Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Thinking about this RX7, Opinions?

I'm certainly in that group too, though I am SOOO happy I didn't toss my Miata for one. Too many headaches.

The car looks good, 50k is indeed quite young on an NA rotary. If it lacks rust, you should be in good shape. I like those cars a lot, as they are the most proper sports cars of the 7's, they're pretty much a rotary powered Miata coupe, and that is all good.

If you are still looking to buy the car, I think it is a great deal .... having owned RX7's in the past.

Just make sure to check the engine oil for signs of water or other contamination. Also check the exhaust for the slightest hint of smoke ..... means the seals are going out ... $$$$$.

But other than that it seems like a great buy. I do recommend using a high quality synthetic oil such as Red Line in the engine, trans & diff .... made mine run so much smoother.

If properly cared for, rotaries can last for 200K miles or more ... but they are not forgiving if you do not change the oil religiously!!

As for dropping the LS1 in .... you ruin 1 major advantage the 7 has over other sports cars ... light weight. The 13B can be tuned for 300 to 400 Hp with minimal weight gain.

My last RX was a 3rd gen turbo ... only mod was an HKS intake/filter .... and I could still beat Camaro's off the line and at high speeds!

The LS1 weighs only like 150lbs more than a stock rx7 engine and can easily be made to have a 50/50 weight ratio. The only reason I'd prefer the LS1 over the rotary is maintenance.

2 things:

Do not use synthetic oil in a rotary engine. It injects oil into the combustion chambers (on purpose) and synthetic does not burn well.

First gens weigh 2300-2600 pounds. Adding 150 pounds for a larger engine most certainly will upset the balance.

I would agree that an LS1 swap probably wouldn't be ideal for a first gen., but for a tt third gen. I think it makes a great choice. Here is a paragraph I took from the FAQ on Brad Hinson's site, just to add to the discussion:

How much will the car weigh? (Referring to a LS1 swap in a third gen.)

Answer) The aluminum GM LS1 and LS6 engines are extremely light power plants. With the complete removal of the 13B and the sequential turbo assembly, the project car's final weight is less than the total gross vehicle weight of a stock Mazda RX7. The final weight of the car is listed below. The car weighed 2,831lbs with a full Touring interior, sunroof, complete Bose sound system including the "Sound Wave," and a 1/4 tank of gas.

LF: 746 RF: 677 Total Front: 1,423lbs
LR: 675 RR: 733 Total Rear: 1,408lbs

OK, you made your point on weight and distribution.

It still is an issue of sacrilege. Putting pistons in an RX-7 is cheeseburger (redneck rice?) The very thought makes me cringe as much as big plastic trim and fart pipes on Civics.

Taking the rotary out of the RX-7 takes away what makes the Mazda RX line unique in the automotive world.

Another note on the synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is bad for the engine, as APT noted. This also applies to the new Renesis in the RX-8, per Mazda.

The biggest thing to look for concerning rust on 1st gen rx-7 are in the wheel well area. The only way to do this properly is to remove the storage bins in the rear wheel well area and check for rust. Good luck