wahootee

iTrader: (50)

Just picked up this car today. 1985 SE 43000 original miles. Sat inside since 91. Original P6 Pirelli tires all stock. Interior cherry.
Hasn't run in almost 30 years. I think it needs a fuel pump. PO said it did run at one time.
Anyway, thought I'd share some pics.

Cookboy

iTrader: (10)

Daaaang! I think that's what they call a "time capsule". What a find. Tires may be flat spotted though.

wahootee

iTrader: (50)

Yes, one keeps going low the fella said it was the valve stem sticking but eventually I'll pick up another set of rims for it and keep the Pirellis for show only. Like you said, they probably have slat spots, not to mention their age.

This is the car I wanted to buy new (I had the poster of it on my locker when I was overseas) but couldn't find one when I returned because they had the new 86 models out. So, I had to settle for the gray/brownish one that I ended up buying with something like 60 miles (sales persons car). I still have that one too and its undergoing resto. So, lil red will have to wait.

PO had the ECU out and the AFM apart saying something that it did run once but he thinks the AFM had issues. It had been so long he could not remember. So, I plugged a different ECU and different (know good) AFM and the tach jumps around when I plugged the fuel pump in.

So, I am thinking maybe there is/was a short in the fuel pump or the relay.

I didn't have time to play with it too much, so maybe by the weekend I can trace it.

I won't rotate the engine until I get some oil/marvel mystery fluid down in the housings and let it sit for awhile, rotating it a little every day for a week or so.

Then there is the whole fuel system issues of sitting. Luckily he had drained the tank when he parked it.

Anyway, I have been trying to buy this car since 2003 or so, just glad to finally have it and anxious to get started on it one of these days.

wahootee

iTrader: (50)

Car is probably going to need a repaint too. As you can see the front fenders got discolored from being in the sun (through a shop window). Also there is a ding in the drivers rear corner that happened in the shop . It also broke the tail light. Rear lower valance (behind license plate) is ripped also. Looks like someone put a tow hook and tried to pull the car. so it ripped the valance up.
Otherwise rust free and the Mazda parts tag was still on the rear axle housing.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

cool car, i'd say fenders have been repainted, they just don't match. other than that, prepare for some interesting things in the cooling and fuel system!

DreamInRotary

iTrader: (49)

This times 100, ish.

But it will be completely worth it in the end, beautiful car for the miles and condition. Good luck with it and lucky find!

wahootee

iTrader: (50)

yeah that's the problem with these "original" cars that have sat so long... everything needs to be gone through... So, it is a "long term" project... But everything was the same as the day it was driven in, except the ecu being out, so at least everything is in its original place etc.

I was surprised the master cyl still was full... They are normally some of the first things to start leaking. Slave cyl was dry.

The fenders look stranger than they do in person due to the flash, but they are faded on top. Bottom part below beltline and front areas are matching . Original seam sealer still intact on the inner edge too. but, I agree a repaint is in its future! Far distant future most likely! )

I was hoping it had the original gray floor mats but no luck.

wahootee

iTrader: (50)

I'm wondering that at some point during the resto if it would be worth taking the engine apart just to make sure all is good and then reassemble it. Everything will eventually come out , get cleaned and detailed and put back in so.... What do you guys think?

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

if you're really going to do a full resto, then yes, pull it apart, replace all the rubber bits (everything else should look new), and put it back. it would kind of suck if you did all the work to clean everything and then a water seal let go. or if it leaked oil from somewhere

take lots of pics of everything, so you can put each bolt back exactly where it came from