I found this car on craigslist, 87 GXL, he did a TII swap, but it looks like he didnt do it right or something, it doesnt have the turbo II hood

anyway what could be the cause of it not wanting to start and not idling? could it be the engine or possibly a bad installation?

also would this be a big warning sign?

 

Need more info on the motor. Is it S4 or S5?

 

There are so many things that can make an rx-7 not idle. Before you assume the motor is bad, you will need some information first. Make sure the vacuum lines are correctly hooked up, and in good shape (no cracks or leaks), then make sure there are no other leaks from larger tubes, such as the Turbo Inlet pipe, or the hard plastic pipes running to the intercooler and intake manifold. Just to make sure the car is good enough to buy, and to rule out a bad motor, do a compression check.