Renesis RX8 Cheap, Great find or run away?

There used to be a craigslist ad for this, but I can't find it now. Now it is currently posted on Facebook Marketplace.

2004 RX8, motor is currently pulled. Motor and trans are included, supposedly 70k miles on them and there were "no issues" before pulling. The guy says he pulled it to do an LS swap and now has lost interest. $750 for everything.

I'm thinking it's been for sale for quite a while, I could probably pick it up for $500 or less. I love to haggle. What are the odds I could "just" toss the motor back in and run it at the challenge? Are there things easy to check while the motor is pulled?

70k? It's only on its third engine by that time, so you're probably okay. In all seriousness, if it's a stick shift w/o a sunroof, it's probably a decent buy.

In reply to calteg:

Yep, what he said.

if its auto, offer him 100 dollars and use it as a parts car for your future manual trans car. OTHERWISE if what the selling is saying is true have the engine bolted to the trans and put then starter on and run a compression test by using using your cell phone to take video and holding the Schroeder (sp?) valve open so you can watch the pulses, then release the button and let it build max pressure.

anything over 80 will run fine just be down on power, anything over 90-100psi overall is ideal.

When watching the bounces you are looking for even bounces of 60psi, or if the engine isn't making great compression numbers (IE: Worn) you just want to see even bounces above 30psi

another thing to do is pop off the exhaust manifold and spray carb clean/seafoam on the apex seals then with a plastic or wood block press on the apex seals repeatedly as they pass the port to loosen them up and re-test comp.

It is a manual. :)

Looks like it does have a sunroof though... What is the drawback to that? Leaks? I kinda like having a sunroof.

In reply to AWSX1686:

no issue unless your tall, or picky about weight savings

my 2009 at half tank of gas (no sunroof) came in at 3000lbs

the earlier half of the gen is a bit lighter too

fidelity101 wrote: In reply to AWSX1686: no issue unless your tall, or picky about weight savings my 2009 at half tank of gas (no sunroof) came in at 3000lbs the earlier half of the gen is a bit lighter too

I see, not really an issue for me then. I'm average height (5'10.5" ish) and already understand that it is a heavier car, so I'm not too picky there.

I've been interested in rotaries recently, so this could be a fun cheap option to get started. May go pick it up this weekend.

fidelity101 wrote: OTHERWISE if what the selling is saying is true have the engine bolted to the trans and put then starter on and run a compression test by using using your cell phone to take video and holding the Schroeder (sp?) valve open so you can watch the pulses, then release the button and let it build max pressure. anything over 80 will run fine just be down on power, anything over 90-100psi overall is ideal. When watching the bounces you are looking for even bounces of 60psi, or if the engine isn't making great compression numbers (IE: Worn) you just want to see even bounces above 30psi another thing to do is pop off the exhaust manifold and spray carb clean/seafoam on the apex seals then with a plastic or wood block press on the apex seals repeatedly as they pass the port to loosen them up and re-test comp.

Good to know!

I've been interested in rotaries recently, so this could be a fun cheap option to get started.

Yeah, if the time spent putting it together is no issue then this sounds pretty ideal for you. Get it cheap enough and it'll be hard to lose money on no matter which way it goes.

I'm about your height (5'10"-5'11"ish) and I fit just fine in my 2005 with a sunroof. Stock, I can fit my hand between my head and the ceiling, but not by much. With a helmet, I have to lean the seat back and there is a mod you can do to lower the base of the seat.

If it has a sun roof, it is likely a GT with power leather seats. They are nice, but heavy.

Do the compression test the way fidelity101 suggested. If it is low, it can still run, but you will be low on power and are at a higher risk of catastrophic damage. The best time to rebuild a rotary is when it is still running, before anything lets go and damages hard parts. A full rebuild kit, including all seals, is ~$1500. If you pull it apart first and measure the seals you can sometimes rebuild them for less, but I'm of the opinion that if you are pulling it apart, might as well replace them.

AWSX1686 wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: OTHERWISE if what the selling is saying is true have the engine bolted to the trans and put then starter on and run a compression test by using using your cell phone to take video and holding the Schroeder (sp?) valve open so you can watch the pulses, then release the button and let it build max pressure. anything over 80 will run fine just be down on power, anything over 90-100psi overall is ideal. When watching the bounces you are looking for even bounces of 60psi, or if the engine isn't making great compression numbers (IE: Worn) you just want to see even bounces above 30psi another thing to do is pop off the exhaust manifold and spray carb clean/seafoam on the apex seals then with a plastic or wood block press on the apex seals repeatedly as they pass the port to loosen them up and re-test comp.

