Help getting my first gen back on the road
06-23-14, 02:16 PM
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Help getting my first gen back on the road
Hi All,
this is shiraj. I am new to the club.
I am in Canada and have had a 1982 rx-7 for some time. Bought it when I was in school. Drove it for about 7 years and it has been stored for the last 6 years or so.
Finally had occasion to take it out of storage. I had forgotten how much I loved my rx-7 and have founds myself passionate about the cars all over again. I would like to bring the car back up to spec and was looking for some advice.
... cared for it a great deal when I was driving it previously and tried to be very careful about storing it.
1) QUESTION--- the add coolant light keeps coming on (mostly on, but has gone off periodically for very brief moments. Coolant is topped up... would anyone know what the problem could be.
BACKGROUND --- The car was overheating so I changed the fluids, hoses and thermostat .. it seems to run a little hot say somewhere between 100 and 110 degrees Celsius on the temp gauge. I read in the FAQ section somewhere (although I can't find it now) that it was ok to drive the car by removing the thermostat, which I did for about 25 km. Just as an observation although it could be totally coincidental for the short period when the thermostat was removed the add coolant light was not coming on.
2) QUESTION --- my high beams do not come on when I push the turn signal away from me. Would anyone know what the problem could be ?
BACKGROUND--- When I first started driving the car after taking it out of storage I had no issues with the headlights and then recently (lets say it has been about 75 km to 100 Km of driving there used to be a pause before the high beams came on when I pushed the turn signal away from me... I.e. driving with headlights on then push turn signal away from me then low beams go off there is a few seconds with no headlights and then high beams come on. Now the high beams just don't come on when I push the turn signal away .... i.e. driving with headlights on, push turn signal away from me, then low beams go off and high beams do not come on. Al this time the high beams do work normally if I pull the turn signal towards me to flash the high beams true before and true now. Only other things I can think of.. it recently had a car wash and it has been on some bumpy roads to and from storage place.
3) QUESTION- I noticed that the rad fan has some fins on it ... do these serve some purpose? I am not sure but I thought they may help to create some form of variable resistance in the clutch in the fan. It occurred to me that as the fins got warmer this might change the speed of the fan allowing it to draw more air as the air off the rad became warmer. If yes.. is there anyway to test it?
4) QUESTION .. did only the GSL-SE's come with limited slip. I seem tto recall reading that the GSL-SE had a 4X114 bolt pattern and the others had a 4X110 bolt pattern. I have disc brakes in the back which lead me to believe that I have limited slip but my bolt pattern is 4X110... I don't believe this is original for an 82 RX-7 so am trying to figure out what year/ model of rx-7my rear axle has come off this would be useful for brakes, bearings etc.
5) Last QUESTION -- any recommendations for purchasing a) parts like brakes, shocks, bushings ... typical jobbers seem quite expensive b) Interior trim, rubbers, clips etc.....
thanks everyone for your patience and help. I really appreciate it
Shiraj
this is shiraj. I am new to the club.
I am in Canada and have had a 1982 rx-7 for some time. Bought it when I was in school. Drove it for about 7 years and it has been stored for the last 6 years or so.
Finally had occasion to take it out of storage. I had forgotten how much I loved my rx-7 and have founds myself passionate about the cars all over again. I would like to bring the car back up to spec and was looking for some advice.
... cared for it a great deal when I was driving it previously and tried to be very careful about storing it.
1) QUESTION--- the add coolant light keeps coming on (mostly on, but has gone off periodically for very brief moments. Coolant is topped up... would anyone know what the problem could be.
BACKGROUND --- The car was overheating so I changed the fluids, hoses and thermostat .. it seems to run a little hot say somewhere between 100 and 110 degrees Celsius on the temp gauge. I read in the FAQ section somewhere (although I can't find it now) that it was ok to drive the car by removing the thermostat, which I did for about 25 km. Just as an observation although it could be totally coincidental for the short period when the thermostat was removed the add coolant light was not coming on.
