Bartman65
 

Hello everyone, here is my story:

Back in 1980 I bought a new metallic charcoal RX7 GS 5 speed, with a sunroof and steel wheels. 13 months and 3 speeding tickets later I had to sell the car..... I got married in 1983 and my insurance got cut in half. SO, I bought a blue 1980 GS 5 speed but with aluminum wheels and no sunroof.

In the early 1990s the first motor blew and without all of the YouTube and forms available like today, i bought a used 6 port 12A motor from an imported Japan car. I borrowed my cousins shop and swapped the motor. Afterward it didn't run very well and I had to take it to a "Rotary" mechanic located on the edge of Atlanta, Ga. If I remember correctly they took my old carb and put another one on because of the 6 port. It ran better, BUT, it never ran as good as the first motor.

This car ended up being used by my son in his senior year at high school and for the first few years of college. During high school someone backed into the back corner and my son had the car repaired and repainted. My son is color blind and the end result is a purple car. Several years into college the car came home and he rode a motorcycle. The car sat in the barn and I would crank it up every month and drive it up and down the driveway. After a few years it got harder and harder to crank and It has been sitting in my barn since then, est. 10~12 years.

I retired the other year and my son isn't really at a point to fool with it. SO, yesterday I pulled the sheets off of it and jacked up and removed the flat tires and wheels. I had swapped the original 13" to some 14" wheels years ago. I happened to have the original wheels with tires up in the barn. These old tires pumped up so I was able to get the car up off the ground. I had to remove the frozen front left brake pads and forced the right wheel to rotate. I chained the tractor to the front and pulled it to the house. Yes mice had been in the car and there are acorns all inside of it! I pressured washed it to get the top layer of grim off. Looking at the paint I see some areas on the hood that I believe is rust coming from the back of the hood. There is a little rust around the edge above the muffler. Tomorrow I plan to start vacuuming the inside out and maybe hooking up the battery so that I can pop the back hatch.

I have watched some You tube videos and would like to make it more reliable with a 2 stroke oiler for the seals instead of pulling oil from the pan. I will need to pull the gas tank, replace all fluids and rebuild carb just to get it to crank up. I would like to have the motor put out more power. I want it to be a good driving street car that will jump on command! I would also like upgrades like disk brakes in the rear. If this 12A needs to be taken apart then I might go to a 13B. I need to learn what all can be done with what I have. I know that I never liked the two coils and can remember looking under the hood on a damp dark night and the spark plug wires were sparking everywhere! IS there a good, simple, and effective way to upgrade electronics?

I need to check and see if there is anyone in the Georgia / South Caroline area that really knows what they are doing with rotary motors that I can talk to and use if needed.

This picture was when my son was about 2 or 3 years old, est 1990.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...bcf0f2c7cc.jpg

This picture was after he had it painted, est 2005.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...593b6d13c8.jpg

I'm old and haven't figured out how to attach current photos.
Thanks for reading my book and hopefully I can read and learn from all of you.

Barman65,

It was good to read about your history with the RX7s. I am sure they bring back many happy memories. The photos you have provided are great. Surely there is a mechanic in GA who is knowledgeable with rotaries? The rear panel near the muffler is still available new from Nengun Performance in Japan. Reproduction bonnets are available in Australia from Phils Rotaries at Brendale in Queensland. Both companies ship worldwide if you are intending to restore the car. Best wishes.

Cool story and welcome to the forums. Lots of good info and experience here. Sounds like your original car was a Tornado Silver (K8) car. Sounds like a GS model, did it have a 5 speed?

Your Current car looks like it was originally Stardust Blue (U2). This is actually a pretty rare color.

There is a fairly active group of enthusiasts in the Georgia area. They call themselves the old guys with 12A's.

I'm sure some of them can help with your questions and getting your car updated and back on the road. Here's a link to a thread they normally hang around in the SE Rx7 section. I'd introduce yourself there.

https://www.rx7club.com/se-rx-7-foru...eeting-675955/

Welcome to forum

Hello and welcome.

Nice story there. While I’m certainly no rotary expert, I do know of a very well respected shop and shop owner near Atlanta in Marietta Ga.
The shop is Mazcare and the shop owner is Charlie Shatzen. He has been in business in the same location for over 30 years. Look him up, many great reviews including mine. He used to be active on this forum years ago, not sure about now. He works on everything from rotaries to LS swaps. I’m sure others on this forum have experience with his shop.

I believe if anyone around Atlanta could help you it would be Charlie and his shop.

😟😟

Thanks guys, I will check out the old guys and the Mazcare when I get a chance. Today I pulled all the carpet and seats out to try and get the mice odor out before pulling into the garage! It will be slow going but I do keep a plugging along.

Here are some old photos before I left for school and abandoned it :(

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-gene...ean-sa-730972/