ok i just bought a 78 rx 7 not to long ago but it has been sitting in the weather for the last 8 years and its interior/exterior is toast and idk if it runs yet they said that they had the engine rebuilt before they parked it but like i said it sat for 8 years so what should be some of the things i check before i even turn the key?

 

Oh no......sitting outside is the LAST thing you want to happen to an RX-7! These cars hate to be left non-running for any length of time. The rubber seals inside the engine need the heat cycling and lubricant "touch" to stay pliable and working. But actually, the first thing I'd worry about is actual rust inside the engine. It may be toast already if the carb and exhaust ports weren't sealed. I haven't had to deal with a car that sat for that long, so let's hear from the rest of the 1stgen crowd and see if we can pick up some first person experience and advice.

Sit down first when they start replying, Beau.

Mario III

 

8 years is a long time to sit... but i seen a video of a guy who started his 1st gen. that was sitting in his backyard for 15 years and it was all covered in weeds and the car took alittle while but it fired right up. what id look for is rust anywhere on the body especially underneath and check for leaks in any hoses or parts and compression test the engine to see if the seals are still good.

 

ok so i have check for rust any where and can't find any and i cant find that there are any fluid leaks after i filled them so should i try to start it? or is there somthing else i need to check first

i also dont think there is any rust in the motor because the engine was just rebuilt before it was parked and it all looks intacked the guy i bought it from said he lost the key years ago so i am haveing a new one made this week and i will do a compression test then

 

put it in neutral and turn it over by hand,see if you can turn the pulleys around before you try to start it by key,it might free it up if stuck,if that dont work take plugs out see if they are sooted up,clean or replace them,put back in try again,if it dont start try brake and clutch fluid down the carby,should start then maybe,dont stand behind car, might get blasted by crap out of exhaust,of seen a 12a start this way when a tow start failed,make sure you got gas in the tank,worth a try.

 

forgot to mention,take off distributer {dizzy}cap and see if you got points or pick ups,points may need adjusting,if not check timing with a timing light.

 

oh yeah, that's just the thing to do.....have the engine rebuilt and then let it sit for 8 yrs. letting a car sit that long just cause u lost the keys is just stupidity. good luck to ya.

 

yea well the guy that did it wanted 6000 for it at the time and no one would buy it so it sat.
i was talking to my dad and he said they guy had the key like 3 years ago and started it and drove it so i dont know i am supossed to get the key made today and he has'nt showed up yet so any more advice or mabey peformances mods that would give it more power and such

 

one more post just to put me over 10

 

start with an intake and new exhaust and i cant think of anything else then compression test and try to start it.

 

thanks for the advice

 

So post some pics!

 

i cant my camera dosent work i might be able to get a new one tomaorrow but i dont know

 

no problem man

 

Any Pictures?

 

no sorry dude i have to borrow a frends camera in the next week so i can post it

 

as a precautionary measure i think i would drain the gas... i didnt once and now the carb stay clogged

 

You definitely want to change the oil,
Drain the gas as well, I had a bike with 10 year old gas that was so disgusting it was unbelievable!
make sure the carb doesn't have any debris in the throt or it's going to get into the engine.
Good luck!

 

thanks guys =) I still need to get the keys though....grr