decisions about cars

[Andrew Bohan]

so my high comp KA isn't doing so well.
it's had bad blowby since the beginning. i thought it would go away as the rings settled, but after 300 miles it's not getting any better.
then over the weekend it started ticking. sounded like something in the head (valves maybe) but racetune thinks it's a rod bolt that came loose.
then on monday it stalled and wouldn't restart. hasn't run since.

so

i could get another dohc ka. or i could get an sr
or i could get an fc and sell my s13 parts.

i found an '87 turboII for $1500. i have enough to get it, and then with the money i make off of selling parts off my 240 it won't be such a bad deal.

[aznpoopy]

sorry to hear it. i was actually keeping up with ur build on ur website (damn funny btw). :)

i love rx7's... if i ever ditched my s14 i would buy a FC n/a in a heartbeat. how many miles on the turboII? $1500 is a great deal if its clean.

[wootwoot]

expect to put a new engine in it, but that wont cost you a damn thing since sr20det's are the only engines that have skyrocketed. if you want to build a new engine for it...... they have engine mount kits to make the 3rd gen engine fit in there rather nicely. well over in japan the 2 rotor cosmo was basically a junk engine so you can get it for dirt. it has the same fundemental design of the 3rd gen engine but with smaller ports, buy that and get it ported and you have an engine that flow more air than a 747. or just buy a basic 13bt =)
at this point in the game, i would take an rx over a 240,do it!

[Andrew Bohan]

here's the description:

completly stock 1987 black rx-7, 180,000 on body, I replaced engine 1 year ago with good used engine, no leaks, no oil burning, I dont know the actual mileage of the engine but it's good, I put 10,000 miles on engine and it's good and reliable. turbocharger is good too (tested to 14psi, good spool up, no leaks, no burn), tranny/differential also in good shape. I still drive this car every day. I also replaced interior with S5 black interior with dash and all black moldings and carpet.

the car is smoged and registed until july 2005, I can also provide smog certificate for buyer.

bad: the car is multicolor, front bumper and fender are silver, hood on pictures is red but I have black original hood in very good condition I'm going to sell with car. also there is dent in rear passenger quarter panel. no frame damage at all, just from outside, see pics. I could have all that fixed but there is no point for me to spend money becuase I have another turbo rx-7. call or email

i don't really give a shit about the wrong color body panels. i can fix that at any time. i'm gonna go look at it. if everything seems to be okay, then i guess i'll get it.

[aznpoopy]

u really going to ditch the s13? awww...

if the engine is good it's not a bad deal. see if he still has the blown core. rebuild it for shits and giggles and swap it in whenever you're done.

the fc is also 50/50, under 3k and rwd, but it doesn't drive anything like a 240sx. have you driven one before? the whole feel of the car is very different. make sure you like it before you get it.

[HaLo]

I love FC's... one day, I will own one. :)

As for getting a SR20DET, it might not be a great idea... they cost a lot and they break too.

[Thorpedo]

if you have ever been frustrated with anything driving wise about a 240, expect it to be ten times worse in an rx7 it much more of a task to drive spirited in an rx7 than a 240 after switching from my turbo 2 87, to my coupe, my coupe felt like a playtoy. the shifting of the gears is much much longer, clutch feel isnt very good i dont think. when the rear end goes loose, it feels pretty natural, but a little heavier than a 240(which is expected) but yeah definently take it for a good test drive before making your decision. plus many problems plauge the 13b, like hot startup(or lack of startup heh)

[Shin_Kudo]

I've only driven an NA (88 GTU-S), but I really liked the feel of the car. I'd say go for it, a couple cans of flat black will take care of that multicolor problem!

[RBS14]

I love FC's.

If you are in the market, let me know. I've got a friend selling one with an FD engine in it, V-mount IC/radiator, single turbo, HE's, kaaz diff, and some other stuff. He's getting rid of it for REALLY cheap (less than you can find stock S14's for :)). PM me and I'll send you his email address if interested. With the money you have now and what you could get for your S13, you'd probably be able to afford it. Just and option.

[G_Fish240]

sr or rb or another dohc ka

[silviasichigo]

Well either way the 13B (well in Japan) cost 30,000 yen ($280.37) to rebuild and an SR cost about ( in japan) $2000-$2500 to rebuild, the life you get out of the SR compared to the 13B still might not make up for the rebuild cost but you will be down less over a longer period of time.
My best friend perfers rotary over pistons and is a member of the RX7 forums and nopistons.com his screen name is Dragon if you have any questions he can help out with you desicion. in the past 2 months he has rebuilt and ported about 8 7's and is very knowlegable with the rotary. if you choose to get a SR knw they are not expensive but they are really easy to rip down and rebuild with a bullet proof bottom end. I have been boosting mine 1.5-1.8 on the same bottom end for the past 4 years and well it has lasted.

