SU27FLYER

Gentlemen, I need your help, real, real bad. To make a very long story short, I was in an airplane accident which took me a very long time to recover from...little over 3-years to be exact. I own an 1988 RX-7 TII - I babied this car and it is truly "cherry" inside and out.

However, like I said, it just SAT there for 3-years, in a garage (at least) so, my question is simple (or at least it will be to you guys I'm' sure) : is this RX-7 "trashed" now ? I mean, I read very, very many excellent posts by some very knowledgable individuals "out here" on this forum and if there was anything I COULD do wrong, I DID do wrong - such as the "flat spots" on some brand-new tires, a "warped clutch" from "leaving the break on"....and no "engine stabablizer either...nothing .

Guys, I really love this car so I would truly appreciate it if you could just tell me if the car is fixable or not and, if it IS, by some stroke of luck (without costing me more than the price of another used RX, that is), then what is the first thing I should DO to/with the car (other than the obvious battery)??

I am prepared to stick another engine in this TII..if you saw her you'd know what I mean. But how about the fuel tank? And/or the REST of the fluids that just SAT in there unused for so long - IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR HER AT ALL ???

PLEASE...HELP !!!

Thank you,
Wayne

darksider

if it was running ok three years ago, i would just take to a mazda dealership (or a rotary specialist) and have them perform a 60k tune up. that is if youre really concerned, if not do it your self. learn and have fun.

SureShot

The engine should be fine, when you change the oil & coolant.
Your main problem will be the fuel system.
Fuel that old will have oxydized and seperated into a layer of varnish in the tank.
To check the fuel condition, pull the pump & check the pickup strainer.
You can access the pump from under the rear deck carpet.

Don't try the key until you have checked the tank strainer or the pump could burn out pushing the sticky/pasty varnish into the fuel lines.

prjct87rx7

iTrader: (7)

i second that. ps congrats on the full recovery...

--MAstermind--

what sureshot says i would heed totally....hes helped me ALOT and i cant really add anything else.....ditto....check and cleanup fuel tank, oilchange (castrol 20-50 is what im running)), coolant change(whatever really..just 50-50), tranny fluid(royal purple 75-90), differential fluid (royal purple 75-90), if u REALLY wanna get serious about cleaning up everything, send the injectors to get rebuilt(RC engineering does it or a local injector shop(desil truck maintainance shops do it too), new airfilter(K&N filter), CHECK UR BRAKES and brake fulid(DOT3) and clutch fluids(DOT3 )..if ur uncertain ask for more help but make sure u bleed ALL SYSTEMS to remove the damn air pockets....AND wiper fluid if u use it.... ALSO vaccum lines....if u want to start fresh replace vac lines with quality silicone lines....(NOT THE AUTOZONE LINES THOSE TURN HARD FAST)


ur looking at like
60 bucks in RP, (about 10 bucks per quart)
10 bucks for 20-50 castrol
50 bucks K&N is like
1.25~3 bucks per foot (http://www.roadraceengineering.com/hoseandclamps.htm)
50~150 bucks brakes if needed
90-120 injector cleaning/rebuild/flowtested (i paid 90 bucks locally for all four)

general total: 400

bucks if u need brakes and pay highdollar for injector rebuild/flowtest.....
im rounding up to get u a safe price list

take care feel free to PM me! if u wanna chat i know what its like having to recoupe....(drunk driver slammed into me and my friends saturn at 1am.....busted my back and ribs etc...)

GOOD LUCK TAKE CARE!

SU27FLYER

Hey you guys, really, THANK YOU for all your help/advise!!! And BTW...if anyone would care to shoot me now, here's a Glock , have at it!

NOT it has been yet another year that this beauty has been sitting (long story but no, I wasn't incarcerated or anything ) so even MORE damage (perhaps) to the fuel system and who knows what else !

But yes, I SHALL heed the advise of Those Who Have Posted, and get ALL of my fluids changed-out, the battery...errr, well, replaced (had all of 25-miles on it..hehe!), and the tires - OMG THE TIRES ???

These are the kinda tires that are worth more than some older RX-7's out there ("Perelli's, methinks OR something "Z-Rated" like that!)...I couldn't AFFORD to replace these items so I'm hoping they aren't "flatted" from sitting so long, would cost me even MORE then (Mastermind...BTW, thank's for your recent help/advice as well!!!).

