The Bad's On A 32 Gtr?

[stawka]

Hey guys, this has probably been touched on about a million times, but I couldn't find exactly what I was after. I've always loved 32's, had a GTST that I spent a few bux on which ended up being my first love. Since then, I've always had a fetish for them. From there, I've gone to an S15, a Merc, and now a VX Clubsport R8 which I'm in the process of selling. I get sick of cars so quick, and it's time for a change again. My mate who is a big Ford fan is trying to convince me to get an XR6 turbo (thinks they're just as quick, and a lot more reliable because of the age difference).. But even still, they look like shit!

I've always loved to have an RX7 series 8, but the motors frighten the hell out of me... WAY too unreliable and nobody can work on the damn things. I was tossing up either a series 8 RX7 or a 32 GTR, and I eventually pulled away from the rotor because of the engine and the lack of trust I have for mechanics -- let alone the bastards that work on rotors, but now I have people telling me the 32 GTR motor is just as unreliable.

In my time with my old GTST, I changed a gearbox because of too many burnout's, a diff for the same reason, and a head gasket because I was 19 at the time and thought if the car overheats, put cold water in it Obviously, since then I don't drop the clutch like I used to, and I DEFINITELY service it more often, while not putting cold water in a warm engine

Now if I was to get a 32 GTR, what do I have to look out for? Bits and pieces like control arms, minor engine components etc. don't bother me. If the suspension goes, it goes and so on. I'm more so worried about requiring an engine rebuild. I know all GTR's have been punished, more so the older ones like the 32/33, but I really want a white one that already has a fresher engine. I obviously shouldn't be too fussy with the colour, but if one comes up with a good engine in another colour at the right price, I should snap it up.

How often would a 32 engine need replacing? If someone has rebuilt it 20,000 K's ago, is there a rebuild in the near future? Let's say he has taken care of it with good oils, regular services, ran in correctly etc. Or if it hasn't been replaced, and the car is a fresh import from Japan with 80,000 K's on it... How fragile would that engine be?

Obviously there are factors here and there, and some of my questions would be the case of "how long is a piece of string", but I'm in love with 32's, never had a GTR, but at the same time it'll only be a weekend car and I'm as paranoid as all hell and don't want to fork out $5K for a rebuild only one month after owning the car.

Sorry if it's been touched on here a million times, just a paranoid guy about to spend a few bux on a car that he wants to enjoy and not be so stressed about. Cheers in advance

Edited August 17, 2011 by stawka

[iplen]

A pair of steel turbos are worth keeping an eye out for, the motors are pretty strong things but they have copped a hammering, make sure compression is good, look after it and you should be ok. I have done turbos and a waterpump on mine, they also have a bit of a weakness where the front of the exhaust cam wears out and the ignition timing will walk. they are just a motor, but a higher percentage have had a hard time than others. They are a joy to own, there is nothing would make me give mine up

[N1GTR]

If you plan on abusing one, and think a rebuild costs 5k, the best advice is; stay away from a GTR.

Buying it is cheap, maintaining it is where the real cost is

[stawka]

Depends on what you consider abusing. If you mean taking it out here and there and hitting redline a few times to open it up and feel the car, or rev to 3K and ease off the clutch a little harder than usual, then yes I'll be abusing. But if you mean take it onto the track, rev and dump, not service it etc. then no, not a chance in hell.

It'll be a weekend car, or a car I'll take out on a nice day after work, give it a bit of throttle for a few minutes, and that's it. I know the stock turbo's go on them, so I'll be looking at a pair of steel-wheel's, but again, that's not my concern. Water pumps go on any and every car, hoses go here and there, things like that are fine. I'm more worried about an engine going on me a month after purchasing the car.

[10 4]

Compression test.

Imho, I wouldn't be buying one without a rebuilt engine at this age. (Forged preferable)

Your in Vic eh?

I'd be looking at these:

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=11085848&__Qpb=1&Cr=4&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&YearToShort=1668&__N=1216%201247%201252%201282%204294963593%204294963846%20903%20413%20605%201668&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&PriceTo=413&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=26&EngineCCFrom=605&__sid=12CB54BF3AF7

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=10967433&__Qpb=1&Cr=14&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&YearToShort=1668&__N=1216%201247%201252%201282%204294963593%204294963846%20903%20413%20605%201668&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&PriceTo=413&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=26&EngineCCFrom=605&__sid=12CB54BF3AF7 (front bumper needs paint though)

Edited August 17, 2011 by 10 4

[JZP]

It's the big end bearings spinning - that you need to be afraid of - which is an RB26 'feature'. I just replaced my engine with a '33 GTR one - the comment from the mechanic was "It's bound to happen some time" Especially if you're putting it on a track.

A $10k 'basic' race engine build is too steep for me - that's why I'm selling mine to downgrade to a GTST so I can track it with less fear of emptying my pockets.

For me - I feel that my R32 GTR is too nice to put on a track (even though I've done the suspension, control arms, hicas mods, etc).

I don't think the big end bearings are a big problem for a streeter with some spirited driving. You can't ignore the age of the vehicle - maintenance items will be a given.

Although it'You really need to keep up the oil & filter changes at a minimum. Bearings, bushes, turbos, hoses, etc will inevitably need replacing at some time.

IMHO, I'd prefer to keep it as a nice handling, good looking 20 year old streeter.

[NISMO]

It really all comes down to how you treat the car.

you take any mass produced production street car and abuse it the way some GTR's are abused and you get the same end result.

Regardless of general perception, they are not an out of the box race prepped track car designed to be bounced off the rev limiter all day every day.

