I just purchased a 93 FD with 53k on it. In reading various forums it seems 90% of the people ended up rebuilding their motors.... whats the deal with that? is there anything specific to prevent this? i guess my main question is... WTF!

 

Virginia Beach huh? I graduated from Salem HS back in '93.

Back to RX7's...

...only way to prevent blown motors... No way to prevent. It's not an IF question, it's a WHEN question. You can delay the inevitable by doing routine maintenance and upgrading some of the weaknesses the FD came with from the factory(Plastic AST for example).

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of the RX-7. Yes these engines tend to fail prematurely whether it be from a blown apex seal or coolant seal. If you search you will find all the information you need because it has all been covered. Goodluck man.

M-P

 

ok sorry for posting it then. I just am new and didnt know what to search for.. thanks again.

 

many people get around 100k on them with regular matainence... many people do not. just be prepared for it... .

 

Welcome. Check the stickies at the top of this section they will give you all the preliminary information you are probably seeking and then some.
-Nic

 

I am in a similar situation as you. I bought a 94 with 60,000 miles on it in April. Ever since I have been reading about ways my engine can destroy itself and trying to prevent it.

So far I have installed Boost Gauge, Temperature Gauge, Fuel Filter, Downpipe, Oxygen Sensor, Check Valves, Some Vacuum Hoses, Replaced the boost pills, Spark Plugs, Air Intake (the stock box was cracked), and Synthetic Transmission Fluid.

Now since it is winter I am replacing the following: Thermostat, Miata Thermoswitch, All Coolant Hoses, Aluminum Radiator, Aluminum AST, more vacuum hoses, plug wires, and drive belts.

It really becomes an obsession trying to prevent the engine from going out. Sometimes I wish I would have just let everything remain stock and drove the car. Then when the engine finally quit, I could replace it with a new one. It would have saved a lot of headaches and I could have drove the car more. On positive side I do know a lot more about how my car works.

 

Keep the boost stock and keep out of it until the car is fully warmed up. Change the oil frequently and the plugs every 6 mos or so. Don't run the crap out of it then immediately shut down. If you modded it, make sure you're not going lean. Did I miss anything?

 

You might wanna check out www.robrobinette.com. They answer a lot of FAQs and stuff regarding FDs. Geerally, a stock FD that is well taken care of will last you over 100,000 miles on the stock engine. Most of them last between 60 and 80,000. If you live in milder cooler weather, you have a lot less to worry about.

You might also want to look at Sport Compact's project RX7. All of the installments are on their website (www.sportcompactcarweb.com) under "Project Cars"

I might be buying a '93 R1 for cheap soon. It's supposed to have 60,000 miles, but supposedly the coolant seal and turbo gaskets are all dead. The 13B-REW likes to generate a lot of heat...if I got the car and put a new engine and rebuilt turbos in, I'd probably have it converted to non-sequential (a lot less tubing) and get a new radiator, etc. n/arotary is on the right track.

 

You ever driven a 7 with stock turbos converted to single. Worst mod you can do, no bullshit. They lag worse than a big single and boost like shitty mazda twins. Just replace all the vacuum lines and get them running right. Very little lag and just as much boost as if they were running parallel. If you want to go single buy an RX6. No lag and lots of power.

 

Its a shame to but such a expensive car to only get 60,000 miles out of a engine I really love the way the car looks and drives....

 

so the engine is going to blow no matter what one way or another... that really sucks...
Im still thinking honda though. When a honda engine blows (or any other piston, cams etc. engine), you have to get a new block/engine becuase the cylender walls are fuked. But with these rotary engines, when they blow you can just rebuild them? Dont really get that... dont the walls or the rotar get damage?

 

so the engine is going to blow no matter what one way or another... that really sucks...
Im still thinking honda though. When a honda engine blows (or any other piston, cams etc. engine), you have to get a new block/engine becuase the cylender walls are fuked. But with these rotary engines, when they blow you can just rebuild them? Dont really get that... dont the walls or the rotar get damage?

 

why did it post twice?