First Gen RX7...

[dr!ft]

Well, there just so happens to be a 1980 Mazda RX7 for sale in my area. And boy is it in some excellent condition! It has 104,000 original miles AND 30,000 on a factory new Mazda engine/clutch. Almost every part has been replaced with brand-new OEM parts, from the window seals, to the friggin' dome light switch. Comes with a set of 15" Work rims too! Here's the only problems: Crack in the windsheild and a crack/small-separation in the dash.

The guy wants $2350 for it and I'm really thinking about getting it. Now, my question(s) to you: Should I? Anyone with experience on the first-gens? Wait till I find a nice S13 coupe for sale?

[nismodave]

Stay away rom a old rotary car like that unless u got bucks to mod it or replace motor.

If you dont care about speed and just want a cool old school car to beat around, offer him 1500.

[I30T]

Sounds good.. Tomorrow, I'll show a friend that knows rexes well this thread and see what he says.

[Toahk]

should ask on rx7club.com

[90Q45blue]

You have to rebuild rotary motors about every 60k so the engine is halfway to a rebuild. Get an S13.

Nick

[-HyJynX-]

I would wait for a 240. Unless this isnt ganna be your main DD(daily driver) then go for it.

[krazy skwerel]

I find the old rx7 to be a very cool old car. As far as rebuilding the engine every 60k miles well thats BS. I have seen 13b powered fc's go for 176 and still running fine. It's all in how it was taken care of, if an *** owned it then yeah it might need that rebuild at 60k. Yes I know the first gen doesn't have the 13b, but still if taken care of the rotary is a good engine.

[dr!ft]

Also, the past two owner's have both been mechanics (non-smokers). Oil has regularily been changed every 2,500 miles, major restoration on 1-24-04 (many new parts - including headlight motors, radiator, hoses, battery, battery hold-down and tray), Sony CD player, shocks, and brake rotors/pads. Yes, this would become my daily-driver. It seems to be in really good condidion, and I would hope that it would last me awhile.

Another ques: how much would replacing both the windshield and dash cost?

[themadscientist]

Rotary motors get an undeserved bad name. They have their ideosycracies and there is a learning curve but after a while you will grow to like a rotary. A rebuild is a nothing unless it has been abused, spit out an apex seal or overheated but that's any engine. The first gens are great little cars just check it THOROUGHLY for rust. Try to find one with the 13B, the 12A is kind of limp. Definately hit up some RX7 boards for model specific tips.

[SienSil80]

Quote »Stay away rom a old rotary car like that unless u got bucks to mod it or replace motor.[/quote]wow jackass shut your mouth. Hi I'm also in norcal and have had a 1st gen rx7 for like 4 or 5 years as my daily. People have some huge misconceptions about it. The older rx7 uses a 12A 1.1litre engine which is about as reliable as any nissan 280 or 240zx. The problem with the newer 13BTTs is that they put only 1mm apex seals on the rotors (same as piston rings on a rotary) and then they added boost. In the 1st gen 12A's they used 3mm apex seals stock which is the reliability mod for 3rd gens. Its an incredibly strong engine and can take alot of abuse so please dont confuse the reliability of the rx7s between years. I drive that car everyday 2 thousand rpms past redline just ****ing around and the engine still runs strong. The only ghetto features it gets if when i hit things like trees with it. By the way I'm pushing 150k miles. On the first gen rx7 fourms hearing 200k plus isnt uncommon (http://www.mazspeed.com/).

Every one of my friend who have driven it say its one of the funnest little cars to drive around. I personally dont like the visual style very much but its a blast to just to cruise. Although 2350 seems rather expensive as a good one usually costs around 1500. Whats really neat if for only 900 bucks you can buy the 12AT engine from japan (relaible turbo engine that came stock in japan) and drop it in and get mid to low 14s with mild mods out of it.

One last thing, check out this 1st gen, hot huh?

:ylsuper

[SienSil80]

try to ignore the spoiler, look at the rest.

[dr!ft]

Sien, thanks for the info! The price for the car is actually $1950 with the stock rims. If I wanted the Work rims (which I do ), I'd need an extra $400. I believe it comes with the 12A. Basically, I'm lookin for a decent daily-driver that I can have some "fun"with every now and then. I'm not looking for gigantic horsepower numbers (while on the subject, how much does the 12A have?), I'm more looking for a nice handling, somewhat decent looking, car.

And yes, that first-gen is awesome! Side from the wing, though.

[SienSil80]

oh with rims then definately go for it, especially if its super clean. It'll be an excellent daily driver. Handling is like a dream and the weight of the car is ultra light, something like 2250lbs. The best part about the 12A as a daily is the 30mpg highway. The 12A has only 101 horses though. give mazspeed forums a good readthrough to see what ur getting yourself into and see if you wanna do anything to it. I have a stock hood with a hood scoop molded in if u wanna buy it for your first gen, let me know. If yu have any more questions about the 1st gen lemme know. Be sure to get the rims though, finding rims for that car is hell.

