Im debating on either selling my rhd rx7 or rebuilding it, need some guidance here. Had the car for a couple years now and its been nothing but problems for me, bought it with no motor, got one off the internet threw it in blown motor no warranty, got another used motor for a reputable motor shop, threw it in drove it for a summer parked in winter, took it out last summer blew an apex seal and now im here debating on what to do. I love the car, but i really dont have the time or funds to rebuild the motor at the moment, and i hate the car just sitting in my garage not being used. Not too sure how much i can get for the car as it sits now with a blown apex seal, and i know the rebuild is probably gunna cost around 2 - 3k. not sure if i should just cut my losses and sell or wait and rebuild. Need some opinions of others here. Basically dumped about 8k into it right now and its broken once again lmao

 

Rebuild it, but do it right.

Only use parts that you know for certain are good.
No short cuts. No second hand engines without cracking it open & replacing whatever needs to be replaced first. Take no ones word for it. YOU need to know exactly what you have.

Really, it sounds like you have had a bad run of luck, combined with some bad decisions about what to so with the car. Its not typical.
i.e. bad decision not opening up / refurbing your second hand engines. Bad luck that the second hand engines actually turned out to be crap.

Bad decisions usually come from attempts to cut costs & save time and almost always end up costing more in the long run. Iv made some bad decisions recently and wasted some money, and from now on im doing it once, and doing it right.

All is not lost though. It sounds like you probably have a couple of engines already from which to scavenge parts from. (or to use as a core exchange of a mazda reman engine)
Use the best parts from both engines and replace what you need to.

Done give up yet, do it properly and you will be happy

 

The answer is always rebuild.
What is better to you, having an FD in the garage that you can get going again when the time is right? Or having no FD at all?

 

If you don't have the money to fix the car properly, sell it. This car will cause you nothing but grief if you try to cheap out on repairs. In the end, going cheap costs you more down the line as you have to fix it multiple times rather than paying for the correct fixes up front. Likely, you need more than just a rebuild. If you blew the motor, you first have to analyze why you blew the motor. If not, you will likely just blow the next one since you addressed the result but not the problem.

 

A million times this. Something this complex, powerful and old... this is a thinking man's (or woman's) car.

Or...

 

V8

 

If I were living where you live, I would get something else. Having the car sit all winter, every winter isnt the best environment for an FD.

 

Rebuild it, but you have an underlying issue that you need to address. You should not be going through motors like toothpaste. It needs a tune or injectors or something else. What has been done to the car? List all mods and boost levels you are running.

 

Ive decided to rebuild the motor was all stock, it had exhaust, intake, ignition system, running stock boost pressure. I did have it sitting for a while through the winters and what not. I'm gunna do it properly this time and not cheap out anymore! I've learner the hard way I guess lol

 

I got a great motor for sale, built by one of the best rotary builders out there, but good builds aren't cheap.

 

Why did the engine blow?

 

Your mods are vague do you have any cats and what ecu stock ecu? What is stock boost what psi were you hitting did u have a boost gauge or did you rely on the stock waste gate system

 

List all your mods for us.

You can run all stock but run a down pipe. Gives you 40 hp.

 

My mods were as follows:
Hks twin power ignition
Blitz nur spec cat back exhaust
Hot air intake
Blow off valve (hks)
Boost gauge
Everything else is stock

 

I also say v8, better performance and much better reliabilty. you also get to keep the great car that the rx7 is .....

 

They can be abused and neglected without fear typically

 

If you have to ask, you should sell it. You will never see the financial return if you rebuild. On the other hand, you will be letting go of a very unique vehicle.

 

Is that a "feature"?

 

No sort of engine management ? Aka PFC etc?

Routine maintenance done often as recommend?

Miles on your plugs, fuel filter etc.. which type of gas you run?

A rebuild is only going to last if you determine why it blew twice already.

 

@ken125 Yeah, no v8 I love the rotary way too much even after all the grief shes given me lol

@TougeSpirit Yeah, stock ecu no aftermarket engine management what so ever, the oil was changed every 2500 km and plugs every year, just changed the fuel filter then that same day on my way home the apex seal went. I only used 94 Octane, My oil i was using was royal purple synthetic.

My buddy with another rx7 told me its probably because it was a used engine to begin with, that I let it sit in the winter and I should have been premixing rather than just relying on the stock omp system.

 

I bought mine without an engine and I am still putting a rotary back in so I don't blame you there. The rotary just takes very diligent maintenance and I am ok with that. Most people do not seem to want to take the time to properly care for them that's why I said v8

 

I like both sides of the argument of v8 vs rotor for certain reasons but mine will not be raced or driven daily so that is why I am sticking to a rotary myself. I really don't want to get into the whole swap vs stock argument as that horse appears to have been beaten to death....

 

Nothing wrong with winter storage done correctly. Especially if you use the occasion of it's coming out party for maintenance like coolant, plugs and oil changes, cleaning the IC, air filter cleaning etc. And oh...the feeling of that first drive in the spring.

The OP's car was probably ragged from the beginning. And issues were compounded by buying second hand engines and intentional or unintentional abuse. Objectively, he should sell the car for what he can get and move on. It's not for everyone.

 

Catback and BOV, but no downpipe or boost control?

Was your boost at 10psi or less 24/7?

When I first built mine I had DP and a drop in filter on the stock ECU. Just with that it was hitting overboost fuel cut in 3rd/4th gear. It will happen at 11 psi or less. Bad. These engines and 93-95 EFI systems can't handle many flow upgrades without being careful and taking some precautions.

 

Yep... catback and bov, no downpipe and probably