FDJUST4ME

So I fell in love with rotaries (sp) when i heard my friends built, rx-8 and I also had loved the 7's (way more) for the longest time, but alas im a newbie at all the mechanical things, Im trying to gain knowledge but im now in the planning/saving stage i think. I narrowed my options down to a 240sx due to the wealth of support in the aftermarket, help, forums. But i just love the 3rd gen. The problem with fd's is, they are expensive, i know close to nothing about rotaries, and reliability is hard to maintain im guessing( at least for a newbie). What I do have is: patience, a Daily Driver that is reliable. Money not much now but I will have a job soon and can work till the end of this coming summer. and finally, i have a place to put the car. Now i know i will probably get flamed for even thinking about working on a rotary without experience, but im willing to learn the hard way. However if you guys believe theres no way on earth i could get to know the car fairly easily on college breaks and summers then please say so. As far as power goes i really just wanted to make 300hp eventually on either car, but probably less on the 240. I wantto keep it street legal and able to use every once and a while.
Thanks for the input.

zack4173

iTrader: (3)

Well I only knew a little bit about cars before I bought my FD but there was no way I was going to pay someone rediculous amounts of money to do something I could do myself given enough time. So with that said given enough time and lots of patients with regular tools and some special ones at times the car is easy to work on. There is alot of knowlegable guys on this forum and plenty of good stickies to read. The only suggestion that I have for you though is when you look at the car make sure you get it compression tested and you run a boost gauge on it. Take you time getting a good base because there is a lot of FD's out there that were not taking care of and trust me you dont want one of those I got one and it has costed me 12 grand to put it back to normal again.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I think you'll be fine. I learned to work on my car with little experience - if you can find someone to help you in the beginning I strongly recommend that. The challenge is that you may have to do every job twice because you'll miss something the first time around, so don't do any more than exactly one thing at a time. If you do two or three fixes at once you will likely find yourself troubleshooting 2 or 3 remaining issues at once.

You will need money. Budget $15k for a well-running FD and start learning with maintenance. Fluids, hoses, etc. The maintenance tasks on this car can teach you a lot. Get a stock car, so that what you see is what's in the manuals. Then in a year or so you can start installing bolt-ons and moving up in power. The right bolt-ons will get you to 300hp.

Dave

FDJUST4ME

thanks for the input guys, however i am worried about the funding, i probably wont have over 5k in the next year and i really want a project car. Now i love rotaries, so should i just wait? or get the 240?

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I suggest you get the 240.

Dave

Sideo

for 5k you probably will only be able to get a roller with no engine, that will cost you another 5k to get a new engine it. I understand how you feel though. I hvae been saving for an FD my entire life, bought one with a blown apex seal this summer and now im rebuilding it. if you dont want to wait a while to save up some more ide suggest teh 240 too

JDMSomething

start with an NA FC, or a cheap FB, and work your way up. At least that way you can learn about rotaries.

kaisar1

you sounded like you suggesting a school to a mother with her 3 year old kid. lol


on a serious not, starting with only 5k the thread creater is already asking for a problem.

FDJUST4ME

i know its a problem but im poor and i just want to build something with boost. I kinda knew it was going to come down to the 240 and a 7 but which would be better like an NA FC or the turbo II fc? or is that the fb, please correct me if wrong. so basically 2nd gen 7 turbo II vs 240 and the gen of the 240 would probably be the ones in the 90's not the pignose and not later than 94 i think

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

My advice... Think about your future instead of some car. If you have problem scrounging up 5k, then its just better holding on to that 5k until you can really afford to buy something.. I remember when I was younger, so many people went out bought a car, charged on their CC, and later they had to sell EVERYTHING because they couldn't control their spending.. Stop now, save, buy later!

adam c

iTrader: (2)

An FD is the WRONG CAR for you. Get one after you finish school, have a good job, and some money.

FDJUST4ME

well im trying to learn firsthand experience mostly solo about cars. so when i was thinking about that I came to the conclusion that the best way would be to get dirty and buy a tunable car, and start from there. When i thought about saving, i thought by the time i get done with school and have a longterm job i will be late 20's at least. im 17 right now. im sure it sounds foolish to go ahead and get started but jeez i just have a hard time waiting. plus by the time im 25 fd's will most likely be dethroned from my fav car list.

crcleofdst

Your at least on the right track here. You mentioned having a solid daily driver, and space to store and work on the car. Thats more than most people that come here asking the same questions.

IMO, you should definitely buy something. I don't really agree with the idea of putting it off. Its better if you buy something reasonable, set a rigid budget, and stick to it. That way you get it out of your system... If your anything like me, then you have cars on the brain all the time. I found it difficult to concentrate on stuff when I didn't have a project car. (I guess that says a lot about my personality )

As others have said, look to the 1st and 2nd gen rx7s as a place to start. This will help you get familiar with the rotary, but at a more "bargain" price.


Good luck with whatever you decide.

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

So you're saying after 7-8 years, you'll be sick of FD? LOL!
I'd had mine for over 7 years and I'm just REALLY getting into it! LOL!

Again, get your priority straight and DON'T GET an FD. IF you want to "Learn" about rotaries, like others said, start off with 1st gen or 2nd gen. They are hell of alot cheaper and you could learn about rotaries just as much!

FDJUST4ME

alright so making progress here, thanks to everyone's input. got a couple questions now. 1. are the 1st and 2nd gen's reliable. 2. I really really want boost, but should i just get an NA fc. 3. 240 that would eventually be boosted> turbo II fc? or Turbo II>240? thanks again guys.

RXKarma

after reading all this...I have to say the FD is not going to be in your means dude...if you really want a rotary get an FC...but I think you will be happier with a 240...for 5grand you can even get one with a DET swap that just needs a little time to finish

FDJUST4ME

wow, i was all excited about rotaries and started reading and saving links like mad. but i like the 240 nearly as much, and reliability will probably be better, only bad thing is boosting it. im not sure if i would directly go with a sr20det but I would start by maintaining the car followed by a build for boost, prob fuel,powerfc or watev, intercooler,manifold,turbo,piping,dp,catback and then intake lol.

Atticus_

you could easily get a rebuilt turbo II for 5K and start learning. I would highly recommend starting that way.

4CN A1R

iTrader: (6)

with rotarys learning the hard way means buying a new motor...

might want to stick with the 240...just buy a silvia sr20det engine and swap it out, thats about 247hp. that will get you close to your 300hp goal

FDJUST4ME

if i got the 240 i would boost its ka24de until i had enough for a really nice sr20det swap. and then i would go for more than 300 but thats a long long way away from where i am now.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

don't worry about boosting it. worry about getting a good education and a good career. play your cards right and you'll be buying whatever car you want.

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

I agree with ya.. Unfortunately, he's not listening and wants to BOOST!! Even though he doesn't really know what that means and what it costs.. LOL!

Kid, Listen to the old people here on the forum.. We are trying to help ya.. Get a good education, forget about RX-7s and 240s, study for your SAT and goto a good college.. Once you are out of your parents house and have free time and money, then pick up a car to play around with.. Before then, you should be worried about getting girls and... getting girls.. LOL!

FDJUST4ME

grades are fine( by the time i graduate i probably will have around a 3.9 i have a 3.7 through 11th grade and classes should be all A's this year. Ap cred etc, girls is something i plan to be investing time in at college, but i was thnking about a project car to tinker with when i come home on break, unless i have a job on break which most of the time i will. But i see your point. If i wait ill get an FD or something along those lines. if i go now, it will be very interesting and consume time/money that i dont have yet. so if I had to choose between an FC and an FD, well you guys know the rest.