When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Big Job! well done and man, what an improvement in driving pleasure
Can you (did you?) give some info on the Blue Tooth adapting? I have the same Limited radio in my SA and that would be sweeet.
AND-
you need to keep an eye out for the rubber brace that fits btw the rear of the mirror and the windshield - it sits on that peg...
Stu Aull
80GS
AK->AZ
if if you can’t find the actual rubber brace you can always use a piece of rubber tubing. That’s what I did it works fine.
Excellent job on the dash pad replacement!!! It really makes the interior look so much better!! Its on my list to replace on my 80 LS. Good luck finding one in brown though, lol.
Great job! Nice to see this Limited getting some love. Never would have guessed you could remove the upper dash w/o taking the instrument cluster and steering wheel off.
Big Job! well done and man, what an improvement in driving pleasure
Can you (did you?) give some info on the Blue Tooth adapting? I have the same Limited radio in my SA and that would be sweeet.
AND-
you need to keep an eye out for the rubber brace that fits btw the rear of the mirror and the windshield - it sits on that peg...
Stu Aull
80GS
AK->AZ
Thanks for the heads up on the rubber piece, i didn't have one on either mirror.
The bluetooth module is the isimple tranzit blu HF. Its available online for $70, i bought mine at best buy (they wanted $200 but price matched Fry's at $80). Here is a link to Fry's https://www.frys.com/product/8584079...SABEgIY7PD_BwE. Its pretty simple, it plugs into the FM antenna so it doesn't get interference when its on. Also since it uses the antenna connection it doesn't require any cutting of the stock wiring so it can be removed without leaving any permanent changes. Besides the antenna connection it needs power and ground, microphone and a small button to turn it on and off. I mounted mine to the bar above the glove box and pulled power from the radio fuse in the fuse box. the microphone to the A pillar and the button is self adhesive on the side of the center console out of sight.
I haven't had a chance to use it a lot yet but now I have hands free calling, all my music, siri integration and with iheart radio app, plenty of AM and FM stations that I couldn't get with the stock radio alone.
Excellent job on the dash pad replacement!!! It really makes the interior look so much better!! Its on my list to replace on my 80 LS. Good luck finding one in brown though, lol.
I was ecstatic to fine one in such good shape, I would think brown is going to be tough, good luck with your search.
Great job! Nice to see this Limited getting some love. Never would have guessed you could remove the upper dash w/o taking the instrument cluster and steering wheel off.
Since the instrument cluster is only attached to the top of the dash, once those screws are removed the dash comes forward and out the passenger door between the wheel and the cluster.
A quick update,
I have been debating since I bought the car on repainting it or not. The clear coat is coming off in a number of places and there is some surface rust and the decals were replaced at some point in time. However if the paint was original then leaving it as a survivor might not be a bad idea.
I was cleaning the car before putting it away for the winter and could see a number of places where it had been repainted already. Since its already not original paint, I am going to get the car repainted over the winter. A local shop in town does all my painting and its going to be a winter project for them. I will try and get pictures along the way of the progress and hopefully there wont be any surprises under the paint as the car is stripped.
rust is prob going to an issue, so be prepared...best of luck
windshield trim is (or should be) coming off, so you will need a "clip kit", basically a bag of specific clips (2 types needed and are included) that hold on the trim. kits on ebay for about $14. rubber "dums" fitted behind some area of trim, so make sure they are noted, as these are NLA.
Yes, you should get pictures of the car at different stages of work. I'd start now, before any work is begun to document the "before" condition. Then for sure when it's all stripped down and various stages of prep and paint. Are you also doing the engine bay? Problem is, once you do one portion, it makes the others seem worn or bad. If your doing the bay, this is also a great time to think about having your hardware re-plated. Nothing says C-L-E-A-N like shinny new hardware.
rust is prob going to an issue, so be prepared...best of luck
windshield trim is (or should be) coming off, so you will need a "clip kit", basically a bag of specific clips (2 types needed and are included) that hold on the trim. kits on ebay for about $14. rubber "dums" fitted behind some area of trim, so make sure they are noted, as these are NLA.
Stu Aull
80GS
AZ
There will be rust for sure, what concerns me in particular is the areas that were already repainted. What lies under those. The windshield trim is all getting repainted, so it will come off
There will be rust for sure, what concerns me in particular is the areas that were already repainted. What lies under those. The windshield trim is all getting repainted, so it will come off
Good to hear it'll be getting repainted and got a new dash (and amazing luck finding one). I was really thinking about that myself but it just did't make sense at the time, and I was scared of pulling the whole dash out.
