Looking at a SA/FB RX-7 on Friday...

1980 1st Gen. RX-7... what do I need to know.

I've been reading about checking the coolant for oil and the hatch channels for rust. Rust doesn't look like it'll be an issue though.

Anything else I should know?

Suspension mounts in the rear wheel wells tend to rust out. Oil leaks on the engine between the housings. Smoke on start up? 79-80 are the best in my opinion by the way.

Chris

Make sure the engine is cold when you get there and watch for the amount of smoke on start-up and the length of time it takes to warm up. Look over the coolant system carefully. Check for rust in: rockers, rear wheelwells, under the battery, in the cowl, under the storage bins, and the rear suspension mounts. Look under the car to see if all the heat shielding is still in place and how fubared the frame rails are (they are very weak and if used as a jacking point usually buckle).

Enjoy! I still miss mine greatly.

Mine, a GSL SE, would smoke heavily on cold days when I had too much oil premixed. It still starts easily and pulls hard, with 245,000 miles on it. I recommend a touch of 2 stroke oil at every fill up.

www.rx7club.com

it's all covered there

Mazdax605 wrote: 79-80 are the best in my opinion by the way.

I'll second that
first gens are the only ones with solid rears, IIRC solid rear ftw!

lol.

I want to put the engine from an RX-8 in a clean (rustless) early RX-7

I have an 85 FB which is clean and was painted a few years ago and kept in may garage since that I could be tempted top part with.

corytate wrote:

Mazdax605 wrote: 79-80 are the best in my opinion by the way.

I'll second that first gens are the only ones with solid rears, IIRC solid rear ftw! lol.

The 79-80's are also the only ones with the cool looking steel bumpers rather than the more socially accepted,but lame looking (In my opinion) urethane bumpers.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for aftermarket wheels on these? The bolt pattern is goofy... 4x100 maybe? 4x110? I dunno Tire rack is non helpful and I'm having difficulty figuring out how much offset I need.

4X110mm pcd,and you are right they are an odd pattern. There are choices out there,but not nearly as good as if it were a 84-85 GSL-SE model which uses the much more common 4x114.3 pcd. There are some old school choices out there,but they are rare,and expensive,but very cool. I have a set of Weds Auto Bahn's in 15"x7",and I love them. You can also try to find a set of 83 Limited Edition RX-7 wheels that are a BBS basket weave pattern,and are a more friendly 14" size,and the proper offset. I have another set,but they are in need of refurbishing. I could be talked into selling them I suppose.

Yeah, I had found some weird brand that had fairly lightweight alloys with smaller sizes, 14", 15" x 6" or 7". It was something like 686 or 696 I think, but can't find them now. Oh well, maybe I bookmarked them at home.

I think I'd rather just pick up a second set of stock wheels to mount up for autocross. I'm planning on keeping it pretty stock anyway, and it'll be even harder to find something aftermarket in a stock size.

Konig and Rota still make 4X110 wheels for the FB. E-bay lists several of them. Unfortunately that is also a common ATV bolt pattern so you have to wade through the ATV wheels to find them.

Here's a link to a set.

As far as offset, +20 seems to be what fits.

Rota RB's are your only aftermarket choice in current production for the 4x110 RX-7 wheels. A lot of guys import over old school wheels from Japan or Australia.

I have a set of 14" Hayashi Street II's waiting for the right RX-7 owner though...

What about Konig Rewinds?

I have a '80 and it's the best IMO. My oil seals went between the rotor chamber and side housing. If there is any excessive smoke at startup, don't stress, it's rather common.

Has this car been sitting, or is it a running driver?

doesnt diamond make steel wheels that fit 1st gens?

Guy called tonight, call is sold. Fooey.

I have an 85 I would consider selling.