Would you buy a NONrunning rx7?
 

ok so i've been wanting to buy a project that i can keep for awhile. i want something unique, something that not many others have. i wanna get back into the car scene and start going to more shows, meets, etc. i've been keeping an eye out for either an rx7, supra, 911, or other cars that have endless possibilities for modifications.

recently i was searching my local craigslist and found a 93 rx7 with 100k. from the pics i could tell the car already had some modifications. i could see the front bumper was aftermarket and it had a fmic as well. i contacted the guy about the car and found out that the car had been sitting about a year. he's the second owner and has had the car a few years. he was in the process of going single turbo with a t3t4 when he was called to go to afghanistan. once he returned he went through a divorce and just never finished the car. the intercooler piping isn't completed and it doesn't have the exhaust on either. the starter is also thought to be shot as well. on the plus side it does have a new t3t4, manifold, hks boost controller, and turbo timer.

i asked if the service recalls were done and he said he thought the previous owner had them done and he thinks he still has the papers. he said he ran about 14lbs of boost on the old twins. approximately 2 years ago all house seals and inner seals were replaced. the car basically just sat while the car was apart. i'm not sure yet if it sat outside or garaged and i'm also not sure if it's assembled or disassembled. i'm going to check out the car this afternoon i think. i'm just alittle undecided about buying a car that isn't running.

the asking price is $5500. i'm really not sure how much i wanna pay for the car yet. i'm also unsure of my plans with the car. i would like to get the rotary going and enjoy it on one had but, on the other i'd like to swap the engine for something newer and maybe more reliable. the thought of swapping the engine to me is alittle disheartening. i really do wanna see what all the rotary talk is about.

if you guys were in my position what would you do? i do like the rx7's looks and really the whole uniqueness of the car. i'd be great to have something that isn't seen everyday. what would you be comfotable paying for the car? i've read robinette's guide on buying an rx7 but this situation is alittle different. what else should i be aware of when looking at the car? i'd really appreciate some input on the situation. any input, comments, or questions are welcomed.

ok alittle update. i went and checked out the car this afternoon. it was parked outside under a tree and it was starting to get dark but, i looked at as much as i could. the single turbo was already installed. the manifold appeared to be a dc sports manifold with a t3t4 turbo. the turbo spun freely with no shaft play. it was capped on the end still. never been ran.

the plumbing for the intercooler and exhaust need to be complete. a front mount intercooler had already been installed and an hks turbo timer and boost controller had been wired in as well.

all in all the car looked to be in good shape. the body is in good condition with no major dents or dings. i'm not sure about the engine because i didn't hear it run but, again, i was told it ran fine before going to single turbo. would it be possible to start the car without the ic and exhaust being hooked up? seems like it'd just be loud and i wouldn't be able to hear the engine anyway. again, i'd like someone elses input on the whole situation.

If the car isn't running, then in my opinion, that's a lot for an FD.

If the car is "fine", and you are unsure of the condition of the motor, be prepared to spend at least $2000 on a rebuild.

I'd pay $5500 for a non running FD that was in decent shape otherwise.

Do you plan on keeping it rotary?

if it's complete and in decent shape then that is not a bad price.

As someone also looking to get an rx-7 in the upcoming months, I too am interested in the advice of the rest of the forum. As someone also looking, I also want to know how much money were you willing to pay before you found this offer? I personally don't think I could really entertain the offer if it was over 3500, and that's looking at the FC model( No idea on pricing for the FD style). Then again, I'm looking for a basic car with little to no mods that I can fix up myself.

For meets/shows, a 911 may be a better choice because there are more clubs and events in the USA, although the RX-7 would be more unique. FYI the Porsche meets usually involve rich people and upper-class activities like wine and cheese tasting, while rotary events mostly involve working-class and middle-class people who prefer BBQ and beer. The Porsche owners are usually a wealth of book knowledge about the history of their cars, while rotary car owners are usually technically savvy and like to work on their cars themselves. If you get a Supra then you will most likely find yourself with a lot of young Toyota and Honda drifters drooling over your car. You may want to choose a car based on which group you think you would like best.

