Possible rotary buyer in TX
 

I'm Dustin in Texas.

Might buy my first project car and first rotary car with the following info:

1979 rx7 rolling cage with a 13b engine that needs some work that could be handed over to me at no cost. Fun project or money pit?

5 speed, coilovers, shock tower bracers front and rear, full exhaust system, extra carbs, 2 sets of wheels, full cage, doors welded shut, ~1400lbs, 13k rpm 1.3L two rotor ported with 2" header primaries, holly 650 carb.

Not a real gear head, but have a garage and plenty of time. What do you think?

Sounds like a Plan Dustin!.
Welcome to the forum.

Well the trick is going to be the definition of needs some work. If there is something internally wrong with the engine it may very well still run just not right. THe problem is unlike a piston engine you can't partially take things apart easily to fix things. If you have to open up the motor expect to spend at least $250 to $300 on a gasket kit to assemble the engine. Expect much more if you have to replace parts (very likely). Also this sounds like a dedicated track vehicle. If you plan on getting it on the road you need to factor that cost in. The chassis sounds fun even if the motor is bad you you end up having to swap good motor in. If you're in the North Texas area hit up the North Texas Rotary Enthusiast group on FB.

I am in North Texas, Fort Worth area. Dedicated track car is what it will be. Right now my Mk4 Jetta 1.8T is my daily driver and was what I raced in at Motorsports Ranch in Cresson. Racing a DD is scary though, if I were to wreck or break something I wouldn't be able to get to work besides my CBR, lol.

So yes, this will be my track car. I will check out the FB page when I get home later today!

Thanks

Go for it! Fun project, you will fall in love with the car in no time! :nod:

Why would they weld the doors shut? Structural rigidity, less body roll in corners, etc?

Not sure if I want to have to crawl through the window each time unless it's a HUUUGE improvement of the aforementioned reasons.

Sounds like a fun project, im from houston but take trips to dallas often.
looking forward to hearing more on this build

Got more info today...

Apex seals are blown and that should be in on motor. The rollcage is a drag race rollcage and not as much of a track cage.

Might get car as early as tomorrow, will get pics up when I get it :)

With a blown motor you're most likely going to end up spending close to 2k to get the engine rebuilt. You might be better off grabbing the 79, taking all the goodies off of it and look at this car on CL instead. Everything is most likely compatible but the exhaust system.

I get my car Thursday night!!!!

Pictures to come soon.

I will be making a build thread along with pictures and keeping track of every penny put into this beast :) Should be fun!

Thursday fell through. Getting it tonight!

Pictures and new thread to come!!!

Build Thread created :)

Will add details, etc to the thread soon.


Follow the build here:

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...build-1036610/

sounds fun