SubaruWRXMike

Hi, I'm new to the board and I have a few questions about a 1986 RX-7. It's a non turbo version. My friend and I are thinking about purchasing a 1986 Rx-7, but the owner said it has been sitting for approximately 2 years. If the owner did not properly store the car, are there a lot of damage done to it? Also, before starting the car up, what procedure should we go to to make sure it will run ok. I'm sure after 2 years the battery will be drained if not not dead. Would jump starting hte car work? or do we have to replace the battery? Also, we are probably going to have to replace all the fluids like coolant, change the oil, change the fuel(how would i do this?), brake fluid? What other fluids would I have to change?Also run some fuel injection cleaner. I know I should crank the engine before igniting it. I hear epople say to take out the sparks plug(maybe even replace it) and put in some ..oil and crank it by hand to get the oil distrubuted. I'm sure there will be a lot of problems when we try to get the car going, but am I missing anyhting else? There is abig possibility that the engine is already messed up right, with inproperply storing the car the engine might be contaminted or rusted. Thanks for all your help, and I also already searched a few threads and that is where I got most of the information I mentioned. Lastly, how much do you think it will cost just to get the car running with the fluid change and such?

mclarenf3387

Getting cars running that were not properly stored is a major pain. You're on the right track with replacing all the fluids. You'll also want to check all the hoses and belts on the car and see what needs to be replaced. You may want to replace most though as if they aren't rotted, they still may break after you begin to use the car. For the battery, it would probably be easier to just buy a new one, but its possible the old one still works.

Someone else may be able to help you with the getting the motor started, as I don't have much experience there.

Jodoolin

This question has been asked a few times. I'll try to outline by memory as many of the major points as I can. The key will be to complete all the preliminaries before you turn it over even once! 1. Change all fluids. That means anything that flows Oil/tranny/diff/clutch/ PS/brake/coolant. (you may want to check the AC compressor refrigerant mineral oil level) 2. Empty the gas from the tank and change the fuel pump sock and the fuel filter. There should be a drain plug in the tank. There may be particulate crap in the bottom of the tank so flush it out while you have the pump out to change the sock. Do not turn it over until you have done this. The residual gas will certainly be stale after 2 years even if a stabilizer was used initially. The system will be heavily varnished over 2 years and you do not want to pump that stuff throught the fuel lines/system. 3. Put a few drops of 10w 30 oil in the trailing and leading spark plug holes. You do this to re-oil the seals. Without the oil you will never get any compression. 4. Install 4 new spark plugs. 5. Check/change the air filter. Critters often like to take up residence 6. Check/replace belts as necessary. 7. Manually check all fluid hoses. Replace upper and lower radiator hoses if too soft (easily collapsed) when squeezed. 8. Check all vacuum hoses to make certain they are tightly connected. Worry about or check for leaking once you have it running.
Good luck

SubaruWRXMike

Hmm, seems like a lot of stuff to do, and the car is like...a couple of cities away from me. We planned on buying this car, but it seems like a lot of work JUST to get it started and working and then we still have to check if the car runs at all to consider buying it, so..doing all that stuff and finding out the car doesn't even work is a real pain. Do you thikn it will run about 100-200 dollars for the fluid and spark plugs and filters? or is it even more?

potholessuk

well why did he store it to begin with. sounds like you have investigating to do. ive gotten several stored 7's running again. honestly if its a good deal then go for it as long as the seller didnt store it because he messed the motor up.

SubaruWRXMike

Hmm, thanks potholessuk for the comforting words, I thikn the person stored it to get a new car..a bigger car or something, but if getting a stored Rx-7 running again isnt too hard, I thikn my friend and I will take on the challenege since its more of an education thing then us really needing a car.

potholessuk

its not as hard as most make it. the first car i got running again was a rx7 and so far i have 7 others that i have brought back to like. one of my friends got a clean 87 se for 100 with a "seized " motor. i got to his house and he was cranking it. i was like wtf? did the oil/plug trick and started right up. sat for 2 years.....

potholessuk

also i think i replied to you i-club thread b5 i saw it here.

SubaruWRXMike

Oh yeah, I frequent I-club a lot since the wrx is my favorite car, though i cannot afford it, my handle over there is SkylineR35GTRx(yes there is no R35 but when I made the name it was years before the R34 went outta production) btw, thanks for the reply, also check your pm.

SubaruWRXMike

One more thing, how hard it is to get the car running if there is no compression(im not really familiar with that term but I hear it a lot). Is it a pain to fix an engine that does not get an compression, its probably a seal problem, like...if a seal is messed up, does it take a shop to fix it or can it be fixed by someone with home tools?

CompuBob

my rx7 sat in a parking lot for 2 years untouched, improperly stored.. it was a real mess.
I Just made sure it had oil, coolant and I threw in a new battery and the thing started right up on the first try, with old gas and all and has been running perfectly as my daily driver for the past 10,000km so far!
Idles perfect, dosent smoke at all, has plenty of power.. and the engine has 205,000km on it.

SubaruWRXMike

so its not as hard as I'm thikning it will be? Thats good to know, thanks!

Dave777

I'd say that if you can't get it going by adding oil directly into the chambers, and everything else is functional (spark, fuel) then it's not looking too good.

I have 3 second gens each with over 100k, I've rebuilt one, am rebuilding the second and the third has a worn out motor that wouldn't keep compression enough to stay running (with oil added). I bought each of these cheap with the hope of getting them running first if possible. All that to say my experience has been with the age and mileage on most second gens now, chances are better that the motor is on it's last leg at best. I wouldn't expect a lot from it, but who knows it might run for a while. Hope it works out for you.