I am the original owner of a 1979 RX7 ordered before the first ones hit the US. When I moved from Seattle to the KC area I backed it into the garage and unfortunately did nothing to it for 30 years. I recently poured some ATF down the carburetor and was able to rotate the engine with a wrench on the flywheel fairly easily. I am not particularly mechanically inclined. That being said I would like to figure a way to make it a driver. Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

welcome to the board.

first, get a copy of the FSM: Foxed.ca

you're going to want to change the oil and filter before you try to fire it. flush the cooling system and replace the antifreeze. the next thing you'll want to do is address the fuel system. drain the tank, change the filter and make sure to check the integrity of every section of 30-year-old, unused hose. if you have any doubts, replace it/them. inspect your ignition system, and replace whatever you need to. at that point, you can try to fire it, but you'll be nowhere near ready to drive it.

after you get it running, inspect and service the brakes and clutch. again, check the rubber hoses and replace if needed. you should probably change the oil in the tranny and rear end as well. replace the tires!!! that's all i can think of offhand.

i just want to say i think it's pretty cool that you're an original owner of a '79. it's sort of a "bucket list" car for me, so maybe that's why your story moves me so much. as you start to find your way around the board, you should start a build thread in the Gen 1 forum and post some photos of your car. would love to see it.

 

If you do a search in the first ten section about starting a car after prolonged storage, you can get some good previous threads on the subject. Here's an example: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-gene...-time-1148157/

If it ran fine when put away, then your main enemy will probably be bad fuel and a gummed up fuel system. Cleaning everything from the tank to the carb may be needed along with the fluid changes and rubber line inspections. How many miles does it have? I'd guess it can't be that many if its sat for that long. Some pics would be great.

 

What color and model? Mileage?

 

Very cool to hear your story! I’m in a similar situation - my family has had a ‘79 since new! We’ve driven it most years but it sat for the last two because I had a free place to store it. As always she fired right up with a well charged battery and drove like it was 1980! My car smokes pretty heavy after starting up then seems to settle down. I’m pretty sure it overheated at one point and my coolant seals are in bad shape. It’s a 40 year old engine and I’ve got about 125k on the clock so an engine rebuild is probably in order. It’s a bucket list thing for me to remove an engine from a car,
fix it, and put it back in. Well duh, I have the perfect project car for that and it really means a lot to me. The sounds and smells of that fun little car have been with me my entire life! I’m gonna take the plunge!

 

Red1979, you are fairly local to me. If I can help in any way let me know!

pquinlan, have you made any progress on the car as of yet?

 

Out of the garage headed towards some tender loving care. The next time I will drive it into the garage

 

Glad to see that the car is on its way to be restored! How many miles are on the car? If it sat for 30 years, it has to be really low!

 

It was my daily driver for ten years. It has a little over 100,000 miles. I drove it in the Seattle area. At that time they did not use salt on the roads. I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel again.

 

Lower mileage given the model year! No doubt a reliable vehicle for the time that you drove it! Why did you park the car for so long? It looks to still be in great shape under the dust!

 

Passed inspection driven back into garage. Registration next.

 

This would not have been possible without KansasCityRPU

 

Looks a lot better cleaned up. Sonic Bronze w/the plaid interior, couldn't quite tell from the before pic's! Congrats, bet you're anxious for this spring. Some additional pics are needed!

 

the car is gorgeous.

 

 

Under hood looks very good. KC is knowledgable on these and always willing to help. Must be a very early car. Was is built in March 78? What's the VIN? You can add it to the registry. https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-gene...830345/page10/

 

welcome. yep, early model, hood prop on the passenger side.

 

 

Those photos are almost pornographic. It is a couple hundred numbers lower than mine and a couple months older. Outstanding example.