Picked up an RX-7 this weekend

foxman · 08-19-2008, 09:08 AM

Picked up this little gem this past weekend.

Of course the goal is to make it -- go faster!

It is pretty solid in its present form. The previous owner gave me a 60 page binder of all maintenance and repair that had ever been done to the car and it has been meticulously cared for. The top is in great shape and the interior is stellar! It has a few dings and could benefit from some paintless dent removal. The paint is shiny and it was garaged throughout most of its life. I looked at several verts before purchasing this one and there is nothing missing or broken in the car, no buttons gone, air vents broken etc. The power window switches have been replaced as have the headlights. A couple of years ago, the entire engine wiring harness was corroded and it has since been completely replaced with a new Mazda factory wiring harness. Everything works in this baby just as it is supposed to which is pretty incredible for a 20 year old vehicle with 91,000 miles. Even the pop up electric antenna still works!

Right now it has a K&N intake/filter, Exedy Clutch, Racing Beat lightweight flywheel, Borla Cat Back, and Racing Beat Presilencer/Cat delete. Exhaust has a nice tone. But with the exhaust sound and top down, it really needs a radio solution as you can't hear much in the way of music at all with the factory radio/speaker setup. That will be my first project.

It pulls good for what it is and runs smooth with a good feel thanks to the intake, exhaust and lightweight flywheel but an '88 NA was never a torque monster and the vert is few hundred lbs. heaver than a standard NA but still not a porker by today's standards. I had it up to a little over 100 on the way back to Indy and it is smooth with no rattling or bumping. The steering wheel doesn't move, jiggle or vibrate one bit.

It will be a good solid platform for my vert NA to turbo II swap project.

SlammedR8 · 08-19-2008, 09:10 AM

i would have gone 1 generation newer
but congrats, and yes it is in superb condition (judging by the pics)

vAnt826 · 08-19-2008, 09:10 AM

Wow a car older then 1995 that was actually cared for. Amazing.

Grats on a good find.

ALPINE6SPD · 08-19-2008, 09:19 AM

that is clean good luck with it

zuendi · 08-19-2008, 09:29 AM

That's a nice find... congrats

Zuendi

CnoteMD · 08-19-2008, 09:30 AM

Thats a great looking car! My first car was a 1988 RX7 GXL (I had 135K miles by 1998). Its a great car when taken care of. Its a clear example of how much fun a low weight car can be. In stock form it had just under 150hp, so it wasn't as fast as the cars of today, but still relatively quick.

KL2DC · 08-19-2008, 09:31 AM

wow that car looks sweet...nice, congrats

foxman · 08-19-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slammedm3

i would have gone 1 generation newer
but congrats, and yes it is in superb condition (judging by the pics)

LOL yeah 1 generation newer, after hanging on to this one for a few years, I would like to trade up to that, an FD is a money pit even more than an FC and I need to work up to that.

AmexBlackG5 · 08-19-2008, 10:58 AM

I was expecting to see an 2nd gen model. The 1st gen are good as well do you have any plans for mods?

AtoB · 08-19-2008, 12:18 PM

memories.... i had that exact car. not exactly a rocket, but is was a good car. my favorite thing was the removable targa section. enjoy

CnoteMD · 08-19-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmexBlackG5

I was expecting to see an 2nd gen model. The 1st gen are good as well do you have any plans for mods?

That is a 2nd generation model.

ChaneRZ · 08-19-2008, 03:10 PM

not bad!

m3_love · 08-19-2008, 03:21 PM

that's super clean~congrats and keep us updated on the mods

jeveryday · 08-19-2008, 03:24 PM

nice man... great condition to be so old.

foxman · 08-19-2008, 04:06 PM

It will benefit from new springs, struts and a TII motor with some go fast parts added. Those parts and a new radio are the plan.

n3985 · 08-19-2008, 04:26 PM

Where in Indy are you? I went to school in Bloomington!

Personally I think a LS1 swap would be sweet! Gobs of torque, cheap mods, and solid reliability!

sambonator · 08-20-2008, 04:05 PM

That's a nice minty car. Congratulations!
If only you could fit an n54 in there...

