thumpgun

Here's the stuff I got today. He said he's pretty sure it came out of an '84. I know 84-85 have different rotors and outer bearings. And S3 axle housings are different. But I'm not sure by looking at it, if it's S3 GSL or not. I got the 3rd member too, just didn't post a pic of it. I'm mainly concerned if it's the correct S3 brake set up.

thumpgun

If you're missing two of those BBS 'vert wheel centers, I think I have 2 or 3 full sets of them. If you are interested, I'll make some pics so you can check them out. I did have a wrench for them too, but not sure where it is.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Looks good Grease Monkey! Doesn't look like it has a scratch on it. Nice score

Thumpgun, IIRC the S3 axles were a little bigger than the S2. I don't know how to tell the difference by looking at it though.

thumpgun

Just found a great conversion kit to put TII brakes on front and rear of your FB. You have to get the rotors, calipers and axles for it, in addition to the kit. Pretty nice though, and I have always wanted to do that. I may save up for that and just use the 3rd member out of what I got yesterday, for the limited slip. Of course, I could go ahead with what I have and save cash and get the disc on back for a lot cheaper.
Just venting my ideas. Hope you guys have a great weekend.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

I've heard that swap is an ordeal, but I guess a kit would make it easier. Does it involve redrilling the rotors for the 4x110 FB bolt pattern or swapping over hubs to the 5x114.3 TII pattern? The TII brakes are beastly... I'd be afraid the car would front-flip with that kind of stopping power I like the GSL brakes just fine. They have enough power to lock the front wheels with slicks on them. They do fade though, so I need some better pads.

Thanks, have a great weekend yourself.

thumpgun

No, You get the kit and instructions. But you have to provide TII rotors and calipers. It's 84-85 big bearing axles. It only works with the 5x114.3 lug pattern axle, which is sold seperate from the kit. It's brackets and mounting hardware to convert to 2nd gen rotors. So you get big brakes and 2nd gen bolt pattern all in one.
Lol, Yeah the TII brakes probably would flip and FB over! I think the GSL rears will be fine. I want to change that 4x100 bolt pattern. I have always hated that you have hardly any wheel options.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

That sounds pretty good. Bigger brakes and unlimited wheel options. I feel ya, I've got two sets of LE wheels for mine so I can at least run 205's, but I'd rather have something wider.

thumpgun

I'm sorry, 4x110 bolt pattern. Typed it wrong, I just saw that. The kit seems pretty nice, I'm very interested in it. i think I'm going to check into it more. It's from RE Speed. If I decide to just use the GSL rear I have, I'll still only have about 2 wheel choices. I'm thinking of maybe doing wheel adaptors if I go this route.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

RESpeed makes some good stuff, although they've been pretty slow lately. I'm still waiting on some tucked front bumper brackets for the FB that I bought as part of a group buy two months ago. You might wanna PM Sam before you buy and make sure they have a set ready to ship.

thumpgun

It's just an idea, for now I'm going to go ahead with the GSL brakes for now. Been out there cleaning up the calipers. One looks like it sat in water, it's rusted and gunked up under the rubber cap. Get them cleaned and turn the plungers back in all the way. Check the rotors, see if they still have enough meat on them to use.

thumpgun

Finally got the calipers apart. Took quite an effort, but got the brackets off. It broke the base on my old bench vise trying to take them loose, lol! And broke both bleeder valve's off even after soaking them in Blaster since Friday. I'm going to get some remanufactured calipers and use these for cores. The 3rd member and axles are ok, so no problem there.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, much better off replacing the calipers as well as the rotors. They're probably really pitted from all the rust and may even be warped.

thumpgun

Yeah, I'm definately getting new rotors. Wanted to rebuild the calipers, but that went south. New ones will be better anyway. Going to change out all the rubber lines to steel braided. New bearings on axles, clean up the housing, paint it. Hopefully go ahead and do all polyurethane bushings on the rear end while I'm there doing all of this. Do the front after I get the RB suspension kit and new Tokico's to go all around. I'm going to photo the whole process, so maybe I'll get some good pics out of it too.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you have a lot of work going into it. I'm going with the RB/Tokico combination as well, as soon as I get the struts and a lot of time and warm sunshine. Keep us posted on the progress.

thumpgun

I've wanted to do suspension improvements on this car for years. It was really just a want and not a need. I think it's time now that it deserves some more upgrades. The motor is great and all I want to do to it is eventually go with big intake and carb. Thinking more on the Weber but don't want to rule out the Holley until I have more info.

Spent some time cleaning up the axle and soaking the bolts on it yesterday. It was too cold for me last night though, I didn't do anything out in my garage, lol. I'm hoping to get more done on these next few sunny days we have coming up.

It's been giving me time to make plans and decide on parts. Especially since I'm working on other car projects as well.