I've taken my stock 32 to a fair few track days, but given i know its stock, i don't wait to the red line for every gear change. And it hasn't missed a beat.

Spun bearings do tend to be a theme, but again you would be hard pressed to find a GTR that has spun a bearing from just "spirited driving"

I also agree with what someone has posted about buying a car with an engine already rebuilt. Especially if you can verify the build. They are so cheap these days you would be nuts buying a mildly modded stocker unless it was something really special.

[stawka]

I think you guys may have settled it for me, no GTR I guess

I'm not prepared to fork out close to $10k for a rebuild. Was hoping to drive it for a few years without major dramas like that, but content with turbos and other components going. Oh well, may have to settle for an XR6 turbo. Thanks for the info fellas, may have saved me a fair few dollars

[MrStabby]

AFAIK you'll only spin bearings if you run out of oil.... So most people won't have that problem if they take the usual precaution of overfilling to the bump in the dipstick if going on a track day. Oh and don't bounce off the rev limiter and break the oil pump.

I've found that all the rubber bits are all dying on mine. So coolant hoses, ABS/brake and clutch cylinders etc. And yes get rid of ceramic turbine turbos.

I spend about $5-10K a year on mine all up, but I'm always buying new bits for it.

[ras1983]

Also, the reality is the cars are very old now. So that's potentially 20 years of hard driving (people don't buy these cars to drive them to the shops ans back) that will require someone to foot the bill to maintain the car. Can't escape that fact.

[10 4]

Also, the reality is the cars are very old now. So that's potentially 20 years of hard driving (people don't buy these cars to drive them to the shops ans back) that will require someone to foot the bill to maintain the car. Can't escape that fact.

I used to drive mine to the shops and back for shits and giggles

OP, your decision mate, I definitely wouldn't be going for an XR6T =/

[SKITTLES]

Guys, what is this? The RX7 forums?

Buy a clean, stock GTR. If you get a rebuilt engine, good score.

Take it out on the weekends, go to track meets, dump your clutch, all that shit. My R32 was on a stock engine with 225,000kms on the odo, it had two major services, a few pumps replaced, and it was fine. 154rwkw, 14.9s down the quarter on my first ever run.

You won't need to rebuild it.. that's just over-kill.

[xALmoN]

Clutch pivot ball, they die for no reason, and that's a gbox out job. 450 in labour, for a $20 part, or 70$ part if you decide to go nismo. Or it might have been done already. So take a look.

And, these cars are actually pretty reliable. Though old, if they're well taken care of, with regular oil changes and stuff, it should last man. But save for a rebuild just in case. What's your budget?

[stawka]

To the person that asked what my budget is, for the car itself I have $17,000. That's ALL I have left over after I sell my current car, then I gotta pay for insurance and a service straight away for my own piece of mind.

To the person that said he spends $5-$10K a year on fixing it, that's WAY out of my budget. If I'm spending money on the car, I want to be gaining results from it (bigger turbo, injectors, exhaust, cooler, powerFC etc), not fixing things to bring it up to scratch - otherwise I'd be getting my ultimate dream car in a series 8 RX7.

I want a fast street car, that I don't have to spend money on to make it fast (IE my previous GTS-T, S15, Clubby). I want to buy it, do minor things like an exhaust, tune and have it to be a damn quick car that looks sexy.

I've heard XR6 turbo's can be very quick with only minor mods (intake, exhaust, cooler, tune)... Buuuuuuuuuuut at the end of the day it's a deadshit boring looking Ford, no matter what rims you put on it and how low it is!

[10 4]

If you don't want to buy a fixer upper, get inspections done on particular ones your interested in?

Seems to me like you want the ford more...

[stawka]

Definitely don't want the Ford more, if anything I prefer a Holden, I've got a VX Clubsport R8 atm lol. There's a couple on Carsales at the moment, one has a rebuilt engine with a million different aftermarket components. I'm far from mechanically minded, I just drive and enjoy the damn things. If something was to go wrong, I wouldn't know where to start looking

[10 4]

I don't know jack shit about mechanicals, but I did bring a friend who knows his shit along to look/drive it. Generally like others have said, reliable if looked after - same as any other car. Factory fault of crank collar in early models = only "real" thing of note.. (rebult = no worries then as should be sorted) Other than running too much boost on stock turbos etc, they're fine.

Anything habib spec or looking neglected = walk away?

Edited August 18, 2011 by 10 4

[ras1983]

I reckon go for a car that is as close to stock as possible. If you want some mods, a car with turbo-back exhaust, powerFC and boost controller is a great street combination (usually make around 200 AWKW).

[xALmoN]

go for something with camgears, turboback, pfc/nistune, boostcontroller, and -7s or -9s.

although i pulled 197.6 with camgears, 3in catback, and -5s with no tune.

[MrStabby]

To the person that asked what my budget is, for the car itself I have $17,000. That's ALL I have left over after I sell my current car, then I gotta pay for insurance and a service straight away for my own piece of mind.

To the person that said he spends $5-$10K a year on fixing it, that's WAY out of my budget. If I'm spending money on the car, I want to be gaining results from it (bigger turbo, injectors, exhaust, cooler, powerFC etc), not fixing things to bring it up to scratch - otherwise I'd be getting my ultimate dream car in a series 8 RX7.

The 5-10K is all up so insurance, rego, buying go faster bits and making it like I want. eg R34 GTR seats at $1800, -7s+install+tune+testing $5500.

Depending on how your luck goes you might find the 32 GTR a problem budget wise. If i were you i'd probably go with something else. That said, I frikken love mine...