73RX-2 on jack stands for 20 years
 

Where would you suggest I start to get this car back on the road?

Reading is a good start and here is a Manual...


http://foxed.ca/index.php?page=rx7manual

In what state was the engine left? If it was a running engine, were the fluids left in it? Coolant? Gas? Drain the coolant and look for particle contaminants and rust. Carb probably needs rebuilt and gas tank prob needs a cleaning. These engines typically don't drive themselves out of a barn... so you need to factor in your engine goals. Do you want to keep it stock engine? Old school parts are harder to come by, so it may be best to pull the engine immediately and try to have it rebuilt, rather than try to start up something that wont last long anyway and cause more $$ in damage in the long run.

Next i'd look at road worthiness safety. Tires/shocks/bushings/etc

thanks to Chibikougan and Ferocious....I'm new to this site and don't have a good handle on navigating yet. I'm the original owner and the car was put up after white smoke was existing from the exhaust. I didn't drain any of the fluids and the engine seems to be seized as when it is put in fourth gear and rocked it doesn't turn the engine over. I heard that wd-40,kroil, diesel fuel may unsieze it. Your advice on putting any of these item in the engine spark plug holes? The car is in original condition except for some people dings.

White smoke can be indicative of coolant seal failure. If that was the case, and coolant sat in the bottom of the rotor housing for years, there can be extensive damage. Personally I wouldn't even try to unseize it. I'd pull it immediately to try to save at least one of the housings. Even if you got it to run, it wouldn't last long enough to be worth the $$ of losing the parts of the engine which are still good

Great source of info, especially for you, the section on coolant seal damage
http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/ro...naldamage.html

http://www.rotaryresurrection.com/ro...s/image008.jpg

If you had white smoke it is extremely likely that your coolant seals went out. If this is the case, leaving it like that allowed the coolant to pool inside the housings and has corroded the inside of the engine. Unfortunately that would likely mean sourcing a new engine. You can try pouring ATF or other oils in there, but I doubt it's going to do much good. Certainly not likely to hurt though.

edit: dang he beat me to it. :lol:

As an FYI-

My Cosmo sat for 15 years, but was running when it was parked. I put some MMO in the spark plug holes, and the next day it spun freely. Since it didn't have any 'seal issues' it just needed a very good cleaning once it was cracked open.

However, I have gone through every system on the car before it hits the road. New brakes, rubber brake hoses, clutch master and slave, and new clutch line, new wheel bearings and seals with new grease. New seals on the trans, new clutch, new fuel hoses and pump, clean (well, about to clean) fuel tank, new battery cables, rebuilt the carb, switched to electronic ignition......

Long list, and I'm sure I'm missing some things. All this just to make sure it starts, stops and turns properly BEFORE I worry about anything cosmetic or non-essential to normal operation. Only place I splurged was new wheels and tires!!

Let's see some pics of this car. Was it garaged?