Project FD RX-7

[.RJ]

$84,000 for that Supra? Oh my goodness. Dream big, Goodspeed. Never change.

[Goodspeed]

$84,000 for that Supra? Oh my goodness. Dream big, Goodspeed. Never change.

[CaptainHenreh]

$84,000 for that Supra? Oh my goodness. Dream big, Goodspeed. Never change.

[Goodspeed]

Dusting this off with one more update for 2018 - my attention has been mostly elsewhere & the whole effort has been on a trickle charger for a while, but things are looking brighter for moves to be made next year.  Somebody quote that for posterity ; )

Some more parts are in my possession or on the way as I type this, in order from my last update:

A rear-hatch extinguisher mount from boutique RX-7 & S2K shop, Sakebomb Garage (where I got the dual oil cooler kit from as well).  Super nice piece and will secure the 2.5lb Halon extinguisher that I have:





Also from Sakebomb, a reproduction aluminum (instead of plastic) passenger grip handle and brake master cylinder brace.  You can basically rip the factory piece right out of the door panel if you're not careful, so this piece is a lifeline for the FD community to stop this from happening:



The firewall has been shown to flex in the FD around the brake master cylinder, so their brace is a worthwhile upgrade that gets rave reviews for improving pedal feel.  Installs quickly using factory mount holes and doesn't interfere with the factory R1 cross tower brace, right on:



From Himni Racing, a collection of stainless hardware for the engine bay.  This'll take care of a bunch of crusty original bolts & such in that area, and anything else will get refinished or replaced:



From Mazda, another order of OEM parts:

• New rearview mirror
  
• All new battery mounting parts - tray, bolts & hardware, cover
  
• New cigarette lighter (remember when Joe Camel & the Marlboro Man took up full-page ads in 90's car mags?)
  
• New power steering pump fluid tank & cap, and pump rebuild kit
  
• New driver-side interior A-pillar trim
  

The last piece will be for a little side project I'll be investigating to mount the Speedhut boost gauge as cleanly as possible.  The original piece has been drilled-into for a dual-gauge setup, so if what I have in mind doesn't pan out, this new piece will present a reduction to a single A-pillar gauge more cleanly with no exposed holes.  But, what I'm hoping to do is incorporate the boost gauge, in the Autometer single pod that I have, near-seamlessly into the pillar trim, via some leather/vinyl upholstery work, in a fashion that I've seen done on a lot of Euro builds (fabric here but you get the idea - maybe some alcantara?):



Currently, the factory trim (vinyl) & the Autometer pod (plastic) have totally different grain patterns so it'd be nice to make both match.

Lastly, another feather in this car's cap that's currently on the way - a pretty unobtanium find from the leftover parts bin of the Grand Mighty RX-7 build - a complete 1994 AC system that was removed at 25k miles on the odometer during that car's build.  There were parts changes to the system between the '93 and '94-on model years in the US, and you can't find almost all of this rarer '94+ stuff new and it's scarcely found used, especially in this condition.  My original condenser is pretty beat from driving around without an underbelly tray for who know's how long (I have a new one), so worth it for that alone.

With the way FD prices are going, I doubt we'll see many low mileage cars getting swapped and/or having their systems parted out so I'm thankful I found this when I did.  I need to link up with that vapor blasting shop that RJ is using on his bike build to touch up anything from this system (and other parts) that could use it, and maybe get in touch with one of those classic resto shops that restore vintage air systems to make sure everything is 100%:





Stay frosty my dudes.

[Senor_Taylor]

At what point will you be able to build a second RX7 from these parts?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[Jake]

This is going to be v. droolworthy when it's all done. I love the attention to detail here!

[.RJ]

Goodspeed, if you get your stuff together soon, I need to get my engine cases split and taken out to the fabrication wizard in the next few weeks.

[navin]

Pleaaaaaaaase no allen head fasteners lol.

Not sure how hard it is to find spare hardware for the RX-7 (because I doubt you can go junkyard picking for them). But if you are able to find a bunch and want to refinish them in a gold zinc, or silver zinc (not sure what OEM finish is) I can help you out with a place I'm using now.

[ScottyB]

a little sip from this thread every month or so is like a fine spirit

[CaptainHenreh]

[davej]

Our coffee shop in town has a vapor blaster.

just sayin...

Part hunting is half of the fun with these projects. Goodspeed, you're a kindred spirit, except you do it very, very well!

[.RJ]

Pleaaaaaaaase no allen head fasteners lol.

Not sure how hard it is to find spare hardware for the RX-7 (because I doubt you can go junkyard picking for them). But if you are able to find a bunch and want to refinish them in a gold zinc, or silver zinc (not sure what OEM finish is) I can help you out with a place I'm using now.

^this

Your goal was OEM+, so keep the OEM part.

[ViPER1313]

Or just stick your existing hardware in a $40 ultrasonic cleaner and watch it come out like new.

[Goodspeed]

At what point will you be able to build a second RX7 from these parts?

I'm kind of pumped to make someone else's day with all the parts that are going to be swapped out during this build.  Whether as "payment" for their own projects if they lend a hand or just selling outright.  I'm tempted to reach out to a guy on the forum who just bought a shell that needs one of everything just to watch his tears of joy.