I would certainly buy a non-running RX-7 if I liked it, but I would consider it a bunch of used parts rather than a whole car. The price sounds about right, although my FD knowledge is pretty weak.

Keep in mind that the current owner does not really know what he is doing, so there may be things that he "fixed" incorrectly. A T3/T4 is not really an upgrade for that car unless the turbo is a GT35R, so you would probably want to sell the turbo and manifold and replace it with a full T4 or rebuilt OEM twins. If you use rebuilt OEM twins or a modern water-cooled aftermarket turbo then you can sell the turbo timer. You will want to get an aftermarket fuel computer if you use anything other than the OEM twins, as the stock engine computer is a speed-density type that does not appreciate significant changes in the engine's output.

Yes, stick with the FC model. You can get one in decent shape for about $1,000. I wouldn't stress over the year or trim, but try to avoid the dreaded automatic transmission. The FD model is for people who have more money to blow on their hobby.

i'd really like to use the rotary for awhile and get to know it pretty well but, i always have the option of an engine swap if i want more reliablility. the LS motor is always a choice. the 2JZ is also a popular swap choice if i wanted to do a swap.

to be honest, i didn't really have an amount set. i've just kinda had my eyes open for a project. something different.

when i meant meets, i just meant meets in general. doesn't have to be car specific. i like being around many different types of cars and seeing and learning about other makes and models.

as far as the porsches go, i really like the rauh welt team of porsches. not many of the wide bodied porsches here in the U.S. i really wanna build a car for form and function.

one of the reasons i feel the car would be a good buy is because it comes with all the stock parts. it isn't modified too much to where i could either return to stock or modify using the supplied parts along with a few others after i learn more about the proper way to go about modifying. it's a good base to learn with and a good starting point. i even think i could sell off parts i don't need in the process of modifying.

either way i just think i need to go ahead and get the car at the lowest possible price and go from there. just put it in the garage, start cleaning, sort out all the parts that are there and then go from there. i would probably return the car to stock and familiarize myself with the setup before beginning anything else. i really like the WTAC cars and the bare bonedness of them. nothing needed except the essentials. gotta love it.

I bought a rolling shell for 4200.. I'd probably buy that car for 5500 but he FD was my dream car so that was worth a couple grand LOL ..

check the compression look at how to do it and check the compression to see if the motor is good . if it is then finishing the IC and exhaust is easy ..

what computer is he running I didnt read anything about that.

stock ecu. the guy began modding it by going with another turbo, ic, turbo timer, and few other small things. i dunno if he ever actually had a plan for everything.

OP, I am interested in knowing if you took the plunge on the RX-7 yet or even intend to.

As for you Evil Aviator.... Decent, for 1,000? I don't know where you're looking, but I am truly impressed. Most I see online are 3k+ and I haven't seen any locally yet.

Hopefully those $3K+ cars are in pretty good shape. I sold my 88 TII for $3K+, and everything worked.. power windows, wipers, AC, cruise control, etc., and it had a few nice extras like an Auto Meter boost gauge, HKS FCD, HKS intake, HKS VBC, custom exhaust, and CFDF clutch. It had no rust, the paint was OK, and the interior was pretty good. Anyway, cars in that range should be in "good" shape, otherwise they are overpriced.

I bought my 88 convertible for $1,000 a few years ago. It needed a new top, battery, one tire, and a few minor fixes, so it is what I would call "decent" rather than "good". I drove it over 1,100 miles round trip from St. Louis to DGRR for four years now with no problems. It was advertised in the classified section of this forum for several months with no buyers, so it's not like I am somebody special. I found several other good deals in the classified section last year, but I decided that I have enough cars. Just keep looking and you will find them.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachments/...odel-2002c-jpg

5k FD with a single turbo? If you have at least 5k cash in the bank to spend on it...I'd pick it up in a heartbeat if there were no other significant issues.

Seems like a lot

looking to do a LSX swap? 5k for a chassis is too much

you may see them listed for that high, it does not mean they are selling.

