Dresgeve

Hey guys! I have a pretty general question here. I'm currently in the market for a project. After buying my own car a few years back, I've suddenly become obsessed with working on cars. I love working on mine, but it's my daily driver as well (only thing I have to replace it with is a motorcycle, and that doesn't work out too well in the snow haha) so work comes slowly because it has to be together again within a day or two at the longest. Consequently, I'm looking for an extra car to work on over the next while.

Doing some looking through Craigslist, I stumbled upon a 1981 RX7 with a widebody and fell in love haha. So I'm adding old RX7's to my "cars to look for" list. But I have questions first...

How hard is it to restore these things? Mostly I'm looking at cost and difficulty finding parts. I own a 1995 Ford Probe GT right now, and while I love the car I just find that parts are next to impossible to find, and when you do find them it's like buying parts for a BMW (just spent over $100 buying strut mounts for the rear, and I bought the cheap ones. That might be normal and I just have sticker shock lol, but it sounds high.). So what's it like restoring an RX7? Can you actually find engine and body parts, or is it like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when you find something? Is it easy to learn how to work on a rotary engine? I'm far from afraid to get my hands dirty, and I love learning this stuff (when I don't have to have the car put together quickly and can take my time, that is).

Mostly I'm just trying to get an evaluation before I seriously look for one. Be it first gen or second gen, I'm interested so far (the 3rd gen is one of my favorite cars period, but considering how expensive a whole car is I'm assuming the parts are worse haha, and finding a junked out one in my price range would be impossible I'm sure).

So what do you guys have to say? Feel free to discourage me from it if it's really not what I'm wanting! I'm not dead set on an RX7, I just like the idea so far and need to do some research.

Thanks!

RotaryRocket88

iTrader: (7)

Most 1st gen parts are no longer available from Mazda, but you can still find used parts via ebay/our classifieds.

Most 2nd gen parts are still available from Mazda, a lot of used parts are cheap & there is a large supply of them.

In general, new parts are not cheap at all from Mazda. They're not going to be priced like Ford parts.

Dresgeve

Mostly what I have trouble finding for the Probe is body parts. The body is from Ford, but the engine is Mazda (and apparently the starter is from Mitsubishi...). Are there aftermarket replacement options easily available for the engine components? (such as hoses and stuff) I'm not limited to a Mazda store by any means (the manufacturer usually asks too much for their parts anyway).

RotaryRocket88

iTrader: (7)

That would depend on the component. Aftermarket replacement alternators, pumps, brake calipers, etc... are available from auto parts stores. But things like sensors or an ECU are not available anywhere besides from Mazda or used from another owner.

You can also find aftermarket upgrade parts through places like Racingbeat, Mazdatrix, Corksport, Rx7.com, Atkins Rotary and others.

GrandmoffSilvey

The fact that you said you are doing this on a budget and looking at a first gen RX7 worries me. Right now things aren't too bad as far as restorations are concerned, there are communities that you can post a WTB and there are people that do check them. But 5 years from now, it's hard to say, these cars are getting to be 30 years old. All I can say is that if you get one, and it runs well, you will like it. It will occur the first time you attack a corner and come out of it fast. YOU DON'T WANT A Rust-X-7!!!!!!!

2nd generation

hi guys, glad to be a part of the club. i would love some info with this project of restoring a 1990 rx7. i have a 10th anniversary hood, and wondering the vaue of that, and i would love to know if first generation interior parts will fit in a second generation? thanks!

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

No 1st gen parts will fit a 2nd gen (they are totally different cars...).

Nothing special about a 10AE hood compared to a regular TII hood except the paint.

rotaryneo

definitly good web sites to check out from rotaryrocket88 but i would have to had rockauto.com to that list for any car u have. they have a large list of oem parts for make and model that would be hard to find anywhere else. and all brand new. not to bad on pricing either