team918

im not sure what model it is. Whats ur prefrence on the engine? When should the engine b rebuilt?

clbsinvaders

Start looking for a rebuild around 100k. Check compression before you buy, that is a must.
Now: here's the mod list:
Car is an 85 GS, red, no sunroof, 12a rebuilt at 120k. Currently at 160k miles. Rust free. This was a very nice daily driver, and I almost hated to modify it.
 Weber 45 DCOE and manifold. The oil metering is disconnected so I premix with the gas.
 Carter fuel pump, Holley regulator and gauge, plus misc parts for install.
 Racing Beat Header and "Street Port" exhaust.
 Eibach springs: Fronts are 260 lbs or so, and rears are 145 lbs or so. These are not coil overs. These are the Eibach Pro-Kit springs. They are slightly harsh on bumpy roads but tolerable.
 Shocks: front Koni low pressure gas, rears Tokico blue non-adjustables.
 Sway bars: Suspension Techniques 1-1/8" front, adjustable rear 17mm, I believe
 Replaced front control arm bushings and tension rod bushings with new, harder than stock rubber ones.
 Replaced all original rubber brake lines with new NAPA lines.
 New front brake pads, Axxis Metal Masters, Rear shoes semi metallic.
 Replaced all fluids with performance fluids or synthetics.
 Swapped rear open diff with Limited Slip Differential (stock 3.90 ratio). Only swapped center section (aka “pumpkin") as it was cheaper and easier
 New radiator.
 13x5.5 Stock Rims with good tires.
 13x6 Enkei Gold Mesh rims with BFG R1 tires. Very nice, but I broke one of the center caps. Might be able to find one on eBay.
 AC was removed when Weber was installed. Still have all parts and will include with sale.
 Electric fan replaced stock fan.
 Front wheel bearings, tie rods, and idler arm replaced.
 Steering column replaced with one from 90k mile car.
 Rear axle bearings replaced.
 Jensen AM FM CD Deck and speakers.
 Everything else is OEM stock as far as I can recall.

What ya'll think? GSLSE or the GS?

Naegleria_Fowleri

Make your own thread, kid. Threadjacking will get you burnt, and no one will answer you.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

GSL-Se period.

Naegleria_Fowleri

GSL-SE.

And this is coming from someone who likes the 12A better than the 13B. I still say GSL-SE.

clbsinvaders

Muchos gracias all of you, I will try and get pictures asap.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

^Just spotted the no sunroof part. It's not a GS then. It is a S model which is the very lowest base model.

clbsinvaders

I thought GS's had the option of sunroofs. My 85 doesnt have one.

Naegleria_Fowleri

^I thought you could find GS's without a Sunroof.

clbsinvaders

I'm no guru on RX-7's by any means so I am not sure.

jarath

That's a nice GS no doubt about it. The first RX-7 I had was an SA slightly rusty but I always wanted the GSL-SE... I always loved my SA as I put disk brakes on it etc but the GSL-SE was out there mocking me. Well 11 years later I found one with 0 rust and it was hiding in some remote neighborhood with cob webs all over it and dropping my son off at his friends I caught a glimpse driving by. I stopped, knocked on the door, talked a bit to the owner and said if he ever wanted to get rid of it to let me know, 2 months later they asked me to come get it out of their driveway... apparently teenage driver blew pilot bearing and they were tired of looking at it and was too difficult for them to fix. Wanted $150, gave them $350 cuz I felt guilty and pushed it home pissing all over itself the entire way (blown out power steering pump)... 1 pilot bearing later and some intake / injection seals I had the SE I've wanted for 11 years. Granted I've invested way more than I will even mention here to restore her to the former glory she was. You can get the GS and keep your eye out for the SE as sooner or later you'll find one and when that time comes... maybe you'll need parts like I did

EDIT- or an S, didn't notice the sunroof

clbsinvaders

I think I should get the GSLSE but the other car has so many suspension upgrades...

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

^ The only thing I can tell you is that in the end, you have to be happy with your decision.

clbsinvaders

I know that. Honestly, I think the GSLSE would be better. FI, all original and oem.

Naegleria_Fowleri

Another thing you have to think about is how much do you actually plan on using the suspension upgrades on the other car. An SE handles plenty well enough to be more than sufficient enough to be fun, and suspension upgrades, unless you plan on taking corners hard everywhere you go, are pretty useless and make it that much less friendly to drive on bad roads.

Pronkie

I've owned a 84 S and 87 Sport...Now have a 85 GSL-SE...When I had the 87, was way too heavy and felt big compared to the 1st gens...But watch out on the 1st gen breaking traction...The rear end tends to get loose and adds to the fun factor...Love my GSL-SE.......

jarath

You have a point there... I am doing a full poly upgrade + springs / struts right now only because the rubber has disintegrated from almost every joint and I bounce all over from dead struts. Overall, if you buy any car this old you are probably going to want to do suspension upgrades just to have it handle like it should stock.

clbsinvaders

I'm going to autoX and drift it. Maybe a road rally or two, nothing really intense.

jarath

I may be wrong here but I think the 12a can take a lot more porting options because it is only 4 port and the GSL-SE uses a 6 port with less meat to work with not to mention the car itself is lighter than the GSL-SE... maybe some of the others can supply more information on how true this is. I know my buddy's IT7 racer is a bridgeport 12A and it blows the doors off my GSL-SE.

I really wanted my SE because I intend on dropping a 2nd gen turbo or cosmo engine into it sooner or later and the SE is already FI, has the rear end for it, oil pan etc. I put rear disk + LSD on my SA but I know the SE has a bigger / better rear disk system than any of the other models. The SE's power curve is not as aggressive as the 12a because of the way the 6 ports work to make it more linear across all RPM rather than the 4 port motors are more aggressive at middle - higher RPM? I am by far not a mechanic but maybe some others can give some more insight into all this. This is all information I've read over time in these very forums.

I've owned both and both are different in the way they behave and I can safely say I don't prefer one over the other but the GSL-SE is more of the "cadillac" of the first gen's. If I was to race, I may go with a 13b 4 port carbed N/A.

clbsinvaders

Well, my dad who takes normally a "meh, whatever" attitude towards RX-7's was extremely impressed with this one...yes it was that clean.

slo

iTrader: (1)

The GS was available without a sunroof. My first car was an 85 GS. Bought with 40K on it. Had the GS logo on the back, said GS on the title. No sunroof, No AC. I don't think the S model was available in 84 and 85. I think GS became the base.

edit: Ohhps, slight thread revival.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Though rare, there was an S model in the S3 series. Absolutely bare bones and came with steel wheels.

clbsinvaders

Revival is OK by me! I need to run the vin on my '85, but I do not know what model it is. I assume it is a GS.

Midwest 7's

iTrader: (4)

we had an 85 s.
no map light, cruise, rear hatch light.
it did have ac and alloys though.

also my friend has a 84 gs and it came with steelies.