DSC

I've got a few newbie questions so bear with me. I tried to search but my questions were just too vague to get less than a billion topics.

I hear nothing but bad about rx-7 reliability, but the little bit of reading I've done says the 1st gen are pretty tough and require no more work than any other car it's age. Which is true? What would cause such nasty roomers about the 7's reliability?

2nd, what's the differences between the years of the 1st gen?

Thanks in advance!

Acuspeed

The 1gens are quite reliable. The biggest things you need to keep in mind are the following:

1) The quickest way to kill any rotary is to not keep an eye on the oil level or to let it overheat.

2) If in doubt, see item #1

All the reliability crap you are hearing is comming from the FD's (3rd gen RX-7), which wasn't really an engine problem, but a combination of a poorly designed twin-turbo system, an overworked cooling system, a fuel system that was pretty much maxed out at stock power levels, and a cart load of fools who thought they knew what they were doing when it came to modding the cars, but later found out they didn't, and rather than admit that fact, they decided to say the FD's were sucky in the reliability department.

Anyway, you need not worry about any of that with the 1gens. Just keep an eye on the oil level, change the oil religiously (every 3K is a good benchmark if you don't feel like having your oil analyzed all the time) and keep any eye on the temp gauge and don't let her overheat. Also, don't be hard on the motor when she isn't up to normal operating temp ... after that, feel free to cut loose. No engine takes to revving like a rotary.


Wow, that's a pretty broad question. Perhaps you could specify what you are interested in, or what years you are looking at, and we could better help you. At any rate, you can't go wrong with an 84 or 85 GSL-SE. Then again, perhaps someone who's bored will read this and post all the various differences of all the models .

82transam

iTrader: (18)

1. what he said
2. 79-80 or "SA's", referred to as "series 1" are the really old school looking ones with the squarish bumpers. also the lightest first gens.
81-83 or "FB's" are referred to as Series 2.
84-5 are also called FB's and are known as Series 3. externally, very similar to S2 but the interiors are totally different. S3 also saw the GSL-SE, which is the 13b fuel injected top of the line First gen.
There are a ton of other details to know too, but thats the basics. any other ?'s just ask

DONNA

some info, http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/

Hyper4mance2k

iTrader: (40)

main reason people say they're un reliable is that there are onlt 7 main moving part to run a rotary and when something breaks its usually something big where as in a boinger there's a million things to go wrong and when something does its not as catistrophic.. so when you only have to replace a valve spring its not too bad a job and the car is still running, but if you've got replace an apex seal its done... get my drift
what i'm trying to say is that they are both as reliableas each other,(they're gonna break down at the same time) but when something breaks in a boinger its usually more easaly repairable. and when its in a rotary its some thing big cause there's virtully no small stuff to break

DSC

Well, cool I don't see myself having any prob's keeping a 7 running...I've got a 4 banger that I change oil on every 2500-3000mi.

I guess what I'm looking at would be a series 1 or 2, not interested in the 13b.

Could you post pics of the differences between series 1 and 2? Also, you said series 1 was lighter...how much lighter? Is there any HP difference between series 1 and 2?..or are the differences mostly cosmetic?

Another question (i haven't searched this one yet, don't beat me, hehe) what type of suspension front and rear does the 1st gen rx-7 use?

82transam

iTrader: (18)

I should clarify, not All Series 3 were 13b on the GSL-SE, infact, most S3's are 12a. Not sure how much lighter SA's are, I just know that they are. I think all first gen 12a's had the same HP figure 101hp and 107 lb/ft of torque. As for suspension, I'm not sure what the front is called, but they all have a live rear axle. I'll rummage through my files to find some pics.

peejay

Turbocharged models.

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

someone that shares my opinion of this "unreliable Gen 3", eh. i believe that's exactly what happened to start this rumor. also, poor comprehension of proper care of a rotary is to blame.

the only other thing i'll add is with regard to the weight issue. according to the books i've read, the SA's curb weight was 2420 pounds, and the 81-83 FB (stripper models) were 2345 pounds. so the SA were not the lightest, contrary to popular belief.

REVHED

It's strange that we don't seem to have any of the 3rd gen. reliability (or lack thereof) issues over here. Apart from the things Acuspeed mentioned it's probably also due to lack of knowledge in regards to tuning and maybe also the lower octane fuel you guys have.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Yea, I agree with what everyone said, the FD is to blame for all these rumors. Its too bad too, cause FD's are cool and if you know what your doing they will last too.

RotaryMotorDisorter

www.iluvmyrx7.com is pretty damn cool, good job who ever made it.