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my 85 S restoration with pics
ok, as many of you guys know, i've been restoring my 85 S. i bought the car last summer and have slowly been pecking away at the car. when i bouht the car, it was a disaster. everything that could be wrong was. to many, this would be a parts car. not to me. i bought the car because i saw potential. i saw a tender blue FB that was crying out to be restored. the previous owner, clbsinvaders, bought it from a guy who was planninbg a V8 swap. thank God he couldnt let that happen. Pat didnt have the time for the car because he was enjoying his sunbeam silver SE(which is a beautiful car). he sold the car to me and it looked like this when i brought it home(which i believe is how he got the car)
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC05906.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC05892.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC05887.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC05886.jpg |
so, i started in by replacing the engine and fixing the interior. it spawned to this:
installing a complete dual pipe RB exhaust, all poly bushings, EXTENSIVE rust repair, fixed the rust, painted and undercoated the underbody, new rear bearings and seals, new wheeel cylinders, complete new front brakes, alpine stereo with infinity speakers, new window seals, fixed the headlight, new radiator, 2GDLIDFIS, 2G fuse block, SS clutch hose, newly used 12A, complete GS upgrade to the interior, hatch strut seals, installed my new SS brake lines, rear deck rust fixed, painted and undercoated, all emissions removed, window regulators cleaned and re-greased, rear diff fluid replaced with a durablend, new oil cooler coolant hose, newer omp lines, accel coil, new NGK plugs and NGK wires, fresh oil and filter, fresh coolant, carb rebuild, every bolt that i have touched has been cleaned to bare metal with a wire wheel and greased with synthetic grease before being reinstalled. there are a few things that still need to be done. the windshield still needs replaced, the rockers still need new metal and the car needs a nice paint job. i would also like to replace the fuel level sending unit, por 15 the rear axle, replace one small leaking fuel line i found yeserday after the test drive, hatch seal and upgrade the carb to a weber with a RB intake manifold. the addition of an aluminum radiator with an electric fan will also be a nice touch. the car has been a project, but its worth it. yesterday i took the car for a drive. very nice car. very choppy ride, lol. here are a couple of pics from yesterday(excuse the layer of rust dust on the car: http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06967.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06968.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06971.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06966.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06983.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06973.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06974.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06975.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06977.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06981.jpg |
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06984.jpg
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06985.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06990.jpg http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06978.jpg more to follow as i upgrade the struts and shocks to tokiko illumina's, add RB springs, a RB strut tower brace, install the new tires and autocross the car on May 25th(see my utocross post in this section if you are interested in attending) |
very nice work.
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NICE!!! The exterior actually looked pretty damn good when you got it and with a nice wash and wax it will look absolutely beautiful. I bet it will drive wonderful with new springs and shocks. Keep us updated and take more pics/video!
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Thanks for posting your before and after pics. Good looking instrument and center console restorations. Your talent for fixing up Rx-7s is equal to your passion for them.
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thank you guys for the compliments. i really do try to do the best job that i can. my next project is my brilliant black 88 TII. got the car running over the winter. drove it a little today. i really like the car. i like my first gens though...much more of a pure car.
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installed teh new seatbelt yesterday and gave the car a nice wash. when the weather breaks i can try and post a video or two...
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Quick question for you Dave. Did your stainless brake lines come with any crush washers? Mine did, but the washers look like they are too big for the fittings on the brake lines. I'm assuming that they are supposed to go where the brake line threads into the caliper. The inside diameter of the crush washer has a lot of slop when you put it on the end of the fitting.
Just wondered if you had any crush washers with your lines, and if you used them or not. I went ahead and put mine on, but I don't have much confidence that they are right. Seems to me like they will leak and/or cause bleeding of the brakes to be difficult... Jamie |
Jamie, the lines did not come with crush washers. they did come with a paper stating to reuse the current copper crush washers-which i did. it works fine with no leaks. i did clean and inspect all parts and i bled the system VERY well. here's a pic of the paperwork that i received with the lines from racing beat:
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...7/DSC06999.jpg |
Thanks Dave! I don't have a lot of confidence in the crush washers I've got, as they appear to be a bit too big. I guess I'll give them a shot and hope for the best. I'll just be sure to tighten them down nice and snug. As long as they don't leak I should be okay. I'll have some pictures up tonight hopefully. Be sure to check them out. I think you'll be impressed.
Jamie |
i'm sure i'll be impressed. you really do seem to do extremely nice work. i will look forward to the pics. the stainless lines really made a difference in pedal feel and after going through the rear brakes (drums) and replacing the wheel cylinders and cleaning everything and replacing the front pads and rotors, the brakes feel as if i'm driving a new car. i'm pretty sure you'll be impressed with the stainless lines. what brand of lines did you order?
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Looks like you are getting there Dave, always good to see another one saved from the crusher.
Jamie, if the crush washers are a little big its ok, as long as there is still surface for them to seal against... If in doubt re-use your old ones as long as they aren't excessively warped, I try to use new ones as often as possible, but ended up reusing the ones on my T2 calipers for the T2 FB b/c I didn't have any new ones readily available, so far no leaks.... |
Your S reminds me of mine.
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Any of you gentlemen know where I can get two of the flat spring clips that hold the brake lines to the inner fender sheet metal? I seem to have misplaced mine (@#&*) and I can't find a replacement anywhere. I thought for sure that BD would carry them, but it's not in their catalog. I guess I could always buy them from the dealer? Hopefully they'll turn up in the next day or two, but if they don't I'm gonna be looking for new ones...
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Mazdatrix has them, at least they did cause I bought some a few years ago, mine were so rusted it wasn't even worth reusing them....
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Ok good, they do still sell them....
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Jeff to the rescue! :D Thanks ol' pal. I don't know how I missed those last night.
Jamie |
Jamie, have you made any progress with your install yet?
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Oh yeah. :D Brake lines are in, bled, and seem to be working good. No leaks, and all four brakes are working. I was waiting on the Respeed front sway bar before I was going to post pictures, but I don't think it's right to keep depriving you guys. I'll go ahead and do an update tonight. Look for it in the non-tech section.
Jamie |
Looking good Jamie, you are making all the right moves!
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Ray, this is Dave's project pictured above. I just hijacked his thread since I saw that he had stainless brake lines. I was unsure about mine when I put them in, but they will work great from what I can tell. :D Look for an update on Rosie sometime this evening. Then I can stop stealing other people's threads....
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hijack all you want, lol. i dont mind. as long as we get some updated pics i'll be happy. looking forward to seeing rosie!!
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The update has been posted Dave. It's in the non-tech section. Enjoy!
Jamie |
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