Rx7

[Guest]

There's this 1985-86 Mazda RX7 for sale for $700. Body is straight and solid, could use a little touchup on a couple surface rust spots, though you have look for them to see them. But for a 20 year old Michigan car, it looks pretty damn good, minus the acorns and pine needels it's collected. It's a 5 speed, non turbo with 112,000 miles. Interior is clean with the original radio, A/C, and all that garbage, no cracks in the dash, all the glass is good. The guy thinks the motor is seized up, but he hasn't tried starting it in like 4 months. I have a hunch that it will run with a little TLC.

So anyway, would I be getting myself into trouble buying it? My plan is to buy it, get it running, and sell it for profit. Or, could it end up being a money pit? Fun project, or frustrating mistake?

Thanks.

[Teaguer]

Do you have any experience dealing with rotary engines ?

If not it will be a nightmare and better left alone .

[JetalonE30]

i had a buddy with two of those old rx-7s, and their really nice cars, easy to work on, very simple to understand

if it was me i would seriously consider it, but i have him to fall back on for help with stuff i dont understand about the rotary

i would say do a lil research, maybe find an rx7 board, and ask them

[BahnE30]

could be a non-starter, rotery engines are known to flood, and once they flood, they wont start, but it can fixed. letting it sit for 20 minutes doesn't solve this problem, a buddy of mine brought one back from the states, got it dirt cheap because the guy he bought it from thought the engine was dead, he put 200 bucks worth of stuff into it, and resold for like 7x's what he had into it. i don't remember exactly what he had to do, but like mentioned above, check around some RX-7 boards.

[yozsi]

85 or 86? because the 85 is a FB and the 86 is a FC. big difference, i wouldnt touch a 12a FB..... but a 13b gle-se. thats another story.

[HST]

If it has not been started in 4 months, then stay away, I have had 2 FC's and love them, but if it has not been started in 4 months I would put a 75% chance of engine damage if you crank it over. FYI - engine damage means new engine. After that much time the APEX seals tend to fuse to the rotor housing. When started the seals will distroy themselves = new engine. I had this happen on a car that was not started for 6 months.

[HST]

FYI the FC cars are very very easy to work on, just re-buliding an engine is next to impossible for the avarage person. Everyting else is just as easy as an E30 to do, if not easier. If I had the chance to own one again I would take it.

[Erick]

the engines that give you trouble are the turbo ones.... N/A rotaries are incredibly reliable.

[robsgotit]

ive had 2 of these 90 and a 91, and they are incredibly fun to drive, but they will make you bang your head against the wall if something goes wrong, i dont think its the type of car you pick up and try and make a profit, expecaly if its been sitting awhile, the apex seals need oil to stay moist and keep compression, they "can" dry out like an old gasket, if its not running now, you should be expecting the worst case senerio, being a full rebuilt which is not terribly difficult or expensive if you get a bently,
but if your not up for that id stay away

[E30 Wagen]

Well, I'm remembering that it's carbed, and after some brief research I think that means it has the 12aFB engine. So, I think I'm going to stay away from it. Shame though, the body and other stuff would have cleaned up nice. And also, brakes and suspension could have been questionable, so overall too risky. Just not prepared to tackle a rotorary engine, much less a normal one. Anyway, thanks for replies. I'll just keep my eyes open for another e30 or something.

[german g]

APEX seals will own your soul, seriously , i would stay away from a rotary that wasnt extremely well taken care of..