Hey guys. I need some help. I am getting closer to deciding to sell my 93 FD.
I bought it in February, and have already put about 4-5000 dollars into it. I have had the motor ported, installed a downpipe, rebuilt my turbos, installed a manual boost controller, removed the double throttle, installed new silicone hoses, and had Pettit upgrade my ECU. I still haven't gotten to stop leaking oil. It smokes a lot, but I believe once I install my midpipe and cat back which I have yet to purchase it may stop smoking so much. The turbos are leaking and blowing oil, which from what I have heard, means that they need to be replaced probably sooner than later which will cost another 3-4 grand. It has gotten me kind of down lately, and I have been thinking of selling it and getting a WRX! I really love my RX-7 and all of the attention it gets, but it sure would be nice to have something a little more reliable, that doesn't need constant work. Then again, my car will dust that Subaru. What do you guys think? I'm sure I am not the only one feeling this way.

 

let me know if you decide to devorce your rx7.

 

you are supposed to be trying to talk me out of getting rid of it. I guess you could really talk up the WRX, that could help to.

 

The turbos will cost you 3-4K if you had it done by the dealer/Pettit/etc, but if you send them out for rebuild it would run about $700 rebuild + R&R costs - under two grand easy. Heck, I would consider single turbo now, as that it is probably more cost effective in the long run.

I dont think the MP and the CB are going to stop smoking.

Meanwhiles, invest a few grand into a daily driver, as I have done.:p

 

a turbo rebuild will only do so much. If the insides of the turbos are worn, you can't put the metal back, which is why my turbos are still blowing oil even after I rebuilt them. I would like to go with a single turbo, as those setups are installed relatively easily, and easier to work on. I do have a daily driver. It is a co. truck, but even still my car is all I think about, and when things with it aren't perfect I lose sleep.

 

As for the smoke, it is probably a result of the bad turbos. Turbos in working/rebuildable condition can almost always be found on www.thepartstrader.com for between $250 and $500. That is about $1000 after rebuilding them. Do the work yourself for free labor (I did mine in one really long day with the help of a friend, great learning experience). I would much prefer sinking $1000 and some work into my FD as opposed to trading it and another $10,000 for something that everybody else in town has.

 

Yeah, I think the turbos are one of the reasons that my car is smoking. I did rebuild my turbos myself, and it was a great experience. Actually there isn't much to them.

 

I know how you feel. I've been through 3 motors and 3 turbos in less than 3 years! There have been several points when I just about had enough! I've been looking at the WRX too. But WTF if you want to buy an ugly car, get a Supra!

Mine has been running more or less right for about a month now. When it works I love it, when it breaks I totally hate it now. I'm finally getting used to not buying upgrades or parts every month. I think it's possible it will not break like every other month. Some of these guys swear it's possible

It's definately a love/hate thing.

 

I feel you man i've changed so much stuff on my car i've forgot what i've done.

If it does make you feel anybetter I drove HKS' WRX when it had the GT2835 turbo in it and honestly it was pretty bad ***. Ok so the looks of the WRX is kinda "only a mother could love" but it is a good car. It's built kinda thin but its easily upgradable.

There are so many parts available to the car and more and more companies are prototyping stuff for it. It's a rally proven car so you can't go wrong. It's not like trying to race your momma's car accord.

Hey if you want i know that one of the guys at HKS is looking for a FD. He doesn't care about the turbos or 1/2 the stuff you have problems with since he will change all that anyways. You might be able to work a deal with him to help you out with the WRX if you get it.

PM me if you have questions.

 

I overheated the engine in March, did the rebuild myself with help from a friend, and didn't get it running until early August. Come to find out an O-ring got pinched when we put the housings back together, which we didn't find out until I got the engine back in the car and running, where it had an obvious coolant leak again. So then I took out the motor myself once again, and sent it off to be rebuilt because I didnt' have the time or patience to do it again. Love/Hate definetly. I get really pissed when I see someone in an FD that looks to be weathered, to talk to the driver and find out that he has never had a problem! I don't know what to do. I really don't have a few grand to blow on a new turbo kit, and I don't want my stock turbos to keep blowing oil through my intercooler and throttle body. AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

 

Ok if money it tight, I'd say dump the seven. I find mine will easily eat $500 a month in new parts or upgrades. This rate will keep you 7 in good shape a slowing getting faster

But back to the point......I think you could get a useable set of turbos for under $1k (maybe around $500). They seem to come up for sale often. If you can do a motor, swaping turbos is "comparatively" easy (Note that word comparatively).

