OK first let me state I do not need advise from guys that are not living in or have not lived in Japan on this issue.

I came across an FC that I am considering buying. I offered the guy 150,000 yen for it which is about $1,350.00 US. here is the pic and below are the details.



The car obviously has full aero although it does need some love which I dont mind giving it. The paint is worthless which is good cause it will motivate me to paint it quicker which I do want to do after stitche welding the chassis a bit. The engine is completely stock aside from a BOV, intake, dual pulley, and a boost controller which I have not checked the setting on yet to see what it is boosting. The engine runs well (I will comp test it later, and I am only saying it runs well based off what the owner told me i have not seen it run). I has full exhst, GTR 33 rims wrapped in Neova's and not rotted surprisingly, cusco 4pt cage, cusco 2 way lsd, coilovers (i could not see them well enough to determine the make) a bride brix seat and stock seat, oil and boost gauges, and an OS twin plate clutch. The aftermarket stuff is nice but what attracts me most is that it has all the stock engine parts intact, all i need to do for Shaken is re-attach the air pump and lines, give it a tune up and a cleaning and it should be good to go, granted I wont attempt shaken until I get it painted so that they dont fail me just to keep another eyesore off the streets. Any how it does not have shaken so I need to do that but the owner will help me he said and after asking he agreed to let me rent out his shop and a parking space so i can work on the car there wrather than in a dirt parking lot or at my apartment or renting another more expensive place.

So I am looking for some advice, is my offer a steal, good deal, so so, or am I low balling him? Also is there anything you can think of that I need to double check on such as outstanding tickets or salvage title etc? Any info will be appreciated even if it is negative. I live about 10 minutes from the shop and the owner and I have a mutual friend so I am not to worried about taking it up the rear with this deal.
Thanks
Tom

 

If an FC does not have a 20B swap or a 13B with some serious tuning (big turbo, good port job, full computer, fuel pump,etc...) it will not sell for much money so 150,000 yen is a good price. Oh yeah, the wheels are R32 GT-R.

 

Thanks Rutt!

I went back to check out the engine a little more, I just did a listening test for comrpession and it has compression all around so that atleast makes me feel a bit better. i wish I had brought my compression test gauge with me to JP, I have not checked pricing on them here but I am sure they are way over priced.

Any how I checked out the turbo and it is not a stock turbo and the owner seems to think it may be a Panspeed high flow turbo which is very likely since Panspeed is only about 20 minutes away from where I live. It had HKS Racing spart plugs also which is a also a bonus. I dont like the rims much but it will do for now.

I decided to buy this car and put down 50000 yen. I will keep update people on what steps need to be taken in order to register a car in Japan if you are not in the military and if you do not have shaken on the car.

Tom

 

Double take on the wheels. They're more likely R32 GTS-t wheels with how deep they sit and the way they just look. More common the R32 GT-R's and less of a tight fit in the front. GT-R rims in the back are almost flush with the fender, minus a handful of mm's.

Circuit Theory - you seem to be on top of what this car has. Rutt is right. FC's usually don't demand a high price. If they do, they're either an infini model or in very nice shape and next to stock. When they're well used and decently modded, they don't command a high price at all.

All the basic used old rotary car tips apply here. Definitely make sure of the compression. Look for any seepage or leaking, too. Also, raise it a bit. Looks a bit low for shaken. Those HKS plugs are OK, but not making any difference on the car. Go for the cheapest NGK's you can get. The stock plugs are perfect for a normal to light tune. Get a FCD (used - they're dirt cheap), and a Walbro 255lph fuel pump from online. That'll provide you the safety you need with a FC with a full exhaust.

 

I am doubting they are GTR rims now as well, I will get another pic later but i dont think they are gtr at all they had a wierd cut to them and like you said jerk they do sit inside quite a bit. The car does have a FCD i believe if not I have 2 or three laying around that I can throw on. WHERE IN JP CAN you buy a comp. tester? I checked Joyful honda, Autobacs, Yellowhat, next will be cainz home and then if it is not there I will drive a bit further to a tool store but I do not know if they will have it or not. They dont all use they retarded mazda comp tester units do they? I am not about to spend 1000 on a mazda comp tester. I will be raising the car to the point that it looks silly but will pass shaken. Just to save me a search what kind of alcohol can I add to the fuel to help it pass emmissions when i get shaken? Is it rubbing alcohol or something else? I guess I will have to check but then again this is not California anymore so may be the smog pump and a cat being attached is all I need???

Word thanks guys.
Tom

 

If the cat is still good and nothing has been done to the computer to alter fuel, it should be OK. Just make sure you drive it hard to get that cat cooking before they test.

Compression tester? I had a buddy in the states that got the whole Mazda setup for $50! Bastard. It was a local Mazda dealership in a small town that was going out of business. They didn't know what it was worth. Pretty much any tester will work. Just needs to be a two person job. One to crank it over and the other to eyeball the gauge and keep note of what it goes to.

 

I have seen them at HOMES in Yokosuka. I swear, that store has EVERYTHING!

Adam

 

I have seen them at HOMES in Yokosuka. I swear, that store has EVERYTHING!

Adam

 

that is a Rmagic front bumper with fixed headlights. How do I know?
Cause I have one! minus the fixed headlights...

 

dude, thats a good price! however, i got my turbo II for 525 bucks and it was running. its had the 13b turbo and some mild suspension done to it and some ghetto sub...lol.

 

Nice deal. Is it still a 4 seater or a 2? If it's changed ask a buddy if it states that it has been legally changed on the title, it will say at the bottom of the title. Also, you can get the title changed to say the it is a "pumpless RX7" but I believe it costs a **** load to get that part changed over. To do it you have to buy an APPROVED PUMPLESS catalytic converter (Amamiya sells one) and then you have to get the car smog tested and it has to pass. My FC had this already changed before I bought it. I am currently working on SKOKEN myself. I had to change a lot of **** bcuz I am a GI and they love to pic us apart at the land office. Since you are not military you may get off easy....you don't live on a base do you? If they see that "Y" plate they put up a big flag. If your living in local Japan let me know how much easier they were on you than me.

P.S. Take someone that is Japanese with you to get the car inspected. Then they can tell you if something didn't pass and if its easy to fix you can do it right in the parking lot and get back in line to get re-inspected.

 

Thanks for the Informantion neil. I am in local japan (not on a base) I am getting my Japanese license on the 26th and then soon after that I will take the car to get shaken. I plan to just barrow a friends cat off his stock tII and then use it to pass the test. It should not be all to much trouble for me but sounds like you had a ruff time. The biggest hastle is going to be lowering the car again and swapping the cat for the mid pipe and removing the emissions junk all over again. Oh well once it is all over I will probably be excited to do all that.
I just brought the car back from the shop last night I will take some new pics of it this evening and put them up with a before and after shot.

Tom