what to look for in an '86
10-17-01, 12:22 PM
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what to look for in an '86
I found an '86 RX for sale for $200. The ad says it runs and drives. What sort of things do I look for to shy away from? I want some idea what to ask him about the car b4 I get a hold of him. Any info is better than no info. I know nothing about 2nd gen's other than they are a 13B FI, and they are a little faster than my SP 12A.
10-17-01, 12:25 PM
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hmmm
Get a compression check done on it....check for rust and interior damage...the usual logical things...
for $200 there has GOT to be something wrong with it otherwise the guy is an idiot
for $200 there has GOT to be something wrong with it otherwise the guy is an idiot
10-17-01, 02:35 PM
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check it good
if body is straight you can always get another motor and still come out winning....
compression check
see if it smokes alot when idling, spirited driving and after.....if no smoke it should be in decent condition i would think.
should idle and stay at 750 rpm.
check the plugs to, they tell a good story on how the engine is running. when you test drive her make sure to rev up really good so that if there is anything wrong hopefully it'll show up.
im pretty sure some of the guys here will add other stuff,
good luck bro!!!!!!!!!!
compression check
see if it smokes alot when idling, spirited driving and after.....if no smoke it should be in decent condition i would think.
should idle and stay at 750 rpm.
check the plugs to, they tell a good story on how the engine is running. when you test drive her make sure to rev up really good so that if there is anything wrong hopefully it'll show up.
im pretty sure some of the guys here will add other stuff,
good luck bro!!!!!!!!!!
10-18-01, 08:29 AM
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I finally talked to him. The car has 151K miles original, no options, frame is straight, hood has a dent from a trailer hitch, exhaust is one year old (OEM replacement catback), new tires, new clutch, pressure plate, and TO bearing with less than 1,000 miles.
The engine has some problems. It started smoking about a month ago. He took it to the dealer and the mechanic told him w/o even looking at the car, "yep, the seals are going...better sell it". So he took it off the road the next day, and bought another car. I asked him if the oil light ever came on.... he replied "yeah, that's when I put oil in it, but it only came on a couple of times in 7 years."
It smokes the most when you downshift and get on it. I have yet to see or drive the car. I'm at school and my Mom calls me yesterday and said she found a possible project car for me. WTH??? My Mom looking for cars for me?
Anyway...next q; has it ever overheated? his reply, "didn't overheat, but it got way above normal"...... he didn't fully tighten the rad cap when changing the coolant, so it went low on coolant and the light came on as the temp was climbing. He said it did not boil over.
What do you guys think? Is it worth $200? I have a good 85, so this would be a garage rat.... I might try the MMO trick, and if that doesn't work, I could take the engine apart, send the housings out to be ported and rebuild it myself.
Questions or concerns welcome.
The engine has some problems. It started smoking about a month ago. He took it to the dealer and the mechanic told him w/o even looking at the car, "yep, the seals are going...better sell it". So he took it off the road the next day, and bought another car. I asked him if the oil light ever came on.... he replied "yeah, that's when I put oil in it, but it only came on a couple of times in 7 years."
It smokes the most when you downshift and get on it. I have yet to see or drive the car. I'm at school and my Mom calls me yesterday and said she found a possible project car for me. WTH??? My Mom looking for cars for me?
Anyway...next q; has it ever overheated? his reply, "didn't overheat, but it got way above normal"...... he didn't fully tighten the rad cap when changing the coolant, so it went low on coolant and the light came on as the temp was climbing. He said it did not boil over.
What do you guys think? Is it worth $200? I have a good 85, so this would be a garage rat.... I might try the MMO trick, and if that doesn't work, I could take the engine apart, send the housings out to be ported and rebuild it myself.
Questions or concerns welcome.
10-18-01, 10:02 AM
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Go for it.. I just bought an 87 se for 245$, and it was "not running" (flooded..). The exterior isn't TERRIBLE, but it leaves a lot to be desired. I'm going to probably take it all apart and play with it over the winter.. I may have a nice ported engine in it by springtime..
Engines are fixable, body work is kinda tricky/expensive..
-Tesla
Engines are fixable, body work is kinda tricky/expensive.. -Tesla
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10-18-01, 10:18 AM
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The body, from what he told me, is fine, except for the hood, it just needs paint. My parents are going over to look at it tonight for me. My Dad is a self made mechanic, but he doesn't know **** about rotaries. He just sits and watches me work on mine and asks q's like "what's that for and what the hell is this?!?!?"
