So it's not actually a barn find. It's my '83 GSL that, long story short, I thought was gone forever but to my total surprise I have just recently gotten back.

It sat outside in the midwest for something like 5 years without moving.

It's getting new tires tomorrow and then I need to get it started as soon as possible so I can satisfy the storage property it's going to (they have a running-only rule for cars). It doesn't need to drive, just run.

The gas was never emptied or stabilized, so I fear for the fuel components. What procedure should I follow to make sure I don't screw anything up? I haven't tried to start it yet. I searched the forum and found a lot of threads about starting rotaries, but none about one that hasn't been properly stored for many years.

Vital statistics:
Streetport 12a
Mikuni 44
Has an FPR
No metering pump
Turbo II oil cooler
Frankenstein electrical system

Take it easy on me, I've been out of the RX7 loop for a long time and I'll no doubt have forgotten some stuff. It could be the time elapsed, or a result of using MMO as a condiment.

Bonus picture. The paint varied from good to beautiful the last time I saw it.

 

Congratulations! Check the fluids, freshen the gas and if there's fuel and spark it should be good to go.

I bought an 83 GSL a few weeks ago that had been sitting for 4 years. $400, 125,000 miles.

It needed a radiator, starter and tires, which I brought with me and installed in the seller's driveway.

I added a couple gallons of gas and it fired right up with a jump start, so I drove it the 40 miles home.

Gotta love those FB's.

 

Shoot... dribble half an ounce of gasoline in the carb with half a tablespoon of ATF or MMO, and hit the keys.


My recent purchase fired right up on just that after sitting for god knows how long (at least 4 years). Points didn't even need cleaning!!!

 

well first step ..... post more pics lol
but really I would change the oil and filter first at least along with whats stated above

 

i just make sure there IS oil and water in it. you want to maybe pour a little oil down the carb, and spin the engine over a few times, to make sure its free.

then you should be able to start it. after it starts, you can change the fluids.

 

Thanks for the replies guys! A couple of questions:

1. Is it really not a problem that there is super old gas in the tank and carb? It honestly could be 6 or more years since it was last filled. If i just need to put in some new premix, that's great, just making sure.

2. People are talking about putting some gas/additive straight into the carb. It's a side draft, will that work? Should I maybe get some of that spray in stuff instead? That worked well getting my previous rx7 to start, but it hadn't sat like this.

j9fd3s, spin it a few times without the ignition? I'm a little confused. Again, also not sure how to do the oil properly since it's a side draft

Thanks for the help!


Bonus photo 2: 2006, before the weather got at her

 

Very pretty. I'm sure you will restore her to her original glory.

I should have mentioned, I cheated a bit when I fired up that 83 GSL that had been sitting. I brought along a can of starting fluid and shot some into the Nikki, just to get some instant gratification and make the seller have regrets. The ether is much better than gas at bringing them back to life. You should have seen his face.

The old gas should be fine, as long as it's flowing to the carb. A more likely problem would be dirty fuel clogging the lines or fuel filter.

Also, squirt a tablespoon or two of MMO or ATF into the rotor housings via the carb or plug holes, as mentioned above, that's a good insurance policy.

Turn the engine over a few times with the coils disconnected to pre-lubricate the rotors and seals, then spin the engine with the plugs removed to blow out the residue to avoid fouling the plugs when you go to start it.

Squirt in the starting fluid and take a video for us to see.

 

I have to ask, what happened that "you never thought you would see it again?" Was it stolen?

 

yeah just spin the engine over, you wanna make sure its not locked up, and it'll help get oil all over everything.

oil properly doesn't matter, just get some oil into the engine, its not important how you do it, you could fog some wd40 in there, whatever.

the gas is probably too old to go racing with, but it should run the car... you might wanna be prepared to add some fresh gas

 

So, I had planned on trying to start the car yesterday after the tire shop had done their business. Turns out instead of doing a next-day from Ohio they shipped the tires from Arizona. No tires yet.

Since it's almost impossible to roll on the flats they've just kept it in one of their bays since Tuesday, otherwise I'd have been working on it. Tires should be on tomorrow at which point I'll try to start her up.

ray green, thanks for the info, your procedure sounds pretty solid so I'll try that. Perhaps the guy you bought that car from is now looking for another RX7 and planning to spray some starter fluid in

Nothing quite like that. I had big money problems and thought the owner of the shop the car was at had sold it in 2010. Couple weeks ago I got a notice of a mechanic's lien which said I owed a load of money and the car was being sold at a foreclosure auction. There was no auction and the lien turned out to be fake, but the car had been put in front of the tuning shop (now closed). So we loaded it on a flatbed in the middle of the night and took it back.

The owner of the shop, who wouldn't return my calls or meet me, gave me a call the next day and suddenly was very friendly. Sent him a check for what I owed in 2010. He should be cashing it about now.

Bonus photo 3: They attorney said this was okay

 

Yesterday the tires came in and they put 'em on, so after they rolled the car out into the parking lot I did the following:

Swapped the battery
Put in 2 gallons of premixed gas
Pulled the spark plugs and fed in some MMO
Replaced them and spun the engine with coils disconnected
Pulled the plugs again and spun it a few more times
Reconnected everything
Sprayed about a second of starting fluid in
Fired up almost instantly

I was pretty pleased
Thanks for all of the suggestions guys

Bonus photo 4: G'bye tiny old battery

 

Went as it should! Now, tags.

 

Glad to see you got her started!

 

Very nice, sounds like a good one indeed.