I'm Art and, up until collecting my 88 RX-7 white-over-blue non-turbo Convertible about a month ago, have been involved with mainly British sports cars. I currently am part of the tech staff on the national American MGB Association, answering questions on troubleshooting, repair and restoration in print and on the AMGBA site (www.mgclub.org). I've owned my 73 MGB Roadster for over 20 years, but have a history with numerous old Brits through my life, as well as a litany of Japanese and American iron as well.

But never a Rotary. I come to the RX-7 club as a novice on these cars, hoping to meet new people and learn about these cars as well as get advice from people with the most experienced with them.

My convertible had sat the better part of 4 years untouched, unprepared for storage beforehand (even the top was left down). I have it running, having replaced the clutch hydraulics - which had failed completely (and likely the reason for its original abandonment) - and changed all fluids, belts, hoses and filters. now running, it's a wicked ride. The interior is basically shot, the leather on the seats is badly damaged and moldy, the carpet ruined, but the dash and controls cleaned-up nicely and all seem to work, including the radio. The body is pretty nice as well with nothing significant in the way of damage and I think the paint finish is salvageable.

I will be posting-up next on your tech site to ask about adjustments for emissions. She just failed NJ State inspection for high hydrocarbon emissions at high idle. Were it the MGB, I'd be leaning the mixture in the carbs, but not sure where to start on this one without doing damage. Any help would be appreciated.

I look forward to meeting everyone and getting to some events.

The signature of the MGB club is Safety Fast! I think it applies more so here as well.

Art

 

Welcome welcome!

Good luck on getting the car passed smog. Hydrocarbons are unburned fuel (misfire) so start there. Another thing to look at is the condition and operation of the air pump, and the catalytic converter as well.

 

Hi All,

I'm Art and I just got my 88 RX-7 Convertible roadworthy about a week ago. This is a true "barn find" car, though kept in the family. It was transported from California by my son-in-law, who got it from his mother. He used it for a time here before parking it in an open Pennsylvania garage where it has sat for the last 4 years uncovered with the top down. It had about 153,000 miles on it. I took on resurrecting it when he decided he need the space for something else.

Good news is the top, left down and covered with the boot, is like new. The interior really suffered though. You can only imagine the amount dirt and deterioration experienced. Carpet and seats will ultimately have to replaced. Shampooing and washing improved the look, but not the smell (did I mention there were cats living the gargage?). The seats were already torn and worn to begin with. The paint survived better than expected and, once the dirt and mold was removed, looks very good.

Mechanically was better. The reason for the abandoment was a complete failure of the clutch hydraulics. Not a problem for an old British car owner (my other ride is a 40 year old MGB roadster) and, along with a new battery cables, tune-up, belts, hose and every fluid, the engine has come back to life nicely.

Getting through NJ emissions was fun (its one year shy of QQ plates that would have precluded this) and took replacing the catalytic converter to get passed.

Loads of fun, it still needs a good deal of work; this is my summer car for commuting. I'm looking to the club for some direction and ideas on how to best maitain and upgrade the performance. I hope to meet some you as well as see what you've done with your cars.

Best regards,

Art

 

Thanks for the advice. It was the catalytic converter. Passed inspection for the last time, as it is good for 2 years and then it goes to "QQ" or historical, passing the 25 year mark next year and after that does not need inspections in NJ.

Art

 

Welcome! I'm new here too!

 

Welcome to the club. I joined not too long ago and picked up my first fd about a month ago

 

Me too

 

yayyy for verts! I would love to see a picture of the white on blue

 

The same for me

 

Post pics of the old Brits!

 

Welcome! - Not long joined myself. Picked up an FB over in the land where terrible British cars were born and more or less in the same boat with rotaries! Great to hear you have it running - some pics are always good.

 

Welcome! Pics!

 

Welcome buddy