Good to know!

the trick with the phone is so you can watch it a few times so you are just not dry cranking the SOB for ever and ever. you can even upload the video to youtube and I'll chime in for you if you send me the link.

since its DBW wedge open that throttle when doing a comp test.

tomtomgt356 wrote: I'm about your height (5'10"-5'11"ish) and I fit just fine in my 2005 with a sunroof. Stock, I can fit my hand between my head and the ceiling, but not by much. With a helmet, I have to lean the seat back and there is a mod you can do to lower the base of the seat. If it has a sun roof, it is likely a GT with power leather seats. They are nice, but heavy. Do the compression test the way fidelity101 suggested. If it is low, it can still run, but you will be low on power and are at a higher risk of catastrophic damage. The best time to rebuild a rotary is when it is still running, before anything lets go and damages hard parts. A full rebuild kit, including all seals, is ~$1500. If you pull it apart first and measure the seals you can sometimes rebuild them for less, but I'm of the opinion that if you are pulling it apart, might as well replace them.

NA rotaries don't have too much issues with catastrophic failure, just like a tired piston engine, needs rings and bearings maybe an oil pump and headgaskets, a lot of the big pieces you can re-use.

these rx8's are so cheap im really tempted to 3 rotor one for a sleeper one of these days...

fidelity101 wrote:

these rx8's are so cheap im really tempted to 3 rotor one for a sleeper one of these days...

4 rotor?

AWSX1686 wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: these rx8's are so cheap im really tempted to 3 rotor one for a sleeper one of these days...

4 rotor?

welll. I'm not made of money unfortunately but that would be pretty wild.

fidelity101 wrote: NA rotaries don't have too much issues with catastrophic failure, just like a tired piston engine, needs rings and bearings maybe an oil pump and headgaskets, a lot of the big pieces you can re-use. these rx8's are so cheap im really tempted to 3 rotor one for a sleeper one of these days...

You are thinking of the old peripheral port rotaries. The renesis has side ports and cannot be made into a 3+ rotor...unless someone has found a solution that I am un-aware?

In reply to fanfoy:

I know someone has made a 20b-msp using a 4 port from an automatic and an extra center iron. Most people who talk about 3-rotor rx8's are talking about using the 20b-rew from the Cosmo.

fanfoy wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: NA rotaries don't have too much issues with catastrophic failure, just like a tired piston engine, needs rings and bearings maybe an oil pump and headgaskets, a lot of the big pieces you can re-use. these rx8's are so cheap im really tempted to 3 rotor one for a sleeper one of these days...

You are thinking of the old peripheral port rotaries. The renesis has side ports and cannot be made into a 3+ rotor...unless someone has found a solution that I am un-aware?

ahh crap you're right. yeah you are screwed on the renesis that way. comp test and if its that's okay enough just send it!

I always wanted to 2.5 swap one.

If you get it and decide to swap in another engine, let me know- if I can work out transportation for it I'm looking for a Renesis (don't mind rebuilding it, have done it on a 13B before) for another swap. :)

Ashyukun wrote: If you get it and decide to swap in another engine, let me know- if I can work out transportation for it I'm looking for a Renesis (don't mind rebuilding it, have done it on a 13B before) for another swap. :)

Will keep that in mind. Ideally I think I'd keep and possibly rebuild the motor if needed, but who knows. Hoping to pick it up Saturday, but I'm trying to get more pics first.

I haven't been able to drive my RX-8 much the last couple of years for health reasons. I've been seriously considering replacing it with some new to nearly new. I was driving it yesterday after fixing an issue and couldn't help thinking how sublime the driving experience is. When all is well it's hard to regret owning one.

tomtomgt356 wrote: If it has a sun roof, it is likely a GT with power leather seats. They are nice, but heavy.

GTs are what, 100lbs heavier? It's still a 3000lbs car and feels lighter still. The much smaller, two seat S5 RX-7 TurboII was basically the same. :)

Well, the guy has been acting a little odd... Don't know if this one will work out or not. Asking for more pics multiple times and all I got was: "What I have is what's listed".

"Ok, I just want to see better pics of what you have. It's a simple request."

"Ok"

Good pics = higher selling price.

Just go look in person.

In reply to Robbie:

Yep. I got a really nice gen 2 4runner several years ago for $300 because it had no pictures and the rearend was blown. No pictures is fine.

AWSX1686 wrote: Well, the guy has been acting a little odd... Don't know if this one will work out or not. Asking for more pics multiple times and all I got was: "What I have is what's listed". "Ok, I just want to see better pics of what you have. It's a simple request." "Ok"

If you've had this much communication on a cheap car and still haven't gone to see it in person he's probably taking the same stance I would, "He won't come look at it and make an offer if he wants it, he's window shopping, I'm not wasting anymore of my time on him."