Non running is fine, as long as you have a FSM, (Not Haynes) and some technical know how and last but not least maybe a friend or 2 that have previous experience with that year car..

In my case my son bought an 84 GSL not running, we bolted on a Mikuni 44PHH put on a Header and good exhaust, it runs fine now... We did find it killed a coil, which explained the rough running.. Thanx for the help Alex :)
Now there is an 86 GX in the drive way for me, paid 200.00 for it.. It runs, took a total rebush of the shifter to work decent, now we just have to get rid of that 14 yr old gas :)

If you do purchase that car, have fun, get it running, then go and drive it !

i haven't yet. i took this week off for my bday. i contacted the seller again telling him i wanna come check out the car again earlier in the day when it's still light out and i can get under the car and check it out more thoroughly. when i went the other day it was getting kinda late and it was raining alittle. unfortunately the weather forecast for this week looks like more rain so i may be in the same situation as last time, only with more day light. i really wanted to get under the car and also try and start it. not sure if it's going to start with the bad starter tho.

tomorrow i'm gonna go by the bank and see how much a loan would be for alittle more than the asking price so if i do decide to get the car i'll be preapproved and also know i have alittle extra cash to get the car running again. i'm really thinking about returning it to stock and getting the car in great shape until i can decide what route i wanna go. i'm sure there are some bushings and hoses that need to be replaced on the car.

i'm thinking i could sell off some of the parts i don't need when i decide what route to go. i also wanna learn to weld so i can do as much of the work myself. i'll definitely keep everyone posted on what i do within the next few days.

well i figured i could always do an ls or another swap if i'm unhappy with the rotary engine but, i really wanna focus on the rotary engine first

funny you mention the fsm. the seller has one along with the car. it's nice having a physical copy. finding them online is great but when you're in the garage working away you don't wanna have to run in and search the fsm pdf for what you need. i bought a haynes manual when replacing the hg on my wifes aunts altima and some of the info for the timing was alittle off. when setting the timing according to the haynes manual the timing was off about 2 teeth. once i rechecked the fsm pdf i had downloaded i followed its instructions and set the timing according to what it said and the car started right up.

i really wanna get the car but, i don't want to get in over my head. i need a project/toy i can put some time into and enjoy and have fun with. i'm thinking i'll just get the car and take it slow.

Loan? For a non-running project/toy that you can't afford? Seriously? Oh hell no!

You should fill this out before getting any loans:
http://www.suzeorman.com/igsbase/igs...rdit&GnavID=42

I swear..if I flip the channel and I see some stock photo of an RX-7 on the channel, I will just shake my head. NO offense, but I feel like she'd automatically just say no and end it. Between that, and trying to explain how and why you'd use it, I expect so much out of this now..

The big thing with Haynes is they are British, a lot of the information is for British/European models less stringent emissions, less wiring are some of the differences....

i never said i couldn't afford it. i just don't think i should take out a big chunk of my savings for this.

i'd rather take out a loan then take the $5k outta my savings, IRA, or 401k. i understand where you're coming from but, i'm 26 and just had my first home built 2 years ago. i'm tired of working and not living. i just feel like i should enjoy my life and do something i enjoy.

i've sacrificed enough for awhile. it's time to enjoy myself. i hear all these financial shows and talk about investing and the future and all. i think that's a great idea but, you've gotta enjoy your life NOW. you can't just plan for the future and sit at home doing nothing so that 40 years from now you'll have financial independence.


that i didn't know.