 

I agree with WhtRocket, if money is tight, then I would seriously consider dumping your FD. The WRX is nice and there are already a good amount of mods out there for it to make it faster...but it really couldn't replace the FD.

Least expensive short term fix was listed above, rebuild the turbos (if they can be) / buy used. Least expensive long term fix would probably be a single turbo (which should have much better long term reliability than the twins & the associated rat's nest)...and SOME might say drop a V8 in and try to offset some of the cost with your FD engine and performance goodies...that debate lays elsewhere.

The smoke is probably turbo related...MP and CB are not going to change that.

 

Check out the wanted/selling parts at the bottom of the forum. I remember seeing several people selling there stock and sometimes upgraded twins for less than $1k. Hang in there I know what you mean by loosing sleep over one problem...hehehe...I've been there.

 

Brand new turbo from Mazda is 2553.25

 

Keep the FD. You don't need a Subaru! The WRX is half of what the sensation of a RX7 is.

 

Sell the 7 you do not need a money pit if that is your only transportation. Once sold buy a clunker and wait until the RX-8, 350Z or even the WRX STI comes out. Just a thought

 

Keep your 7, just stop putting money into upgrades before you get all the errors worked out. This is what I have to fight daily, but with a 7 you gotta have money set aside for catastrophe (it's an extremely high perf car, I read to think of like an aircraft in terms of maintenance and it's a good philosophy!)

You can have your turbos rebuilt professionally for under 1k no problem with a warranty, you'll just have to take them off yourself. Downtime is about a week. Turbo City, TurboRepair.com @ 1-205-444-5011. Turborepair.com took a great deal of time just explaining to me how thorough their rebuild was, and recently lowered their price to $350 a turbo (700 total). I didn't end up choosing them just because I'm having mine resealed instead of fully rebuilt (long story, and irrelevent).

Secondly, GET A BEATER! Spend like a grand, then you have something to get around in the snow/rain/whenever your Mazda is down. Don't sell your baby, just get a cheap second ride so you're nuts aren't on the block every time the 7's demanding attention!

 

I think everyone will agree w/ me when I say:

SCREW THE TALK! Actions speak louder than words.

With this in mind, would someone close to lovemyseven, please give him a ride in a proper running 7. That should bring a smile to his face and put him back in the right mindset.

 

i love either. tough choice. two cars to different approaches. go to www.i-club.com and talk with them. test drive one. take the other guys advise on turbo fixes and using your money to bulletproof before modding.

 

You guys are a lot of help! I have been thinking about it. I went and drove the WRX, and it wasn't as exciting as everyone is making it out to be. I like the way my body plunges back in the seat of my 7 when I barely get on the gas, I like to really hear the turbos whining, and in the WRX, neither of those happened. I think I would regret getting rid of it if I did. The WRX would be fun and it is easily made more powerful, but I think I would look back and miss my RX-7. I am just gonna have to save up and get a single turbo kit.

 

After all the heartache and money troubles pass, you'll definitely enjoy your car and have a much more reliable platform than you had when you got it. Think of the good times you've had with the car, and how happy you'd be to have it finally running right. Good luck!

 

Think of all the "reliability mod" you could do to bulletproof your FD. I had all my work done at KD Rotary and he said when he does all the reliability mods and engine rebuilds - he never hears from them again about problems - relating to the engine.

Engine - streetported, oil and coolant ported
silicone seals and orings to replace factory rubber (cracks)
better apex seals (2mm Hurley racing seals)
Eccentric shaft plug mod
180 degree thermostat

Eliminate AST
Upgrade radiator
Silicone vacuum lines zip-tied
Convert to non-sequential (full switchover)

After this the FD will only nickel an dime you here and there. I've got these mods done and have no engine or boost problems since. It's wise money invested if you want to keep your FD. There's not many cars like it and probably never will be - you'd regret it if you got the WRX!

 

quick 7,
what did those upgrades at kd cost you?

 

Remember that SOME oil blowing into the intercooler pipes is normal, A brand new motor and new turbos will still blow oil. Just floor it a few times and it will clear it out If it is exessive then well........
Smoking will be worse after you install mid pipe. there is nothing then to restrict or burn off the extra crap comming out of the motor.
If you really prefer the 7 and are going to get a lone for the Sub why don't you just take a loan (small personal) for the 7 and get everything fixed