Scout

I have searched the forums here and poked around elsewhere on the web...other then checking boost pressure and compression check...and looking for leaks and smoke...any thoughts on other engine checks? Also, I am looking at a very low mileage car, what would be some concerns of a vehicle sitting for long periods...would the seals dry out?

Lastly, any shops that could be recomended in Denver?

boostin13b

I can't really recomend any shops here in town. Your best bet would be to sign up on the Yahoo group and stick close on this board. Get to know us Rotary guys. We usually stick together. There are a few of us that can usually help out with things.

As for more checks, Make sure you can start it when it's cold, check for smoke or rough running. Same thing when hot. Drive it around, check the boost 10-8-10 like you've read. Then park it for a couple of minutes, and try starting it again, see if it starts right up and easily.

Scout

Roger that....my path to looking to purchase a FD started with exposure to rotary aircraft engines, where issues of cooling and engine management are much more emphasized then in autos...so a lot of the reliability techniques make absolute sense.
To expand a little further, I don't intend to use the vehicle for thrashing about against 16 year olds in their mom/dad's cars...I would like to drive it for pleasure and what it is designed for, but keep it stock except for the reliablity mods. It would be a summer only, non-commuter. Searching around it appears auto-trader has quite a few candidates, and I suspect that I am going to be around $20k for what I am interested in. Any thoughts on this diatribe?

Blake the Snake

There is a pretty good little rotary shop around federal and bellview. Ask for mike and the number is 3037976510

jbrx7tt

If you are looking for an RX-7 in CO, here is one from this forum...

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=494844

In regards to local shops, I have used Rotary Specialists in Denver, 303-937-7772
Terry Kelly, Mike Mowry

Good Luck

Scout

I had seen that one after I posted the original thread...and sent the owner an email and pm. If the engine is as strong as he says, I may take a look. It appears he started off putting all the reliability mods on it, but is now selling it. Anyone on this forum see this vehicle in person? Or better yet, anyone drive it? PM me if you wish.

boostin13b

If your referring to the guy right by oxford and that D and R auto and import shop, he does know rotaries for the FC and FB's, but has little FD experience. Which can cause more problems than needed. There are a lot of people that think just because they know rotaries, that they know all rotaries. FD owners know very well what I'm talking about. And this is comming from someone who knows FC's inside and out. You really need someone with a ton of FD experience to trust to work on your car and especially trouble shoot any problems you may occur.

Parastie

I guess i'll chime in with a simple, welcome to the Rx7 world!
I certainly agree with joining the yahoo group and convincing one of the guys here to help you out! I don't know a lot about FD's, or i'd offer my services. If you get an FC, i'm your man!

sandersja

If you are looking for a perfect white 94 in Colorado, then you may want to consider my car. As soon as I get a breather from being busy at work, I will start advertising it. I mention it here since you sounded like you wanted and expected to pay accordingly for a very high end example.

I have not yet got all the description/pics etc ready to start finding it a new home, but I am gearing up to offer my 94 touring at no less than $18K. If you decide you want a better car for more money then this may be of interest to you. The car is located in Denver.

94 white Touring with less than 28K total miles. As close to perfect in and out as you will ever find. I have had this car since 3200 miles (full records) and it has had a pampered existence - covered indoors and rarely even seen rain.

I am a PhD engineer and am obsessive about cars. In that spirit I have made a number of high-quality reversible improvements:
In Cooling - full R1-spec dual oil coolers, Ceramic-coated downpipe, MazdaComp radiator, Samco hoses, Pettit air-sep tank, extra console switch for the common post-shutdown fan-mod.

In Braking - Stainless braided lines, FoliaTec paint, SpeedBleeders

In Handling - Cusco strut bar, HR front and rear springs, new Bridgestone SO3's

In Intake Breathing - KN drop-in filter, custom cold-air filterbox mod, Efini-spec air crossover, Blitz stock-mount intercooler, Efini-spec Y-pipe, powder coated intake hardpipes with Samco couplers and high quality clamps

In Exhaust Breathing - Downpipe, Metalit high-flow cat custom integrated with stock heatshields, RacingBeat dual-tip catback.

While a turbo responds very well to improved breathing, RX7s need correspondingly more fuel - Apexi PowerFC ECU with Commander, TechEdge wideband O2 sensor, with clean mounting.

Misc improvements include: boost gauge, Pettit grounding kit, R1 front lip spoiler. The car does not have a rear spoiler, which I think disrupt the beautiful lines of the car. It also comes with a custom fitted car cover.

PM me if you are interested.

Sweet7

Hey Scout, are you referring to my car?

If so Mike at Precision Import (formerly Mostly Mazda) checked out the car in August of '05. I have documentation to support that. The car, with the exception of about 40 miles has been well taken care of by another rotary guru and not driven since August. I havent personally touched this car as modifications. I found a silver FD with a leaky coolant seal that is better suited to my project than the VR, hence why I'm selling. I dont need two FDs.

Mmonaco (Marc) can vouch for the car. Its not perfect (how many are). But its definately in good shape.

Sweet7

Only pic I have. Will have more in Feb when I get back to CO.

smithdm2005

the reason there was one posted right below it is because you guys moved the thread to this forum from a different part

MichaelB145

I would agree that Mike at Precision imports would be the best choice but you also might try Jim Berg at the Mazda Honda shop. It's located west of County line and Quebec. Feel free to PM me and I can give you his cell phone number.

purple82

Jim told me last week that the shop changed it's name. It's now Import Specialists or something like that. Something about Honda cracking down on independent shops using their name.

Mazda-Honda used to be THE place to go for Rx-7 work, but Jim's the only one who's still there that knows these cars so I'd work directly with him.

Tony Rivera is now with a different outfit, Apex Hyperformance. He's the man, in my opinion. I can give you his phone number if you send me a PM.

jbrx7tt

Glad to see some other recommendations, as I will probably use them when needed....I was recommending Rotary Specialists, I am now DE-recommending them after I tried attempts via email and phone and had poor results, this AFTER I had done about $3k in work with them a couple of years ago. I emailed them, I called them, 2 days later I finally got a call back, then he said to call another number, after two more messages I wrote another email and have not heard back...this = lost business.

I don't know how some people think that not returning messages or calls will get them business, nor do they realize that word of mouth can be as detrimental as it is beneficial. Either way I decided to do as much of the work myself as I could and spread the rest of it out. Good job Rotary Specialists, thanks for the call back. I am not one to flame either, but I am in business as well and it drives me crazy when people do not follow up...especially after multiple attempts.

MichaelB145

Terry at Rotary Specialist seems to dealing with too much stuff in his life with his Divorce. If anyone needs his services, let me know because he still owes me money and I he would probably trade for work.

jbrx7tt

I can certainly appreciate is someone is having a tough time in their life, as we all experience it at one time or another, however it is unfortuante that he is letting it spill over into his business and customer relations.

MichaelB145

I agree!