Im Officially Back! (and bringing my 7 back to life!)
03-24-10, 02:03 AM
#51
Yes, Formula White. Its still "wet" in those pics which is whats giving it the gloss since I havent hit it with the clear yet. Its much whiter when painted "fresh" than the rest of the car by FAR, but its definitely not SUPER bright white like I think the Dover White is/would be. I used to think I wanted to repaint my car Dover White because the Formula White was too "off-white" - seeing it new kind of changes my mind.
T.J.
T.J.
03-24-10, 02:31 AM
#52
When mine was stolen, they took my near mint condition seats. Ive been looking for another set for a LONG time and havent found any. Very upsetting. I need a few other pieces for the interior also, its so hard to find in this brown. Of all the things they took/vandalized, I miss the seats the most, theyre the hardest to replace.
~T.J.
~T.J.
03-27-10, 05:58 AM
#53
Well, the flaws are wet sanded down, I did that the other day. Right now the money train is derailed due to my messed up work schedule and cut hours, so the funding for the clear coat has fallen through, haha.
I think I may have worked out something with my spray gun, but I have yet to test it. Basically, I took apart two other new guns in two stores, and neither had a "seal" of any kind where I thought I saw an o-ring crumble away from. Im thinking maybe it was just assembly gunk or something stuck in there that crumbled away, I dont know. This was a new gun other than a thinner rinse/sprayed through it.
When I tried spraying the gun after thinking it was missing an o-ring, it was blowing bubbles back up into the paint cup. Coincidentally, I was reading in the owners manual of a high end spray gun that said if thats happening, the fluid tip could be too loose - the part I thought I saw an o-ring crumble off of. So, its possible that when I put it together again after cleaning it, I just didnt have the tip tight enough. Basically, it could very well just be operator failure.
Anyway, the plan at this point once I have some money is to scuff the whole thing up again, spray another coat of white, let that dry, then clear it within the proper flash window this time. I need money, and decent weather again though.
~T.J.
I think I may have worked out something with my spray gun, but I have yet to test it. Basically, I took apart two other new guns in two stores, and neither had a "seal" of any kind where I thought I saw an o-ring crumble away from. Im thinking maybe it was just assembly gunk or something stuck in there that crumbled away, I dont know. This was a new gun other than a thinner rinse/sprayed through it.
When I tried spraying the gun after thinking it was missing an o-ring, it was blowing bubbles back up into the paint cup. Coincidentally, I was reading in the owners manual of a high end spray gun that said if thats happening, the fluid tip could be too loose - the part I thought I saw an o-ring crumble off of. So, its possible that when I put it together again after cleaning it, I just didnt have the tip tight enough. Basically, it could very well just be operator failure.
Anyway, the plan at this point once I have some money is to scuff the whole thing up again, spray another coat of white, let that dry, then clear it within the proper flash window this time. I need money, and decent weather again though.
~T.J.
03-28-10, 10:56 AM
#54
Just a couple more shots of the paint so far after the wet sanding for the next coat and clear. Its crazy how much the color changes depending on light, from bright white to an off white. This also shows the matte finish you get without clear coat.
Oh, I also dug the hood latch and bolts out, so those will get cleaned up and painted/cleared with the rest of the engine bay. The battery tray has been epoxy primed as shown, but it also has a coat of white paint on it currently which I dont think was pictured.
~T.J.
Oh, I also dug the hood latch and bolts out, so those will get cleaned up and painted/cleared with the rest of the engine bay. The battery tray has been epoxy primed as shown, but it also has a coat of white paint on it currently which I dont think was pictured.
~T.J.
06-25-10, 11:38 AM
#56
I dont really have the space either. Im doing mine under a small overhang outside a barn. The back half of the car is hanging out, I can only fit half of it at a time 
Anyway, here is the past few days worth of work:
Anyway, here is the past few days worth of work:
Holy cow! Was that SUN outside today?!
I took advantage of the warm weather, and had success spraying the paint and clear FINALLY. Not much to say really. I got that done, let it dry for a while and started mocking up parts for assembly. I need to get some more bolts tomorrow, as well as see if I can find an RX7 in the junk yards to get some parts I need now.
