Stewartx72

Hello I'm new to this site. I currently have a reliable daily as a 2001 honda accord but I was looking for something to work on and preferrably manual. I found a 1985 RX-7 manual that runs but it is listed as a project car. He hasn't responded about the title and I'm not sure of compression or apex seal conditions. So my question is, as a 16 year old with no experience with rotaries or even piston engines apart from replacing a starter, would it be stupid for me to try and build this into a reliable daily? I have a consistent job and time to work on it and I would not be relying on it as a daily because of my other car. the seller is asking $1000 for a running FC RX-7 that needs a new battery, new paint and possibly body work plus whatever other maintenance is required on those cars. (I do have access to a very well stocked garage with impact drivers, all sizes sockets screwdrivers etc. None automotive specific but any typical tool I have access to as well as an air compressor)

here is the listing for any details i missed:https://offerup.com/item/detail/1373246701

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

Your title asks if you could use an FB as a daily, but you point out in the body that you already have a reliable, more modern car as your transportation.

I would say don't rely on a 35+ year old car as reliable transportation. But as a project car, absolutely. You'll learn a lot and they're fairly simple to work on.

Stewartx72

The hope was to fully repair the RX-7 and sell the accord, so I guess my question is, with enough time and effort could an FC be a reliable daily

GtiKyle

iTrader: (5)

The link for the car for sale is an FB, not an FC.

But to address your question, anything can be a reliable daily driver with enough focus, energy and money. Keep in mind some of these parts are no longer available from the dealer, so you'll be shopping for used parts. Fuel economy won't be amazing, tires in the stock 13" size are extremely uncommon now.

Stewartx72

ahh ok thanks. I thought the 85 was the FC. Like i said I'm new to the rotary and jdm car community. thanks for the info

Maxwedge

iTrader: (1)

1st Gen -
79-80: SA (aka S1... series 1)
81-85: FB (S2 & S3)

2nd Gen -
86-88: FC (S4)
89-91: FC (S5)

3rd Gen -
93-95: FD (S6)
96+ FD S7 (not sold in USA)

Be prepared to spend thousands restoring it to safe and "daily" condition. And you'll need to search classifieds, epay and junk yards for parts. They're fairly simple to work on but parts availability is the main issue.

Maxwedge

iTrader: (1)

The car in the ad has some desireable upgrades (5 lug conversion and coilovers) If they were done well, but it's hard to see much in the pics. The engine is the larger 1.3L (most first gens had a 1.1L) but I can't tell if it's an original or a transpant from a 2nd gen car.

The 1st gens with the larger "13B" engine were called GSL-SE. If you go to see it ask about the motor. The GSL-SE was the highest level trim and the most desireable of the early cars, but at this point... that body looks like 3 cars put together, so who knows. The GSL-SE also had larger brakes and a diffetent bolt pattern, but he swapped those out for later brakes.

Stewartx72

Yeah I wasn't sure if it just needed paint or what was up with the body. if he ever responds to my messages ill be sure to ask him thanks. also I'm planning on starting my AS in automotive technology this summer and get all 9 ASE certifications and BAR Smog requirements. would ASE apply to Rotaries or is that a seperate career path?

Maxwedge

iTrader: (1)

I really don't know about the ASE Certs. Rotaries are really very simple in concept; they are just unusual. Mazda was really the only company to have success bringing them to the public and they haven't made any new ones in a long time.

But all the other systems on the cars are similar to piston engines of the same time(s). Carbs in the 70's & 80's, then fuel injection and turbos. Air pumps and catalytic converters, suspension and brakes like any other car, etc..

But these cars are old now, so getting parts to fix one up can be tricky. Junk yards strip off the common parts like fenders and mirrors and then crush them. And NAPA / AutoZone / Knects don't carry much. Strangely, you can buy new front fenders direct from Mazda, but you can't get a pair of rebuilt brake calipers at any local parts store*.

*Note - some people will tell you you can, but I'm very good at sourcing parts and I could not. when I swapped to the larger GSL-SE brakes I had to buy a caliper set from a yard across the country and then send them out to be professionally remanufactured and coated. I spent about $800 in total, where a full set of reman calipers for an '85 Mustang GT would cost $200 and be on the shelf at any NAPA. What I'm saying is, it would be easier and cheaper to restore an old Mustang.

I consider these cars a labor of love. I love mine (its my second) but Ive put thousands into mine and a used Miata with 100k miles is still a better and more modern car. These are a specialty car and they take time and patience to work on and restore. Some parts can be got from Mazda. Others you might need to find used at a junkyard in Australia.

In the '90's these were common and cheap, but today they're an antique specialty car. It's very cool to see them still being worked on and driven (even raced) but it's not easy. The guys on this forum that make it seem easy have owned many of them over the years and have a good network of parts sources and mechanic friends.

I'd say, go see the car. The ad says it runs but needs a battery. So have the guy start it up, and see what works and what doesn't. Maybe it really is just cosmetic, and you can paint or wrap it yourself.

WJM ROTARIES

Welcome to forum

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

Welcome to the forum! Aspects of the ASE tests, engine mechanical and engine performance will apply to the rotary engine and all of the rest of the tests apply to the car overall. There are no rotary specific questions in any of the ASE exams that I've taken. The rest apply to the car as a whole, A1-A8.