1st Generation Specific 1979-1985 Discussion

1979 RX7 series 1 not started for 5 years

Old 09-22-2008, 07:31 AM
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Hi all, a new user with a question I hope you might be able to help with.



I have a Series 1 1979 RX7 that came with a 12A, that blew up and I replaced it with a 13B, still running under a jetted 12A carby.



When I began my law degree 5 years ago, I parked it in the garage and basically left it, and it has not been started since that day.



It was running well when I parked it, but I could not afford to run 3 cars on a student wage, with a wife and 3 children, so it had to be left there till I had finished my studies.



Now that time is nearly here, but I was wondering if anyone had any idea what I can do to minimise the chance that the apex seals or indeed any other seals in the motor will seize or break the first time it is turned over?



I was thinking of spraying WD-40 or similar inside the spark plug holes, and then with the car raised, try turning the motor over using the rear wheels to do it gently, but does anyone have any experience with trying to start a motor that has been left for so long?



Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. This car will be a project for many years to come now that I can afford to run it again, but if the motor can be saved considering it was replaced not very long before being 'rested', that would be great.



Cheers,



Crundle
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Old 09-22-2008, 11:47 AM
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yeah, id pour a little oil of your choice down the carb and turn it over by hand. also change the coolant, its gonna be nasty. tires'll be flat spotted too
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Old 09-24-2008, 07:40 AM
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Yeah, been keeping the tyres pumped up, but they will need replacing.



Has anyone ever started a rotary after such a long time without damaging the apex seals and side seals?



I can't wait to get the ***** up to try it finally, been missing that sweet brapping sound for so long...
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Old 09-24-2008, 09:11 AM
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pump it full of Marvel Magic Oil and give it a few turns by hand. Take the plugs out first.



Luckily the guy I bought my motor from filled it with MMO before he stored it, so my motor was free as a bird!
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Old 09-24-2008, 02:25 PM
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Yah Mystery Oil, Seafoam, ATF. Everyone has a snake oil of choice. My 85 sat for around 7 years when I bought it and I let it soak in ATF for 2 days and than turned it over by hand before hitting it with the starter. Still runs to this day.
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Old 09-25-2008, 08:19 AM
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ATF is bad for the oil seals I've been told.
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Old 09-25-2008, 11:08 AM
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Originally Posted by crundle' post='908486' date='Sep 24 2008, 05:40 AM
Yeah, been keeping the tyres pumped up, but they will need replacing.



Has anyone ever started a rotary after such a long time without damaging the apex seals and side seals?



I can't wait to get the ***** up to try it finally, been missing that sweet brapping sound for so long...


yes. i let my gsl-se sit in a field for 3 years. i threw a battery in it and then went roadracing.... the metering oil will keep everything nice unless water gets in there.



if you wanna be cautious, put a LITTLE oil in a spin it by hand.
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Old 09-27-2008, 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by TheRX7Project' post='908551' date='Sep 25 2008, 09:19 AM
ATF is bad for the oil seals I've been told.




5 years ago is when I bought it and I dont have oil seal problems.
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Old 09-27-2008, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by 1revnrex' post='908689' date='Sep 27 2008, 03:22 PM
5 years ago is when I bought it and I dont have oil seal problems.
How did you do your ATF treatment?



I bet if you just put it in the oil and had it pump through the oil metering pump, or through the oil system I could imagine possible damage to the oil seals. However if you put the ATF through the intake and then crank it by hand I could see how it might work.



When I was starting up my 83 GSL I had starting issues because the fuel was bad and gummed up my carb.



I cleaned the carb up and drained the fuel tank. The fuel had turned into a lacker. I then filled up the tank with fresh fuela nd added BG 44K fuel treatment. That fixed the starting issues for me.



So keep in mind that if you didn't put a fuel stabilizer in your tank that you may want to change out the fuel.
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Old 09-28-2008, 10:15 AM
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I put the ATF down the intake and turned it by hand. And yah I would drain the tank too.
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