Hello all, slight rotary newbie here
 

I've come here looking for information and advice regarding what I hope might be a great buy - a one-owner dead-stock 1988 NA model with 114,000 actual miles for $800. The catch? She was parked about 4-5 years ago due to dropping the owner, and is being sold as-is. The car had been moved from daily to weekend driver before this, and since it wasn't a necessity other priorities took over from fixing a still-undiagnosed problem. I have the owner's word that it was never taken over 70, recieved regular 3,000 mi. oil changes, and the only major component that has needed replacing was the water pump several years ago.

I realize that at this point, the idle time has hurt the car moreso than a bad fuel pump (or whatever is wrong; that was the wrecker driver's analysis), but through Aaron Cake's website and some browsing here, I feel it really won't be too hard to rehabilitate the car with relatively little investment (hopefully less than $500), barring any unforseen issues. I've long loved the RX-7, 2nd gen in particular, and almost feel like the car's calling to me.

The "unforseen issues" bit is what brings me here. Other than Aaron's guides, what should I expect and be looking for if I do so choose to bring her home? I realize this might be a bit more than the "Introduce Yourself" forum is for, and I'll gladly repost elsewhere if so.

Were on the same boat I also live in north carolina and found a 86 fc for 800 but this one is an automatic and has 86000 miles on it... it hasn't moved for ten years but if i by it i can have another donor car for free sounds to good to be true... Im a newbie and i know a little about rx-7's but nothin beats the experience of havin one I guess... but the way I look at it is just trust your decision which ever one it is cause they're so hard to come by (rx-7's) but id get it and have it checked out... so if there's any rx-7 guys in NC help him out

First thing you do when you buy a 7 Get it compression tested BEFORE YOu buy it!

welcome
 

welcome

Hey everyone, thanks for the welcomes. As for compression testing, due to how the car's being sold, that's out of the question before purchasing. I did look inside and under the hood today and happily report that the motor oil looked slightly used (but not "chocolate milk," thank God). Also, there was a pressure change when I opened the radiator cap, which tells me that the cooling system was airtight. All the other fluids looked fine, including PS, brake, and hydraulic clutch fluid. There was no visible underbody rust, at least on the parts underneath the rear end including the gas tank.

My only new concern from spending more time with the car today is that when I first got in it, the clutch was against the floor, and it was only after opening the hydraulic fluid cap to check, closing it and pumping the pedal did any springiness come back. Is this normal for these cars, or could this be a problem? Remember, the clutch hasn't been used for a few years.

The only thing i have had similar to the clutch issue is when my fluid got to about 2/3 - 1/2 full my clutch started to feel mushy and soft but when I filled the res back up it felt nice and springy again! so make sure you check the clutch fluid

welcome, sounds like the clutch slave cylinder might be going out, but its a cheap and easy fix. Really try and get a compression test, but if it isn't possible, then plan for a rebuild because it probably needs one anyway. Better to plan for it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Oh, and as I was told when I bought mine "as a new rotary owner, be prepared to be broke for a long, long, time."

As far as clutch fluid goes (all the fluids actually) they're getting drained and replaced before I ever turn the motor over, plus it's getting a set of plugs. About the compression check, we have a compression gauge, but it's more of a matter of getting the owner's permission, which isn't going to happen; like I said, the car's being sold "as-is" in the truest sense of the word. They don't want anything done to it at ALL. The one thing I will say is, they want it to go to someone who will rehabilitate it; someone came by wanting to buy it to crush and they were told to "get the hell out of my yard."

On the rebuild issue: I'll make sure to read up on what is required to rebuild the motor, but I'm hoping I'll be alright at least for a while, considering this car ISN'T a turbo and only has 114,000 miles, most of that city driving. I'm worried more about rust in the combustion chambers.

I'm hoping with enough planning ahead and preventative measures, I won't be quite as broke for quite as long a period of time, lol.

Haha My first 7... when i bought it for 3800... it was fine for about 2 months than i had to drop 2k in it. new brakes all around, tires, New front cover on the engine tons of shit.

Tires won't be an issue, I have that part handled, and it'll probably get new pads on it as well, rotors too if I feel so inclined. I have a feeling you mean the calipers themselves though. Front cover for the engine...you mean that splash pan that directs air up to the intake tube and also through the radiator? That looks to be in great shape on it. I see in your sig that your current car is a red '88 NA; what's been your experience with that particular car, considering that's what I'd be getting?

Iam not a FC owner but I bought a 82 Mazda RX-7 that had been sitting for 18 years. As you can imagine that worried me but for 150bucks I figured it be a nice project. I started off by dropping Seafoam down the carburetor. I let it sit for a week after that I spun the motor everyday by hand and kept putting Seafoam down the carb, pulled out the old plugs and spun it. I got compression, next I pulled the carb rebuilt it and replaced the coolant rings and intake gasket. I got a new battery and cables I cleaned off every ground connection and smeared die electric grease over them. I replaced the hoses, fuel pump, and all the fuses. I got the fuel tank flushed,cleaned my fuel lines and replaced my fuel filter. Two weeks and $281 bucks later it fired up. I had my girlfriend help me the whole time and it was an amazing experience. I say go for it bro it would be a nice project.

TheFuzzyOne - since you are in the neighborhood, you may want to go check out the NC Mazda Club's website and forum

http://www.msccnc.org/

Keep us updated on your progress!

Hey wrankin, thanks for the link; I'll be sure to check it out tonight. I'm about to go back to the junkyard (LKQ on Hwy 70) to check on what's left of an '87.5 that's out in the lot. I've spotted the car on a recent trip, but was there for something else and didn't have much time to poke around. I know the engine's gone, but the accessories were pulled off and left in the vehicle, and there's some interior left too. It's just a recon mission, but wish me luck!

TRUE, i bought one that sounds almost exactly like the one you have in line. i bought a 88 convertible that sat for 5-6 years to due a death then the 2nd owner had it for a few years with no garage (bad for convertibles!) it was pressure tested and there were some leaks with the antifreeze. it wasnt more than 200 to fix.

Well, I'd already decided that I'm definitely going to pressure test it once I get the engine to a point where I'm comfortable turning it over. Also, like I said, I'm assuming the cooling system is airtight because of the pressure change I heard when I opened the radiator cap.

Find a gooooooood mechanic around your area lol.

hey i live in Greensboro and am about to buy my first 7 also. Hit me up, i have lots of friends to help me out and just like the guys on here i'm sure we can lend a hand when needed

Welcome... Im also a newbie. hehe

if the slave is the problem check it by moving or squeezing the boot around the piston that sits on the trany(slave is on top of the trany behind oil filter). If you feel or see fluid in the boot then the slave needs to be replaced. The easy way i did mine was to do it in the middle of an oil change. The filter is in your way otherwise and removal, install, and bleeding is easier with it out of the way. How far are you from greensboro? Like i said if you need any help just hit me up.

welcome. Good to know another person is about to join teh 7 family in NC. Like hyper said, don't hesitate to ask local 7 owners for help. I love working on cars, but nothin beats working on a rex.

hey her in fayetteville thers a few rx7 starting to meet on fridays and sat next to block buster in raford rd by the advance auto parts.

whats up? Charlotte here. Your post makes me wonder if I should just buy an FC instead of saving the rest of the year for an FD +maintenance/rainy day fund.

welcome nc guys. when ur able be sure to check out the SE section. lots of nearby friends u don't know about yet. two meets r OGTA and crossroads.

damn't i just left there at 8 pm and i'm back home now reading this thread, if it were as close as high point i would come back

welcome, newbie here too :p