Guys,

There is a 3rd gen car I will be looking over this coming weekend. I wanted to get your advice about what to check for based on what I know.

I know these facts:

Based on this info, I am wondering what you guys would look at. I will compile a list of things to check and get back with you guys for your input on what I find.

The coolant leak scares me the most, and here's why. Correct me if I'm wrong. But with both cat's removed (and there's some other mods, because the h.p. was estimated to be between 320 and 350 h.p.), my understanding is that without some ECM to richen the air/fuel ratio, these engines can run too lean, and get too hot. And that heat can lead to rotor housing warpage ... which can be a source of coolant leak. Isn't that correct? So, if that's true, I want to know how I can tell if the leak is due to a warped housing. Thank guys.

- JyRO

 

if there's a coolant leak in one of the external lines, yuo can fix it and be good to go. if the coolant is leaking inside the engine block, you're screwed and will need a new engine/rebuild shortly. i'd personally be very warry of getting a wrecked car. you just never know what was busted and not fixed properly. if there is not catalytic (not the same as the pre cat) on the car, you are also running the risk of getting boost creep, i.e. bye bye engine. you're looking at a car that's going to cost you a crap load of money in the long run from the sounds of it. be afriad, be very afriad, unless you want a big long project and have the time/funds to do it right, maybe you should look at another FD.

that's just my opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt. depending on what he/she's asking for it, you may be able to do much better for the same cost if you just shop around a little more.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/faq-3rd-gen-other-useful-links-68640/

 

As was said, I'd be more worried about the chassis then anything else. If I plan on picking up another FD, I would just assume that I would have to get a rebuild within the near future or right away, even if the seller says it's recently been rebuilt/new/engine/etc. While you're shopping for an FD, include in your budget for a rebuild, and negotiate accordingly.

If the car was fixed out of pocket, the likelihood increases that they skimped on the repair. There is generally a BIG BIG difference between a shop that is equipped with the proper tools and trained people and one that offers discounts just to get business. When it comes to body/frame repair, the saying "you get what you pay for" is very true.

If the only way you can get into an FD is by buying a wrecked/questionable example, I'd wait and save your money. This is a car that will make you poor, very fast - especially if you don't know how to do things yourself.

 

Go look at it...then walk away.

On a serious note, I concur with Pugg57 - you will do better if you shop around.

It sounds like this car has some issues, i.e. crashed some time ago, not been driven since then, large percentage of the damage repaired out of pocket, and could have been totaled.

As fast as these cars are, and as expensive as they are to maintain (unless you do the work yourself) you could be facing some major safety and repair issues, before you even drive it off the lot.

Take your time and keep looking.

 

Guys,

Thanks for the advice. I could afford to buy a $40,000 FD if I wanted to. But the reason that I'm looking at pre-damaged / rough / salvaged RX-7's is that I may wind up tearing the car all to he11 myself. If I throw money out the window, I'd rather it be as little as possible.

Don't take me wrong ... tearing up a 3rd gen car is not what I want to do ... but it is a possibility. I'd like to have a 3rd gen prom queen too, but that's just not where I choose to spend my money at this time. However, if I wind up liking this car, and it does what I'm buying it for, I may wind up making a prom queen out of it, if I don't mess it up.

I know the guy that's selling this car. I know he crashed it, possibly totalled it, but didn't file it on his insurance because he didn't want to get dropped and couldn't afford to get dropped at that time. So it sat, and now he needs cash.

Also, at the time when he was modifying the motor, the internet wasn't what it is now. And I would have to believe that the mods he did probably may not have been the best mods to go with. And that there are much better ideas and parts available now.

I will check out the body for body/chassis issues as well as I can. I will try to locate the coolant leak. And I will make a list of the engine modifications and come back here and share the list of mods with you guys. You guys can help me figure out if I would have a mess to deal with, and how big of a mess it may be. Thanks for your help.

- JyRO

 

On the flip side, any FD can have a boatload of troubble hiding under the hood, buying my supposedly in "perfect condition" with a $30 check valve issue, I am still not done, and have roughly 20K above the purchase price into it now.... given if I had just repaired what was broken it'd be 10-15k but I'd still have roughly 200 RWHP, I'm now getting 300, and am hoping for 420 next time I get it tuned, before SS8. Because when I upgraded I went with what made more power / was an improvement.

-DC

 

Just looking for feedback. ^^^

 

^^^

 

Want feedback? Buy your 40k FD Rich boy. Then tear it up. It will even out for you in the long run.

 

There are a tremendous number of variables involved here. That shell could be worth $10k or 2k. Maybe posting some pictures, etc will get discussion going - but in any case a wrecked car could easily exceed the cost of modding a reasonably good one. Although your description is a good start, there are many important things which would require a good inspection by a rotary mechanic to begin to estimate the fix-up cost.

