I spent about 10 hours restoring these from all silver to bronze/polish.







And my new favorite shot!



They're stock 1st Gen RX-7 "LE" wheels. 4x110 and the original lug bolts. They got to me in all silver paint (factory IIRC). I stripped them with Oven Cleaner, then a citrus degreaser, and a pressure washer. Then I sanded (150/240/400) the lips and hand-polished with Mother's (the real stuff that comes in a damn can!) 3 times. Then I masked the lips and painted the factory "rough" cast centers straight with Dupli-Color Bronze wheel paint. 2 coats per center, 1 can did all 4 wheels. Unmask, mount, polish one more pass (quicky) and snap pics.

It's a basic "+1" setup. The stock wheels were 13x5.5 with 185/70/13 Toyo Spectrums. These are 14x5.5 with 195/60/14 Toyo Spectrums. Actual tread width is nearly an inch more! Those get replaced with Falken Azenis Rt615's tomorrow anyways (in 195/60/14).

This winter in addition to replacing the door I plan on adding a small front and rear spoiler, fixing all of the door dings/dents, and doing all of the sanding and priming. I have a lot of ideas for what the finished product should look like.

As for mods now, I already did the ignition (Magnecor KV85's, NGK's, MSD coils on the way), brakes (Performance Friction Pads, DOT4), and procured a complete black interior and the FC seats that are in the car. Also it has a new MU-series ZOOM clutch (OEM). I'll be competing in the SCCA Autocross this weekend at PIR.

 

Very clean, i like the LE wheels like that, haven't seen anyone do them in that color before.

 

Good luck in STS2, what suspension mod do you have?

 

Thanks! Everybody said to go with Black, but I wanted to show of the intricate detail of the mesh area, so Bronze it was.

No suspension mods yet, that comes over the winter. I spent all summer improving the nut behind the wheel and traction was way more important then handling.

 

I always wanted a STS2 FB, but went the CSP route instead because I do track days also. The stock setup just don't make enough HP.

If I am to make a competitive STS2 FB car, this will be my mods:

Respeed coilovers (350/175)
Tokico Illumina
Energy suspension bushings everywhere except the rear upper control arm
Front strut tower bar (not connected to the firewall)
Respeed front sway bar
Remove rear sway bar (it is hard to catch a slide without LSD)
G-Force Tri-Link + Panhard bar
15x7 Konig Rewind or Rota RB wheels
195/50/15 Bridgestone RE-01R
Hawk HP+ brake pads
Stainless steel brake line
Smaller steering wheel
K&N filter
RB street collector-->high-flow cat-->Borla muffler
Mazda Motorsports motor mounts
Lighter seats
Relocate battery to passenger cargo tray.

This post made me want to make a STS2 car But I don't have the time and money for another car.

 

RE-01R's aren't ST legal. No R-Compounds allowed.

I am planning on the RE-Speed coilovers and a further brake overall.
Exhaust is going to be RB 12A header (collected) > Hi-Flow Magnaflow cat > some sort of dual-outlet muffler, probably Magnaflow.
Probably going to incorporate a hood scoop in and a custom "Ram Air" box for the carb.

 

RE-01R is ST legal, they are the most popular ST tire for nationals. Their tread rating is 140.

 

Must have it confused with another Bridgy. I hate non-name designations!

Does Bridgestone even make it in 14"?

 

Now where have I seen this car before?

 

I see you are wanting to add a RB header....is this legal in STS2???
This was a reason i was not considering STS2 because I have an RB header.

I quote from SCCA rule book for STS.

"Exhaust manifolds and headers may be replaced with alternate units which are emissions legal"

The key here is emissions legal which the RB is not.

Please clarify if you know for sure RB header/exhaust is legal.

 

Oh, I don't know, the GRM Board, Rotary Car Club, Fast Times, CVU, and PDXCGP?


The RB Header is emissions-legal for carburetored cars, and is especially legal in my state (which has no emissions in my area or anything older then 25 years old).

The RB header does not interfere with the cat, air pump, or any other emissions device on the RX-7, so it should be 5-State legal on a carb'd 12A.

 

Legal anywhere except CA.

 

That's what I thought

 

I still think I might not be able to fit in.... I chunked my air pump in the trash so I won't be emissions legal even through we don't test cars that old in Texas.

I just don't want to get to an event only to get disqualified because of some overly eager rule person!!!

 

They could actually protest you on that and ask for an emissions test. But, rarely, do you get someone that **** in a local event.

 

Go ahead, my car will pass with flying colors.

 

i love what you did with the rims.

i still got the dash and centercaps too!

 

Technically, the header would be legal if the cat was still there, along with the air pump.
Therein lies another problem. STS/STS2 rules state that the cat(s) can be replaced, but must be the same type and number as originally fitted. Hi flow cats are also not permitted in STS/STS2, but are allowed in STX & STU.
While a header and replacement cat would likely meet emmission testing standards, a strict rules enforcer could claim it wasn't STS legal without having multiple cats, like the stock setup used (pre-cats and a main cat).
I'm in the same boat. Aside from no cat/air pump, my car is otherwise STS2 legal, but I run in CSP. I also have a RB header.
ST legal tires and a cat would be less than a set of R comps, so I may go that route for next year. One of the really good local drivers just bought an '01 Miata, with all the good suspension stuff already installed, and has plenty of spare wheels already, from his SE-R. He showed up this past weekend sporting R-comps, and we split the double header. I (barely) got him on day 1, but he cleaned my clock on day 2. I expected as much or worse, since I was on street tires.

 

I love the way the wheels turned out. Very sexy indeed.

 

Last I checked, new rules this year allow for high-flow cats.

 

Yep, high-flow cats are legal. My setup for next season will be the RB header, Magnaflow high-flow cat, and a custom mandrel-bent exhaust from there back to a dual-outlet Magnaflow muffler. Right now I'm still all stock and ORIGINAL exhaust! With 231K miles on it!!

 

I thought limited slip differentials was illegal in STS2? Correct me if I am wrong please?

 

OK did a little research and answered my own question.

Per the 2008 Solo rules book.
No limited slip differentials are permitted except
for factory standard viscous coupler type units.

 

what about a factory stock GSL or GSL-SE, those came with clutch type LSD stock

 

factory clutch-types are not allowed.