Damn! This old 85SE orphan is getting fun to drive!
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Damn! This old 85SE orphan is getting fun to drive!
This SE looked so pathetic when I found it 2 years ago, paint faded and checked, seals rotted out, interior ragged, tires frayed, etc. Crappy black stuff in radiator, brake and clutch reservoirs, etc. Salvage title, two keys (probably had been stolen), stinking like hell inside, plus an overlay of some ultra-sweet deoderizer. So I figured to give it a little try, and if it failed part the thing out. But now it runs great, looks like new, and feels really sound on the road. Until a couple weeks ago I didn't dare drive it for more than 15 minutes because the stink of exhaust in the cabin worried me that I'd fall asleep driving it anywhere. But the new seals for the hatch and tailights solved that and I drove it for 3 hours today with nary a whiff of smell or any tiredness from odorless CO. And it drove great! Had the extra SE power for passing on CA 1 coming up the coast from Santa Cruz to Pescadero. Sang like a bird whipping thru the mountains at 4k, 5k 6k RPMs all the way.
Well I guess I better put some Tokico Blues on it: like every SE I've driven it bottoms out in the rear. Little bit of mechanical noise from the drivetrain, but that's like other SEs, too. Finish the interior and some doorseals next week and it'll almost be worth what I've put into it!
I'll use it for my little 2 or 3 day trips over to the Sierra Foothills looking for a cabin site the next few months to wring it out.
Well I guess I better put some Tokico Blues on it: like every SE I've driven it bottoms out in the rear. Little bit of mechanical noise from the drivetrain, but that's like other SEs, too. Finish the interior and some doorseals next week and it'll almost be worth what I've put into it!
I'll use it for my little 2 or 3 day trips over to the Sierra Foothills looking for a cabin site the next few months to wring it out.
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I posted some pics a few months ago when it came back from the bodyshop with new K3 on it, but I'll get some new ones up pretty soon when my parttime-fulltime mechanic gets some more detailing finished.
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The original pix are here:
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/ugly-se-got-painted-542066/
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/ugly-se-got-painted-542066/
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When I finish the door panels I'll post interior pix.
I figure to make this my DD (need some Tokico blues, though).
I like stock setups, with the possible exception of a streetport on an FB. The 7 is intrinsically highly aesthetic. Doesn't need appearance mods or peculiar paint.
I figure to make this my DD (need some Tokico blues, though).
I like stock setups, with the possible exception of a streetport on an FB. The 7 is intrinsically highly aesthetic. Doesn't need appearance mods or peculiar paint.
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In the back I have 4 interior door panels: the two originals, which are cloth/naugahide burgundy, and two from the JY which are all naugahide but brown. I'm trying to re-color the brown ones to burgundy. Then I'll figure out what to do about the seats, which were originally cloth burgundy. I have good leather burgundy seats but I'll have to steal the passenger side from my 85GSL. Actually, I rather prefer the cloth seats: they're cooler in summer and I get a little lower seating position, so I may leave cloth installed and keep leather in reserve for eventual resale.
I have some other minor interior issues, also. Faded plastic, aftermarket radio, etc. Not too bad, though.
I have some other minor interior issues, also. Faded plastic, aftermarket radio, etc. Not too bad, though.
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