That would be awesome I was going through my phone the other day, and there's a good 20-25 contacts that start with 'RX-7 XXXXXX'.

The FC's been getting me where I've needed to be lately, but once it stops raining I'm going to get pictures of the FB and FC all cleaned up, along with some new ones of the FB.

 

We are looking forward to the pictures of your "Two-tone" look Brett. In the mean time don't forget that floppy idler arm! Here's a timely thread that just resurfaced that discusses some of the options:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/replacing-idler-arm-785410/

It looks like replacing the bushings is really easy, so if you want to save money and are sure the ball joint on your existing arm is tight, that would be a cheap fix. (It seemed to be fine when we looked at it earlier, but I'd take a closer look by jamming a jack handle in there and making sure it's tight). If the ball joint does show any deterioration, I'd recommend the Moog replacement part that has ball joints at both ends, this is what Mazdatrix and Sgt Fox are suggesting, pretty reliable authorities.

 

Thanks- I worked 16 hours straight yesterday until 4 am yesterday, and I've got enough money saved for first semester's tuition, so I might be getting these parts sooner that I was thinking It's on the list!

 

What's the latest, Brett?

 

Work work work... I put in over 50 hours in a less that a week It might not be much for someone else but going from hardly working to that much is a jump. I've still got a tail light and fan shroud to put on the FB, and it'll get a good cleaning before the next OGTA meet. I need to put on the passenger door seal soon before this rain goes crazy. Mike's got me a set of seats that I'll get soon, maybe on the way to OGTA or something. I'm going to start taking the bumpers and molding (and possibly the fenders and sunroof) off of the FC soon and re-paint then solid grey instead of having the black moldings, so I'll be driving the FB straight for around a week depending on my speed. Good news is, I've got the first semester's tuition $ in the bank and I'm working, with no debt to anyone and only gas as an expense, so I should have a little bit of cash to spend on the FB. Of course after I pay for books...

Ya'll will see it Tuesday though!

 

Alright, an update. I started a new job and I've been working it and a few other ones, as well as getting everything ready to start college, so I've been pretty tied up. But tonight after the 2nd job was finished and before a picnic with the girlfriend, I got a little work in.

-New battery cables (you OGTA guys know about that issue.. )
-Swapped the tape player for a better CD one, and found that all 4 aftermarket Infinity speakers work flawlessly
-Armor-alled the dash and it looks worlds better
-Redid the center radio surround so the Ford Taurus cup holders are behind it (just temp)
-Vaccumed it all out
-Put in an S2 black arm rest, with all it's useless buttons (and had to modify it a bit)

That's about all I can think of for now. I've driven around 700 miles so far, so it's at 226,1** now. I got to throw it through a few curves today and I enjoyed it aside from the horribly suspension and noisy, screaming tires. It's almost as fun as the FC

I've got another grey drivers side seat to put in thanks to a buddy Mike (msimoniv) on here. That'll go in tomorrow morning before work, along with my new S4 alternator maybe (still need to research that), and a few other little things. I've got another set of hatch struts too to test out thanks to Mike. Anyways, that's the update. Pictures in a minute.

 

sweet!! post the pics!!!!!!!!!

 

Pichas!







I'll have more once I get my memory card back from the girlfriend- we went towards the mountains to Amicalola Park for a picnic and she wanted the pictures first, so that's all I grabbed off of it before she left.

 

Looking good Brett! But before you throw it, yourself and your girl friend into to many more curves, do me a favor and get one of these

 

That I definitely will. I was actually driving from Dahlonega to Dawsonville and I was late for work, and there's a road that's a straight shot from the 2 with some nice curves, so I flew through there trying to get to work quick (I was only 7 mins late too ). But no I wasn't with the girlfriend, I wouldn't try anything stupid like that unless I'd gone over the suspension and other things you and I didn't get to at your place. I'm working some more side jobs soon, so it won't be long.

And another thing- I forgot to align the blinker-cancel thing on the back of the wheel and cracked the tabs off... I should've known not to since the FC's just like this and I've removed the wheel numerous times, but I forgot. Would anyoue happen to have that assembly that they weren't using? Or one that someone only wants $10-$20 bucks for? Thank ya thank ya

 

Brett..you can get that part from Mazda for cheap. I got one for like $3, but that was a couple years ago. Search using "cancel cam" under my username and you should find the info. I have the mazda part number posted on here.