Tomorrow I will probably clean up the transmission/engine and get them put together in preparation for installation. Once the engine is in, I can get the exhaust hung, intake mounted, radiator in, etc. I still have a ton of wiring to do and figure out, fuel/brake lines to run, etc but I feel as if Im on the downhill side of things now since its all just finding parts and assembly at this point.
~T.J.
I took advantage of the warm weather, and had success spraying the paint and clear FINALLY. Not much to say really. I got that done, let it dry for a while and started mocking up parts for assembly. I need to get some more bolts tomorrow, as well as see if I can find an RX7 in the junk yards to get some parts I need now.
Tomorrow I will probably clean up the transmission/engine and get them put together in preparation for installation. Once the engine is in, I can get the exhaust hung, intake mounted, radiator in, etc. I still have a ton of wiring to do and figure out, fuel/brake lines to run, etc but I feel as if Im on the downhill side of things now since its all just finding parts and assembly at this point.
~T.J.
Got some more stuff done today and some more things sorted. Turns out this electrical system is more of a nightmare than I realized, and Im also missing a couple parts I will have to hunt down. In addition to what you see in the pictures, I also cleaned and prepped the engine and transmission, got them bolted together and got the starter bolted up. All in all, progress is good so far.
~T.J.
~T.J.
06-25-10, 03:10 PM
#57
New fresh shiny bolts and nuts - - I'm a big fan. Been working through all mine slowly, and it makes a huge difference in both appearance and serviceability. I've tried painting my stock bolts before, but they chip too easily.
If you're using stainless (which is how I started off, & used for most) beware of using them anywhere you're likely to drop them in unreachable spaces on removal, since they won't stick to a magnetic retriever. Plated steel is better in those circumstances.
I almost used SS nuts to affix my carb... had second thoughts after rethinking how many times I've dropped that hateful left rear carb nut down the intake manifold/block recess. Dodged a bullet there.
If you're using stainless (which is how I started off, & used for most) beware of using them anywhere you're likely to drop them in unreachable spaces on removal, since they won't stick to a magnetic retriever. Plated steel is better in those circumstances.
I almost used SS nuts to affix my carb... had second thoughts after rethinking how many times I've dropped that hateful left rear carb nut down the intake manifold/block recess. Dodged a bullet there.
06-26-10, 12:59 AM
#59
Today I spent some time putting around with my STi and my 4Runner. I had to replace the brake master cylinder in the 4Runner, and a brake light switch in the STi, so I didnt get as much time with the RX7 as I wanted. I did however manage to sort out some things with it... Oh, and I got the motor in
After the motor was in, I pulled the beehive oil cooler (heater) off it since I run a FMOC, and I pulled the oil galley plugs/fittings out and put my -AN adapters in. Tomorrow I will get the rear drive line in, exhaust mocked up, and probably intake mocked up and whatever else I can figure out. I also have some misc stuff to do under there as far as sorting some wiring issues out, a lot of cleaning inside the car, etc so I have plenty to keep me busy. I also plan to drain/flush the fuel tank, mount the fuel pump and pressure regulator, look at the electric fan mounting, etc.
Still a long list but its getting shorter...
~T.J.
06-27-10, 12:37 AM
#60
Well, today I didnt spend much time doing work, but I did drive to a fellow RX7 club members house to strip parts I needed off his parts car. The little work I did do on the car was getting the exhaust manifold mounted up, and the intake mocked up in place with the heat shield and such to plan for fuel lines, linkages, etc. Here are a couple pics, but it was getting dark. I will get better pictures after I get the intake and carb cleaned up and set back on there. Theyre really dirty in these pictures.
Here are the parts I picked up from my friend. I got a complete wiring harness to replace my cut/hacked one from the thieves, as well as all the hard lines for the brake and fuel systems. I also snagged a steering box to salvage parts from to repair mine, as well as a few other misc things I needed.
So, tomorrow will be an interesting day. Im not sure where to start. I figure I will have to pull the interior apart to do the wiring, including dropping the master cylinder/booster again, so it doesnt make sense to do the brake lines first. Also, now that the header is in, I can mock up the rest of the exhaust system. I still havent gotten the drive line in, but thats a cinch. Anyway, I will see where tomorrow takes me. My list is getting shorter fast...
~T.J.
