How much to put this rx-7 back to standard?
Discussion
I'd found my ideal RX-7 and was about to buy until the seller crashed it on Christmas day.
This was a bit of a blow but a mate sent me over this one which is for sale on FB. I'm interested in getting a car which is as original as possible and this one has a questionable front bumper with a massive hole cut in it, fibreglass body mod, vented bonnet and an exhaust which will have my neighbours waving pitchforks.
Other than that the car looks good, clean example with a potentially good engine.
The car is 9k and the one I was looking at was 13k, can I get the car looking standard and swap out the wheels for some nice black ones for the 4k 've saved or should I wait for the right car to turn up?
Does this look like a good one?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/636997999647337/pe...
This was a bit of a blow but a mate sent me over this one which is for sale on FB. I'm interested in getting a car which is as original as possible and this one has a questionable front bumper with a massive hole cut in it, fibreglass body mod, vented bonnet and an exhaust which will have my neighbours waving pitchforks.
Other than that the car looks good, clean example with a potentially good engine.
The car is 9k and the one I was looking at was 13k, can I get the car looking standard and swap out the wheels for some nice black ones for the 4k 've saved or should I wait for the right car to turn up?
Does this look like a good one?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/636997999647337/pe...
Edited by CountZero23 on Thursday 28th December 02:35
Very hard to call it without seeing it in the flesh.
Key things to consider with the FD's these days are age related items - the engine and bodykit can be sorted easily enough - but a lot of them are now on very tired struts and bushes...also, the looms are very brittle and prone to causing major issues with age.
For the money you want to spend I would be tempted to talk to someone like Jimmys or Super7autos and see what they have in stock/know about that is available.
Putting a car back to standard is a very expensive path IMO.
I'd also recommend getting onto Mazda Rotary Club and FD:UK to see if anyone has a nice one up for sale.
There has been a stock UK FD for sale on ebay off and on for ages - they did want daft money for it, but I bet if you made an offer they would take it.
Depending where you are in the UK, I can also put you in touch with a few people that might be able to help you look at one if you need a second pair of eyes.
Key things to consider with the FD's these days are age related items - the engine and bodykit can be sorted easily enough - but a lot of them are now on very tired struts and bushes...also, the looms are very brittle and prone to causing major issues with age.
For the money you want to spend I would be tempted to talk to someone like Jimmys or Super7autos and see what they have in stock/know about that is available.
Putting a car back to standard is a very expensive path IMO.
I'd also recommend getting onto Mazda Rotary Club and FD:UK to see if anyone has a nice one up for sale.
There has been a stock UK FD for sale on ebay off and on for ages - they did want daft money for it, but I bet if you made an offer they would take it.
Depending where you are in the UK, I can also put you in touch with a few people that might be able to help you look at one if you need a second pair of eyes.
BrettMRC said:
Very hard to call it without seeing it in the flesh.
Key things to consider with the FD's these days are age related items - the engine and bodykit can be sorted easily enough - but a lot of them are now on very tired struts and bushes...also, the looms are very brittle and prone to causing major issues with age.
For the money you want to spend I would be tempted to talk to someone like Jimmys or Super7autos and see what they have in stock/know about that is available.
Putting a car back to standard is a very expensive path IMO.
I'd also recommend getting onto Mazda Rotary Club and FD:UK to see if anyone has a nice one up for sale.
There has been a stock UK FD for sale on ebay off and on for ages - they did want daft money for it, but I bet if you made an offer they would take it.
Depending where you are in the UK, I can also put you in touch with a few people that might be able to help you look at one if you need a second pair of eyes.
Thanks for the input Brett. Key things to consider with the FD's these days are age related items - the engine and bodykit can be sorted easily enough - but a lot of them are now on very tired struts and bushes...also, the looms are very brittle and prone to causing major issues with age.
For the money you want to spend I would be tempted to talk to someone like Jimmys or Super7autos and see what they have in stock/know about that is available.