I want them to borrow a dig camera and take pics and e-mail them to me. I told her to buy one from Best Buy and return it after she downloads the pics. She's too honest, but my Dad on the other hand.............
I want them to borrow a dig camera and take pics and e-mail them to me. I told her to buy one from Best Buy and return it after she downloads the pics. She's too honest, but my Dad on the other hand.............
10-18-01, 10:25 AM
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Make it into a racer. ;-) Just gut the interior, AC, Heating, stereo, seats, carpetting, sound deadening material, get a bridge or race ported tII engine, bigger turbo, aluminum internals (door insides, dash etc.
Make it a rally car ;-) or just offroader and *** beater.
spend $2k on a engine $2k on a turbo and IC, $300 on seat, and $100 for nick nacks then go to town ;-) oh yeah roll cage and fire extinguisher may be nice
Make it a rally car ;-) or just offroader and *** beater.
spend $2k on a engine $2k on a turbo and IC, $300 on seat, and $100 for nick nacks then go to town ;-) oh yeah roll cage and fire extinguisher may be nice
10-18-01, 10:32 AM
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What will I need for a turbo conv? Any specific years better than others? Tranny, Driveshaft, Diff....all compatible with a turbo?
BTW Node...... your
avatar gives me a headache
BTW Node...... your
avatar gives me a headache
Last edited by jimmyv13; 10-18-01 at 10:35 AM.
10-18-01, 02:03 PM
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Get it definitely. You might be able to do the ATF trick and fix the smoking even. If not you can get a new engine for fairly cheap anyways. Don't worry about a turbo conversion yet, you haven't even gotten the car yet 
10-18-01, 02:39 PM
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My Dad went over there today to look at the car and said the body is great no rust or dents except small dent in the hood. It turns out that the seller is a home nurse that used to take care of my grandpa.
I think I'm getting the car for $150, my Dad talked him down a bit. My Dad wants to drive it b4 I buy it. I can't get home until Thanksgiving, but I think my parents will buy it and put in the garage for me 'til I get there.
Another RX-7..... UH OH.. this could get ugly.
I think I'm getting the car for $150, my Dad talked him down a bit. My Dad wants to drive it b4 I buy it. I can't get home until Thanksgiving, but I think my parents will buy it and put in the garage for me 'til I get there.
Another RX-7..... UH OH.. this could get ugly.
10-18-01, 07:22 PM
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What sort of things do I look for to shy away from?
Stay away if there is a 300 lb girl with bad hair and bad teeth and sings like Rosanne Barr in it. Otherwise, you got yourself at the worst, a great project car.
Welcome to the world of Rotorheads. :-)
Welcome to the world of Rotorheads. :-)
10-19-01, 09:20 AM
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Originally posted by Aaron Cake
If you don't want it, I'll take it. I need a winter RX-7...
If you don't want it, I'll take it. I need a winter RX-7...
If I don't like it, I'll drop it off in London since I have to drive through there to get from Home(Niagara Falls) to school(Ypsilanti, MI). But.........I'm pretty sure I'll keep it.
10-19-01, 12:22 PM
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Originally posted by Aaron Cake
Seriously? Cool! If you don't want it, let me know...
Seriously? Cool! If you don't want it, let me know...
I'll pm you if I don't want it and we can work something out.
10-19-01, 10:44 PM
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My Dad drove it today and says it doesn't smoe bad at all. For three of four seconds at start-up and then only when you go down a gear and punch it. Anyways, the car is sitting in my barn right now waiting for my attention. I sent my Dad the directions on how to do the MMO trick. He's going to do that for me so it will soak til I get there on Thanksgiving. Screw eating turkey, I'm gonna work on my car!!!
One step closer to an FD!!
One step closer to an FD!!
11-30-01, 10:58 AM
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pic of my $150 86 RX-7. The day I got it home, 11/14/01.
pics are poor quality, I have to scan them in.... sorry no dig camera.
only damage on the car.... from a trailer hitch.
and missing an FTP lens.
I didn't get a chance to get home during Thanksgiving break to mess with it, so it's still soaking in ATF. I'm assuming this is a base version, what's the diff between a base and an SE?
pics are poor quality, I have to scan them in.... sorry no dig camera.
only damage on the car.... from a trailer hitch.
and missing an FTP lens.
I didn't get a chance to get home during Thanksgiving break to mess with it, so it's still soaking in ATF. I'm assuming this is a base version, what's the diff between a base and an SE?