Yesterday I pulled all the interior wiring. Since it's a gutted racecar, there's not much left.

 

Today I mocked up my Ron Davis Radiator. About to remove the heater core tonight.
Ron Davis Race Radiator 1st Gen Rx7 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!Have any of you ever seen the fan on the outside like mine? I'm thinking I could do 2 fans front and back.

 

yah blower fans are great for cleaning up the engine bay. I think that with a hugely oversized rad like that, two fans would be way overkill, might actually impede airflow.

 

I used a leaf blower today to clean my engine bay. Interior too!

 

Hahahah touche'!!

 

I'm not really sure, I feel like it's coming from the intake manifold. I'll go over my entire fuel system tonight.

 

a friend suggested that maybe the intake isn't bolted down tight enough and might be lacking rtv. I'll remove the manifold an recheck my connections

 

Is it a fresh build? As in, how long have you had this config running before the leak?

 

the carb and intake are. The keg is all original. I'm headed to my garage after work. I'll post updates. Picked up a header and mid pipe for her as well today

 

On the GSL-EV I continued running the XM radio antenna wire. Decided to route it with the original antenna cable. At least to the point where it goes under the dash. I have it routed to the right kick panel and now it needs to run over to the stereo. The original antenna wire was held in place with some sort of cloth reinforced tape and the glue is not so much sticky as gooey these days. I did reuse several pieces but replaced with pieces of red duct tape. I pulled the dash panel under the glove box off to allow better visibility and decided I need to repair it before it goes back on. I will detail the repair later but suffice to say it has a triangle of material about 2 inches high by 1 inch wide from under the right side of the air vent missing. I found this missing piece with some bits the previous owner had saved and I didn't know where it came from. I didn't even know this was broken until I was changing out the front speakers. I am glad I saved all of this because I think I know where it all goes now. Two of the screws holding this panel on were not the correct ones so my guess is that someone wanted to take this panel off and screwed up and broke it. No excuse for losing the screws though and this has been a common thread in this car. And the only thing the PO had ever done was replace the speakers with cheap replacements. (end rant)

I think I will see if I can find a can of the SEM Burgundy and prep to use on some of my interior panels. I prefer to buy local rather than mail order, any chains carry that stuff?

 

I thought about cleaning the car up some before the Vegas drive. trying to decide if it's wasted effort, or improving 'starting conditions.'

 

Tails are done. I used so much silicone I dont think its dry yet. I probably should have left the clips on another day. but they're still sealed and within mm of factory fit (if not better, they were bowed out a bit before now flat).

As the silicone is drying its leaving a little bit of condensation in there. I'm not pleased about that. hopefully it will evaporate out as the units cannot be completely sealed due to the holes where the lenses snap in as well as two holes on each vertical cross beam between the sections. fingers crossed.

There was one spot that spooged out over night and got on the lens. not bad enough to pull apart but I will definitely notice

Overall - SUPER stoked


Before:


After:

 

I got the perches welded on my SE shock tubes at a muffler shop today. Had to grind down some of the welds so the GC sleeves would fit over them and seat properly on the new perches. I'll shoot them with a coat of primer and paint tomorrow.

Then I cleaned off the remaining intake manifold gasket off the 13B and inserted the Atkins port sleeves. In between coats of paint on the shock tubes, I'll start fitting the intake manifold back on the engine.

fm

 

ioTus, if you wanna come east and work some of that magic, I'll buy you a ticket and feed you for a couple days. Even have my son take you mountain biking.

 

Time for floor mats.

I haven't had any in the -7 for a long time, but the carpet won't last much longer if I don't start protecting it. Still looks pretty good, but it's 33 years old and every time I vacuum it, it's gonna get thinner - - like hair! - - & there's no way to be sure your feet are clean getting in, is there?

Picked up a halfway decent set at the local pep Boys, on sale for $20. Fit's not bad, they'll do for now.

Eventually I'll find me some really nice ones. Or replace the carpet.

 

Hahah that sounds righteous

(A less expensive option would be you could mail me your tails and I could refurb them, I did that for Vipernicus and DirectFreak)

 

I had rubber all weather mats in my WRX and honestly I cant go back. The idea of putting nasty wet dirty shoes on ANY carpet - floor mat or no - irks my OCD (Obsessively Clean Disposition). My current mats are carpet, so as you'd guess i'm quite irked. That said, I would pay a premium for some new mats with "RX-7" embroidered in them like I had in my old black GSL. *SIGH* i should NOT have sold that car....

Got any pics of the new mats?

 

Not as yet - they just went in the car last night about 10pm. Think "black cut-pile carpet with heavy vinyl/rubber heel pad." and you'll have the picture

 

I really want to try your bench testing method as well before putting the whole thing in the car, seriously tempted to do that before moving on with anything.

May go out and start soldering connections in the car tonight, still not sure if I'll make it that far - we will see.

Agreed, I'll be picking some up for the 7 here shortly.

I have these in my car now and they're getting more worn out every time I get in the car. I hate using them but haven't taken the time to go get some of the rubber ones like I've had in my other vehicles. Wish WeatherTech would make some FB mats, they'd be well-worth the money....

I had big plans for the car today but looks and feels like my hernia may have come back from the surgery in November. Still gonna try to go out and get something done, just might not be very productive.

 

Oil and filter today, 45 miles driving around errands. I was set to plop down on an embroidered set (mats) when I saw a set of cut and fit rubber mats at SamsClub in the perfect gray. They did in fact cut and fit very well, and they do as they ought. They're staying a while.

 

Yep, it's best to lay it all out and become familiar with every device you'll be using, from both air pressure sensors to the TPS connector etc. Then spin the CAS and see/hear the injectors click and the coils make sparks.

 

nothing didn't do a dang thing to it .... sigh ... and doubtful I will have anytime this week to do anything but squeeze in a quick wash and just maybe a Killerwaxx job

 

Some final cleaning, and began loading for the drive to Vegas. Trying not to take entire garage with me.

I do have:
Basic tool kit; wrenches, screwdrivers, gorilla tape, rags, gloves, pliers, cutter, allen keys, flashlights.
First aid kit w/survival supplies for 24 hours
Oil (one quart, may toss in another)
Pre-mixed anti-freeze (one gallon) plus about a gallon of multi-purpose bottled water
Fire extinguisher
Spare sunglasses; hat
Cell charger and cables

I should wind the jumper cables up and stuff them behind the taillights, I suppose. You never know.

Got my cleaning supplies box together, too.

Tomorrow will pack up clothes and stuff specific to the trip.

 

Put primer coats on my SE shock tubes this evening. I'll spray the matte black top coat tomorrow evening. I decided to dry-fit the lower intake manifold onto my 6-port 13B only to find something odd...there is a rectangular port below the two ports on the center iron, but no such port on my LIM. In fact, the LIM doesn't cover this hole.



After doing a little research, I figured out that it seems that previous owner of this engine swapped in a TII center iron. Guess I'll be picking up some Devcon tomorrow on the way home.

I wonder what other surprises await me?

fm

 

the 81-85, 89-03 and 86-88 turbo engines use that center port for the air injection, the 86-88's NA only uses the holes in the end irons..

i see the engine has the end ports, i wonder where they go?