Putting a car back to standard is a very expensive path IMO.
I'd also recommend getting onto Mazda Rotary Club and FD:UK to see if anyone has a nice one up for sale.
There has been a stock UK FD for sale on ebay off and on for ages - they did want daft money for it, but I bet if you made an offer they would take it.
Depending where you are in the UK, I can also put you in touch with a few people that might be able to help you look at one if you need a second pair of eyes.
I've been reading up on RX-7's seriously for the last week or so, know 10x as much as I used to but still far from being well informed. Fairly complex modern classics and your offer of finding someone who can help with an inspection is very welcome.
I'm based in Brighton so super 7 is just down the road. I'll get an email over to them and Jimmy's.
Already posted on FD UK and already had an email from one seller who will be selling one in my budget with a new engine from Mazda which looks promising but I get the impression it will be a while before it's ready.
The more I read the more tempted I am to get one which is fairly standard on the outside but has been mechanically refreshed and converted to a single turbo. Though most of those conversions have been to get daft power with a bridgeport to boot - great for dyno runs but not so good for driveability and reliability.
A lot of people were moving to single turbo conversion to reduce the complexity - so don't be put off by a good FD with a moderate single turbo conversion, they still drive very nicely and there is a lot less to go wrong! (The rats nest of piping and valves that control the sequential setup get very temperamental with age and often disintegrate when being moved - hence the single turbo option)
Also worth noting that Mazda used to charge daft money for exhausts - quotes of £3k+ not uncommon for a full system. A good, well silenced aftermarket exhaust may be the best compromise.
Jason at Super7 is a good guy, so he will look after you
Also worth noting that Mazda used to charge daft money for exhausts - quotes of £3k+ not uncommon for a full system. A good, well silenced aftermarket exhaust may be the best compromise.
Jason at Super7 is a good guy, so he will look after you
BrettMRC said:
A lot of people were moving to single turbo conversion to reduce the complexity - so don't be put off by a good FD with a moderate single turbo conversion, they still drive very nicely and there is a lot less to go wrong! (The rats nest of piping and valves that control the sequential setup get very temperamental with age and often disintegrate when being moved - hence the single turbo option)
Also worth noting that Mazda used to charge daft money for exhausts - quotes of £3k+ not uncommon for a full system. A good, well silenced aftermarket exhaust may be the best compromise.
Jason at Super7 is a good guy, so he will look after you
To be honest I think that's now what I'm after. As you say the 'rats nest' adds complexity and on an original car those rubber tubes will be 25 years old and of spent a life being cooked in the oven that is the RX-7 engine bay. Diagnosing issues with it can be a protracted and expensive job from what I've read. Also worth noting that Mazda used to charge daft money for exhausts - quotes of £3k+ not uncommon for a full system. A good, well silenced aftermarket exhaust may be the best compromise.
Jason at Super7 is a good guy, so he will look after you
Single turbo conversions look expensive to carry out though as with most modified cars they don't increase the value of the car.
Hopefully, the right car will come up before I bottle it and go for something less ruinous to run. Prices are on the march though and I might miss the boat if I don't get one this time round!
Car looks fairly decent (other than the front reg in a silly location). Putting a car back to stock can be pretty pricey as things like airboxes or original bumpers go for a lot of money.
The MOT history of the car looks fairly decent and nothing i'd be overly concerned about. Tricky thing with Rx7's is that there's a lot of folk who are buying them and trying to sell for a profit after giving it a quick clean etc.
There's a lot of aftermarket items that look stock that may be of use, on mine I have a racing beat dual exaust which looks stock and isn't overly loud. As pointed out before a lot of the engine and bolt on parts are generally looked after and it's the suspension/brakes that tend to be forgotten about.
The MOT history of the car looks fairly decent and nothing i'd be overly concerned about. Tricky thing with Rx7's is that there's a lot of folk who are buying them and trying to sell for a profit after giving it a quick clean etc.
