"MM54" (mm54mk2)
08/30/2015 at 14:16 • Filed to: Junkyard RX7
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"MM54" (mm54mk2)
08/30/2015 at 14:16 • Filed to: Junkyard RX7 | 1
| 5 |
As I mentioned, I’ve been looking into a wrecked FB (1982) RX-7 at a somewhat local junkyard. More information can be found in my past two posts about it. This past Saturday (which I guess was yesterday, if you’re reading this today) I went and took another look to see what could be dealt.
My further investigation yielded some observations. First off, I was able to get the rusty old jack under the Mercury (handle visible in the background of the above picture) out and under this car, and it somehow still worked. Looking under the car revealed two things. First off, the reason the exhaust was laying on the ground is that someone took the catalytic converter out. Two, there was not very much rust at all. I’m not saying it looked new, but there’s more rust under my DD than there was under this car, and it’s a Mazda in the Northeast.
The damage to the rear end was clear, I still think it would pop out, but both tail lights and the fill panel between them was completely trashed. The release mechanism for the rear glass was also jammed up, which makes sense since the keyhole was the center of the dent.
Back on the topic of rust - based on the oxidation of the paint, the rear 3/4 of this car was under something for most of its life, whether it be a roof or a tarp. The paint in these areas is pretty good, and there isn’t any rust other than where the paint was chipped off. The front 1/4 of the car, though, looked like I expect the whole thing. There were small holes through the leading edge of the rood, the support structure underneath was crusty, and the driver’s side shock tower was rusted through at the base (!).
Inside the engine bay (still) looks really good. Everything is there and original, the dipstick says there’s oil (a little on the low side, but not to the ‘add’ mark), and looking down the carb it looked cleaner than most. There was an original ‘long life’ mazda air filter in it, and the “Sub Zero Fluid” system was even still there.
Sitting inside, the transmission (reluctantly at first) went through all the gears. There was very clearly exactly no fluid in the clutch hydraulics, and once I broke the pedal free, the brake system actually held some pressure. The gas pedal would not budge, and I may have bent the bracket slightly trying to get it to do so. The choke knob also would not pull. I was able to turn the steering wheel, though, since the keys are in it and in the ‘run’ position.
With this knowledge in mind, I knew what the car is worth to me. Unfortinately, it seems to be worth almost twice that to the owner of the junkyard, even though it’s been there for years and has yet to sell a single part. He wasn’t moving, so we left.
Maybe he’ll come around, maybe not. I’m not too concerned - there are other
bad ideas
projects to be found (one of which I’m waiting for the owner to e-mail me back pictures). In any case, if anyone needs some FB parts, excluding sheet metal other than the driver’s door (the only good panel), I can hook you up.
smobgirl
> MM54
08/30/2015 at 14:31 |
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I'm sad it didn't turn out like you hoped but at least you knew when to back down. I've always had a soft spot for these.
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MM54
> smobgirl
08/30/2015 at 14:36 |
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I really dig the early rx7, and this one is the automotive equivalent to a sad puppy, so it’s pretty tough for me to accept that it isn’t happening. That said, I wouldn’t go a penny over 300 bucks for this, and that’s with the hope that it would run with a rebuilt carb and some fresh gas/oil. The owner just wouldn’t move from his original 500.
Spazburn1966
> MM54
08/30/2015 at 14:53 |
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roflcopter
> MM54
08/30/2015 at 15:32 |
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Ummmm, I could still use the rotor housings and maybe an iron or two...
jjhats
> MM54
08/30/2015 at 16:21 |
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With a car like this even if the owner wants double what your willing to pay the difference is still only a few hundred bucks...just buy it or meet in the middle, no sense haggling over 200 bucks