Today I swapped a big old chair that reputedly came from a local whorehouse, no proof tho . for a mazda RX3 stationwagon. This car is buried in stuff in the shed where it has lived for the past 15 years, tires re flat, window so dirty that you cant see in , says starter is shot. Has been to Alaska and back at least once. Now I need to know the first thing to do after I get it on the trailer and home , Yeah I know , wash it.fill it with MMO and let it soak ? find a starter , will an RX7 starter fit? Help !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

what year is the RX-3 ?????? I have a rebuilt starter if you want it...

Dan

 

If it's a '74-up manual, any N/A RX-7 starter should fit. Jeff20B reported that he had to grind some flashing out of the bellhousing but it does work just fine.

First thing fill it with MMO or ATF and let it soak. Every day or two, turn the engine over one revolution and add more. After several weeks (yes WEEKS) then you can crank the engine to purge the spooge out, buy NEW spark plugs/cap/rotor/wires/points (adjust them properly!!) add five or six gallons of new gasoline, and only then try to start it. It should light off.

You can use the intervening weeks to wash, polish, detail, inspect the suspension and brakes and repair/replace/adapt as needed, lord it over all of us who would *be* a chair in a whorehouse in order to get a RX-3 wagon...

 

We've recently found that MMO might do more harm than good. ATF should never be used. Of course it's up to you as far as what you want to put in your engine. I'd use 20W50 myself; it worked on my Cosmo that sat since '91.

Yes, I had to grind the casting flash from the inside of the hole. It helped that the tranny was not installed at that time. Grinding is only necessary if you're going to use an '86 or later NA starter. You'd also need a different bolt or two (both longer) because the flange is thicker and is not threaded like the old ones are. Otherwise, any '74 to '85 starter should bolt right in with the stock bolts.

 

I havent gotten this car out of the shed yet , and dont know if it is set uo or not. Assumeing it is, and do not use atf or mmo, what then ?

 

Great find Bob!
I would never imagine that somoene would swop a chair for a rotary!

Karis

 

His wife didnt wnat the chair either,nor did my wife so he made her take it for the rotary. So we are almost all of us happy it was her car , so we will see where the chair winds up. Swaps are fun.

 

now thats a tough call, a dirty old whorehouse chair,
or a rx3 wagon. but like they say in the movies,
You've chosen wisely.

 

so whats wrong with using MMO or ATF if its set up?

 

Yeah, what did you find out about mmo?

 

ATF just doesn't like to burn and will kill your cats. MMO was meant to burn, but Long Duck had bad luck with it. I threw some MMO in my 20B last year (sticky apex seals) and test ran it briefly for the first time today. It had a puff of smoke at start up. Maybe Long Duck just needs to quit denying the simple fact that his engine has needed a rebuild for quite a while? I mean c'mon, you don't go pouring liquid into a healthy engine do you?

Honestly, some Castrol 20W50 down the carb is probably the safest option. Crank it by hand several times (whoever said to 'bump the starter' needs to be bumped on the head lol).

 

The rotary is lots dirtier than the chair, the husband of the owner now sits in it in the shed and smokes cigars, my wife is still giving me the bent eye and muttering something about needing another rotary.......

 

Bob:

How is it comming along ?

Can you maybe post some pics ?

I would love to see it!

Karis

 

hey bob if u dont want it ill come down there and pic it up for u :-P

 

brought it home tonight, It is a truely filthy car , raccon crap on the hood too. How does one post pix on this forum????????

 

Get that RX-3 cleaned up!

 

post pics!!!

 

email pics to me and ill host/post them for you. james@mcdonaldindustries.com

 

Read the sticky about Power Foam/ATF/MMO on the 1st gen. board.

Is the motor seized?

 

dont know if the motor is set up or not yet, been busy with the xyl's birthday. more later.

 

Will a 12A fit in this car?

 

12a should be the motor it has.

 

it should have a 12a already in it doing a swap is very easy

 

The engine appears to be NOT a 12 a It looks ahorter and only says MAZDA on the top, maybe it is a 10A? As soon as I figure out how to post pix , will do so. Has two rotors 4 plugs 2 coils but the dist dont look like a dizzy and the oil cooler is different. the odometer says 78K ,yeah right!!!! which time around. can the vin tell what engine this was?

 

there's a plate on the firewall that tells what engine it has.