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My 1980 Rx7 GS, this is gonna be fun.. (restoration)
Hello friends,
I've owned this car for about a year now, everything is bone stock, and it ran with full compression with about 136k on the odometer. It was my daily for about two months until winter. I never really knew how to tune the Nikki, and eventually thought I was just going to rebuild it after backfiring like a mf right after it she stuttered then died. That was only about a month ago, now I plan on restoring the whole damn thing, and I mean everything, well, mostly. This car is too much fun to work on after learning how simple things can be.
But right now I'm stuck at a standstill. This guy in my city is moving, he was trying to sell his 13b for $1500, but is now selling it for $500. He bought it as a crate engine in 2005 and it's been sitting in his garage ever since. The engine also comes with almost everything to do a full 13b setup to replace my 12a. I had plans for a 45 Weber DCOE with intake, new exhaust, radiator, and a rearend from a 84-85 GSLSE if I could find one. Is it worth it to buy the engine? I don't even know if it runs although the PO says it does, but its been 13 years.. Heck I don't even know what year it is exactly (86-91)
What are your thoughts? Honestly just scared of doing ECU ****, I would much rather learn how to tune a weber than to deal with fuel injection. I know how I would fit the engine in that's about it, but I'm not worried about all the technical stuff yet. Just want to know if I should go for the 13b swap or stick with the 12a. Please be soft I'm only new here, but willing to learn!
This is all the engine would come with for $500
Last edited by Koby; 06-28-18 at 04:02 AM.
Reason: Last sentence was misplaced
I am working on a very similar build. (See signature link). What part of Washington are you in? I'm in the Columbia Basin so I don't get much rotorheads over here. So anyways, check out the first gen forums!
Looks like $500 in parts to me, whether it runs or not, who knows. "Crate engine" can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, anywhere from junkyard special to dealer reman.
But you need to factor in other people willing to swing by and scoop it up before you. I grabbed a 12a for $200 earlier this year. Called immediately, and on my way there the seller said he got hammered with calls. People know a deal when they see one. Go there and play hardball with him. Look over the motor, rotate it, see if it makes compression, etc. then decide how much you are willing to pay for it. If he won't budge, just tell him to call you when he changes his mind.
Welcome!! Would love to see pics of your 80!! Personally would not offer 500 for the engine. It's clearly used and has sat outside uncovered for some time. It's worth looking at and seeing if it's making any compression at all.
Thanks guys! My friend and I started on this about a week ago, I think I'm going to stick with the 12a. I just love how simple and clean the engine bay can look!
And Richard, that build looks to be going very well! I'm located in the Bellingham area, there's a few rx7s I've seen around here, but not many.
Engine is about ready to pull just need to get an engine stand first
Lots of surface rust (hopefully) where the battery used to be
Looks pretty good from about 10 feet away, but she's definitely getting a new paint job.
06-28-18, 04:01 AM
My 1980 Rx7 GS, this is gonna be fun.. (restoration)
