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How Not To Build An RX-7

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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:42 AM
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How Not To Build An RX-7

This car belongs to a customer of mine. The gentleman purchased it for a heafty chunk of change, something close to 18 or 19k without knowing much about the car. The car was sold to him as being in "perfect mechanical condition" He brought it to me to look over a couple issues and concerns, which turned out to be problem after problem from very sloppy work and installations by the previous owner and mechanics.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:44 AM
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Low pressure fuel line used for a coolant hose. It is completely dry rotted from the heat and about the split.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:46 AM
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Blow off valve welded in the wrong spot and hitting the shock tower each time the motor torques. Someone actually tried to make more room by grinding down the adjustment bolt.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:50 AM
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Intercoupler completely ripped through from overtightening and rubbing on the strut tower brace. The driver's side motor mount was completely broken further complicating the problem.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:53 AM
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A/C line cut from a sloppy front mount intercooler installation. Piping off the turbo rubbing on the hood. If it didn't fit, it should have been cut down and a bead re-welded to keep the coupler on.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:55 AM
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Interior door handles trashed. Sloppy attempt to fix the passenger side.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 10:58 AM
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Another coolant leak. You call this an undertray? Oil pan leaking and underside of car soaked with oil.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:00 AM
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Downpipe wrap hanging. I actually cut about a foot off that was just dragging under the car. The line to the wastegate was rubbing on the subframe.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:03 AM
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No o-ring sealing the elbow to the throttle body! Half finished port job.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:05 AM
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Looks like the typical FD. I see nothing special.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:06 AM
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PCV valve removed and nipples just left uncapped. Every time oil would be added it would spill out all over the top of the motor. Oil would also be pushed out under boost.
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:08 AM
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Damn, that's a LOT of shitty work right there. Did your customer actually inspect the engine bay before the purchase? Looks like he got ripped off. Any particular reason why he payed so much for it? Low mileage, single-turbo, bodykit, etc.?
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:08 AM
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Originally Posted by LUPE
Looks like the typical FD. I see nothing special.
Eric I don't know who does your work, but I certainly would hope you or anyone else would not pay for this type of garbage. From what I've seen your car is pretty flawless.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by str8ryd
Damn, that's a LOT of shitty work right there. Did your customer actually inspect the engine bay before the purchase? Looks like he got ripped off. Any particular reason why he payed so much for it? Low mileage, single-turbo, bodykit, etc.?
He is young and new to the rx-7 world. I guess he didn't know any better. He brought me the car with the intention to learn about it and set it straight.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:15 AM
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someone bought that piece of $#!t....
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:16 AM
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That is pretty bad...and going to be an expensive learning experience.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:17 AM
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Only 4 lug nuts
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Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:18 AM
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**** makes me sick to the stomacheeee!!! WHY! first off on installing something, if you have to grind down anything, you know your in the wrong, half port job on the TB, un-real, and people get away with this ****!!!! that is sad that someone would sell that and list it in perfect flawless running condition, just wondering, did the kid get back to the guy who sold him this pile of junk after you pointed out all the hackjobs?!?! that is just silly!!

Sorry BOOOT the loss!!!

Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Rotary Experiment Seven
Eric I don't know who does your work, but I certainly would hope you or anyone else would not pay for this type of garbage. From what I've seen your car is pretty flawless.

What I'm saying is, I've seen more ghetto FD's than FD's that have been well built.

So, seeing your pictures doesn't surprise me.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:19 AM
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hey eric, did your car sell on ebay, just curious!
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:20 AM
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Some pics of the car. Paint looks ok from a distance but has a ton of trash it it.
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Last edited by IRPerformance; Oct 28, 2006 at 11:26 AM.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:20 AM
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Thats disgusting.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:23 AM
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I was told previous owner of the car is on this forum. The car also smokes pretty bad at idle. I suspect it was either ported too aggresively into the oil control ring track or the oil control rings themselves are worn. There is no oil in the intake tract so the turbo appears fine.
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:29 AM
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thats just a big piece of **** ... crappy job done too... 18K for this wow .. i wouldnt even pay 12K for this..

Max
Old Oct 28, 2006 | 11:34 AM
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12k would be to much!



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