New RX7 owner...... a few questions.

[Jim_rx7]

Hi guys, I\'m new to these forums and also new to the RX7!! I used to own a 280bhp MR2 turbo, but have recently sold it to get the below RX7. I\'ve paid the deposit on the car and will be picking it up in a week or so.

What should I be looking out for on these cars? I know the engines generally need rebuilts etc. The car I\'m getting is at 60K miles it is fine just now, but what are the tell tale signs that a rx7 needs a rebuild?? I\'ll be getting compression tests done etc once I receive the car.

I\'ve also read that the coolant expansion bottles (plastic ones) are prone to being brittle and fragile? Where should I look to get a metal one/stronger one?

Also what maintanance (with the exception of regular oil changes), should I perform on the car to ensure it remains in tip top condition??

Here\' some pics of the car....

It has Coilovers, HKS Induction Kit, Blitz BOV, Custom SS Exhaust, 17" Enkel Wheels.












I\'m based in the UK and was also wondering if this is the best forum for RX7 owners from the UK??

Any advice/help greatfully received guys!!


I JUST REALISED THIS MIGHT BE IN THE WRONG SECTION OF THE FORUM.... sorry, I would appreciate it if someone could move it. Thanks

[J.j.]

I\'ll be getting compression tests done etc once I receive the car.

I\'d get it checked before you part with your hard earned cash, not the other way round.

I\'ve also read that the coolant expansion bottles (plastic ones) are prone to being brittle and fragile? Where should I look to get a metal one/stronger one?

Maybe you meant the AST tank?
They are brittle, but usually ok.  Think it\'s around £100 for a metal replacement.  

Welcome to the club   :Thumbsup!

[JamesFD3]

At this mileage you maybe lucky and get a few thousand miles out of it or it may need rebuilding fairly shortly,it greatly depends on how well the car\'s been looked after and driven by previous owners.Budget around 2.5-4k to put it right depending on where you go and what you have done.

There\'s loads of threads on rebuilds on the forum,have a nose around and you\'ll be able to dig up loads of info on what to look for,general servicing tips etc etc

Good luck!

[McCARTHY]

i have been told by 3 rotary tuners that compression tests are a waste of time due to the fact that compression is low in newly built engines due to the fact they haven\'t bedded in, they show low compression in old or high mileage due to seal wear and when they are run in and in the mid mileage area they don\'t show great compression away?

please do correct me if i am mistaken just passing on what i have been advised.....

welcome to the rotary scene buddy and she\'d a good looking motor  :Thumbs-up

[dandan]

Welcome to the forum Jim,
Couldn\'t say if it\'s the best (it probably is), but this is the friendliest forum around, that\'s for sure! :wave

I would def go for a compression test before buying if you can, even if you lose your deposit, it\'s cheaper than a rebuild.

The AST is known to split, but sometimes they are fine, mine is a 14 year old plastic one and it\'s ok, but if you have the spare cash it\'s a good belt and braces idea to get a metal one.

With the mods you have (specifically the air filters and exhaust, I would seriously look into getting an Apexi PFC replacement ECU, especially as yours is an import.
The import ECU\'s are mapped for 100ron fuel, which they have in japan (lucky buggers) and running on 98 or lower over here can cause detonation which causes blown engines.
other than that just keep the oil fresh, same with the filters, and come on here whenever you get a problem, because someone else will always have experienced it and will know what to do.

Oh yeah make sure the tyres are uk spec ones cos the jap ones are rubbish, and keep your right foot under control until the weather warms up, so about july!!

happy driving

[FD3SNuttah]

saw this on ebay, congrats on your new purchase looks like a good car to me.  make sure that if you want to compression test it then the engine is warm when you do it, if you search the forum then you can find out how / what to expect when compression testing.. but a quick test is to see if it starts from hot or cold then you should be ok, but keep a wad of cash safe for when / if it ever dies on ya.

welcome to MRC matey

Nas.