Kent

 

I've been there, done that Brett, I should have mentioned it when I knew you were changing steering wheels. I'd go with Kent's advice and get a new one at Mazda, the plastic will be stronger and it should last forever now that you know the trick. I might have one around, if I haven't broken them all myself.

 

i replaced the bushings in mine. really easy, and cheap. but got it from like advanced or autozone, i forget which one. been awhile.

 

Thanks for the info, guys. I really should've thought to align it since I've taken off a steering wheel atleast a dozen times. We all forget, though... I'm going to look into those bushings alone tomorrow just for kicks and search around for info on it.

I got some progress done on both cars today- for the FB, I vacuumed it out again, sewed up the small tear in my new seat and put that in, rigged the antenna, put in a different passenger taillight seal, and some good hatch struts that hold up the hatch all by themselves! And I vaccumed out the FC and put the battery back in it and drove it today. Good thing- I was starting to think about how life would be without it. Now I know I'd be sad

Pictures soon, I promise.

 

awesome thread! keep up the progress!

 

The alignment is pretty simple Brett if you have some flat ground and a string, if you do the idler arm bushings give me a call.

 

Your fb will only be so fun with 103ish hp stock, with a coulple of simple mods (headers + sidedraft, downdraft carb, + direct fire mod) it's a different car. But since funds are tight those things can happen down the road if you choose. One thing to think about, there is a stopper under the accelerator pedal, on my first fb years ago (1982 GS)the previous owner had it screwed way out and I only had about 1/4 pedal. Once I figured that out I had much more throttle availible, my mileage went down and my fun meter went up.

Fuel pressure on a stock setup should only be around 2.8 psi, 6 psi is a bit high.

keep up the good work, and one of the best things about our cars is that there is no payments and if you blow it up with a mod(SO WHAT! FOR WHAT u PAID IT'S NO BIG DEAL) can you say that about a $80,000 PORSCHE!.

 

Oh I know about those mods- with my FC, I've got a pacesetter header, test pipe, Apex'i catback, RB springs with KYB shocks, GXL/ T2 brakes, and a few more things that made the car totally different. If I keep the FB for a while, I plan on getting a header at the least, gutting the cats or putting test pipes in their place, getting an LSD rear end with the disc brakes, removing the rats nest, the 2GDFI, and whatever else that's fairly cheap and benificial. It'll come along like the FC did.

I did some more things today before work, but I'll build suspense for that. Pictures soon once I get my camera cards back...

 

So here's a few pictures of the FB- sorry they took forever, and I haven't done everything that I planned to do, but the girlfriend left for college in Valdosta this afternoon and I've been trying to spend some time with her before she left. But here they are. Notice the empty spot where the a/c was, the pile of crap that came off, the new S4 alternator (my S3 has an S4, and my S4 has an S5 ), the better quality drivers seat that was recently sewn up but still needs a good cleaning, the maroon visors, steering wheel, and floormats, the hatch that holds itself up, and the S2 armrest modified to fit in there perfectly (with it's useless switches). I still need to swap fan shrouds and something else that I can't remember now.

And yeah, theres still a hole in the seat, but if it was sewn up like that I'd just rip the thread... I'll get fabric maybe if it bugs me.

 

And oh yeah, idler arm bushings ordered! Couldn't afford the whole piece, maybe later since the bushings were only $10 and the whole part was $80. Yep!

 

Your car looks just like my FB except I did my interior completly black. I'm glad you got it running well. If you're ever in mobile give me a pm.

 

That I will- I've got a uncle in Alabama that I actually got my first FC from, and I see him all the time. You wouldn't happen to know the guy in Theodore with the yard full of FB's and FC's, would you? He's not my uncle, but my uncle knows him and always says he'll never sell **** but would help you fix anything rotary-related.

 

Idler arm bushings are here, just waiting to be installed.

Thanks again for all the help guys... this car's coming together!

 

Brett, remember to be careful not to damage the ball joint on the idler arm when removing it. damaging it will result in a new idler arm, not just the bushings

 

So you have to remove the idler arm in order to replace the bushings? I guess so because you probably can't pull that pin down far enough to slip the lower bushing on without disconnecting the ball joint. Brett you may want to use a puller instead of a pickle fork for that one, the fork will damage the rubber boot on the ball joint.