White 85 GS, new project, 07-10-11
 

So I responded to a Craig's list add that said please text, don't call because his minutes are used up. Here's the Craig's list add:

http://athensga.craigslist.org/cto/2473589427.html

But I don't know how to text so I sent him an email, which seemed to get lost in the internet.

Anyway last night (Saturday evening, around 7) I get a call and he needs to leave for a new job in North Carolina in the morning, so I went on over this morning, Sunday around 8 am, to his house in Jefferson, same town I live in.

He had it posted for $500, but my wife said I could only have $200. She's really a pretty smart woman.

Anyway, here's what I got for $200 plus a $65 tow, delivered to the house around 11:00 am. It's white, my favorite color:

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5245.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5247.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5248.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5249.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5250.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5251.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5252.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5253.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5254.jpg

It's got a nice set of Yokohama Avid Tourings, I love those tires, got 130,000+ miles out of the last set I had (you can't get them anymore)

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5256.jpg

He said he had just done a brake job and it has "big brakes" whatever that means. They are painted red, if that means anything.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5257.jpg

He mentioned that he always kept three fuel filters in line to make sure the Nikki didn't get any crud. I'm thinking one too many fuel filters.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5258.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5259.jpg

It doesn't have a fuel tank but it looks like the tranny and stuff are still there

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5261.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5262.jpg

I knew it was a good deal when I saw it came with two rat's nests

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5255.jpg

I'm looking forward to unpacking it, cleaning things up and starting the rebuild.

More photos to come.

nice find ray. body looks to be in great shape. put some tape over the 2 holes in the rear hatch glass to keep water out unless u got a latch to put in it.

I'm gonna latch that bugger Michael. One thing I never really liked that much on the GSL's was the rear window wiper, I just never use it, it's in the way and it's a maintenance issue. On this one I think I'll delete the wiper and use that piece of glass that came with the car.

Here's a Phase I update, I had an hour to go out and sort stuff through:

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...85rx7/copy.jpg

Lot's of project stuff, including a few nice wrenches and a good copy of the Haines manual

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5265.jpg

She's got her original papers

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5279.jpg

Some Audi parts, send me an mailing address and I'll get them to you

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5266.jpg

More or less clean hatch area

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5268.jpg

Another view of the junk

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5267.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5269.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5270.jpg

Here's the find of the day, an intact red steering column surround. Yes!

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5271.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5272.jpg

A few more

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5274.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5275.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...85rx7/hood.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5278.jpg

just needs a little bit of love....

Awesome find, Ray! That interior looks like it could clean up nice!

good job! that thing is going to clean up and look really nice. what's the deal with the engine? it looks like there was a fire?

I think that engine fire was just the Nikki on a hot night. I'll get her settled down so she won't singe the paint.

The PO said the "block" was in great shape. Car has 200,000 plus on it, but that wouldn't necessarily count an original 12A out. We'll see, I need to spin it over and get some compression data.

Brett I'm upgrading the interior to true GSL with my red velour seats and door panels from the White One (electric windows, of course) so those GS parts are available in case you want to get back in the business. A little love goes a long ways.

https://www.rx7club.com/image.php?u=...ine=1303689287

Nice find Ray! that white should shine after you give it a bath.

I know of a first gen guy in Conyers thats looking for some door panels if you're wanting to sell yours.

awesome find my friend!!! heck, you got $200 in spare parts outta that GS!!! a good exterior pressure wash and some oem plus wheels and she'll look like a new car! keep us updated with plenty of pics!!

Shit, there was $200 worth of sealer products in that car.

https://i764.photobucket.com/albums/...7/DSCF5266.jpg

Phase II is the pressure wash, photos coming your way soon.

The wheels that came with it have a really nice set of Yokohama Avid Tourings on them, I love those tires (got 130,000 miles+ out of my last set) and you can't buy them anymore.

So I think I'm going to do some paint stripping on those puppies and bring them back to their original X wheel glory, together with the Yokos. That's part of Phase III.

Alex the guy in Conyers can have those door panels. The PO put some nice custom black top rails on them, not a bad job for a GS door panel.

More pics coming at Phase II.

Dang it Ray. Even if you have to put an engine in it, you still came out on top. Good find man. Bring it back from the Dead!!!!!!!

It looks like a good start. I can't wait to see what it looked like after a good cleaning.

Nice project Ray, looks like a real good starting point, some lovin and she'll be good as new. Subscribed!

VERY nice. I smell potential!

Great find Ray! Need more pictures though... :)

I love restoring white cars, they just clean up so nicely. That's the same engine cover I've got on my Audi. lol. Too bad the car came with two rat's nests, that's twice the headaches...




.

Thanks guys, I might be moving into Phase II sooner than expected. We've got part of that 100 degree heat wave going on down here in Georgia and I have a choice for the afternoon - paint the back deck or wash the new car - paint brush or garden hose. Think I'll go with the hose.

I'll get some more pics up Mark of the Phase II progress later today and some closeups of those Audi parts, be nice if someone could use them.

One of these days, Ray, you'll come across a 5-letter car that tempts you.

I dunno Crit. I like just about anything mechanical, but nothing in my experience so far compares to an 84/85 FB. I don't know what it is but I've stopped asking why, looks like I'll be driving 12A's from here on out.

Here's the Phase II update, she cleaned up pretty well, as predicted. I knew the previous owner had taken really good car of the car when I saw that he had liberally greased the clutch slave cylinder bleeder valve:

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5293.jpg

The paint isn't bad, but a dent on the driver's door and a couple of issues in the rear end means I'll need to do a paint job. That's OK, it'll give me a chance to install my two mint GSL doors from the Tan One that still have the power window regulators.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5288.jpg

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5289.jpg

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http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCF5290.jpg

The car has some nice features. It appears to be completely rust free and it has new door seals installed. The rear carpet is a bit faded but still has a lot of fluff to it. The engine turns over by hand, not much for oil leaks, looks like lots of potential.

Phase III is the demolition phase, I need to rip out a bunch of Micky Mouse repairs and parts that I'll replace with better stuff (seats, for example). More pics when I get the stuff out but probably not till next weekend.

I know of one that could come up for sale soon....

Tim you aren't selling the Lotus are you? That's about the only 5 letter car that would tempt me.

looks like the car ha a lot of potential. replacing the rigged up parts and installing a new ignition switch will really help. also, you'll have to let us know how a compression test turns out should you decide to do one. i really think you have a solid project that'll turn out spectacular when finished!!

I don't know Ray, I think its crap and you need to give it to me :lol:

Another white one with a red interior. Will this be Cathys' car when its done?

Why are there no goats in these pictures anyway?

It looks as if it had an engine fire at some point in its life.

Also, that greased bleeder screw is EPIC. I laughed.