1985 RX7 S3 Resto in N.I

[Lunawolf044]

Hi been on this forum for 2 years yet never posted as just never remembered to
Have a 1985 RX7 S3 which is mostly original as far as I know might be fully original, have had it for 2 years now as got it when I was 17 and now 19 after saving up all EMA and helping out at part time jobs to save up for it.
Bit on the background of the car:
It's K3 Sunbeam Silver, has red interior which is good condition except needing a good clean, has rust in some areas but mostly surface don't know how as was lying in a back field behind a BMW scrappy for 15 years.
Best part: the engine is full original 12A carby and it started first try when got it home with bit of fuel and battery and was running 100% until last year the fuel pump decided to die.... still is dead as I'm crap at finding things for her.
Well I'll not say too much more except I'm a complete noob at cars and rotaries being honest so don't expect much form me and any help at all even the tiniest thing is appreciated and before anyone says it she is being kept as original as possible with maybe a few changes like exhaust etc as has some piece of crap from a 323 on it which kills her sound. I'm not turning it into a drift car, show car, stance etc and she is not going to be locked up after being finished as planning to put on road as weekend and summer car when I can afford to insure her.
Bad parts: brake calipers screwed don't know if only front or rear as well, fuel pump is dead, has bit of surface rust and a few small holes but nothing major as cleaned up the surface and getting holes done when I can save up enough, gears aren't engaging (don't know if clutch or gearbox as I'm an idiot) and is really messy in engine bay as was lying in muddy field covered in grass for 15 years afterall.
I know 2 years is a long time especially for having not much done but been busy with tech and doing a foundation degree with f all money adn she is 25 miles away and I don't have a license or a road going car yet so it's just whenever mates want to hangout somewhere in the countryside and they know nothing about cars so yea lol
Will try to get pics up sometime I'm able to and can find them all, thanks for reading I know it's a load of jibberish but hopefully you all can find a way to understand it or when I get pics up will help you figure her out.

[codge]

Hi there, Very Welcome.
I've only got 1 x S3 Silver in N. Ireland on the register. Maybe your's? Came from Birmingham a few years back?
It has a thin black coachline on wingtops
Or maybe your's is another. I'm sure you'll tell us sooner or later.

Living in a field shouldn't hurt the gearbox much.....but the clutch will quickly stick or seize up.

What name should we use for your good self?

codge (Dave)

[Threesevens]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
You are a brave man buying an RX7 that has been lying around in a field unprotected for that many years.
As you may know the RX7 has a bad reputation for rust, sometimes hidden in places that are not obvious to the casual inspection
Before you spend too much time and money you should check out all the known corrosion areas, and there are posts on this subject within the forum to help. Also there are many members of the forum more experience than me, who can direct you where to look.
It would be great to see some photo's
Good luck
Kev

[Lunawolf044]

Reg is C334 JFW if that helps? yea has a black stripe up the side sounds about right
Probably is seized, haven't got to mess around with it too much yet just tried a bit whilst was running and nothing was selecting then fuel pump died so didn't do much to the mechanics around there since.

Whichever you all find easiest I don't really mind: Corey, Luna, Wolf, Lunawolf

Haha I'm just stupid and crazy, I gave it a good look around as he told me he didn't even know what it was, he took it as a trade in and just threw it out to the field and it lay there since, though if it helps there was grass covering the whole thing, don't know if that's good or bad?
Being honest I always loved them as dad had 2 and a FC efini plus 2 gen 1 Subaru Legacys he was restoring until his back gave up and heart problems so had to sell them all. As a kid always hovered around the gen 1 RXs, was saving up for a first car to buy it myself and always spotted the silver RX laying in the field as drove past to rallies etc and just decided to go up and check it out, guy asked £1000 for it and I got him down to £750 as engine wouldn't fire as battery dead and no fuel etc, though I didn't expect it to work at all, was thinking an RX8 13B or FC 13B something NA Rotary.
Already noted them haha I haven't spent much on it being honest yet mostly servicing and rust remover and a lot of hours scrubbing away and figuring out what I can do atm having no knowledge of working on cars.
Thanks been looking around at them a bit and being honest looking at her as much as I can and following what most people post about she is good, has a few small holes under driver's door on the skirt area and a small bit on floor but mostly surface rust that was just a pain to get back.
Hopefully can get to talk to you all and hopefully when she is ready get to Retro Rides with the group haha though still another few years before that
Yea I plan on getting them up once I get home today hopefully and sort them all out as they are thrown everywhere on my laptop :/
Thanks will need it, you too
Corey
P.S sorry for all the long writing I end up jibbering a lot haha, hope to get to know everyone better

[codge]

Hi Wolfie,
Yeh, C334 JFW is the one I've got. Location at the moment is Dun*****n. Sound right?

