Because I've decided I want an RX7 twin turbo (3rd gen) and last night a mate of mine said he'd been told that the engines all need to be rebuilt around 60k.

Surely this can't be true? Jap stuff is meant to be rock solid. Just need to know what's what.

Cheers

 

They need a rebuild due to the tips of the rotors having wear (its like the piston skirt). s'pose they probably have sorted them by nowadays tech but that might not be the case on an older unit like that. and with it being blown as well its likely to have seen some thrashing revs!
Ive got an old practical classics somewhere(of all mags) with a buyers guide to rotary engines i'l dig it out and post it on for you. sorry if i'm not much help though cos ive never worked on em in my line of work, just the usual 4-12pots

 

ive heard this to mate about every 60k the best person toask is Itsmeagain as the fooker loves his jap cars, hes the person to ask mate

 

That would be fantastic mate

How much do you want for it?

 

Yeah I'm hoping he homes in on this thread mate, he normally comes wading in where there's Jap stuff involved

But he is a bloody wealth of knowledge on the subject

The old Neophytou

 

Internet search....

Mazda RX7 twin-turbo (1992-2002)

What's Good

Sensational looking retro minimalist classic. Searing 'junior supercar' performance from 237 bhp engine. 0-60 in six seconds and 160mph top speed. Quick steering. In the same league as a Porsche 911 C2 or a Porsche 968 of the same age. Better looking than either. Can be uprated to 280 bhp. UK imports revived in late 2001 by Mazda dealer TW White. Last imported RX7s have 265bhp and vestigial rear seats. The price is Ł29,950. More from www.twwhiteandsons.co.uk Mazda generally 4th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 47.61 v/s lowest 31.93) Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

What's Bad

Power had to be restricted to get through EU emissions laws. Not enough 'feel' in the quick steering. Heavy fuel consumption. Originally, UK spec strictly a two-seater and back seats in TW White imports are tiny. Needs expert specialist maintenance. Car must NEVER be started then shut down without reaching full operating temperature or washout will harm rotor seals. Car must not be used for short runs from cold.

What to Watch Out For

Evidence of proper, regular specialist maintenance, with regular changes of all fluids. Worth having an MOT cat test done even if not due, to check for excess hydrocarbons which could mean that the rotor seals are wearing out. Don't buy without getting the car properly checked by an expert in the model, even if the inspection costs you Ł250. There are a few dodgy grey imports about that won't pass a proper UK MOT emissions test. (Rear seats mea it's definitely an import) If buying a used grey imported RX7 check it out at www.bimta.com

 

I know 2 interesting facts:

1. They are called Rotary Wankel engines. Which sounds rude.

2. They've been around for fucking years and a version of the engine was used in german tanks in the 1st world war.

Another pubic service announcement.

 

hes prpbably locking his jap radar on if the lazy buggers even up

 

I think they suffered a lot with oil seal failure as well, hence requiring premature rebuilds compared with convensional cars.

I was also told (i'm sure i'll get corrected if this is wrong!) that they need to be warmed up and warmed down to prevent the above.

I've not had one apart personally so only going on what I can find.

 

And in aircraft

 

Please add a number 3 to the interesting facts list

 

I only know as I had a right job sqeezing them into my airfix models

 

Good god! Seems to be a lot involved in the upkeep of one. That info above seems to rule out going to the shops and back in one!

Mind you it's not often I do that so it should be ok. The fuel consumption I have heard about and it is a bit of a worry.... I won't be looking to buy a fresh import either, rather something that's been here a while with evidence of a full UK MOT.

You have to go through the hassle of getting a fresh import set up right for UK use don't you?

I'm gonna be taking a loan out to buy the car so I don't want another bill for an engine rebuild a year or two down the line

There's a nice one on the trader at Ł5300 that's 71k and been rebuilt in japan (supposedly), something like that may actually be better than a 45k car.....

To the tune of scooby doo: Ne-ophy-tou, where are you, I need your jap car knowledge!

I dunno what's wrong with me this morning

 

 

They are fairy thirsty but no worse than a stage 3 cossie really. Get one thats had a rebuild as there will be lots that have been done by the age of the cars.

Imports are fine but they are moe difficult to bring into the uk after 2000 (or there abouts) as they will not be parallel imports at that age. They will be out of your budget anyway.

The key think is proof of a rebuild as 60k is about near the time they will be due one although thats not to say that they wont go on longer.

Its easy to get more power out of them really (just affects the rotor tip life). Get a power FC lose the twin turbo and go for a big single lose the air pumps and fit a front mount and do something with the rad also the bridge porting is an option but depends on how you want the car to drive/respond. The heat is a problem in the engine bay and affects ACT's obviously.

The main thing is proof of a rebuild.

Here's one that a mate picked up for 7200 last year. The bodywork needs looking at but the engine was rebulit 4k ago and its easier to find someone to paint a car than to work on a rotary . Saying that they are not that difficult as not many moving parts internally (just people are not experiecned with them)



They are awesome cars and the way they boost up reminds me of a bike

 

Give me a fucking chance, i got work to do and didnt even get home till 3.30am last night

60k is minimum really, ones thats been treated well (regular oil checks n changes, and not driven too much like a pussy, as thats bad for em) can last 80k+ no probs.

Rebuilds on them are cheap tho, 2.5k or so, about half what most other nice jap cars are.

The standard twin turbo setup is over-complicated tho, and can cause grief, TBH id only want one with a single turbo conversion.

Awesome cars, look like a mega expensive car inside n out, look lovely, sound lovely, handle lovely, brake lovely, and can be modded to go silly fast.

Wouldnt have one as a daily driver tho

 

Sorry mate, as said, I'm in a daft mood today lol.

Mine would have to be a daily driver but I guess it's each to their own in that respect. What would I look for to tell me that a rebuild is not yet necessary then? Wouldn't want the engine to let go on me, but as I only do around 10k a year then in theory it sounds as tho a well looked after car could serve me for two years before being rebuilt, which at 2.5k wouldn't be so bad.

I doubt I could be arsed with a single turbo conversion. Wouldn't it become much more laggy etc?

I thought with TT one runs at low revs and the other at high, or am I getting confused with bi-turbo?

 

Reason i say not a daily driver is that although they not unreliable as such, they are lil bit tempramental and as they totally different to normal engines in every bloody respect it can be a pain if got lil problems as local folk wont be able to fix easy.

Single turbo conversion isnt laggy on one of them, rotory engines create so much exhaust gas they spin up a 1000bhp turbos with relative ease- Ive been in tons of Rx7s with HKS T51s etc and they not even remotley laggy.

Just the standard sequential twin turbo setup is so smooth youd barely realise its turbod.

 

I see. Well I think that I would be happy to leave it as it is in that respect because a conversion might be more something to think about when I find that it no longer excites me.

 

Ooh that sounds so fuckin tempting, these are lovely looking cars.......till they break, then I bet its friggin hard to find someone to repair at reasonable cost

 

That's why I plan to drive round with a copy of the yellow pages

Can you imagine called the AA out to it?

 

Brannen- like said, people like Dragon and Re:Worx are cheap as fuck to rebuild them compared to conventional performance piston engines.

Parts arnt a lot of money, and nothing is complex barring the standard sequential twin turbo setup, which is a bit of an arse.

RX7 forum would be a good place to go.

I did the J-Tuner RX7 thrash at brunters, and went in 12 different ones, from J-plates to 2001 last ones ever models, and from bog 100% standard ones that are so quiet that you really DO need the warning buzzer to tell you that you at 8000rpm, to stripped out 500bhp monsters.