On the 18th I finally got an FD of my own. R1, 71k mi, 4th owner, red repainted red. I probably paid a little much, pickings have seemingly been really sparse for a while and I ended up driving about 250 miles south to get it (I live in orange city). It is of course, “soo great, omg” and even know it ate 30$ in gas, the cruise home at 90-100 most of the way in favorable traffic was so smooth, totally opposite of course from the explorer I drove down, lol.

-----possibly boring lists ahead. I'll try and put in red my questions.

I’m trying to list all the quirks/problems/things I know I need as I find them (some I knew, some I found with 5 sets of eyes looking it over- including the lug missing, lmao, how could I miss that):
I haven’t carfaxed it or anything, but it looks like it had a little front end damage in its life.
Missing a lug in the rear left wheel.
Hood flushness, raised ~2-3 mm causing flutter at speed on the left- fixed.
Need boost gauge.
Need coolant temp gauge I gather.
The paint is, less than perfect.
1 inch tear in lining directly above passengers. head
Glove box light flickers with any small bump.
Broken/glued plastic around the passenger side trunk divider thing’s release.
The passenger side little aftermarket fog lamp doesn’t work; I just didn’t have the time to check whether it was a bulb or wiring problem, I'm not really into them anyway.
Aftermarket Sony head unit doesn’t really like my cdrs, and the display looks like it’s seen better days.
Front driver door speaker probably blown, could seriously need all around some nice replacement speakers and the head unit -says the “audiophile”.
Passenger door handle loose where it meets the enclosure that holds the window button.
~4 inch ripple in the driver door tint.

It has done to it (because I didn’t ask for a written list):
The head unit and paint obviously.
Down pipe.
Cat back, off the top of my head at 3am, I might as well figure it out tomorrow.
Pettit intake.
Pettit ast.
Replaced 5th gear sincro.
Those fog lights, meh.
~10% tint.
Carbon fiber interior, “real” –unless they make sticker overlaps that are 2mm thick (it does annoyingly cover over the turning signal lights though).
Base seats.*

So, my immediate plans are to:
Get a tag!
Fan switch mod, it really seems like I might as well do it.
Boost gauge.
Coolant temp gauge.

-Oil and bakes just done along with the sincro. Coolant system has been gone through. I hope that it’s got good vacuum hoses because I don’t remember anything bad about them but don’t remember if they were done (but it’s got 71k miles and good boost, soo, they must be working…). Compression- don’t know. Road around with a boost gauge in hand with the owner and while it’s hard to read a needle moving so damn fast when it’s your first time, it looks like 7-8-10, or something close- It never showed more than 10 (which is enough for me for a while to come anyway).

The temp gauge enjoyed beeping for a few minutes this morning on my first cold start. I didn’t notice anything else weird as I idled 2nd down my 300 yards of dirt road (that I loath so very much, but I guess it makes sure I'm off the turbos before I get home). Transition is in the high 4’s and while I'm spending more time looking at the road than the tach, consensus is that it’s on full blast (not that me and friends have any other rx-7 experience, but as expected, we feel a decent, not tire screeching kick in the ***) by 5k… need a boost gauge I know.

I’ve never noticed the temp gauge past around middle, though I haven’t really looked at it when I’ve been getting on the second turbo through a few gears. I gather that it’s not all that great too.

The driver door at least has one of those hollow metal door slamming shut (as it requires) sounds. And the same type of sound can be heard from seemingly the rear suspension areas over little bumps, I’m not really sure if this is normal or not. It doesn’t really sound like a hatch creak so I’m somewhat hesitant to call it that. Maybe the exhaust could use some tightening -tomorrow.

I still haven’t gotten under the car so I don’t really know how things look under there (condition wise, not what they are supposed to look like).

*The interior is really pretty clean, seats included. It’s 10 years old of course, but pretty good but for a few things. I’ve only seen full pictures of aftermarket and stock leather seats so other than the r1 seats being “high grip fabric”, I don’t really know the difference.

-----lists over.

Of course, I’d never sat in an rx-7 before. I’ve stuffed my 6’3 250lbs (270 now) self into all kinds of small places so I knew what to expect, but I never knew the steering wheel was not adjustable. While getting in isn’t that bad, as expected, everyone can laugh as I try to climb out. And the notable legroom is nice, and helps get out when you can’t just pop up the wheel.

There are 2 button looking things, lights? Behind the rear defroster button in the center arm rest. One says security and one is somewhat scratched but I gather it’s something about “emergency exit exhaust”. Can anyone point out what they are? There is a translucent amber plastic piece in front wall of the ashtray, is that for a light to shine into it (I forgot about it by the time night came around and am just recalling it now)? There are 2 metal u’ish metal extensions coming out at the top rear sides of the cargo divider -no idea what attaches to them.

Are there any good rotary shops in central florida?

My thinking is slowing down, it’s late, and I have an FD. Thanks for any help or just reading through it all,.

 

Have fun with that rebuild.

 

why rebuild ?

 

Temp gauge is probably just faulty if it came on at cold start up...you didn't mention anything on your jaunt home so you should be ok. The stock temp gauge sucks anyway and you'll want to give yourself a more accurate one to monitor temps.

Definitely get a boost gauge...it'll be one of your only ways to diagnose your boost situation.

Fan mod is awesome...really helps to cool the engine.

That hollow door sound is typical for the R1...we have less insulation and so we get that clunk sound. the sound over the rear suspension my be your bushings getting old causing the creak/clunk. Not entirely critical to change but you will notice a difference in handling.

The buttons behind the defrost is security and then overheat exhaust. That translucent piece on the ashtray is for a light...pretty much useless. don't know about your cargo divider...I'd have to see it.


Where in Central Floriday are you? Let me know if you have any more questions.

Congrats on the new purchase!!!

 

Oh yeah, please check out our FL club on the web.

www.mrccfl.com


sorry...shameless plug

 

You may really not need a rebuild...some folks just jump the gun just a bit too much to quick...Glad to have another FD owner on the forum...You will find the search function very helpful. Every (almost) problem you can have has been discussed here.

What you may want to do is have all your fluids changed before you go any further...Engine, Differential, and Transmission. The exhaust light is some sort of a warning light, and the security button is to indicate when the stock alarm is armed. I bypassed mine and installed an aftermarket alarm. As far as rotary shops near you, there's www.pettitracing.com north of you...not too sure how far but even if it's 3-5 hours it will be worth taking it there for the major stuff...You will find that alot of the work that needs to be done will be done by you. Anyway, work is calling so hope you are happy with it and enjoy the hell out of it...

Oh, probably should work on getting those broken lugs knocked out and replaced.

How much did you get it for if you don't mind tellin?

 

Oh, one more thing....never take you car to the dealer to have work done on it.

 

BTW, Pettit Racing is SOUTH of you about they are in Palm Beach county. There are a few rotary shops in south Fla, but I don't know about Orlando and north of there. Hope you enjoy your RX. You can do the temp gauge mod, it works pretty well. Get a boost gauge also.

 

Congrats on the new car. If you are concerned about keeping the interior looking stock (or in your case, restoring it to stock ), you can linearize the stock water temp gauge instead of installing a new one. There is a "how to" here at http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/. (there's also shop manuals you can download there)

 

get a boost gauge and temp guage. as for the "fan mod" i'd suggest looking into the Miata thermoswitch. seems like a better solution than the fan mod, IMO. it cuts fans on at 209 degrees as opposed to the 225 stock

 

It has never been rebuilt, so I know it's over the first mile mark. If I could drive it till the end of the year before a rebuild I don't think I'd complain. Just cold started it, it went into the 3k warmup cycle for about 30 sec and is idling fine, no temp gauge buzzing.

I'm in orange city, next to deland and deltona on I4.

The guy who had it before me owns his own shop and worked for pettit for a while so he knows about the car, I should call him later and ask about all the fluids but their probably fine.

woohoo, I have to go (drive).

 

I have been seeing a lot of this too as of late. I person will describe something that has happened with similar circumstances and immediately its TIME FOR A REBUILD, ENGINE IS DONE. I mean come on people, and in this instance along with others I don't think it’s the case given his description of what happened.

On another note enjoy the FD and congratulations; one of the best feelings in the world is owning a new car.

just a little FYI, if you start the car in gear it will bypass the accelerated warm-up.

 

Or a 10 year old one for that matter!!!

 

well I didn't mean new as in right off the dealership floor. Just getting a new car, could be pretty much anything. Still feels good.

but yeah I hear ya......

 

Pictures, the trunk one shows the metal pieces I was talking about.

http://www.geocities.com/particleeffect/car.txt (over 1 meg)
http://www.geocities.com/particleeffect/int.txt
http://www.geocities.com/particleeffect/trunk.txt

 

Sorry, I recently lost a motor to coolant seal failure and i'm still a little bitter. Have fun with your car.

 

I can empathise with that and of course hope you can get it fixed up -money and time permitting.

 

yeah I can relate to those feelings, hope everything works out for you bro.

 

It's already worked out. I had engine failure in two of my cars at the same time and it really set me back. The scariest part was relying on a 90 awd dsm as my dailydriver till I could re-ring my accord.

 

hey how do you like your car? i almost bought that car. i know the owners of the shop and i was considering buing that car for a while but i found a great 94 touring for only $10,000. how was your experience w/ Fast Import Cars (Todd, Viney, or Paul)? i hope you enjoy your new car. they are awsome cars and i am sure you will love it.