There's a lot of aftermarket items that look stock that may be of use, on mine I have a racing beat dual exaust which looks stock and isn't overly loud. As pointed out before a lot of the engine and bolt on parts are generally looked after and it's the suspension/brakes that tend to be forgotten about.
BrettMRC said:
FC Turbo 2
/ JC Cosmo - either 13B or 20B.
FC Turbo 2 is an interesting one, hell of a lot more reliable from what I've heard. Cosmo looks fun but it's really the RX7 or a sensible option like a Z4 or a 350Z./ JC Cosmo - either 13B or 20B.
KaiserDahms said:
Car looks fairly decent (other than the front reg in a silly location). Putting a car back to stock can be pretty pricey as things like airboxes or original bumpers go for a lot of money.
The MOT history of the car looks fairly decent and nothing i'd be overly concerned about. Tricky thing with Rx7's is that there's a lot of folk who are buying them and trying to sell for a profit after giving it a quick clean etc.
There's a lot of aftermarket items that look stock that may be of use, on mine I have a racing beat dual exaust which looks stock and isn't overly loud. As pointed out before a lot of the engine and bolt on parts are generally looked after and it's the suspension/brakes that tend to be forgotten about.
Looks like that ones already gone and being a Wales would have been a hassle to look at. I'll keep my eyes open, not in a huge hurry so will wait until I find something which feels right. Hopefully, the application will start to level off before they become unobtainable. The MOT history of the car looks fairly decent and nothing i'd be overly concerned about. Tricky thing with Rx7's is that there's a lot of folk who are buying them and trying to sell for a profit after giving it a quick clean etc.
There's a lot of aftermarket items that look stock that may be of use, on mine I have a racing beat dual exaust which looks stock and isn't overly loud. As pointed out before a lot of the engine and bolt on parts are generally looked after and it's the suspension/brakes that tend to be forgotten about.
Had a single turbo FD running just over 400bhp and also a lighted tweaked Cosmo 20B for about 8 years,very different cars in terms of character and driving feel,the FD a light nimble road racer,the Cosmo a lovely relaxed cruiser and a great car to eat miles in with an awesome cabin and a legend of an engine..bit of a sleeper too as no other road user knew what it was! left a few so called sports cars thinking WTF?!
Both great cars whichever you chose
Both great cars whichever you chose
evojam said:
Had a single turbo FD running just over 400bhp and also a lighted tweaked Cosmo 20B for about 8 years,very different cars in terms of character and driving feel,the FD a light nimble road racer,the Cosmo a lovely relaxed cruiser and a great car to eat miles in with an awesome cabin and a legend of an engine..bit of a sleeper too as no other road user knew what it was! left a few so called sports cars thinking WTF?!
Both great cars whichever you chose
How much less reliable is the FD when handling 400hp than the standard 276?Both great cars whichever you chose
Is a single turbo FD running 400hp more reliable than a standard car with a sequential turbo?
What would you put aside for running costs (excluding insurance and road tax)?
Cheers!
CountZero23 said:
How much less reliable is the FD when handling 400hp than the standard 276?
Is a single turbo FD running 400hp more reliable than a standard car with a sequential turbo?
What would you put aside for running costs (excluding insurance and road tax)?
Cheers!
276bhp is the JDM spec. Some of those have been imported to the UK. The UK spec cars were 237bhp.Is a single turbo FD running 400hp more reliable than a standard car with a sequential turbo?
What would you put aside for running costs (excluding insurance and road tax)?
Cheers!
delta0 said:
276bhp is the JDM spec. Some of those have been imported to the UK. The UK spec cars were 237bhp.
Yup, due to semi-autistic levels of obsession over the last few weeks I'm well aware. Fact is, bugger all UK spec cars were ever sold (less than 200?). Realistically if you buy an FD it will be an import.