IF, for any reason I can't afford to get it repaired (don't own the tools anymore, unemployed engineer w/4-kids...YIKES ) then well, I'm going to have to sell her to somebody who CAN afford these repairs..DOE ! Too bad to...no kidding, this RX TII is CHERRY inside and out w/ only around 98K miles on her: she needs to be with someone who can (afford to) love her more than I can (i.e. a "decent home"!)....so anyway's I'll let you know what happens and again, THANK you guys very VERY much!!
Wayne

SU27FLYER

Well, it was ALMOST a "full recovery" at least...will need yet another surgery BUT thank you for the kind replies! Now, if only my 88 Rex TII survives, now THAT will be a real "miracle" !!
Wayne

MaczPayne

iTrader: (5)

Don't fret, just drain out all your fluids and replace them with new ones. As for tires, ditch the old ones. You will have some old gas in the lines, so either let it drain out by running the fuel pump, or crank the engine until you get good gas, in which case it should fire up.

SU27FLYER

Thank's MaczPayne...although it will REALLY hurt just "ditching" these tires (they have so few miles on them !!) and I'll have to save up for another four. BUT just knowing that the RX will survive is VERY refreshing so thank you again!!!
Wayne

Suiicidalpenguin

If the tires have such few miles on them, check them out a bit before you ditch them. Although if thier on stock rims the tires are pretty cheap. If the tires didn't go flat over the timespan of sitting they will have a flat spot on the bottom where the weight was. Pull them off and check to see if any cracks occured neer the rim and on the tread. If you don't see any major spots you can do 1 of 2 things.

1. (I use this method for tires that have sat, worked great for my Monte.) Take the tires off and fill them to it's PSI limit (maybe even 2-3 psi lighter, not too much though) then toss em on the ground in the sun for a day or 2. Drain about 10 PSI, and leave it in the shade for a day. The flat spot should even out this way.

2. Fill the tires to about 5 psi-10psi under limit. (Still make sure to check for cracks) Drive around your house, sarrounding area, for about 25-30 miles.

jgrts20

Before I bought my 7 in 2001 it sat in storage for 5 years, We put the battery in and with alittle bit of TLC to get it started, ended up running fine(with I little sputter here and there). I had all the fluids changed(including rearend/tranny) and a 50000 mile tune-up. I guess if it starts and drives then you should be ok to take it somewhere to get the tune-up. I store mine every year for the winter and when I take it out in the spring, it ALWAYS starts(1st try). Puts a smile on my face every year(well except my wife and daughter).

Chris

djmtsu

iTrader: (3)

Where do you live? I am sure someone would be willing to help out. I know given your circumstances, I would be more than happy to lend a hand. Especially if it means keeping another Seven in its rightful owners hands!!

If you are near Nashville. Let me know, I can get a whole team on it!!

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/unstore.htm

Basically all you need to know...

SU27FLYER

Hey Suicide, I LIKE that idea !! Sure is worth a try anyway - they haven't lost the air in all this time so I guess we'll see! THANK YOU for the advice and, if it works it sure will save me a huge chunk-of-change !

SU27FLYER

Ya know...methink's I'm gonna try this one because hey...if it works for YOU then maybe (just maybe!) it might even work for ME as well !?

MAN what a GREAT bunch of guys (with a great bunch of knowledge!) here on this forum!!

However, my biggest concern is going to be the "varnish" that has accumulated (as per SureShot) in the fuel tank - I don't have the tools to do hardly anything to/with my RX anymore (use to do almost ALL my own work!) SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....

With that in mind I'm probably just going to call the local Mazda dealership (no, not "afraid"....TERRIFIED!!) and have um tow it in and do that xxx-mile checkup on it---AFTER I put a new battery in it and say a prayer or two.

Another question for ya Chris: did you get it started FIRST and THEN (right afterward) change all the fluids? Because my dealship is only about 2.5 miles away from my home and it would be nice to DRIVE it there instead of having them....them..them TOW IT IN !!!

So off I go to the Auto Parts Store to purchase a battery...at least I'll get to see my clock flickering again (yes, I WILL break-out that soldering iron and re-solder those joints...soon !)....MAN I'm excited ALREADY, really!!!
Thanks,
Wayne

stylEmon

iTrader: (2)

Hey there Wayne. I would NOT run that car until you have changed out the fluids and gas. The gas will go bad in a matter of months, much less years. DO NOT run that gas through the motor.

Good luck, hope to see that thing purring soon.

When do we get pics?

SU27FLYER

WOW WHAT A GREAT OFFER!!! Just one leeeeeeeeeeeeetle problem: I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado , DOE!!! But really I DO appreciate your kind offer and I'm SURE that any team you gathered would have this baby running in no-time FLAT!! Here in Colorado there are maybe...well, TWO people that are even 1/25th and knowlegable as ya'll are on here (i.e. "how many cylinders ya got in that, that, that THING anyway?" et. al. ).