2) QUESTION --- my high beams do not come on when I push the turn signal away from me. Would anyone know what the problem could be ?
BACKGROUND--- When I first started driving the car after taking it out of storage I had no issues with the headlights and then recently (lets say it has been about 75 km to 100 Km of driving there used to be a pause before the high beams came on when I pushed the turn signal away from me... I.e. driving with headlights on then push turn signal away from me then low beams go off there is a few seconds with no headlights and then high beams come on. Now the high beams just don't come on when I push the turn signal away .... i.e. driving with headlights on, push turn signal away from me, then low beams go off and high beams do not come on. Al this time the high beams do work normally if I pull the turn signal towards me to flash the high beams true before and true now. Only other things I can think of.. it recently had a car wash and it has been on some bumpy roads to and from storage place.
3) QUESTION- I noticed that the rad fan has some fins on it ... do these serve some purpose? I am not sure but I thought they may help to create some form of variable resistance in the clutch in the fan. It occurred to me that as the fins got warmer this might change the speed of the fan allowing it to draw more air as the air off the rad became warmer. If yes.. is there anyway to test it?
4) QUESTION .. did only the GSL-SE's come with limited slip. I seem tto recall reading that the GSL-SE had a 4X114 bolt pattern and the others had a 4X110 bolt pattern. I have disc brakes in the back which lead me to believe that I have limited slip but my bolt pattern is 4X110... I don't believe this is original for an 82 RX-7 so am trying to figure out what year/ model of rx-7my rear axle has come off this would be useful for brakes, bearings etc.
5) Last QUESTION -- any recommendations for purchasing a) parts like brakes, shocks, bushings ... typical jobbers seem quite expensive b) Interior trim, rubbers, clips etc.....
thanks everyone for your patience and help. I really appreciate it
Shiraj
06-25-14, 05:37 PM
#2
welcome to the board. 
get a copy of the FSM.
1. make sure the sensor is all good. many of them degrade and fray over time. also check your radiator cap.
2. you may have to check the switch itself. based on what you've said, that's where i'd start.
3. given the fact that it's a clutch fan, i would take a guess and say the fins are probably for heat dissipation.
4. no. the GSLs were limited slip, too. i think it may have also been an option available for the GSs as well. both would have retained the 4x110 bolt pattern. with your '82, you probably have the GSL rear in it.
5. for the interior tidbits, get a Black Dragon catalog. for brakes and suspension pieces, it really depends on what you're looking for. if you're just looking for regular replacement parts, most of them can be found at Rockauto or Partsgeek or the like. for upgrades, you would have to search and see what people do and where they turn for parts on a part-by-part basis.
get a copy of the FSM.1. make sure the sensor is all good. many of them degrade and fray over time. also check your radiator cap.
2. you may have to check the switch itself. based on what you've said, that's where i'd start.
3. given the fact that it's a clutch fan, i would take a guess and say the fins are probably for heat dissipation.
4. no. the GSLs were limited slip, too. i think it may have also been an option available for the GSs as well. both would have retained the 4x110 bolt pattern. with your '82, you probably have the GSL rear in it.
5. for the interior tidbits, get a Black Dragon catalog. for brakes and suspension pieces, it really depends on what you're looking for. if you're just looking for regular replacement parts, most of them can be found at Rockauto or Partsgeek or the like. for upgrades, you would have to search and see what people do and where they turn for parts on a part-by-part basis.
06-29-14, 06:01 AM
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1) changed the rad hoses, and cleaned up the connection for the connector , also changed the clutch fan (although it was from an 84 and required slight modifications) Car is running much cooler now perhaps to cool
2) Wasn't able to get the steering wheel off... next weekends project
3) ended up changing the fan
4) brakes ended up being fine
2) Wasn't able to get the steering wheel off... next weekends project
3) ended up changing the fan
4) brakes ended up being fine
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