Rusty's508whp · 08-22-2008, 07:21 PM

Congrats, looks well maintained. She is a keeper.

yosepp · 08-22-2008, 07:56 PM

this is not rx-7 post.... and the care is just plain ugly...

wrickem · 08-22-2008, 09:17 PM

I had an '88 RX-7 convertible just like that except with leather seats. It was one of my favorite cars of all time. That car ran like a top its entire life. Makes sure when you start that rotory engine, you let it run for a while and use up the gas injected into it. Trust me, you WILL flood it if you don't. And it's not fun when it floods, 8 out of 10 times it involves a flatbed.

snipersix · 08-22-2008, 09:19 PM

i prefer a FD

c0nstant · 08-22-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yosepp

this is not rx-7 post.... and the care is just plain ugly...

shut up, it's the general section; he can post whatever fucking 'care' he wants.

awesome find, foxman! enjoy it

08-19-2008, 09:08 AM	#1
foxman Driver 31 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (0)	Picked up an RX-7 this weekend Picked up this little gem this past weekend. Of course the goal is to make it -- go faster! It is pretty solid in its present form. The previous owner gave me a 60 page binder of all maintenance and repair that had ever been done to the car and it has been meticulously cared for. The top is in great shape and the interior is stellar! It has a few dings and could benefit from some paintless dent removal. The paint is shiny and it was garaged throughout most of its life. I looked at several verts before purchasing this one and there is nothing missing or broken in the car, no buttons gone, air vents broken etc. The power window switches have been replaced as have the headlights. A couple of years ago, the entire engine wiring harness was corroded and it has since been completely replaced with a new Mazda factory wiring harness. Everything works in this baby just as it is supposed to which is pretty incredible for a 20 year old vehicle with 91,000 miles. Even the pop up electric antenna still works! Right now it has a K&N intake/filter, Exedy Clutch, Racing Beat lightweight flywheel, Borla Cat Back, and Racing Beat Presilencer/Cat delete. Exhaust has a nice tone. But with the exhaust sound and top down, it really needs a radio solution as you can't hear much in the way of music at all with the factory radio/speaker setup. That will be my first project. It pulls good for what it is and runs smooth with a good feel thanks to the intake, exhaust and lightweight flywheel but an '88 NA was never a torque monster and the vert is few hundred lbs. heaver than a standard NA but still not a porker by today's standards. I had it up to a little over 100 on the way back to Indy and it is smooth with no rattling or bumping. The steering wheel doesn't move, jiggle or vibrate one bit. It will be a good solid platform for my vert NA to turbo II swap project. __________________ 08 e92 335i 88 RX-7 Vert 07 Jeep Commander 04 RX-8...sold
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08-19-2008, 09:10 AM	#2
SlammedR8 Major General 550 Rep 5,481 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i/2020 R8 V10 Spyder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	i would have gone 1 generation newer but congrats, and yes it is in superb condition (judging by the pics) __________________ Current: 2019 BMW X5 40i - Carbon Black/Tartufo Individual Leather 2020 Range Rover HSE - Black/Black 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance Spyder 6MT - Ascari Blue/Black
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08-19-2008, 09:10 AM	#3
vAnt826 Major 66 Rep 1,417 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle iTrader: (3)	Wow a car older then 1995 that was actually cared for. Amazing. Grats on a good find.
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08-19-2008, 09:19 AM	#4
ALPINE6SPD Lieutenant General 161 Rep 10,407 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 328i Sport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Highland Lakes NJ iTrader: (2)	that is clean good luck with it __________________ 2010 AW e90 328i: 6 speed, Black Leather, Dark Wood trim, ZPP, ZCW, ZVP,ZSP, Nav, Xenon BMW Performance CF Rear spolier and Gloss black grills 2008 Candy White MKV GTI 2.0T 6 Speed Manul Gone 2008 AW X3 3.0si: 6 speed Returned 2006 AW e90 330i: 6 speed Dinan Stage 1 Returned
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08-19-2008, 09:29 AM	#5
zuendi Private 0 Rep 50 Posts Drives: Z4 Roadster 2.5i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Korea iTrader: (0)	That's a nice find... congrats Zuendi __________________ Best regards Klaus Drive always safe
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08-19-2008, 09:30 AM	#6
CnoteMD Commander in Chief 38 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 535i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M5 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Thats a great looking car! My first car was a 1988 RX7 GXL (I had 135K miles by 1998). Its a great car when taken care of. Its a clear example of how much fun a low weight car can be. In stock form it had just under 150hp, so it wasn't as fast as the cars of today, but still relatively quick. __________________ 2008 BMW 535i Space Gray, Black Leather, Dark Bamboo Trim\| Sport Automatic with Paddles \| Sport Package 2008 BMW M5 (gone, but not forgotten) Space Gray, Silverstone Merino Leather, Madeira Walnut Wood Trim \| 7speed SMG \| All options Mods: Corsa Exhaust \| RPI Ram Air Intake \| H&R Sport Springs \| Rogue Engineering 12mm spacers