For what it's worth, I didn't see a bit of rust under the gas tank when I had it out, and the wheel wells were pretty clean before I went over them with POR15. I'm sure you've found it by now, but there was a set of windshield clips in the box of parts I included with the car. My untrained eye couldn't tell any of it had been repainted aside from the stripes, guess I was wrong.
(And yes, I'm still hanging around this forum without an RX-7... Still vaguely contemplating an FD or an 8 to replace the 7.)
Good to hear it'll be getting repainted and got a new dash (and amazing luck finding one). I was really thinking about that myself but it just did't make sense at the time, and I was scared of pulling the whole dash out.
For what it's worth, I didn't see a bit of rust under the gas tank when I had it out, and the wheel wells were pretty clean before I went over them with POR15. I'm sure you've found it by now, but there was a set of windshield clips in the box of parts I included with the car. My untrained eye couldn't tell any of it had been repainted aside from the stripes, guess I was wrong.
(And yes, I'm still hanging around this forum without an RX-7... Still vaguely contemplating an FD or an 8 to replace the 7.)
Thank you for reminding me, I actually forgot about the clips that came with it, saves me from buying a new set.
I purchased a 79 Limited from another forum member. I still have the 85 widebody project but that is turning into a very long term project. When I started my original search for another Rx7 I was intent on finding a stock 79. When I came across the 85 widebody I changed my direction but now that the 85 is becoming a proper build and I expect will take a number of years, its nice to have a car I can actually drive. I plan on doing some work to improve this car but nothing to the extent of making a build log.
Mat
Hi Mat,
I just purchased a 1979 Limited Edition here in Seattle on Friday. It only has 24K miles on it and is in amazing overall condition, but it does need a new things and I'm hoping maybe you might know of any sources??
1. Special LE pinstriping kit?? The beat-black paint is original on my car and in fantastic shape for almost forty years old, but the striping has been peeled off.
2. Rear lid gas struts that have the rear window defroster metal connection clips included. My struts are dead
I purchased a 79 Limited from another forum member. I still have the 85 widebody project but that is turning into a very long term project. When I started my original search for another Rx7 I was intent on finding a stock 79. When I came across the 85 widebody I changed my direction but now that the 85 is becoming a proper build and I expect will take a number of years, its nice to have a car I can actually drive. I plan on doing some work to improve this car but nothing to the extent of making a build log.
Mat
Hi Mat,
Very nice Limited. I just bought one in Seattle last Friday, with 24K miles on it. Very good condition, but it needs a few things. The original LE pinstriping has been removed. Do you know of a source? Or, is there any chance you could email me some
close-up detail of the size of the stripes and designs at the ends?
I'm also looking for a working power antenna. Mine is bent up and not going up and down all of the way.
Gary, Sorry for the long delay, I have been working on the 85 and have not been watching this thread closely. I purchased a set of decals from another forum member and he might still have a contact for a shop that can cut a new set. I will send him a PM and see if he can respond to this thread or send you a PM.
Gary, Sorry for the long delay, I have been working on the 85 and have not been watching this thread closely. I purchased a set of decals from another forum member and he might still have a contact for a shop that can cut a new set. I will send him a PM and see if he can respond to this thread or send you a PM.
Good luck with the car, its a great find.
YES, please let me know what you find out. My direct email is: gary.seattle@gmail.com
Thank you!
Time to bring this thread back to life. When I last posted I had decided to have the car repainted. I dropped it off in November 2018 and it just came home today. I knew going into it it was going to be a side project for the shop and would take a while. I was only able to get a few pictures, I was hoping to shop would take pictures along the way and they did not.
Either way it is home and now time to put it back together. Here are a few photos, a few in primer, one covered in shop dust after paint and lastly from today once home.
I am very happy, they said the body actually was very clean and took very little work to make it straight. Now time to replace the bad weather seals and get it back on the road. Unfortunately, probably just in time for winter and storage.
For us Repaint-Our-SA dreamers, would you consider sharing the actual cost of the paint job?
Stu A
80GS (original paint. dammit!)
AZ
I don't have a bill yet, part of the reason it took 20 months was it was a side project for the shop, something interesting for the techs to do between crash repairs. This isn't really their normal job, they spend most of their time on collision repair etc. So long as I wasn't in a rush and would just wait it out the owner was going to be nice to me on the bill. I am not sure what that will mean now that its all done and the total amount of time but I am keeping my fingers crossed.
The right tail light was no longer sealed and the gasket was falling apart. So i opened it up cleaned it and decided to seal it with RTV and used a foam seal on the outside.
