Learn me FB RX-7s

Quite possibly going to buy a 82 5speed RX-7. The price is right, the numbers are low. It's been sitting in storage for 15 years (inside apparently).

87,000km, 5spd, less than a grand..

What should I look for?

I know the rear bins are a spot to peek into, what if it doesn't start? Should I run like hell or lowball even more?

Thanks boys!

Take a compression guage... only $30 if you don't have one. Apex seals are getting expensive

I've got one of those. I didn't know rotaries had compression!!

I wouldn't have high hopes for it starting right up, not after sitting for that long.

Could be a real time capsule, though, depending on how/where it was kept.

apparently it ran

In reply to Grtechguy:

Compression tester isn't going to be the right tool if it's been sitting that long.

Mine was sitting in a garage for 15 years when I got it. The Apex seals will be stuck in a compressed state. It will take a new battery, bottle of ATF and 24 hours to get it running again.

The only thing I warn about is the rubber seals in the engine my be dried out and start leaking. That's what happened to mine. One of the o-rings for the oil passage between the rotor housing and side housing decided it was done and started leaking oil bad since it was pressurized.

I bought mine for $500 with a parts car. I'd give them that at the most. You don't know if it's going to run.

A regular compression tester doesn't work well on a rotary. And as mentioned, the apex seal are likely stuck anyway.

WD40 works great for loosening stuck apex seals. Video tutorial on freeing them up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etnpc8tV0gE

That's going to be a carbureted car, if it's been sitting 15 years the carb is gonna be some kind o' gummy.

FB's are great cars, I genuinely regret selling mine. That said, rotary engines do NOT like to sit! Bring some WD40 and hope for the best.

+1 on the carb being gummed up. I paid $250 for mine 15 years ago. It had been sitting for 6-8 years. All it took it get it running was a fresh battery and a splash of fuel down the carb.

Thanks guys! He wants $600 bu I want $300 so w will hope for the best. Currently making the 200km trek to Go see it.. Pics tonight!!

Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to Rotary ownership! We're a bit... odd. You'll like it here.

CanadianTercel wrote:

Good on ya for "pulling the trigger". I'm still part of the crowd that thinks it's easier to fix mechanical stuff than it is to fix bodywork. Ganbatte, dude!

Thanks guys! The car is in amazing condition, truly stored inside for te past 12 years! And I get a ported 12a with it! Car ran on fuel from a Jerry can with no problem.. And beat part is the seller runs a rotary/ Mazda racing and service shop 2 hours from me and is a big time club racer

CanadianTercel wrote: Thanks guys! The car is in amazing condition, truly stored inside for te past 12 years! And I get a ported 12a with it! Car ran on fuel from a Jerry can with no problem.. And beat part is the seller runs a rotary/ Mazda racing and service shop 2 hours from me and is a big time club racer

Whoa! It runs? There's gonna be a lot of jealous Rotorheads around here! I've never owned one m'self, but I know so many people who have that I know what they say about what happens when a rotary sits up for awhile is absolutely true.

Hearing what you said about the seller, he probably knew a little more about how to store it than most folks do. Nice find!!

He actually only had the car for the past 5-6 months! sat in the original owners hands for the past 12 inside, he bought it brand new in october of 1981!!

I didn't see it run first hand, but i have to believe the guy, seeing as he runs a very reputable shop that is very well known and he's told me to come back if i have any problems.

Things to remedy: Brake lines, i pressed the pedal- squirt squirt pull gas tank and get out the jelly find some 14" wheels for it clean up the rust and spray paint patch it over for the time being give it a tune up and general brake maintenance and fluids change..

ebrake works!!!

More pictures as promised.

what's this beside the rear hatch glass?

That piece you are questioning is the mount for a similar sized triangle trim piece that hides that nasty bit. You should be able to source a new one or one from a dismantled car. heck I may even have one,let me look. Congrats on the purchase!! Looks to be an S or GS model. I am jealous of the brown/tan interior.

Hehe! Good score! I happen to have a shed full of parts if you need anything... including 14" wheels

Yes I need 14's for it! I see guys rock adapters for these 4x110 models to convert to 4x100, which is most of my stable of wheels lol

I actually like those factory Steelies

You don't see them too often.

Nice purchase. The interior looks quite good. Those steel rims are rarely seen on Rx-7s - I had a set on my 81 S.

Yeah I'm pretty sure this is a basemodel S also.

Yes, that's an S model (steel wheels, no sunroof, rear drum brakes). I had a silver one. (wipes a tear away.)

So we poked around a little tonight, got the car to fire up on the gas in the tank, but it would die. I'm going to buy new gas, fill the tank, check the plugs and all that jazz in hopes of getting it to idle.