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Been staring at RX7's for a long while now... Yesterday I went insane and bought an FB I went to look at the other week.
I purchased the 1985 FB from the original owner, who took great care of it since it was new.
The original 12a motor has 179,000 miles and still has good compression and runs like new, and everything else mechanical is in pretty good shape too.
Most importantly, the interior is in good shape with the exception of discolored carpet which I plan to dye a darker grey until I have the time to replace it, and peeling vinyl on the door panels.
I'm apprehensive, but also excited to join the rotary club! I've been studying about these cars a lot, but I know I still have a lot to learn.
The OMP still seems to be functioning, and the owner mentioned that it consumes between .5-1qt of valvoline 10w30 or 40 per 500-1000 miles, which seemed correct to me.
First thing to do is replace the clutch master and slave cylinders, seems to be sticking once the car warms up fully, that was fun to find out while on the highway driving it home.
Next step is to give it a good cleaning on the top and underside and engine bay to get rid of the Oklahoma dust and grit, and after that I'm considering visiting a local rotary specialty shop to give it a once over.
Eventually I plan to do a very conservative 13b swap, preferably before the 12a blows a seal, but that can wait until I've saved up some more money and driving this one the way it is now.
I do wish it had a few more luxury items... Nearly no options on this car, like the inside hatch release, seat height adjuster, electric windows, power mirror adjusters, moon roof, rear windshield wiper and washer, etc. But that's ok!
If anyone has any advice for things to check in the meantime, that would be great! Also if anyone is in the dallas area and wants to meet, let me know.
Paint has been resprayed about 10 years ago, small chips in some places, and some evidence of overspray on bumpers and the underside. '85 rx7 looks good behind the '81 280zx Carpet in the hatch is in good condition, but the tint is beginning to bubble and fade. Need to fix this vinyl and clean the door panels. Nearly every part original from 1985. Neat and compact engine bay! Shouldn't be hard to work in. The view everyone should be seeing! The lady that owned this care sure loved Betty Boop.
Looks like you bought a nice example. One owner cars can be tough to come by but are the best buys in my opinion. Did you get any paperwork with the car or maintenance receipts?
The reason there are no luxury options on the car is because you have a base model. The trim level is listed as the S model. Easy items like the electric mirrors, electric hatch release, cargo light, glove box light etc can be added easily. The wiring is there for all of that. Its pre-wired in to the harness. The S models can be sought after as they are the lightest to begin with and many people prefer them for their simplicity. Either way you still have an amazing example.
As far as the oil metering system an oil weight are concerned, Mazda recommends 20w50 for use year round in warmer climates. I run it in the summer and if I drive the car in the fall and early winter before the snow flies, I change to 10w40. Read the oil weight section in the owner's manual again. It lists a chart with oil weights and 20w50 is at the top of the list. Brand is of course personal preference. I have been using Castrol GTX since the 90's and its treated me well.
I'm really excited to own it and learn more about it.
The owner says she always used either 10w30 or 10w40 Valvoline in it, but i was going to research that a little going forward, since the climate in Texas is a little different than the ozarks in Oklahoma.
I spoke to a few people about what model to go for, S or GSL or a 5 letter, and if I was really wanting the options it would definitely have been better to go with the 5 letter and get the 13b right off the bat as well as all the electric things, but this car was inexpensive enough to make it worth it! Besides, you're right, and its super lightweight. The driving feels very mechanical and I love it so far.
In my opinion as a first time RX-7 owner, you made a smart purchase. You bought a 1st generation, which are the easiest to work on and maintain. These cars will teach you so much and you will love the car for its simplicity. When you move into a GSL-SE or an FC or FD, you will not be going into the car blind and will be more confident in many areas of the car. I appreciate the SA and FB for their classic sports car feel and their raw driving experience. I don't think I could ever not own one.
Welcome to the family. Glad to know another DFW rotary owner. Im gown in grand prairie and a buddy of mine and i have 4 fc's. Id love to come by and see her once you get her where you like her. Let me know if you need any parts for the future 13b. We have way too many parts.
09-16-18, 02:54 PM
New FB owner, Dallas, TX