@funnyscreenname... That is what I am finding with the Haynes that came with my 2nd Gen...

least if you get a rolla you can do engine how you want, and you know its done right

I swear I hope I can get that lucky when I'm ready to buy one.

was it a katrina car? i wish i would've had more money after katrina. there were so many flooded cars for sale that you'd never see up for sale again. flooding isn't too big of a deal if you know what you're doing with the car.

have you owned a rotary car before? im curious. if it was an fd i would say you better get a loan for alot more than the purchase price of the car..

never owned a rotary. interested in getting to know the car tho.

ok because you worried me when you sad you would "swapping another motor in to have better reliability". your comparing a boosted motor with an aftermarket tuned ecu, bigger turbos, to a bone stock motor. of course there are more things to fail. but this whole notion of rotaries being unreliable.... dont perpetuate this falsehood, having not owned a rotary before. do some work on the car and own one before forming such an opinion, and im not trying to berate you by any means im just saying. it gets very annoying to hear people say this day in and day out, from people who have no first hand experience under the hood of one.

now that thats over i wouldn't simply take a loan out to fund a "project car". and if you do you better get 10k and have some left over. so your not like the other two guys who owned the car before you and end up selling it after its 98% done and stuck at some Aholes shop getting a lien put on it. FD means by all definition Financial Disaster

but that is a great deal, ive seen rolling shells go for around 6-7k so even if it doesnt run, its worth a gamble. ive bought rx7's not running before, but they haven't been FD's so maybe im not qualified to answer that question. most i spent on any of the rx's i own is a grand. youd be better off posting pics and moving this thread tot the 3rd gen section. cause FD's are and entirely different animal all together.

but good luck and as always "pics or it didnt happen":egrin:

thanks for the laugh. it think he meant the engine was flooded and as a result lost compression which would prevent it from starting or running.

i don't believe he means it was a flood "water" damaged car.

so these cars are reliable? when i first starting reading up on the car i started with a link to rob robinettes page and one of the first things it mentions is poor reliability. hearing that statement is false is great news actually. makes me even more happy to get the car.

i just mentioned the engine swap because that was my plan for the car if the engine did go caput. i was even telling a friend i wanted to get to know the rotary before swapping in anything else.

tomorrow i'm gonna go ahead and get the car towed to my house and start sorting out all the parts that are in the car and also begin cleaning it up. i guess i'll begin a build thread as well. don't expect it to move too fast. do expect to answer alotta questions and view alotta low quality pics. i actually thought of going to get a nikon to document my progress. below are some pics i took while looking over the car again today. just iphone pics. don't get too excited.

yea...that's what i meant too...maybe, soooo....i'm a big dumb animal. sorry. when i hear "flood" that's the first thing that comes to mind. believe me, if you would've seen the shit i did that'd be the first thing you'd think of too. i got shit that still hasn't dried out.

here's the pics. sorry for the quality. just wanted to snap a few while visiting the car again

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...photo-1146.jpg
here's a shot of the rear filled with various parts. the pass side is the same way.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18.../photo-200.jpg
missing this little vent piece on the fender. anyone have a red one they'd like to donate?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18.../photo-199.jpg
the incompleteness

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18.../photo-198.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18.../photo-197.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18.../photo-196.jpgok

as always, comments welcome.

reliability comes down to knowledge preemptive maintenance and build quality. nothing is fool proof, but you wouldn't believe how many people after i tell them i own multiple rx7's. and they say " oh that must suck having to rebuild it every 50K miles..." :banghead: but i know what you mean lol.

good luck with the car it looks to be in pretty good shape. considering what you paid. sometimes its just easier to buy them blown, or in parts you save money in the long run instead of finding out a year later the motor has been leaking coolant after you paid top dollar for it. and there always the gamble that everything is fine and the owner forgot to connect a ground wire...

and your a step ahead of most people because you found this forum and there a vast array of knowledge, to be had from other owners.

yea when i began reading up on these cars i read a good bit about how unreliable they are. the sites and post were probably a good bit old tho. i'm sure there have been some advances in the rotary market.

i definitely agree with you when you say it's all about build quality and maintenance. that's with any car really. i think maybe the rotary gets a bad rep because there aren't many people that really know them and they tend to give up on them instead of learning and forking out the money for reliable builds.

i'm actually sitting at home now waiting on the car to be delivered. the owner is a tech for vw and one of the pluses was that he could tow the car up to 100 miles for me. he also has a tech friend at mazda that helped him rebuild the engine. he said he was gonna give me the guys info incase i need any parts so hopefully i can get a discount on oem parts.