Fire85GSLSE

iTrader: (29)

LizardFC, if that vert dont have a nice exhaust I have a almost new Apexi GT Spec Turbo Exhaust listed for sale at $700 but will take $550.
Seen in this pic (with other FC stuff for sale)....



thumpgun, the respeed kit is nice. I have the big brakes on the front and rear and kept the 4x114.3 bolt pattern buy having the turbo disk drilled to 4x114.3
Real easy bolt on stuff and really helps the car out. If you plan to do suspension, dont waste time or money on the springs and shocks as the respeed coilover kit is well worth the little extra and over all will make you happier.
If your ever up in middle tn i can show you my setup or look for my build thread.


To all: most of the TN rotary peeps seem to be in Knoxville or Middle TN and we in middle tn welcome anyone to hang out with us. Heck I have been known to drive dont to the atlanta meets to eat and then drive back home.
holla

thumpgun

Thanks Fire, I'm going to check out their coil over set ups. I'm going to look for your build thread and check out what you have done on your car. I've thought about coil overs before, but always figured I'd do just fine with the RB set up. The car is really just to play with streetwise and back roads.

Have you ever heard any feedback on the Master Bushing Kit they sell, from Energy? The graphite empregnated bushings? I wondered how this compares with the polyurethane bushings.

I'm interested in the big brake kit. But since I have the GSL parts I think I'm going to go ahead with it. It's really more of a "want" than "need". I think I'll be able to live with the performance of the GSL set up.

Thanks for all the info and for the invite. I would like to try and check out one of your hang outs when the weather gets warmer. Now I'm going to look for your build thread.
Thanks man, later.

Gilgamesh

i have family in both chattanooga and munford, so you could almost add 1 to the list ! lol but i never travel in a rx7 it seems

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

If you want to push some free power out of the stock carb, here's a Nikki mod thread some of us had going in the first gen section: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/nikki-carb-modding-964025/ I chose to build my own rather than going aftermarket, and I'm really happy with it. I also ported and dimpled the intake manifold.

I've heard nothing but good things about the RESpeed coilover kit. A lot of the first gen guys swear by it.

I have the full RB kit + KYB adjustables on the Vert and I'm pretty impressed with that setup. Stiff as a board but still rides nice.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

The vert has a full RB turbo-back, but thanks anyway. Maybe we could get a TN-wide meet going next year? Something besides DGRR.

thumpgun

Wow, that carb thread is insane. I have never messed with carbs. I watched my buddy rebuild a Nikki at the shop years ago, and I was lost. I'll have to read through that stuff again. I just read a lot of the posts and was checking it all out.

So you're really happy with your RB kit? That's what I have pretty much intended on doing for a long time. I figured coil overs were just too expensive and more than what I needed. But I have considered them. I have been checking out the RE stuff and it's pretty nice. Read and heard good reviews about it.
I figured RB kit and Tokico Blues or Illumina's would probably be ideal for what I'd be doing. But the coil overs with Illimina's would be way more tuneable and probably superior.

Thanks for any info and idea's, tips and opinions. I'd rather compile a vast amount of knowledge from several people. And try to make a better decision based on expierience's, testing and know how. So any opinions and advice is always welcome. And much thanks for everyone's input so far.

Yeah, a TN wide gathering at some point would be pretty cool. Maybe we can gradually work towards planning something. Or at least a regional state gathering, West, Middle, East.

thumpgun

Got the housing cleaned up. I wire brushed it good, cleaned it and got a coat of paint on it. I still have to get some new calipers and e brake cables.

The heater core has started leaking inside the car. It stained the carpet and ruined the insulation under it. I took out insulation and cleaned up the floor. I have to get a heater core and make plans to change it out.
I need to look in the manual and get the run down of it. I'm sure it's going to be a time consuming "fun" job, lol.

My wipers stopped working and I can't figure out what it is. I've checked fuse, wiring and I plugged a different wiper motor up without installing it. And it still wouldn't work. Any idea's?

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, the RB kit on the FC is rock solid. Can't wait to see what if feels like on a much lighter car.

Bad time to have a heater core go out. I haven't had to change one yet, but it looks like it's up under there pretty good. Probably a job.

I'm betting it's the switch that's killed your wipers. The FC's are famous for burning out the old solder joints in the switch and I bet the FB's do the same. Not much you can do to test that theory other than to plug up another switch and give it a try. If you're electronically inclined, you can open it up and check all the solder points on the circuit board.

Oh, and the rear axle looks really nice! Quite a difference.

thumpgun

I got this a some time back. I was having trouble with my turn signals. Then finally found if I wiggle the wires under the dash, they work. So I never installed this. I guess I need to try and change this out and see if it does anything.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Always good to hold on to old parts. You never know when you might need them! Hope it fixes the problem.