Looking For Engine Rebuilder
 

I am the original owner of a 79 RX7 GS which was built in July 1978 and purchased new by me in October 1978. I drove it daily until March 1988 and put on 120K miles. It was put away in March 1988 and followed me around with every move. It has not been started since March 1988, the tires, gas tank and thermal reactor have corroded. I am now moving from Florida to California and am ready to have the mechanicals restored and the car made drivable. I am willing to ship to the right restorer within the lower 48 states and some parts of Canada. I am aware of the extensive work required to get it drivable and now have the time and desire.

I am looking for a professional restorer/shop with significant experience with the SA engine and other mechanicals to discuss the project. I have enclosed a picture of the door plate which shows the vin and manufacture date.

Be aware of the fact that while FL doesn't have a requirements for smog-tests CA does, and they are very stringent, please keep this in mind when you have the engine rebuilt and discuss this issue with whoever does the work. Your halfway there if you have the original exhaust system "intact" on your car. Hope you are able to realize your dream California dream.

Welcome to forum

Good luck getting the SA smogged in California. Those who do have to do a lot of adjustments to get the thermal reactor based exhaust to pass.

Any pics of t he car?

We love pics.

Thanks for the responses. The thermal reactor is dead, corroded to pieces. I am maintaining the house in Florida so will have no trouble registering it there. Just need to find the right company to restore the mechanicals.

Are you sure its the thermal reactor thats "corroded to pieces"? This is a big chamber of metal that hangs off the engine. The heat exchanger on the other hand is under the car just behind the head pipe. Often gets confused with a cat. Here's a pic to help identify the pieces.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...cd262c0487.jpg

Most Rotary engine builders just rebuild engines. There are a few members here who have the experience / knowledge to restore your mechanicals but none that I know of, who do it for a living or business.

I agree with the others who have said you'll need a stock exhaust and emissions equipment to pass CA emissions. Yes, would like to see pictures of your car and the parts you say need work.

I believe you are correct that it is the heat exchanger and other parts under the car that are corroded. The thermal reactor looks intact. The system is timing out uploading pictures so I will do them two at a time

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Final 2 pictures. The car has sat in the garage for 30+ years untouched. The pictures are the current state. Any referrals to someone who can get the engine working would be great. I have had this since day one and have a sentimental attachment to it. I took my wife on our first date in this car and would like to get it back on the road. In the meantime I enjoy the California roads in a 2002 Honda S2000. Thanks for your help

Looks like an early S model, Spark Yellow car with the 2 tone brown / tan interior. One of my favorite color combo's. Yes, from the pics, your car will need a fair bit of going through. Cooling system, fuel system, clutch and brake hydraulics. Not seeing anything that's impossible to fix, but some parts can be difficult to find. You should expect that once you start, it will uncover and lead to other, unexpected deficiencies.

Was there a problem or failure that caused you to park it in the first place?

RX7 Specialties in Calgary. Ask for Adam.

I parked it one month before my first child was born when we purchased an Acura Integra. Was living in Manhattan and could not keep two cars there so I put it in my fathers garage and never started it again. At the time the only issue was some rusting on driver door and A/C compressor failure. Until about a year earlier it was my daily driver into and out of Manhattan for work in the suburbs. Took a job in the city and two cars were too much

Thats good news. Chances are, if it ran fine when parked, it will run again now. The fuel system will probably need some TLC. Dropping the tank and draining it out, replacing the fuel filter and flushing out the lines and possibly rebuilding the carb.

Flushing out the coolant system, pressure checking the radiator and hoping that the old coolant has not corroded the housings, creating a leak past the O-rings and into the rotor housings.

Replace the battery and most likely the clutch master and slave cylinders. That leave the braking system which will need to be evaluated and repaired as required. This is all general automotive work, not specifically rotary related and should be able to be accomplished by most all competent mechanics.

The majority of tech's nowadays don't have a lot of carb experience so that should be considered when evaluating qualified mechanics. A general understanding of the emission system (including the exhaust) is virtually non-existent at todays shops, even the dealerships because most all techs that worked on them back in the day have now since retired.

Good news is, you have found this place which is probably the best resource for info and advice from long term enthusiasts like yourself. To me, your car looks a little rough around the edges but certianly not too far gone to bring back. It will be a bit of a financial commitment, but it sounds like you already realize that.

In Feb 2024 another member on here (Manny Apex) posted this:

"There is a rotary shop in Kissimmee called Kilo Racing, one in Tampa called Full Detail Automotive, one in Sebring called Himni Racing, and Pettit Racing (where I work) is in West Palm Beach...those are all the rotary shops I know of in Florida"

I'm just reposting what he said and cannot vouch for any of these shops. https://www.rx7club.com/introduce-yo...orida-1165297/

I'm in central Texas and one of the preferred shops is: https://www.mzmperformance.com/

Again never used them but they have a good reputation.

There is hope on the horizon, California Senate Bill 712 (referred to as Leno's Law) and backed by SEMA will be brought up in April, 2025, that is seeking to "exempt" cars thirty-five years or older from California's biannual smog check requirement. It will require owners to register their car as "collector cars" with their insurance company. Hopefully some "sanity" will prevail and this law will pass in 2025!