Here are the parts I picked up from my friend. I got a complete wiring harness to replace my cut/hacked one from the thieves, as well as all the hard lines for the brake and fuel systems. I also snagged a steering box to salvage parts from to repair mine, as well as a few other misc things I needed.
So, tomorrow will be an interesting day. Im not sure where to start. I figure I will have to pull the interior apart to do the wiring, including dropping the master cylinder/booster again, so it doesnt make sense to do the brake lines first. Also, now that the header is in, I can mock up the rest of the exhaust system. I still havent gotten the drive line in, but thats a cinch. Anyway, I will see where tomorrow takes me. My list is getting shorter fast...
~T.J.
06-28-10, 01:12 AM
#61
No pictures from tonight, things look mostly the same. I did however get the new hard lines from the parts car installed for fuel and brakes, got the brake proportioning valve installed along with the master cylinder and hard lines, got the steering box installed along with the column and ignition switch, the drive line in, and the entire wiring harness swapped over. Ashley did a great job of splicing the two wiring harnesses together for me (I have issues with colors). She soldered and heat shrunk nearly 30 wires. The harness had to be spliced under the door sill where the front main harness runs to the back of the car. She did it perfectly.
After that was all done, I went ahead and hooked up a battery to it to see what would happen. Nothing blew up! I can say I have a functional electrical system again. All the body/chassis electrical circuits seem to be working normally aside from some sticking relays/motors from sitting for 7 years. After cycling things off and on a few times they cleared up though.
Tomorrow I will try and hit up the fuel pump, pressure regulator, and gauge and get those mounted, look at running the fuel soft lings, get the rest of the exhaust hung from the header back, look at mounting the front mount oil cooler, and look at what I need as far as -AN fittings for both the oil and fuel systems. I might make it to the radiator/electric fan installation too, not sure. Depends on how Im feeling. I started to feel a little burnt out today, Ive been working non stop it seems like.
~T.J.
After that was all done, I went ahead and hooked up a battery to it to see what would happen. Nothing blew up! I can say I have a functional electrical system again. All the body/chassis electrical circuits seem to be working normally aside from some sticking relays/motors from sitting for 7 years. After cycling things off and on a few times they cleared up though.
Tomorrow I will try and hit up the fuel pump, pressure regulator, and gauge and get those mounted, look at running the fuel soft lings, get the rest of the exhaust hung from the header back, look at mounting the front mount oil cooler, and look at what I need as far as -AN fittings for both the oil and fuel systems. I might make it to the radiator/electric fan installation too, not sure. Depends on how Im feeling. I started to feel a little burnt out today, Ive been working non stop it seems like.
~T.J.
06-29-10, 12:53 AM
#63
Ive been lurking and floating around. Good to see you're still here too.
Today I got the exhaust mocked up in place, I just have to find another hanger for the mid section and that will be done. I also got the carb cleaned up, intake mounted, and the carb on as well as the intake heat shield. Later on I mounted the fuel pressure regulator and started looking at the oil cooler lines (not in the pictures). I need to order some fittings for the oil cooler though.
The fuel pump bracket is also mocked up, just need to tighten some stuff down, then I can slap the pump in and plumb the soft lines from the tank to the pre-filter, to the pump, to the main filter, then to hard line up to the engine bay. I need some more fittings for the float bowl plumbing so I can get that going, as well as the pressure regulator plumbing then the fuel system will be "done".
Right now the things keeping me from trying to start it are the oil cooler fittings/mounting, the fuel fittings/plumbing, and getting the electric fan mounted. I cant mount the fan until the radiator is in, which I cant do until the oil cooler is done, lol.
Also, Ashley spent a good amount of time with the steam cleaner cleaning my carpets and getting that musty sitting for 7 years smell out of the car. Its looking great. She also cleaned the seats I got for it and theyre sitting in the car waiting to be bolted down. I didnt get a picture of that though.
All in all, not a LOT of progress, but I did a lot of little stuff not really worth mentioning and listing. Just tying up loose ends and things. So, here are some pictures.
~T.J.
Today I got the exhaust mocked up in place, I just have to find another hanger for the mid section and that will be done. I also got the carb cleaned up, intake mounted, and the carb on as well as the intake heat shield. Later on I mounted the fuel pressure regulator and started looking at the oil cooler lines (not in the pictures). I need to order some fittings for the oil cooler though.