i'm excited about this car guys. gonna need alot of info so please be patient. i'm most likely gonna return the car to stock before modding it. gonna try and do some reliability mods and also a tune up. hope there are alotta diy's on here. i'm ready to dive in.

ok guys i've taken the plunge.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y18...photo-1498.jpg

this is the car being delivered yesterday just before the rain came in. i guess i'll go ahead and begin a build thread in the appropriate section. i just wanna say Thank You to everyone that has helped me in the decision to get the car. i appreciate all your responses and wanna again say Thank You to all the members for not being assholes and helping a new guy out.

be sure to check out my build thread as i'll be posting pics, questions, and my findings of the car. Thanks again everyone.

Good luck it looks good. And for a steal lol

i think its a fair price

evil aviator said it best. go for the rx7 :)

thanks man.

you guys have any links for info on going single turbo? i've got a big ass pile of oem parts that were removed from the car previously and it looks like going single is going to be better for me.

Good Luck !!!!!!!

sweet deal

If it's a clean title then a shell is worth that, definitely. Grab it. But yeah if you can't afford it with cash- this is not the project to be getting in to...

Honestly $5500 doesnt sound to bad from what ive seen. most rollers depending on condition are from 4-6k. I think it might be a good steal if your planning on doing a swap, you can part it out to fund the transplant. If your going to keep it rotary might want to keep shopping.

Before buying any rotary, do a compression test. You don't need to hear it run to get an idea of what's going on inside. If you have to rebuild the engine, expect to spend at least a couple of thousand. Keep in mind an FD can be great fun, but pulls money out of your pocket faster than a greedy wife. *sorry ladies*

Consider a good condition TII as a project as well. You can find great deals on TII modified cars. I have a GXL Turbo car with mega-mods throughout for $4500 in NC. I would keep looking if I were you. Good luck.

a rolling shell you can aquire at a fraction of the cost of a driving car, you just gotta put it all togeter which for some people may or may not be worth it.. for me, its really not.. i want a ready to drive car.

I am in a similar situation about to pick up a non working fd tomorrow and hoping for the best

Congrats btw! I like you am taking the plunge because the price is right

I bought my 1983 RX-7 with faith; not running (since 1998 mind you) for $1000. Everything was in great condition, it had all right things done to it with spare parts, and best of all was garaged for 75% of that time with a car cover.

Faith brought me here, and faith allowed me to fix it using $0.

-Taking the old oil from my DD (Integra oil filters fit!)
-Loosening and spraying down the throttle linkage nut with PB blaster/Silicone (stuck throttle)
-Blowing out the fuel lines with compressed air
-Emptying the gas tank and filling it with my lawn mower's gas
-Desulfating/Trickle charging a battery from 1997 for two weeks = new battery
-Inflating tires with NEW air (get the moisture out)
-SAE 30wt directly into the carb for 5 mins with (10x) 30 second starting intervals and letting the car sit for two days to restore compression
-Changing a set of spare plugs back in

***First start was priceless.***



So in short, YES. Rotaries will go on forever, they just need a bit of coaxing every once in a while. Buy one that doesn't run and save yourself the cash.

Congrats! and good luck. Seems you got a sweet deal.

Yeah, gotta live a little (Yes, I'm the "devilish" angel on your left shoulder telling you to splurge!)

As long as you have a good savings, why not?

I would say though, taking a loan as opposed to dipping in savings amount to about the same thing = You are spending $$. The only difference with taking a loan when you have the amount in savings is that you are borrowing money you already have, so technically, you are still in the "green" from a net worth perspective.

$5K doesn't seem bad at all, if best case it turns out that finishing up his non completed project is all you gotta do to get it running.

Worst case, you end up with a roller in which case $5K is steep but even with $2-$3K to rebulid, $8K is not a bad price for entry into a FD car. I'm no expert on the value of these cars but when I was looking for one (about a week ago, $11-$12K for good condition is what I saw).

Do you have the time, effort and extra $$ to put into it soon?