[SienSil80]

also, when u drive it, dont ever be afraid of that redline. the true redline where internals will be damaged on a 12A is somewhere around 10500 RPMS so the guys at checkpoint tell me (rx7 only shop here in sac thats been around for 25 year, they know their ****). The guy there, Chris, also custom made a single rotor engine once with a special ecentric shaft that had .6 litre displacement that revved to 15000 RPMS and had peak horsepower of 130.

[dr!ft]

Once again, thanks for the info. After school today, I'll be heading on over to the local Mazda dealership and get price quotes for both the windshield and the dash. Hopefully it won't run my pocket dry...

Now, I know to be checking for rust and all that, but anything else? Also, there isn't any AC, would it be hard to install an AC system?

[szh]

I had a 1980 RX-7 and drove it for about 60 or 70k miles without any problems! It was fun to drive - the high and smooth and vibration-free redline was just amazing. I wish I had not gotten rid of mine ... years ago!

With regards to adding an AC, I would not (even if possible). That first-gen did not have a lot of power and anything that is going to reduce engine power is going to make it less fun!

Z

[Nismo4Banger240]

I own an 85 Rx-7 with about 145k miles on it and the only thing i ever had to replace on it was the radiator, and thats just because i didnt trust the old one (it wasnt overheating or anything) It still runs fine to this day....they are great little cars. I did however give it to my dad and upgrade to an s13 because ive always had a love for 240's. If the motor is stock then dont expect to be ripping up the streets because there not very fast stock, but ive seen what some people can to and its amazing how fast those little things can be built to run. Again like others have said the rotory motor is fine as long as you keep it maintaned and dont abuse it (like any other motor)....and if it has as much care put into as you stated it should be a great car. Either way you go...hope everything works out:D

[RagingPanda]

My co-worker swap a 2nd gen engine to his 1st gen rx-7. Putting down around 350 to the wheels. That thing is not a car...so fast. A street legal 11s car. Beat Z06 by 6 car length. He spent over 400hrs on the car. I can ask him to talk to you by sadly he hates forum becase somethin people need to think before they type soemthin. "there is absolutely nothing left for me to do, motorwise and turbwise....i guess i'm going to get it paint now" hahaha

[dr!ft]

^^ And that is one reason I am considering purchasing a first gen! Of course, I don't have the funds to cover something like that at the moment. Although that 12AT swap Sien talked about earlier does sound mighty tasty! :yummy

So, I visited the Mazda dealership, and talked to the guys about working on the car, fixing/pricing both the dash and windshield. I guess their answer is best quoted "We aren't allowed to perform repairs on cars that are more than ten years old. Reason being, cars that are that old have little things that go wrong with them that might be hard to fix..." :rolleyes In other words, I have no local shop that can perform repairs on rotary engines. (I live in Ukiah, CA) Anyone now the closest? I figured I could learn about rotaries and eventually perform all repairs, the guys inlcuding a new owner's manuel, and two FSM's and a Chiltons manual. Should be fun!

[rico05]

You have to rebuild rotary motors about every 60k so the engine is halfway to a rebuild.

Spoken like a true n0oB to rotaries.

A FB3S is a great car! The 12A is a solid motor that can give GREAT results after careful tuning and porting (and by tuning of course I mean carbs, exhaust). An option for the future is either a Series 3 13B from a 84-85 GSL-SE and can be built into quite the beast (4 port rotaries OWN) Of course, there are lots of resources for Series 4 and 5 13BT swaps. The FB3S is a car that has all the spirit of a true FR sports machine in a small package. I have a personal friend that has a turbo'ed S3 13B that he will soon have 245hp to the pavement.

BTW, my S5 lasted well into 100k range, had perfect compression, and only blew because of a freak accident that I instigated. A N/A rotary lasts like a piston engine. Turbos (espicially twin) and their recursive heat are the reason for rotary death.

[rico05]

The problem with the newer 13BTTs is that they put only 1mm apex seals on the rotors (same as piston rings on a rotary) and then they added boost. In the 1st gen 12A's they used 3mm apex seals stock which is the reliability mod for 3rd gens.

Nope. The 13B-REW had 2mm 3 piece apex seals. Hurley, Atkins, Mazdaspeed etc. make 3mm. Also the stock ones were cast iron and that was the main problem, as excessive and prolonged heat actually made the cast iron brittle making detonation incurred breaks all the easier.

[RagingPanda]

BTW....it cost him around 15k(labor not included since he did everything himself.)

[dr!ft]

Some good/bad news: I won't be getting the Rex as I still really want a S13 coupe. And there just so happens to be a 93 SE coupe for sale nearby!! So I've ditched the idea of getting the Rex and decided to move on. Seemed like to much of a hassle, with lack of local rotary shops and my "love" for the Two-Fourty...

Although, I still think those first-gens are aweome little buggers!

[themadscientist]

13Bs look good in S13s:D I'm just throwin that out there.