85 L6 GS/SE project restoration
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ohio
85 L6 GS/SE project restoration
this thread is a new thread spawning from my original thread:
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-general-discussion-207/finally-got-my-l6-project-796342/
to bring new readers up to speed,essentially, i swapped an SE engine and trans into an 85 GS. i chose this particular car because of the color, which is ocean blue metallic, color code L6. this is m favorite FB color. i wanted the a challenging project and this car was perfect for it as i quite favor the GSL-SE's engine over the carb'd 12A. so, i wont go into too many details as the previous thread explains the swap. i will continue to update the restoration of the L6 car in this thread as the old thread is getting large. today, i pieced together an exhaust out of oem exhaust parts that i had and fooled with the oil cooler and lines until it mostly stopped leaking (one or two drops on the spalsh pan after a drive). i believe the source to be the long line. at any rate i was able to snap some pics and videos on a short drive. something in the rear end is making some noise. doesnt sound like your typical bearing issue though.. i still need to replace all of the car's the bushings with poly bushings and replace the shocks, struts, springs, tie rod ends, ball joints..etc.. so a better determination will be made once i can afford to do that. at any rate, here are some pics and videos of the car today:









https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-general-discussion-207/finally-got-my-l6-project-796342/
to bring new readers up to speed,essentially, i swapped an SE engine and trans into an 85 GS. i chose this particular car because of the color, which is ocean blue metallic, color code L6. this is m favorite FB color. i wanted the a challenging project and this car was perfect for it as i quite favor the GSL-SE's engine over the carb'd 12A. so, i wont go into too many details as the previous thread explains the swap. i will continue to update the restoration of the L6 car in this thread as the old thread is getting large. today, i pieced together an exhaust out of oem exhaust parts that i had and fooled with the oil cooler and lines until it mostly stopped leaking (one or two drops on the spalsh pan after a drive). i believe the source to be the long line. at any rate i was able to snap some pics and videos on a short drive. something in the rear end is making some noise. doesnt sound like your typical bearing issue though.. i still need to replace all of the car's the bushings with poly bushings and replace the shocks, struts, springs, tie rod ends, ball joints..etc.. so a better determination will be made once i can afford to do that. at any rate, here are some pics and videos of the car today:









Last edited by mazdaverx713b; Jan 8, 2012 at 12:03 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: Ohio
not sure yet...i may only swap in a GSL rear end because ultimatly i want 83 LE wheels on the car. i have the oem IMSA spoiler that i may be installing when i paint the car. it will be painted to match.
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From: Ohio
i was really suprised at the power of this engine. did you watch the second video? it squeals the tires in 1st when you put the hammer down and it chirps the tires shifting into 3rd...this is one lively engine. previous engine owner said the engine was pulled from a wrecked SE with 55K miles.
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I'm sure my clutch is on its last year. and the ujoints are most likely going bad as well.
Hope to run into you some day, super big fan of this car, a simple dd.
ps i really love the interior. i'm planning on keeping only the door panels and dash. the door panels will be redone and the dash will be dyed/painted from maroon to black.
Hope to run into you some day, super big fan of this car, a simple dd.
ps i really love the interior. i'm planning on keeping only the door panels and dash. the door panels will be redone and the dash will be dyed/painted from maroon to black.
Very nice man, cool to see it as a whole car again, runs good too! I'm curious, what do you plan to do with the hole left in the dash where the choke **** went? I'm still trying to figure out what to put there on my 13b swap as well....
Looking very clean Dave. A good clutch will definitely chirp 3rd, even in a stock 12A car. BUT you guys also have to remember that it still has an open diff and not an LSD so it's much easier to spin/chirp one tire than it is two.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ohio
NCross, as thunkrd said, the SE originally had a plug in the spot on the dash where the choke cable went through. they are color coordinated with the dash. so i guess i'll have to post a want to buy ad.
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that car turned out really nice! its good right now except for those belts and aftermarket hose clamps, they are really bugging me, everything else is tip top
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
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not a fan of the belts huh? i didnt get the oem hose clamps because i wanted to make sure the thing ran before i spent a ton of money on small restoration parts.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ohio
got a good start on parts to replace worn suspension components. picked up a set of front RB springs, poly bushings for the tension rods, sway bars, and sway bar end links. going to pick up the RB rear springs, tokico blue struts and shocks, new tie rod ends, inner and outer, and both lower ball joints.