As Kev says, check out Ian's buying guide pdf, here's a link.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8jAGJ ... BmYTkyZDQw

The trailing arm plates are a particular weak spot.

[Lunawolf044]

Hi Codge (Or do you prefer Dave?)

Thanks again for the guide and info, btw I know this might be a bother or might be able to find it somewhere but does anyone know of how many other Gen 1 RX7's there is in N.Ireland by any chance? just interested as I've never actually seen one on the road except at a show in Ireland.
Corey (Wolfie)

Dave is fine or codge is fine.....bit like you, I don't mind.
Check this link to the register Location List. Yours is the Silver S3 in NI

http://rx7fb.com/download/file.php?id=2140

(I messed this post up by pressing edit not quote.....sorry....Dave)

Cheers
Dave

[Lunawolf044]

Home now so going to spam pics, sorry in advance for the crap photography and sometimes light glare, also incase anyone is wondering she was at the side of uncles house for a while until got the shed and she was amusing in the snow as fired up with no problems except needed more choke and battery ran flat trying to power his jeep haha
Also she does have her original black rubber spoiler in good condition with her just took it off as was really loose and also some mud etc was under it so took it off and currently keeping it covered up until she is fixed properly to put it back on. And anyone wondering the Legacy is my dad's and it's going through a restoration as well but not half as bad as Rexy is, only major thing with her is the back window is smashed.
Now to the pics:




































Ok spam over haha
Sorry again about it, btw just remembered that she has 2 spare wheels that are same as on her so have 6 wheels and also she had 2 sunroof bag/covers lol don't know if this was normal etc and also has the boot straps still there as well as original toolkit just as a nice touch. Are these things rare or normal to find in them still in 100% working and clean? I doubt the toolkit was ever used looking at it not even a scrape anywhere and was jammed shut like had never been opened since new.
Wolfie

[Threesevens]

Thanks for the pics and looks better than i could have imagined from the outside. look forward to seeing your progress
Kev

[Lunawolf044]

Np, thanks for the help you guys it's much appreciated and definitely has helped with figuring out some stuff in my head
Yea she does, I cleaned off the mud and black sludge from the outside before took any pics as she looked awful with it and wanted her to looks pretty for pics haha
Being honest I would love to find out exactly what that sludge is as it seems to have protected her for all them years, you can maybe see a bit of it in the engine bay pics still along the sides of it, even the engine had some on it which cleaned up well.
Whatever it is I would reckon it's her savour as seen a few of them before that were laying in dry barns for less time that rotted like hell so I thought she was just going to be a future parts car or experimental toy but turned out like she did
Underneath is still covered in it but leaving it until I can get her up and sitting on jacks or ramps etc for a long time before cleaning it as it is protecting her so I'm not going to hurry to remove it

Well I'll tell my plans to do to it for now in case anyone knows anything that may be of help or maybe can point me in the right direction.
Going to try to find a fuel pump for her to get her running again that will feed her and make her happy and also hopefully can figure out exactly what is wrong with the brake calipers so can start fixing them or replacing them whichever is required.
I'm going to apologise in advance for slow progress etc as I'm a student and it's a purely self funded effort so can't afford much especially with uni fees and trying to pay for my 323f to get onto the road for now as it needs new tires and paint :/ and then the dreaded insurance.....
If anyone has any tips or advice about anything I'm willing to listen and it would be really appreciated as I said before I'm a noob when it comes to cars never mind trying to restore a rotary of all things lol nowhere near me even has them on record of existing so that's a great start haha
Also sorry for jibbering hopefully isn't too annoying, if anyone can tell me a type of fuel pump or even point me in the right direction for finding one I would be grateful as being honest I have no idea what I'm looking for as soo many different types and I'm a bit scared to put the wrong one in incase it breaks something. And if anyone wants anymore info just ask and I'll be willing to talk all day about her haha
Btw would any parts from a lantis 1.5l 323f be of use on her does anyone know? my older bro has one he used as a parts car for another one and it's just laying there so he said if anything is of use just take it.
Thanks in advance and hope can start giving regular updates etc on here and will definitely keep here informed and chat to everyone here
Corey

[codge]

Hi Codge (Or do you prefer Dave?)
Thanks again for the guide and info, btw I know this might be a bother or might be able to find it somewhere but does anyone know of how many other Gen 1 RX7's there is in N.Ireland by any chance? just interested as I've never actually seen one on the road except at a show in Ireland.
Corey (Wolfie)

Dave is fine or codge is fine.....bit like you, I don't mind.
Check this link to the register Location List. Yours is the Silver S3 in NI

http://rx7fb.com/download/file.php?id=2140

Cheers
Dave