Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Queries / Hints and Tips on purchasing a rotary => Topic started by: slingo on January 11, 2009, 04:09:49 PM

Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: slingo on January 11, 2009, 04:09:49 PM
it was listed on ebay and didnt sell at 4500 ! i emailed him and went to veiw it ! its a 1992-1993 it has carbon effect front seats leather rear and black rear lights which come on round with footbrake ! does anybody know its model ?    
 
the bodywork is tatty (needs a full paint job )
we pumped the coolant system to 15psi to check engine seals from cold !
 the compresion test came up with 3 jumps to 100 psi and a 110 psi hold on both rotors but we used a piston comp tester ! would the readings be ok for an engine thats done 4000miles since a re works engine rebuild ?
 
 i got him down to 3700 it has a full mot and some tax !
 the only thing that worries me is that the engine was warm when we arived but he said it hasnt been started for a week so he checked it started !  its starts ok from warm with no smoke !  
 
 thanks for any help peeps ! :)
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: RobbieRX-7 on January 11, 2009, 04:40:45 PM
Sounds like a type R with the 99spec light conversion done. Check behind each vent either side of the front bumper. If there is an oil cooler behind each hole, its very likely a type R. If there is only 1 cooler it could be anything but a type R.

A compression tester used for piston engines are no good for rotary engines. They have a no return valve and hold the highest pressure. You need to keep that valve pressed in whilst doing the compression test and look for the needle fluctuating 3 times. If the needle points roughly to the same digit 3 times, the compression is even across all 3 faces of the rotor.

Dont worry about the engine being warm when you got there. You need to worry if the engine wont start when hot though as it could mean a rebuild.
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: slingo on January 11, 2009, 04:47:13 PM
cool cool it started fine from warm but i didnt check for twin oil coolers !
 it was showing 100 psi on all 3 jumps with the pressure release in on the tester !  thanks rob :)
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: matt p on January 14, 2009, 08:18:09 PM
Got any pics mate?
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: slingo on January 15, 2009, 07:21:02 PM
hi matt i havent picked it up yet ! but since joining this forum ive realized i can get a better car for the money i want to pay ! :3Confused so im still hunting about but i havent left the silver one high and dry yet !
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: matt p on January 15, 2009, 10:54:39 PM
Ahhh good choice mate!,

There are some real steals out there at the moment, good luck with your serch!
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: slingo on January 15, 2009, 11:17:56 PM
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/756605.htm    this is local to me i was going to view it sunday hes said its mechanicly sound but the bodywork is fooked ! but i guess it reflects on the price ! what do you think ?
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: logicalChimp on January 15, 2009, 11:39:08 PM
Hmmm - I have to admit that I probably wouldn\'t go anywhere near that one...  If only because the chap is incapable of writing in English!

Also, he says there are cracks above the wheel arches - it doesn\'t look like it has wide-arch kits, so I\'m guessing someone tried to roll the arches and botched it.  Having had a crack above the wheel-arch on my ex-rex, I would be very wary of rust etc lurking underneath...

having had a (very) quick poke around on Pistonheads, there are a couple of other good lookin cars available at a similar price.

Also, I take it you have contacted the various specialist garages, as they normally know of customers who are looking to sell - and at least you have a good degree of confidence that it\'s not going to be a turkey (or at least, you\'ll know in advance that it is a \'project\' car :D)
Title: hi everyone ! just put a deposit on a rx7
Post by: slingo on January 16, 2009, 06:07:02 PM
the fact that he couldnt spell put me off abit and its photo is on a trailer park ! im not fused about the paint and panel work im semi skilled in bodywork and will take my hands to anything ! apart from big girls  ha ha :D  thanks tho chimp i will email some local tuners !