The fuel pump bracket is also mocked up, just need to tighten some stuff down, then I can slap the pump in and plumb the soft lines from the tank to the pre-filter, to the pump, to the main filter, then to hard line up to the engine bay. I need some more fittings for the float bowl plumbing so I can get that going, as well as the pressure regulator plumbing then the fuel system will be "done".
Right now the things keeping me from trying to start it are the oil cooler fittings/mounting, the fuel fittings/plumbing, and getting the electric fan mounted. I cant mount the fan until the radiator is in, which I cant do until the oil cooler is done, lol.
Also, Ashley spent a good amount of time with the steam cleaner cleaning my carpets and getting that musty sitting for 7 years smell out of the car. Its looking great. She also cleaned the seats I got for it and theyre sitting in the car waiting to be bolted down. I didnt get a picture of that though.
All in all, not a LOT of progress, but I did a lot of little stuff not really worth mentioning and listing. Just tying up loose ends and things. So, here are some pictures.
~T.J.
06-29-10, 06:08 AM
#64
Originally Posted by RotorMotorDriver
Also, Ashley spent a good amount of time with the steam cleaner cleaning my carpets and getting that musty sitting for 7 years smell out of the car. Its looking great. She also cleaned the seats I got for it and theyre sitting in the car waiting to be bolted down
...
...
Keep up the awesome work, it's nice to see this car making so much progress.
I might have missed it, but what made you decide to switch from the 2bbl Side-Draft to the Holley?
Jon
06-29-10, 02:26 PM
#65
Nope, not my wife. She is a keeper though, she helps me work on all my cars. Between my built 84 Toyota 4x4, my 89 Toyota 4Runner, my WRX/STi, and now this, shes done a lot of work with me. If you read the earlier posts, she was also the one who soldered and heat shrunk all the 30ish wires together to splice my body wiring harness together for me where it runs under the drivers door sill.
Im getting close to being able to start it, I just need to figure out my oil cooler mounting again, get some new fittings for that, hang the radiator and electric fan, and do some plumbing with the soft fuel lines under the car and at the firewall.
As far as switching, the Weber was stolen, and the Holley was cheap as part of a deal along with a complete RB street port exhaust system. I needed something, and its something, haha.
The motor is a street ported pineapple rebuild I picked up used with receipts (stamped Pineapple Racing too). It sounds good when turning over, and I took the car it was in for a spin and it ran good. Hopefully it keeps up, haha. This carb has never ran on this motor though, so Im in for a treat trying to learn how to tune it, haha.
~T.J.
Im getting close to being able to start it, I just need to figure out my oil cooler mounting again, get some new fittings for that, hang the radiator and electric fan, and do some plumbing with the soft fuel lines under the car and at the firewall.
As far as switching, the Weber was stolen, and the Holley was cheap as part of a deal along with a complete RB street port exhaust system. I needed something, and its something, haha.
The motor is a street ported pineapple rebuild I picked up used with receipts (stamped Pineapple Racing too). It sounds good when turning over, and I took the car it was in for a spin and it ran good. Hopefully it keeps up, haha. This carb has never ran on this motor though, so Im in for a treat trying to learn how to tune it, haha.
~T.J.
06-29-10, 02:40 PM
#66
Cool. How big is the Holley? I know nothing about tuning them other than the fact that the primaries and secondaries are (almost?) exactly the same size, big, so it doesn't have the same velocity at low rpms that the Nikki has to pull the fuel out and atomize it.. so expect some sluggish starts off the line with it, especially if it's a 600+ cfm one.
Jon
Jon
06-29-10, 02:45 PM
#67
Its about as big as you see in the pictures, lol. No, all I know is its supposedly a complete Racing Beat street port intake kit, which it appears to be (their throttle linkage, throttle bracket, heat shield, air cleaner, etc). It also has the race float bowl conversion done to it they sell, and the OMP linkage removed (I was going to run premix anyway). It came off a car with a lot of RB stuff including the full street port exhaust I bought, so I dont really doubt it is what it is too much.
