RX/7 Update

[LubeDude]

A couple weeks ago I posted that I was looking to buy a 72,000 mi. Turbo II that was frozen tight! Well I was sure it was Carbon locked, and through the advice of the members on the RX/7 forum, it now turns freely. It has been soaking all this time in a combination of Seafoam and ATF. I tried every couple of days to turn it with a breaker bar in reverse rotation, but it wouldnt move, Just today a freind came by, and we pushed it up the driveway about 50 yards and he pushed me backwards and in 4th gear I popped the clutch and I heard it break free. We then pushed it back into the garage and I put the breaker bar on it , but it still wouldnt make a full revolution, about 2/3 one way and 2/3 the other. No squeaks or noises other than compresion, I put a bunch of MMO in it and kept turning it back and forth and it seemed to go farther every time, finally I was able to make a full revolution but it still had a little resistance in one spot. More MMO and kept turning it over, now I can turn it all the way around by hand with the belts. Im going to keep letting it soak with the mmo and turning it a little and more mmo for a few days before I try to start it again.<br /><br />I know Im not out of the water yet, but Im on my way if the apex seals wernt damaged. No noticable sounds though like sqeaking or anything!<br /><br />Now, Im probably not going to be able to buy it, as Im so honest that I will have to tell the owner that its OK now! oh well Im sure I will be paid for my time! We will see how it turns out!

 

[jsfinn]

Re: RX/7 Update

Lube,<br /><br />A long time ago, my buddy had an 83 RX/7. Man was that a FUN little car.<br /><br />He had to get rid of it after he was trying to show off and popped the clutch going around a turn in the snow. I guess he thought it was going to slide into the turn..well, he ended up going over the curb sideways and we ended up in someones front yard with the axles broke.<br /><br />He drove a Bronco after that.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: RX/7 Update

I forbid my wife from driving her car if there is even a slight chance of ice or snow, I swear, that car is the worst car I have ever owned in the ice and snow. I do not know if it is the weight balance of the car or what, but it is trechorous on ice!

 

[boatman03]

Re: RX/7 Update

hey guys my dad had a bright orange RX7 and he loved it and now i am telling him to get the new RX8 it is a sweet car!!!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: RX/7 Update

I cant beleive what just happened, I called the guy about the car and laid it all out for him and he asked me if I was still interested in buying it? He said he was going to by a new RX/8 and figured that buy the time he paid me and the mark-up of having a trade in that he was better off selling me the car for $1000.00 and paying cash for the new one! More than I would have paid for the car with a frozen engine, but well worth the price now! Figure Ill buy it but have to run it by the wife first! So we are both happy. I think!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: RX/7 Update

So this sucks! I did a compression test today after work, and there is no compression on the front rotar! Nothing, zip, nada! Not sure what to do now, still thinking about buying it though, its such a nice car, and I always wanted a turbo model. Also always wanted to get inside one. The engine that is. Soooooooooo, Hmmmmmmmmm!!

 

[muskyone]

Re: RX/7 Update

hey lube dude i'm sure you know about this place but if not http://www.mazdatrix.com/index.htm#Home@new looks kinnda pricey

 

[RetNav]

Re: RX/7 Update

LubeDude, I have had three of the RX-7's, the last being the twin Turbo model. One of the things I remember, and checked with the manual, you can't use a standard compression tester with the rotary engine. Don't know why, as in the manual it simply states "Have a Mazda dealer check engine compression: note that conventional compression testing equipment cannot be used on the rotary engine."

 

[LubeDude]

Re: RX/7 Update

As for the not using standard compression guages for testing rotarys, this is and isnt true. The Mazda equipment measures every pulse for each apex seal on all three corners of the rotors separatly so when it is done you know if one of the seals is bad because you have a reading for each pulse. You can still use a standard tester, but you have to watch it and try and tell if each pulse is equal, not an easy thing to do! and not very acurate. But in my case there isnt any compression, nothing, nada, its like the rotor is missing, Even with all the oil I put in freeing it up, there is nothing! Whatever jambed this thing up must have knocked all three epex seals off. They are very fragil.<br /><br />I talked in depth with an RX/7 expert this morning and he says that its hard to get really good apex seals now, as Mazda will not sell them and the aftermarket ones are just not that good, he hasnt built one in a couple years because of it. Not sure what to do, I think Im going to pass. Not enough time to do the things I want to do let alone start another headache! Its a really nice car, its really too bad this happened! Ive seen some V8 swaps into these cars that work out really neat, you have to use the later model lT1s with aluminum heads for weight, but they work out nicely when finished. I do not have a shop at home so thats not an option, This car would be a great one for that though!

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: RX/7 Update

Lubedude,<br />The guy's here are not having any problems sourcing parts for those engines. They still race ser 1's in a class race series. No prisoners taken there.<br />I'm sure that my mate can assist with bits if you need.<br /><br />regards<br />Peter

 

[LubeDude]

Re: RX/7 Update

Peterf: Contact me @ micaiah9@juno.com Im going to be gone this week, so it will be a while before I get back to you! I have some questions!

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: RX/7 Update

LD.<br />Done.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Peter

 

[kd6nem]

Re: RX/7 Update

Have you considered Atkins Rotary for apex seals? I never have done business with them, but I have read about the aviation rotaries they build. Seem to have a decent reputation if you can judge by magazine articles. Atkins Rotary Check out the boat the manufacture rotaries for, too.