[dandan]

ooh and get a boost gauge too, it\'s quite a useful item to have.
I see you have an earthing kit (blue wires under bonnet?) and turbo timer, so the car might have a jap tuner ECU pre-mapped to the existing mods. in that case the PFC is not so neccessary unless you start doing more mods.

[Jim_rx7]

I\'d get it checked before you part with your hard earned cash, not the other way round.

 

Maybe you meant the AST tank?
They are brittle, but usually ok.  Think it\'s around £100 for a metal replacement.  

Welcome to the club   :Thumbsup!

Cheers for the advice, but tbh I do expect to have to get the engine built at some point when I\'m owning it, so if it\'s sooner, it\'s sooner... just the way the cookie crumbles... lol. As long as I can get it home, it\'s all good for me.

About the AST tank, where can I go about getting one of these? I want to ensure that little as possible can go wrong with the car!

[grinder]

moving to technical

looks a nice car , but i agree with everyone else

1 - get it comp tested first - then part with cash
2 - start her from cold , take it for a test drive to get her warm , then shut her off and start her again .. if she struggles then walk away
3 - yes we are a friendly bunch
4 - if you are worried about the rebuild , get it done BEFORE it goes bang - works out cheaper

Stu / Grinder

[Jim_rx7]

Welcome to the forum Jim,

With the mods you have (specifically the air filters and exhaust, I would seriously look into getting an Apexi PFC replacement ECU, especially as yours is an import.
The import ECU\'s are mapped for 100ron fuel, which they have in japan (lucky buggers) and running on 98 or lower over here can cause detonation which causes blown engines.
other than that just keep the oil fresh, same with the filters, and come on here whenever you get a problem, because someone else will always have experienced it and will know what to do.

Oh yeah make sure the tyres are uk spec ones cos the jap ones are rubbish, and keep your right foot under control until the weather warms up, so about july!!

happy driving

I was actually thinking of going along the route of a Dastek Unichip? I used to have one on the mr2 and it done the job fine. Mappable etc. Anyone on here with one of these on your Rx7?

Would a good bet to also go for water injection? This reduces the risk of detonation does it not?

Oh and I know all about rwd!! .... had a few crashes in the mr2!!

[Jim_rx7]

ooh and get a boost gauge too, it\'s quite a useful item to have.
I see you have an earthing kit (blue wires under bonnet?) and turbo timer, so the car might have a jap tuner ECU pre-mapped to the existing mods. in that case the PFC is not so neccessary unless you start doing more mods.

yip... boost gauge is one of the first items on my shopping list!! I don\'t usually like buying non-stock cars as I don\'t know what\'s all been done in the past etc,... but how I see this is that it\'s a good base to start with. Only sensible mods have been carried out.

[probedb]

OK, since I just bought one (very similar spec!) here\'s what I had done to mine:

1. AST replaced with an alu one as mine was leaking (standard problem)
2. Slight oil leak (common according to Pip at WGT (good guy!))
3. Intake gasket had gone but the guy who sold it knocked enough to cover the cost of this.
4. Got a major service at WGT, this is basically most (all?) fluids, plugs, leads, filters etc.
5. Boost pattern was checked as it was slightly off.

It\'s running great now! As others have said compression tests aren\'t that useful, I know at least one person on here who had a good test and the engine went. But all the other stuff do that

I now have water temp and boost gauges to go in so I can monitor them.

Hope that helps!

[J.j.]

I was actually thinking of going along the route of a Dastek Unichip? I used to have one on the mr2 and it done the job fine. Mappable etc. Anyone on here with one of these on your Rx7?

Wouldnt recommend that.  Unichip might be fine for MR2 or other piston engines, but not for rotary.  

Cheers for the advice, but tbh I do expect to have to get the engine built at some point when I\'m owning it, so if it\'s sooner, it\'s sooner... just the way the cookie crumbles... lol. As long as I can get it home, it\'s all good for me.

Make sure you budget it accordingly.    

[Jim_rx7]

Can I ask why the unichip would not be suitable for rotary, but is for piston engines??

Also where in Scotland is there to take a rotary engined car like the rx7?

[J.j.]

Rotary engines have much smaller tolerance on fueling than piston engines apparently.