Short version of this story is Last year I picked up my first rx7. A moss covered 86 n/a. with 220k on it. I probably should have walked away but I couldnt resist her. It was going to be a gift to my wife for her birthday. This gets funny as time goes on.

I took it home and did some body repair and new paint, powder coated the stock rims, recovered seats, redid the interior, new sound system, fresh brakes, clutch, fluid changes. Car ran great for the summer but she mentioned smoke in the cab but went away , then it happened again the next day, and then she threw the alternator belt and we towed it home.

Being a complete newb i thought the air pump was seizing so it took that off and it was fine, replaced the oil cooler lines as they were leaking and did some more general cleaning of the engine and bay.

satasfied I ran it in the driveway a bunch of times, took it around the block and opened her up. She was running good. Insured it yesterday and the wife took it out today and it started smoking again after 15 mins, threw new alt belt which took out the air pump belt and she drove it home . Motor was hot to say the least.

I crossed my fingers and let it cool. I just started it back up and it just purrs like a kitten for me thankfully So This car does not like my wife. But loves me wrenching on it and cleaning it.

I will admit I love this car back. It handles amazing, and im not a hp junkie so even this n/a is a blast for me to drive.



From my new research the water pump seems to be the common issue so now im going to replace that along with all the hoses and install an electric fan. Then that should be it.

Now this is the what would you do part???

Clearly with 220k on the engine it is getting on with age although it does not smoke, it sounds good and does not seem to burn coolant. I hear these motor can see almost 300k before a tear down baring anything catastrophic happen to it before that... like overheating

Would you fix the water pump (assuming thats the problem) and then drive it until the next issue occurs?

this would be kicking the can down the road I figure and risking potential damage to a good engine but would provide me with much wanted enjoyment in the short term

Would you pull the engine while its still in relatively good shape and give it a rebuild ?

From what ive read its much cheaper to rebuild a motor that is in good running shape rather than when you have lost compression. Is this true-ish ?

like i said a stock motor is just fine. Im fairly capable with a wrench . I realize there is no right answer here . Just put yourself in my shoes and tell me how much further you would take the car from here.

Im leaning toward just putting on a new WP and driving it .

I also would not rule out a t2 swap in the future if i blow this motor and if a repair bill is the same price-ish. Thanks guys.

I just want to drive my car ..... I mean the wifes car ( cough cough )

 

I'd find out where the smoking is coming from, doesn't do much to throw parts at it and hope one of the parts fixes the issue. Never a bad idea to replace the water pump, so do that along with the thermostat; who knows how long ago those maintenance parts were replaced anyways.
Alternator bearing could be seizing too.

I'd leave the stock fan in it if you can unless you're going to wire in a large enough electric fan and make it automatic with a temp switch.

My plan of attack would be to start the car, let it warm up for half an hour, drive it a bit, shut it off, remove the belts, and see if one of the accessories are getting difficult to move, if at all. If it starts smoking in the drive way, or on your trip, same scenario applies.

220K is getting up there in rotary miles, sure some have gone up to 300K, but not with the typical RX7 driver that bounces redline a few times a day like they were designed to do.

If it's running great, and not difficult to start, I wouldn't take it on long trips, but I'd let my wife drive it as a DD.

 

PS: Don't let it overheat.

 

My engine has many more miles than yours and since the day she was purchased, has had low oil pressure and compression.
Essentially, for seven years I've driven a car that everyone (myself included) assumed would grenade at any time.

And yet, she runs like a top, with no cold/hot start issues and still gets factory spec mileage.

I'd put on the waterpump and keep on truckin.