According to them, its a 465 CFM carb here: http://www.racingbeat.com/Mazda-Perf...rtNumber=18034
Here is the heat shield kit: http://www.racingbeat.com/Mazda-Perf...rtNumber=16219
Here is the race float bowl conversion: http://www.racingbeat.com/Mazda-Perf...rtNumber=16641
~T.J.
According to them, its a 465 CFM carb here: http://www.racingbeat.com/Mazda-Perf...rtNumber=18034
Here is the heat shield kit: http://www.racingbeat.com/Mazda-Perf...rtNumber=16219
Here is the race float bowl conversion: http://www.racingbeat.com/Mazda-Perf...rtNumber=16641
~T.J.
06-29-10, 10:32 PM
#68
Alrighty. More trips to hardware stores, parts suppliers, etc today and not a lot of work, but Im gathering things I need. I did however get the fuel pump mounted with the help of Ashley, as well as plumbed the soft lines from the tank to the carb. I need one reducer bushing to put my pressure gauge into the pressure regulator as well as some hose clamps for everything. Tomorrow I will get the clamps and bushing, but after that and wiring the plug for the fuel pump, the fuel system is done.
Also, I bolted the seats down finally, and looked at mounting the electric fan. Im going to have to look at different ways to mount the fan since my original idea doesnt look like it will work because it interferes with the battery area too much. I have another idea however, and I also have an aluminum battery box I might use to just relocate the battery to the storage compartment behind the seat, thus eliminating the problem. The only issue with doing that right now, is the box doesnt fit in the storage compartment area the way I want. So, I have to either figure out a fan mounting solution, or a battery relocation solution. Six of one half a dozen of the other.
The oil cooler got some new vibration dampener hardware, so all I have to do to get that in now is make some brackets, and get two AN fittings which I can get locally. I might pick those up when Im out getting the clamps and reducer bushing. Once I have those, the oil cooler will go in, the radiator will go in, and the fan can really be looked at in depth.
As far as starting it, I just need to accomplish the above stuff, run the coolant hose and battery cables. To drive it, I need to address a possible issue with the transmission, as well as the brakes being solid rust. I do have parts on the way from MazdaTrix for some of the brake system howver. New stainless braided brake lines, stainless braided clutch line, new clutch hard line, oil metering pump block off plate, plug wires, etc. Getting closer!
~T.J.
Also, I bolted the seats down finally, and looked at mounting the electric fan. Im going to have to look at different ways to mount the fan since my original idea doesnt look like it will work because it interferes with the battery area too much. I have another idea however, and I also have an aluminum battery box I might use to just relocate the battery to the storage compartment behind the seat, thus eliminating the problem. The only issue with doing that right now, is the box doesnt fit in the storage compartment area the way I want. So, I have to either figure out a fan mounting solution, or a battery relocation solution. Six of one half a dozen of the other.
The oil cooler got some new vibration dampener hardware, so all I have to do to get that in now is make some brackets, and get two AN fittings which I can get locally. I might pick those up when Im out getting the clamps and reducer bushing. Once I have those, the oil cooler will go in, the radiator will go in, and the fan can really be looked at in depth.
As far as starting it, I just need to accomplish the above stuff, run the coolant hose and battery cables. To drive it, I need to address a possible issue with the transmission, as well as the brakes being solid rust. I do have parts on the way from MazdaTrix for some of the brake system howver. New stainless braided brake lines, stainless braided clutch line, new clutch hard line, oil metering pump block off plate, plug wires, etc. Getting closer!
~T.J.
07-01-10, 03:13 AM
#69
Well, today was another slow day. Lots of running around doing various things, but I did get a little wrench time in. Not a lot to show (and bad cell phone pics), but I re-routed the hard lines along the firewall with different clamps, added a hard line I didnt have before, and got the oil cooler mounted.
I also had to re-mount the fuel pressure regulator due to the new hard line, but that was no big deal. I added some soft line for the brake booster and got hose clamps on all the under hood fuel lines. Im still trying to come up with a way to mount the electric fan, and I need to get some heater hose for the coolant system.
Oh, and I need to get back under the car to wire up a plug on the fuel pump and get all the hose clamps down there installed. Once those are done, the fuel system is done, and once I get the two AN fittings I need, the oil system is done.
~T.J.
