WTF: My 88 vert is dog slow! whats wrong? what do I need check?
 

I just got my 88 vertable. today and it runs pretty slow. Am I crazy ? I couldnt get a second gear scratch out of it if I poured oil all over the tires.

The motor is supposed to have around 25000 miles on the rebuild. Th cat is there but it is guttted. I am still looking for anything else suspicious.

at the moment I am just plain pissed. my 79 & 85 were faster than this.

My first guess is the actuators but like I said that is a guess. I am new to this 13B setup.

am I nuts or is something wrong here?

Mike Z

No the verts aren't known to be really quick anyways... Let me ask you a question. How is the powerband? steady or lagish? Have you done a compression test? Tune up? but it won't be really fast without a lot of $$$$..... They are a tad on the heavy side.....

yeah that's what i felt like with mine, but i'm hopping to fix that.

lol well the verts are the slowest of all the rx7's man, sorry to break it to ya, they are just heavy as shit.. ive done alot of weight reduction and some good mods so mine is peppy but nowhere near FAST... one day it will be on the juice so then it will be fast!!!

Slowest of all the RX-7s?

Thats debateable :)

I have a problem with my vert too, and its annoying as piss. When the car is running normally, it runs just fine and its pretty quick (a lot more peppy than my old integra). Anyway, sometimes it seems like the brakes just engage themselves and I can't go very fast at all. I can sit on a hill and not roll back AT ALL. Its super annoying and happens every few days. It usually happens right after I start it and continues until i get pissed and lock em down on the highway, then it goes back to being normal. I checked the brake fluid and it was near the top, but I topped it off anyway. I have no idea wtf is wrong with it.

it seems to accelerate OK and smooth. It is suppossed to be tuned up but might not be.
I see there is cheap EXACT spark plug wires on it now.

I was expecting a little more out of it.

I am not going to spend a bunch of money on it. I will selll it first and get a 89+ coupe.

The oustide looks fine and the top is fine. does rattle a little. A/C even works.


guess I will go tinker now.

Mike Z

I did notice this morning when I had the AC on and I had to go up a hill it almost died on me. kind of felt like it was bogging down for no reason.

just feels weak.

Mike Z

i might should have been more specific.... we all know they are slower than 3rd gens, and 2nd gen turbo II's, as well as the coupes STOCK... the only thing i dont know is how fast a 12A engine is in a first gen... when i owned my 85 i had the 12a block and it seemed pretty damn fast but i was also driving a truck mostly so it might have been that i was not used to a quick car that low to the ground.... if it is indead slower than the 12A then the vert is the slowest or one of the slowest rx7's made... that might clear some stuff up

sounds like you need to do the basics like a tune up with new filters, fluids (inc rear end and tranny), spark plugs and cables, and then check timing.

Most of the time when you have a slow car it is from something basic... parts not working or the car is out of tune. I would also check compression, cat condition, and aux port operation.

The 88-89 vert is easily as fast 0-60 if not faster than a 1st gen Miata or most 12A powered FBs (not SA models though).

gotcha icemark... thats the only thing i didnt know about... the first gen cars

Definitely check all the basics, new plugs, wires, filters and the cats. I have a '88 vert that is stock with the exception of K&N intake and hiflow cat and it is a decently quick car for its time. 2nd and 3rd gear are great when you redline them.

I previously had a '79 GS for with stock 12a/4bbl carb which was a little quicker off the line but pretty similar once you got going.

Sorry about to hear the vert doesn't work for you. Poor vert... But I think it's not that bad if the condition is good. My 88 vert doesn't have problem to hit redlines quick on 1st thru 3rd.

To vert oners: Let's enjoy the open air!

yeah, they are not all that bad when in good condition. even with an auto tranny my vert gets up and goes when i need it. i have a bonez high flow cat, intake, and a new engine and tranny. i have no probs keeping up or beating stock coupes but of course that is prolly due to new engine and me keeping it in top shape

OK guys, I am getting used to it now and it's not so bad. I am going to do the tune up and fluid thing. My cone flter & adapter came today while I was out.

I stopped by my Uncles and he told me all verts are heavy and slow. He drove it and agreed I do have a problem with my low end.

The car has 1 cat on it and dont know what kind or anything . He said it looked like a cat for a american car. Personally I think it sounds like crap.


So I think and he thinks there is a problem with the ports .


Now I need to find out how you guys fix the port thing. He wanted to know how also.

he usually just yanks all the crap out and throws a turbo or Holley on it and says done.

I do not have the money for that right now.

Mike Z