CountZero23 said:
How much less reliable is the FD when handling 400hp than the standard 276?
Is a single turbo FD running 400hp more reliable than a standard car with a sequential turbo?
What would you put aside for running costs (excluding insurance and road tax)?
Cheers!
When my FD eventually needed rebuilding at 62k miles I decided to go the single turbo route for a more linear & reliable power delivery as I enjoyed the odd trackday..,had the engine done at WGT with a simple old fashioned HKS T04e single turbo and steet ported engine,fuel rail,bigger injectors,intercooler etc etc ,proved very reliable and tractable,lost a bit of low down going the single turbo route but the midrange torque and top end power was much improved,dyno'd at a smidge over 400bhp.When the twin turbos are working fine there great but as some have already mentioned they can be troublesome when all the rats nest of pipes that controls them starts to go hard and brittle which most have by now!Is a single turbo FD running 400hp more reliable than a standard car with a sequential turbo?
What would you put aside for running costs (excluding insurance and road tax)?
Cheers!
Running cost is a difficult one,buy the best RX-7 you can afford as an unloved car will cost loads to put right,general servicing can be peanuts if you do it yourself.
CountZero23 said:
I've been reading up on RX-7's seriously for the last week or so, know 10x as much as I used to but still far from being well informed.
The more I read the more tempted I am to get one which is fairly standard on the outside but has been mechanically refreshed and converted to a single turbo. Though most of those conversions have been to get daft power with a bridgeport to boot - great for dyno runs but not so good for driveability and reliability.
The Brian Long book is a good source of info.The more I read the more tempted I am to get one which is fairly standard on the outside but has been mechanically refreshed and converted to a single turbo. Though most of those conversions have been to get daft power with a bridgeport to boot - great for dyno runs but not so good for driveability and reliability.
I went for a series 8 car. Better cooling (2x intake area) and a simplified rats nest. Mine is still standard and dyno'd at 275rwhp (~310bhp). Its been fantastically reliable in the 11 years I've owned it, serviced at Jimmys as it's close to me.
Car sold on the FB group but has just turned up on e-bay. The original sale must have fallen through.
Currently daft cheap, so cheap I had to put in a cheeky bid.
It's a bit of an unknown quantity, fibreglass body kit and the other end of the country so won't get carried away in a bidding war.
If I can get it for a steal it leaves plenty of cash in the bank, which is advisable when owning an RX-7
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Rx7-FD3S-Very-low...
In other news, Jason at Super 7 Autos has a few cars available in Japan available for import. All utterly standard and will come with a fresh rebuild.
Looks like I'll be getting into an FD soon whatever happens!
Currently daft cheap, so cheap I had to put in a cheeky bid.
It's a bit of an unknown quantity, fibreglass body kit and the other end of the country so won't get carried away in a bidding war.
If I can get it for a steal it leaves plenty of cash in the bank, which is advisable when owning an RX-7
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Rx7-FD3S-Very-low...
In other news, Jason at Super 7 Autos has a few cars available in Japan available for import. All utterly standard and will come with a fresh rebuild.
Looks like I'll be getting into an FD soon whatever happens!
BrettMRC said:
Well played!
Pics as soon as you get one!
e-bay listing taken down, still, you can see the lads tracksuit in some of the pictures so may have dodged a bullet there :haha:Pics as soon as you get one!
Looks like I'll be going with one of Jason's imports depending on what he can rustle up, should be getting some pics of potentials in the next couple of days. Not too bothered about engine mods, in fact, I'll be doing a few of my own but really want totally standard bodywork which is virtually impossible to find over here.
If I can keep an rx-7 completely standard then with fairly advanced man maths can view it as a savvy financial investment
I'll try and do a bit of a build thread as it looks like I'll be getting an import rebuilt by Super 7 Autos, it will even come with a 12-month warranty which will help me sleep a bit better (at least for a year anyway!).
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