[justinhustle]

fd>fc>s13 imo

but if youre going to build a nice car, get MKIII supra y0!

[kazuo]

Scott, andrew is poor and he prolly can't afford what your friend is asking ("Cheaper than a S14" = probably too much)

Boo for Andrew. Get a SR like everyone else!

Or just buy another DOHC motor for like $200...

[rancid240]

buy A Starion!!

[Andrew Bohan]

well, i have $900 and my gf will lend me 3 or 400, then that180guy will buy my 240 shell for 5 or 700, then i can sell my intake, header, exhaust, struts/springs, sways, strut bars, brakes, and motorset for a nice chunk of change. so maybe i'll have like $2500 or so. that's $1000 over the guy's asking price, and that should be plenty to take care of registration and whatever maintenance it needs.

[wootwoot]

i wouldnt let that car not get bought. but whats with him saying it doesnt burn oil? thats what the engine is designed to do =P
if you can learn how to rebuild a rotary it will save you thouands of dollars when it blows since it WILL at sometime or another. hell, dont all performance engines go at some time? the one that is great about fc3s's are the transmissions, strong as hell. definitely buy it. dont let it get away for christ sake

[Andrew Bohan]

it got away
wah wah
:cry:

so i guess it's back to ka vs sr

[silviasichigo]

hhahahahahahahahahahah well looks like a bullet proof SR is in order hehehehe

[aznpoopy]

get sr20de n/a.

[HyperTek]

i love fcs too.. if somethin happened to my s13.. id diffen. get one..

for that mis-matching body panels ordeal, jsut flat black!
http://img44.photobucket.com/albums/v135/S3Slide/153_5359.jpg

[Toahk]

Ka-t

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[HaLo]

SR power!! love FC's though!

[meatish]

FC's suck. JK they are great but if you get one be prepared to do all the work yourself, because no and i mean NO mechanics will touch the rotary engine. Even if you find a rotory place, it will be a specialty shop and they will rape you for labor costs.. It is a lot easier to replace the engine in those things than to tear the F'ers apart and replace burned O-rings.. so, if you arent ready to DIY then you arent ready. Good luck though!

[Var]

drewl. IMO you shouldnt buy an sr(or an FC). that's coming from an outside perspective and from someone's who's watched you struggle with a relatively easy motor swap. I'm not saying it wasnt a lotta work. An sr has a higher chance of fuckin up. If i were you i would get the 240 running with a used DOHC, sell parts off your other DOHC. Then sell your 240 as stock, sell all your parts, and start fresh with a miata!

[AutoRnD]

lolz... just go an kill yourself andrew =) but hey look at the boat i am in.. but oh yeah the motor runs.. just no goddamn chassis.

[MakotoS13]

man, screw it... just shoehorn a ford racing cammer engine in there.

[autobahNESSA]

Be careful with FC's they have thier own little quircks, that im learning about. put a 3inch exaust on u overboost. got to get turbo wastegate ported. They have toe adjustments on rear that make handling not feel as solid, some like it some dont. they eat gas and oil like crazy. Their is a way you can keep them from eating oil, but that is bad for the rotors. My friend drove around for a while with the oil feed lines to the rotors capped off. he recently hooked them back up. eats 1quart of oil per 3 wks. thats a lot..

Just get an sr. Join the bandwagon like the rest of us. remeber if you blow it, I have a spare block you can buy =).

[RBS14]

They have toe adjustments on rear that make handling not feel as solid, some like it some dont.

Rear steering. It's a less advanced version of HICAS. When the suspension is loading up, it' toes out, and steers the back end of the car. Once a drift is initiated, it toes back in. Basically it sucks and makes the car unpredicatable. Rear steer eliminators (a solid bushing) are only like $50 for the pair. It's really not a big deal.

[kazuo]

Ya drewl... no more FC = go with a SR or drop in a DOHC KA.

Sucks for you (and Alex!) but what can ya do?

[wootwoot]

well rotarys are designed to burn oil so if i hear one more complaint iam going to slap someone. they have oil injection, it is there design. theres also a really easy to way to make it not overboost, put bigger injectors in it or limit the boost.

[Ghst 01]

I used to have a FC before i got my s14......... i loved that car... but yea if ur not a DIY kind person ur gonna get ass raped with no lub at the rotary shops... check out www.teamfc3s.org they are on of the best Rx7 forums there is...... i had my shit street ported... but i got tired after i the engine blew twice... damn those Apex seals

[Andrew Bohan]

i dunno how soon another cheap TII will come along, so i'm just lookin for motors now.
seems another stock KA is the most logical choice. i can get back on the road cheaper, sooner, and easier. and i can turbo it later.
SR has more aftermarket support but costs more right now.
in the meantime, my car is at the shop with the owner wondering what my plans are.
if anyone has a motor, lemme know... thanks