This is going to be v. droolworthy when it's all done. I love the attention to detail here!

Thanks broh!  I get giddy about the details but it's going to be a trip to get this all done 

Goodspeed, if you get your stuff together soon, I need to get my engine cases split and taken out to the fabrication wizard in the next few weeks.

Yes sir and please and thank you - I have the ABS pump and the AC stuff should be here soon, that'll be the immediate stuff on hand off the top of my head.  Just gimme a shout and I'll buy you a beer on the way!

a little sip from this thread every month or so is like a fine spirit

I do it for youuUUUuuuuu

Our coffee shop in town has a vapor blaster. 

just sayin...

Part hunting is half of the fun with these projects. Goodspeed, you're a kindred spirit, except you do it very, very well!

I've honestly just been stupid lucky - all the hard-to-find stuff I've been noticing shortly after they've been posted, but I will take your compliment regardless and thanks!

Pleaaaaaaaase no allen head fasteners lol. 

Not sure how hard it is to find spare hardware for the RX-7 (because I doubt you can go junkyard picking for them). But if you are able to find a bunch and want to refinish them in a gold zinc, or silver zinc (not sure what OEM finish is) I can help you out with a place I'm using now.

^this

Your goal was OEM+, so keep the OEM part.

I honestly didn't really consider the style of fastener, just that these were nice, shiny new replacements.  Their site says:

"The factory open end nuts are upgraded to closed end nuts where appropriate (Upper Intake Manifold, Throttle body & Elbow, Water Pump & housing kit, etc) This keeps the exposed stud threads covered, protected from the elements & corrosion."

I'm guessing the resistance to allen head bolts is the risk of them rounding out?  I'll definitely consider refinishing the stock stuff if this isn't quite the easy-button I thought it'd be...

[Kaan]

Allen bolts are the devil as soon as they oxidize even a little. just say no!

[.RJ]

Factory bolts will be much higher quality.

[Goodspeed]

I had no idea, thanks for input. I was sold by

Solid Stainless Steel, Will not rust
Stronger & more durable then OEM w/ a bright shine & no coating to rub off.

You're reminding me that it was my initial plan to just tumble & zinc plate the original stuff - Navin, I'll be in touch, or if you want to post or PM the shops info please feel free

[navin]

If you are doing small quantity amounts, I've used these guys for brackets, etc:

http://www.marquisezincplus.biz/

But that will add up as they are a small shop and can't do bulk plating. Your best bet would be to find some RX7 hoarder with buckets of bolts or something and offer to buy them and then send them to one of these big zinc places (you'll have to mail it out).

I just used Burton Metal Finishing in Ohio. Haven't received anything back yet, but will update when i do.

[Goodspeed]

Good deal, thanks for this info!

[Goodspeed]

Update: FD Festivus is upon us!  Please spread good tidings and cheer by assisting those you know and love with prayers for their strange, fragile sports cars 

Continuing with the restoration goals, I've been wanting to sort out the bottom side of the hood.  After 25 years of rotary heat, there's definitely some attention to be paid under there.  I plan to have the hood dismounted to be painted top and bottom, so I'm not entirely sure what'll be done about the labels (I won't be too broken up if they need to be removed, but if they can be masked off or even replaced, I may go that route.)

I ordered & picked up a new insulator mat from my local dealer, along with all the clips to install.  I'm happy to give them some business considering the GM keeps his '95 FD on the showroom floor:



Better shots of the piece mounted:





Also seen in the above pic, I ordered some new headlight protectors and mounting bits.  These are the black "eyebrows" and shield the back of the headlights in the leading corners of the hood:



In the box was a new OEM oil pan as well.  I was really looking forward to getting this, to be paired with an aftermarket brace to fix once and for all the infamous leaky pan issue:





Moving back to the aesthetics, from Mazda Japan, I scored a bit of trim from the 2002 Spirit R - a new shift knob, boot, and E-brake assembly, all with red stitching.  These pieces are gorgeous, and the shift knob is surprisingly heavily weighted.  There are aftermarket facsimiles of these parts, but I was really glad that there was a factory OEM option to get that red-stitching/new leather look I was after, and it's just cool to have some bits from that final edition car in mine.  Can't wait to get my hands on these behind the wheel:









Speaking of the wheel, earlier I wrote of swapping the USDM 380mm wheel with the giant airbag for a later-style 3-spoke wheel found in JDM RX-7s, and Miatas/Proteges from all markets.  I worked with a guy on the forums to source a JDM 3-spoke "Flying-M" badged wheel and had the USDM cruise controls custom integrated.  I'm going to be working on this project some more, to reupholster the rim with a mix of smooth & perforated leather brought together by red stitching that will match the other pieces, but it's getting there:

 

Lastly, the same order from Japan included a set of brand new '99 spec taillights.  They're wrapped up very securely from the factory so I didn't undo all of that for pics, but they are going to replace my USDM ones that at some point were taken apart and painted internally to mimic the '99 look.  Close, but not quite the real thing, so on these will go: