I am a new member to the forum hoping to pick some details from experienced 3rd gen owners. I am in the market for one, but instead of just throwing a bunch of money down for a 7 that may or may not be clean, I was thinking about picking up a broken one from a junk yard and buiding from scratch (or from whatever salvagable parts.)

Has anybody done this? Maybe bought one with a blown engine or damaged turbos?

I just want to try and get some initial thoughts on this... I know it will be a process, the web of vacuum hoses alone look a little daunting. I have moderate experience with this process and have a friend who is a border line expert with building 240's. I think this way will also help me outfit my garage with tools I will eventually buy anyway.

Thanks for any help!

 

I don't think I would go with a junked one. I'd look into buying one with a blown motor and save yourself a lot of headache. I think it will save you a lot of headache. There is a guy that has rebuilt two junked FD's. One of them he pretty much put the grafted the front end of one to the rear end of another. He has a website, but I can't remember where it is. I am sure somebody here on the forum knows where the site is.

Good luck.

 

Getting an FD with a blown motor and turbos is probably the overall least expensive way to get fast. Get a rebuild with good seals and porting, put a big turbo on it and do everything right the first time without messin around with someone else's mistakes. good luck!

 

I agree, this way you can get all the things you want and don't have to pay for the things you don't want. Plus if you go with a big single turbo, like so many of us, then it simplifies the vacuum lines tremedously. Good luck on your decision.

 

Thanks guys.

Next question, assuming I buy a 7 with a blown engine, is the single turbo conversion pretty cut and paste or are we talking about extensive modification? I realize the one big turbo (a 55 or whatever) will give more power on the higher end of the RPM range but won't this be a trade off in lag time?

I've also heard that I should stay away from 7's that have had engine fires? Is that right?

 

I've only heard of one rx7 that has had an engine fire and he is having the worst time with his car. Could just be him but I don't know. Turbo kits come with manifold, wastegate, turbo, intake, downpipe, lines / fittings and instructions. On top of that you will need a new ecu, boost controller, injectors, fuel pump, and intercooler. Then you will need to get a new clutch and while your at it a lightened flywheel. It is not cheap to do all at once but once it's done you don't really have to put anything else into the car except maintenace. Good luck...oh, and check at rx7store.net Jason has nice turbo kits.

 

Buying a 7 usually is not the cheapest way to go, most of the time the car has extensive mnilleage, while you can put a new motor in, you need to think how much it costs to turn a 100k+ car into a 60k car. the costs are huge, if you can find one with low miles, and blown engine, ok. but good luck finding a nice one. From what I haev seen, the best way to go is get a 1994 for 16-20k in great shape with no more than 55k miles, you have troubel free operation for a couple of years and a sweet ride.

 

But there are prob less than 2,000 94+ fd's total left in North America so it is VERY hard to find good ones for sale.

Find a STRAIGHT 93 with dead engine/turbos for >$8k and put $8k<>$10k into restoration and mods.

 

Well, you may be right but I know only 2 3rd gen owners and the first was a close friend of mine who's engine blew at 55k and the other has 75k on his but had the engine rebuilt at 60k. I'm not sure that 55k necessarily means I'll get another few years of reliable operation. But you make a good point none the less. I still think that if I pick one up cheap and build on it as I go will be more beneficial in the long run.

 

no gaurantee that your rebuild will last longer than a stock with 55k on it. How many times have we heard the story of rebuild lsating only like 15k. but you are right, it is a crap shoot no matter what you do. But iof compression is good when you buy, and you take care of it, and you have the receipts there won;t be any trouble. Sometimes this forum makes the 7 look more unreliable than it really is.

Good luck, you are going to love it no matter which way you go!!!!

 

Thanks for your help KZ, you make all very valid points.