And as far as thrashing it goes, you'll want that extra $20k because it will get eaten up quick if you beat on it.

Dave

 

Hey, I'm 34. It's taken awhile to get where I'm at. I haven't wasted money on cars along the way. I've got a paid for 2000 Cummins Ram that is bombed, a paid for 2000 4Runner, and an '04 Corolla with a small payment. Just sold a '02 H-D SuperGlide. I've raced motorcycles and had fun along the way.

So, I've got a bit of money sitting in the bank now. Like I said, I could afford a rather expensive FD, but that's now how I choose to burn my money. Choices like that are part of why I am where I am.

DON'T BE A HATER!

 

Dave, I agree with you totally. Lots of variables. I agree that this wrecked car could exceed the cost of modding a reasonably good one. I'd like to have a rotary mechanic with me to check it out. But that's not in the cards. The car is located around 250 miles from where I live ... but in my old home town. So I'm going up to see my folks and stopping by to see this car while I'm there.

 

Please don't use the word HATER if you are 34. That term should not be used by anyone over the age of 16.

 

I doubt you'll be locating the water leak in just a short weekend visit unless it's obvious, and I'm sure if it was obvious it would have been fixed. There are plenty of non-wrecked FD's in need of restoration and I think the only way this would be a good deal is if he said come get it and it's yours.

 

Quite possibly true. A few more hours and I'll be looking at it. I had been looking at an FD that had a salvaged title. The body was rough or maybe worse, and the engine needed re-built. I was sort of looking forward to having to re-build that motor as a project. But it got sold just before I could go see it. So this car is the next one on my list.

Even if I don't use this car for what I have planned, I could fix all the problems and get close to or if not all my money back out of it if I wanted to sell it. I'm planning on parting with less than $5k to drag it out of his garage.

You guys who have commented with respect to the original topic all have good points. But since I will spend less than $5k on it (or not buy it), even if it needed a new engine, I don't think its a bad investment. Eventually I'll get to the body. But for now I want a very reliable ~350 h.p.

When I do get me one, I'll be on this BB to determine exactly what mods to make for reliability. The best/most reliable radiator, best/most reliable exhaust, ECM's etc. etc. Thanks for the help.

- JyRO

 

I'm not a hater. I could care less where you sit financially. You are not the only noob surfing the forums talking about how successful you are. Honestly, nobody gives a ****! Like most cars this is not considered an investment(especially this one) it will start eating at your bank account from day one.

Oh and you're 34? Please note: This car will not extend your *****!!!
Have a nice day! D

 

Got back just a while ago from seeing the car. Here's what I've learned.

The front end struck a telephone pole at about 10 mph in a rainstorm. The intercooler was damaged, the radiator has a bit a damage but seems to hold coolant. I saw the coolant leak it was nothing. I would likely replace the intercooler and radiator anyway. The car was cranked and fired right up. It hardly turned over before it fired off.

He said that after he put the old engine in the new car with the existing exhaust mods the current car had that he was pushing 20 lbs of boost (which he agreed wasn't necessarily a good thing). He agreed he needed fuel and that he had been running on the lean side. He said it would (I forget the term he called it) but the ECM would shut-off fuel when high boost was seen (something like that, I forget what he said) basically loosing all power.

So, what do you guys think about the mods? The front end needs some work, radiator and intercooler. But other than that I think its OK. Let me know what you guys think.

- JyRO

 

You are a prime example of someone with LOW SELF-ESTEEM! Shew fly! Shew! Go away!


- JyRO

 

No

 

The intercooler is damaged and leaks boost. It would have got replaced anyway. The radiator is damaged but appears to hold coolant. It would get replaced anyway.

I think I mentioned that the front end of the car is gone and the hood is some fiberglass P.O.C. The front end also has a fiberglass P.O.C. on it, but no support structure. Other than the front end and hood, the car looks good.

I realize you guys don't have enough detail to give me a precise estimate on its worth, but reading back through my posts, how much do you GUESS the car to be worth? Thanks.

- JyRO

 

I would pay up to $5k for it, assuming the balance of interior and body parts are good enough to be parted out. I would assume I need to rebuild the engine and replace the turbos.

But I've never done such a thing - I'm throwing this WAG out based on other people's information.

Did you take a digital camera or anything to get a shot of the engine bay? (That would be vitally helpful info)

Dave

 

Dave, the engine and turbos are (or seem to be) OK for now. I did not take a digital camera. The engine area looked as good as the ones I see in pictures here, but I agree that's what I should've done. I have no decent digital camera.

- JyRO

 

Regarding the mods below, and the damage even further below, how much would you guys guess the car to be worth. I realize you guys can't make an accurate estimate based off just the content below, but humor me and tell me your gut feelings. Besides the front end and hood damage, the rest of the body is in OK condition. Thanks.

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