Thanks again for ALL the great advice and I'm certainly GOING TO HEED IT, too! So I'm "out the door" and headed to the auto supply, get that battery for starters, and take it from there - I'll let ya'll know how it goes as soon as I know!

BTW, I was pretty worried that everyone has just GIVEN UP on the (IMHO) GREATEST vehicle ever made BUT, instead I see an entire BROTHERHOOD of True RX Believers: proud to be amongst such excellent, knowledgeable folks and, once this babe gets moving again, and anyone asks me "how'd you do it", I can tell them "I DIDN'T do it....the RX-7 Owners Club got her going!!!", YES !!

THANK YOU,
Wayne

SU27FLYER

I JUST saw THIS reply BEFORE my last comment(s)! So, NO, I WON'T TOUCH THAT GAS PEDAL 'TILL THE FUEL SYSTEM IS CLEANED-OUT...promise !

Errrrr...silly question BUT, does anyone know of if they even MAKE some kind of "bottled" solution that would at least clean some of that varnish out of there?? Well, I HAD to ask !! But I'll still get the battery in her, and THEN call Mazda and have her...towed !!!!

Pictures? For YOU guys? HELL YES I'll post some pictures its the very LEAST I can do AND, just wait till you SEE her: be prepared for a good, long CRY (like I said, she IS "cherry" as you'll see!) !

Again, THANK YOU for all the advice - NOW I'll head to the parts store...by-golly !!

Wayne

SU27FLYER

Hey guys, just thought I would keep this post alive (and ya'll informed) of the Current Situation pertaining to my TII - It's not errr...exactly "on the road"...yet .

Fear. That's what stopping me from getting her worked on. Fear of the local Mada Dealership NOT knowing what they are doing. When I talked to "Rich" our local Mazda, and he mentioned something about "The Valves"...well, this was/is a little disconcerting to say the least .

Therefore I turn to you once again for yet another answer: is there anyone on this board who lives in or near Colorado Springs, Colorado AND, if so, do you know of any REAL Rotary mechanics within a 30-mile (or so) radius ?? I mean, I'm no Rotary Guru like you guys BUT I DO (think?) KNOW THAT THE 13B (or ANY rotary, for that matter), DON'T HAVE ANY STINKIN "VALVES" !! NOT internally anyway.

So yup, me needs a GOOD and, just as importantly, REASONABLE mechanic who DOES know the Wankel so if you know of one PLEASE pass his (or her!) name along and THANK YOU AGAIN!!
Wayne

TehMonkay

iTrader: (-1)

I would suggest going to the regional section of the forums and making a thread asking for help.

You may need to have your tank cleaned too though if it sat that long.

CyberPitz

Good to hear you want your TII up and running. And follow Monkays advice on taking a post to the regional forums to find someone in your area. If all else fails, maybe someone who lives near you and knows what they are doing could help you out. Good luck man, hope everything works out for ya!

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

You're a smart guy for staying away from the mazda dealer. I wouldn't get warranty work on a new RX-8 performed by those jokers.

TehMonkay

iTrader: (-1)

If anyone is anywhere near louisville ky, oxmoor mazda has 2 awesome rotary mechanics.

I mean, the one guy times himself to see how fast he can remove and replace engines. That and he really knows his stuff i've talked to him on a couple of occasions.

Never talked to the other guy, but guy #1 says he knows more than him.

SU27FLYER

Well, thanks...but maybe NOT so "smart" cause, after all, I did let it sit for five years !

Just wanted to update y'all on the TII's status: sorry to say that so far, there IS no status/change. Times are hard (i.e. I'm impoverished!) but I've saved-up enough now to get an engine re-build IF that's what it takes!!

Furthermore (and once again) I'm going to take your advice and post in the "regional" section....and look around for a true "Rotorhead" (i.e a Rotary Engine GURU!!) that might live in my area (Colorado Springs, CO): after talking to the Mazda Dealership (again), well it's as if all they DO know about the 13B is that they can take me to the cleaners IF they manage to "fix" it !!

So, hopefully, she'll be up and running by...oh, December, at this rate - why oh WHY does "everything else" seem to pop-up JUST when your dying to get your REX back on the road ...?

Married with FOUR children...that does tend to hinder ones grandiose plans now don't it ???!!!

Keep y'all posted and THANK YOU AGAIN!!

Wayne

RoTa7

so did your car start?