I have a 93 RX7 Touring with 48K miles on it, which has been sitting in my driveway for almost two years. I am going to be home now, at least for awhile, and want to start driving it again. Prior to parking it, the car drove great. Everything is still stock, except that the chrome tips for the exhaust have been stolen.

Two of the tires are flat and it appears that those wheels have cracks in them, so I'll be buying new wheels and tires. I also will be replacing the oil and other fliuids. Of course, due to the glove box light, the battery is also dead and will be replaced. I've just replaced the front windshield, which was badly cracked all over. The red paint has the usual, front end paint chips to the white primer and the top of the vehicle is now badly oxidized.

Texas now also has started emissions testing... so this car will need to pass that in order to get inspected.

Other than what I've mentioned, what mechanically should I do before I even consider the cosmetics of the car? I've found posts here which recommend replacing the plugs, which I've never done. I have no idea where the plugs even are on this car.

Can anyone recommend a good RX7 mechanic in the north Houston area?

I appreciate any and all suggestions and help with my "bringing an FD back from the grave" project.

 

You dont need a mechanic to change the spark plugs for you. If you can get the car running again just by replacing the stuff you mentioned, id consider you lucky. why in the hell did you let the car sit outside for two years?

 

did the gas tank have much in it when you parked it for 2 years?

 

Just came back in from working on it all day. I leveled the fluids, replaced the battery, added 10 gal 93 octane(two 5 gal cans) to the less than 1/4 tank that was left in it.... Turned the key(I just couldn't stop myself), and it started right up. Sounds great, slowly ran it up to 3000 RPM and blew some rusty pieces off of my exhaust end. I want to get a new one of those anyway. Exhaust smoke cleared after about a minute and then I let it idle for only a few minutes more. It sounds throatier than I'd remembered.

Turned it off and now I'm gonna search for some NGK spark plugs and wires. Should I go ahead and spend the money on the NGK racing plugs, or is that just a waste of money for a non-racer like me? Can you easily change the plugs and wires from the top, or do you need a lift? Are all 4 plugs easily accessable and will I know which plugs(leading or trailing) go where based on the plugs already in the car?

As you can tell, I'm not much of a mechanic...

 

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Don't get the special plugs because you are just driving the car normally. If you get the OEM plugs the box has directions on where each of them goes...its pretty self explanatory. You can get to to them from the top of the car. You might have to take off the intake elbow though. Don't boost too much until you get a fresh tank of gas in there...not need to take chances.

 

Check this site for a how-to on the plug wires: http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobi...plug_wires.htm

You can change plugs from below the car without removing much, but changing the wires requires more work.

 

Everyone who's responded: THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all your help and suggestions.

I've posted some sad pictures of the car so that I can compare them to the end result...

You can see it HERE.

It has not been washed, rubbed, or waxed yet... except for the arrowed location on the right upper hood, where I cleaned, gently rubbed and waxed the area. I think the old girl is gonna be okay...

Still, that rear bumper peel sure looks nasty.... ugh.

Please... no hate mail on how badly I've treated her in the past.

 

Oh man...... Paintjob!!