not unless you're keeping it for yourself. Go to the for sale section and see what FC's are selling for.

 

its work but you wold be surprised what a fresh coat a piant will do to attrack customers locally....unless your selling it on here or Ebay only.....think of how many 7 enthusiasts you have around your town... there gonna want to se the nice clean car not checking for compression and the size of a turbo or what aftermarket parts are on it and what thee worth to sell...just my 2 cents though

 

Keep in mind that every buyer is different.
*puts on buyer's hat*

Personally, the first thing I look at in detail on a used car is the engine bay...it tells you so much about the previous owners and how they approached maintenance.
Hell, even on this forum it's common to see shiny, straight sheetmetal and engine bays that look like ***.

That said, I would much prefer an untouched bay to one that has been poorly repainted.
If you're going to remove everything and properly prep/ refinish then go for it, but if you just try to mask stuff and shoot paint you leave a much more difficult job for the following owner who wants to do it right.
It's a difficult area to paint properly and Mazda didn't spend any extra pennies getting it right either, my bay fades from red to barely covered primer as you approach the frame rails.

Were I you, I'd probably just spend some time cleaning the bay and let it go.
Save the major effort for the car you're going to keep.

*/hat*

 

If I were to do it, It would be done right. NO paint cans. I would use a spray gun and real paint.
I don't know if I will recoup my money and time.

 

It seems to me that a fresh RX7 would go for a lot more money than one that has been neglected. With everything that wears out replaced with new, it would almost be a new car.
Is my thinking flawed? Should I just throw the motor in and not worry about the other stuff?

 

No one has any thoughts about this? Nobody wants to throw in their two cents?