Re-routed and complete lines on firewall
Oil cooler mounted
Current overall shot
I also had to re-mount the fuel pressure regulator due to the new hard line, but that was no big deal. I added some soft line for the brake booster and got hose clamps on all the under hood fuel lines. Im still trying to come up with a way to mount the electric fan, and I need to get some heater hose for the coolant system.
Oh, and I need to get back under the car to wire up a plug on the fuel pump and get all the hose clamps down there installed. Once those are done, the fuel system is done, and once I get the two AN fittings I need, the oil system is done.
~T.J.
Re-routed and complete lines on firewall
Oil cooler mounted
Current overall shot
07-02-10, 03:04 AM
#70
As for tonight, got some more loose ends tied up, and had some errands to run which cut into the work time. I did however manage to source the oil cooler fittings locally so the oil cooler is officially mounted and plumbed. I also got all the hose clamps on the fuel lines, and wired up the pump to the body with a plug so thats officially done too. I pulled the drain plug and rinsed the tank with some gas, then plugged it up and put some fresh gas in and dropped a battery in the car to test the pump. Fuel pump works and no leaks. Also, since the oil cooler was done, I went ahead and mounted the radiator, so thats done.
The things preventing me from turning the key and trying to start it are getting the electric fan mounted, deciding where the battery is going (which depends on how the fan gets mounted), running battery cables which of course depends on where the battery will be, and some heater hoses and two vacuum lines which I will pick up tomorrow. After the hoses, I could fill coolant and since the cooler is done now, I can fill oil.
The only crappy pictures I have for tonight. My camera phone is all Ive been using to take these pics, and it obviously doesnt do well at night.
~T.J.
The things preventing me from turning the key and trying to start it are getting the electric fan mounted, deciding where the battery is going (which depends on how the fan gets mounted), running battery cables which of course depends on where the battery will be, and some heater hoses and two vacuum lines which I will pick up tomorrow. After the hoses, I could fill coolant and since the cooler is done now, I can fill oil.
The only crappy pictures I have for tonight. My camera phone is all Ive been using to take these pics, and it obviously doesnt do well at night.
~T.J.
07-02-10, 03:12 PM
#73
Thanks guys. Its been fun getting this far. I always knew I would do something with it, but its funny how things change as you get older (7 years in my case). Maybe someday it will still get that turbo engine I always wanted, but for now I will be happy to be able to cruise around in it again.
~T.J.
~T.J.
07-02-10, 09:55 PM
#74
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TJ oil cooler looks good...almost like Lloyd fabricated mounts to install my fc oil cooler...
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/another-fmoc-install-option-fbs-838724/
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/another-fmoc-install-option-fbs-838724/
07-03-10, 03:09 AM
#75
Not many pictures again tonight. I keep working on it in the dark, and I havent taken any pictures in good lighting (camera phone sucks).
Tonight I pulled the battery tray out and mounted the electric fan. I will be running the battery in the rear under the storage compartment area once I get that figured out.
I also got all the coolant lines hooked up and clamped, vent lines hooked up, wires routed, etc. I decided that now was as good of a time as any, so I filled the coolant and oil, and tried to start it up. Surprisingly, it started up with minimal fighting and ran decent. I set the timing and it seems to be ok for now. Lots of fine tuning ahead of me. I also need to get the throttle cable, speedo cable, etc hooked up.
So, its runs. Goal met. Now I just need to get it driveable, which is all the brake system (lines are on the way), clutch system (hydraulic lines on the way), and body panels.
Im excited. First time its ran in 7 years...
~T.J.
Tonight I pulled the battery tray out and mounted the electric fan. I will be running the battery in the rear under the storage compartment area once I get that figured out.
I also got all the coolant lines hooked up and clamped, vent lines hooked up, wires routed, etc. I decided that now was as good of a time as any, so I filled the coolant and oil, and tried to start it up. Surprisingly, it started up with minimal fighting and ran decent. I set the timing and it seems to be ok for now. Lots of fine tuning ahead of me. I also need to get the throttle cable, speedo cable, etc hooked up.
So, its runs. Goal met. Now I just need to get it driveable, which is all the brake system (lines are on the way), clutch system (hydraulic lines on the way), and body panels.
Im excited. First time its ran in 7 years...
~T.J.