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08-19-2008, 09:31 AM	#7
KL2DC Moderator 329 Rep 17,767 Posts Drives: F36 428i,E90 328i, E85 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (23) Garage List 2015 F36 428i [0.00] 2011 E90 328i [0.00] 2006 E85 Z4 3.0i [0.00]	wow that car looks sweet...nice, congrats __________________ Official DC Metro Registry - Current, New & Prospective Area Members Roll Call!
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08-19-2008, 10:58 AM	#9
AmexBlackG5 #1 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: To many to list Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: United States(EAST COAST, WEST COAST and MIDWEST) iTrader: (0)	I was expecting to see an 2nd gen model. The 1st gen are good as well do you have any plans for mods?
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08-19-2008, 12:18 PM	#10
AtoB Major 124 Rep 1,262 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (3)	memories.... i had that exact car. not exactly a rocket, but is was a good car. my favorite thing was the removable targa section. enjoy
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08-19-2008, 03:10 PM	#12
ChaneRZ If You Aint First, You're last !!! 100 Rep 2,508 Posts Drives: 08 BMW 335i, 01 Honda Prelude Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California iTrader: (0)	not bad! __________________ 08 BMW BSM 335i 6MT (Sports, Premium, NAV, PDC, AS, IPOD, HD Radio, Rear Sunshade, OEM Alarm) Angel iBright V3, Luminics Fog Bulb, Turbo Tuner, K&N Drop in Filter, Dinan Exhaust, Dinan Pedals, Vorsteiner CF Front Lip, and CF Rear Diffuser. Ordered:08/25/07 Started: 09/09/07 Finished: 09/14/07 On Ship: 09/15/07 Arrived: 10/08/07 Delivered: 10/10/07
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08-19-2008, 03:21 PM	#13
m3_love Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,986 Posts Drives: 991 C2S Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (8)	that's super clean~congrats and keep us updated on the mods
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08-19-2008, 03:24 PM	#14
jeveryday Colonel 82 Rep 2,335 Posts Drives: 2012 535i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Long Island, New York iTrader: (6)	nice man... great condition to be so old.
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08-19-2008, 04:06 PM	#15
foxman Driver 31 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (0)	It will benefit from new springs, struts and a TII motor with some go fast parts added. Those parts and a new radio are the plan. __________________ 08 e92 335i 88 RX-7 Vert 07 Jeep Commander 04 RX-8...sold
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08-19-2008, 04:26 PM	#16
n3985 Captain 151 Rep 602 Posts Drives: a car Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North NJ iTrader: (3)	Where in Indy are you? I went to school in Bloomington! Personally I think a LS1 swap would be sweet! Gobs of torque, cheap mods, and solid reliability!
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08-20-2008, 04:05 PM	#17
sambonator Samtaro! 130 Rep 2,609 Posts Drives: 2014 F32 N55 Alpinweiß Join Date: May 2007 Location: Newport Beach, CA, USA iTrader: (7)	That's a nice minty car. Congratulations! If only you could fit an n54 in there... __________________
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08-22-2008, 07:21 PM	#18
Rusty's508whp First Lieutenant 9 Rep 348 Posts Drives: 07 BMW 335I Coupe/ 94 Supra TT Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dallas iTrader: (2)	Congrats, looks well maintained. She is a keeper. __________________ 335i Space Grey on Coral Red / Grey Poplar Trim, Sport Pckg, Premium, Navi, 6MT, and OEM Aero Lip......07/09/07 Production....08/15/07 Delivery Date...08/18/07 Picked her up.
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08-22-2008, 07:56 PM	#19
yosepp Private First Class 14 Rep 159 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Coupe-Alpine White Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	this is not rx-7 post.... and the care is just plain ugly...
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08-22-2008, 09:17 PM	#20
wrickem Should be working 2233 Rep 3,824 Posts Drives: What he wants to Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: lambertville nj iTrader: (0)	I had an '88 RX-7 convertible just like that except with leather seats. It was one of my favorite cars of all time. That car ran like a top its entire life. Makes sure when you start that rotory engine, you let it run for a while and use up the gas injected into it. Trust me, you WILL flood it if you don't. And it's not fun when it floods, 8 out of 10 times it involves a flatbed. __________________ ______________________________________________ Currently hoarding cars - '24 840, '19 911, 07 M6 , ‘23 Bronco OBXluxsquatch, ‘24 Bronco Heritage
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08-22-2008, 09:19 PM	#21
snipersix Brigadier General 242 Rep 3,807 Posts Drives: Retired 2017 F87 M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Burnaby iTrader: (3) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00]	i prefer a FD __________________ 2017 M2 Coupe:\|Black Sapphire Metallic\|DCT\|Nav/Idrive\|M Performance CF Spoiler\|M Performance CF DCT Interior\| M Performance Gloss Black Kidney Grills\| M Performance Steel Pedals \| Eventuri CF CAI \| 19" Brixton Rims \| KW V3 Clubsport \| Retired: \|2008 328i Sedan\|Montego Blue\|
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