2stroke1971

My FB was my sons first car, he bought it for 500 and we got it running well enough for him to drive every day for a year. I took it over when he moved on, having fell in love with it myself. Ive been tinkering with it for the last 2 years, a little here and there. Driving it a few times a month to keep it alive.

Its got 235,000 miles on it, its got to be tired, but it still runs well.

The steering box is loose, Ive adjusted it a few times and it will get better but then a few trips later it loosens up again.
The unibody has some cracks in the rail near th driver side rear, the fender well has some rust as well as does the drivers door. Some of it is pretty close to a rear link mount...
The rear suspension is crap, sacked out springs, beat shocks etc....potholes are a nightmare.
The clutch is starting to go, not slipping but shuddering when pulling off....


when we got it, it had been burning coolant, but some alumaseal in the rad and that went away, I mean weve put 15,000 miles on it since, and no longer loosing coolant, but theres also that skeleton in the closet.

I just feel that by the time I address the things that drive me nuts when I try to enjoy it, Id have way too much time and effort in it. Its not my only hobby either. I could buy a much nicer one than the one I have for pretty cheap. Just not sure what to do, but I think this might be it for the old FB.

Ive got some money to play with, and I just dont know what to do..buy parts or buy another one, or just get out of it for now.

Qingdao

iTrader: (3)

Get an SA and fix that up.

SA's are way cooler cars; FB's are just throw away beat'em up toys. Just my opinion.

Cookboy

iTrader: (10)

Look on Charlottesville VA Craigslist. There's a 1 owner '83 I want to buy but can't. $1000.00 asking price. Just my 2 cents.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

You can find a nice example for not a lot of money. Rusty 7's can be a headache. I own two with rust... Rust free cars are the way to go. No one says you have to get rid of your current 7. Keep it around for awhile and enjoy it while you're restoring or working on the 7 that you buy for yourself. Buy one with the options and the color that you want. Take your time and find the one that's right for you.

On the flip side, if your current 7 has sentimental value, there's nothing wrong with restoring it. I'm sure it has plenty of life left. A little rust repair and some paint work along with maybe a used engine down the road will bring many more years of reliable service to that car. Buy an engine now and do all of the external gaskets and seals. Clean it up and have it ready to toss in. With a friend's help it takes an afternoon to swap in an engine. If you have the tools to repair the car, there's no shame in repairing what you have. Just two thoughts on your question.

LongDuck

I'm in full agreement on the spare engine concept. It makes the thought of what you do with it next a lot easier when you start to lose compression or get some persistent blue smoke, you just look at the spare engine on the stand and start making plans.

Sometimes the search for the right one for you is part of the fun. In my case, my dad bought my -SE brand new off the lot in 1984 and I can remember sitting in the back cargo area for the test drive the night he brought it home. I can still remember the bright orange glow of the gauges and thinking how futuristic it was at the time, and that faint buzz sound when he'd get on it hooked me for life. I was 13 years old at the time, and have owned a 7 since before I could drive legally. If it's in your blood, don't deny it.

Good luck, regardless,

7aull

iTrader: (2)

So - if you like a Project and get a lot of satisfaction resurrecting The Dead, go with what you have. The pleasure will be in the rebuild. But it will take time and it will cost you $. Guaranteed more $$ than it will be worth (isn't that what hobby cars are for tho??) And with that kind of mileage, chances are you will always be chasing some problem or other (as indeed one does with any old car, but this is a question of _degree_).
Or - If you want to mostly DRIVE the car, take some time, look around and buy the very best one you can afford. one that has lived right all its life, and preserve that. I guarantee you will still have some satisfaction in upkeep (read: there will always be work to do), but you start with a solid foundation.
Really nice RX7s should be had for $4K. Less if you get lucky. More if you fall in Love.
And- ya, can't really beat a sweet SA. (slight bias here...)

Good Luck
Stu Aull
80GS ($4200 - ebay)
Alaska

2stroke1971

Thank you all for the thoughtful replies. My current situation is a bit strange. We had a house fire in July and so we have been living in a townhouse while they are rebuilding. It will be a few months before they are done and you aren't supposed too work on cars at townhomes...and we're not sure if we are gong back to the old house. Been thinking about using the situation as a chance to move on. Hopefully to a house that has a garage! ( didn't have one at the old place)...although parking lot rebuilds were possible there at least. I've Got my eye on an rx....for first time in my life i have some money to play with ( just a bit) so I'm going nuts with What to do. All my toys.. Motorcycles, boats, cars have tip till now been acquired at a minimum...i would buy junk and go a little at a time....

2stroke1971

Well, Im about out of fun money for now. Did not buy another RX....I think I will try to keep mine on life support until I land wherever we land in a couple months. Then hopefully I can set about doing what it needs. Why not I guess.

LongDuck

Keep posting here as you're working on it - maybe start a build thread. I look at my -SE as a 'rolling restoration' because at any one time there are at least 4-5 things that I need to get done and haven't gotten around to it, yet. For me, right now:

Rear axle bearing swap - I have the bearings and collars, but not the time to remove the shafts and take them to a machineshop.

Right rear caliper - parking brake O-ring is leaking, and I have a rebuild kit in hand but no time to dig into it.

Racing Beat engine torque brace - mounted, but not bolted to the side fender yet as I haven't decided which side I want it on.

There's always something to be done, and it's been years since I just drove the car to enjoy it without having something in the background that eventually needed my attention. Stick with it, as you seem to have affection for the car,