I bought a 86' NA with a mild street port about a month ago. My first FC, 2nd RX7 (first was a GSL-SE). Previous owner had said the motor was rebuilt 35000 km ago by RX7 Specialists out of Calgary. So I trust that shop, but the last owner not sure about. The engines making a knocking or clanking sound, almost metallically, sounds worst at idle, but I can't really hear it afterward because of the fan, and it gets worse when the engine vibrates below idle. Car's oil pressure is good (just looking from the stock dash gauge). Don't spun bearings get loader when you rev it? Or is it possible I just have a really bad engine mount (the motor does vibrate more than it should)?

 

Well, what you are describing sounds exactly like my engine when I spun a bearing on it. I looked for two weeks, trying to find the source of the noise.

Do a compression check. Most likely, if you spun a bearing, you may have chipped a seal. At least, I did in my case. Still had even compression, but it was very low.

 

Nah, I got a tech at my shop to give me his opinion, and it appears I had a cracked exhuast manifold, so yay! Excuse to buy RB headers!!!

 

lucky you. a cheap fix lol.