RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Ok guys, as you all may or may not know, I have big hopes and dreams to someday be the proud owner of a 12 second (maybe 11 ) RX-7 with a 13B turbo powering it. I know that Im hoping and dreaming in the clouds for now, but SOMEDAY it will happen (I gotta get an engine eventually ). Anyway, on to the point of this thread...

My plan is to empty and strip down the engine bay, and paint it white (the same color I will be painting the car) so that when the engine goes in, it will be all neat and tidy looking in there. So, today I started by removing everything I could from the firewall and inner fenders without getting too much "into it". I also disconnected and removed the main wiring harness that runs up the drivers fender, across the bumper, and back down the passenger fender. Mainly because it was in the way, but also because it needs to have some stuff repaired on it where the loosers cut crap all to hell. I plan to remove the headlight motors, radiator shrouds, and some other stuff later once its at my Dads house in the shop, but for now, its a good start. Heres a question I had though. With the main wiring harness, right now I just have it bundled up at the firewall by the brake booster, but can it be completely removed somehow? I peeked under the dash at where it goes through, but I cant tell if it goes into that big gold box, or if it just continues on under the dash and down the car further. If it cant be removed, how can I get it out of the way while painting under the hood? Any tips?

Now, on to the real question...

What can I be doing in the mean time to help the swap go quicker later? Stuff I should be removing, working on or anything like that? I cant really think of anything honestly, but Ive never done it before. So, for those of you who have done this or something similar, was there any one part where you said "I wish I had done this with XXX out"? Because, right now is the prime time for me to do that since Im taking it all apart anyway. I think Im also going to move my battery to the stroage bin area. Mainly because it will make IC piping and stuff easier to work with later, but also because my passenger storage bin got broken when the car was stolen, so if I "customize" it for the battery box and what all, it wont really change much, lol. Plus, it just makes it look cleaner and neater under the hood, and moves some weight around. So, there you have my plan as of now, do you have any advise for me about anything? The painting, the parts removal, the preperation for the new turbo engine? Thanks .

~T.J.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Oh yeah, and just for fun I also thought Id include a copy of the letter I will be sending off to local news stations, the Sheriffs office, the appropriate state offices, etc. Maybe I can get some motivation into the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office through a 3rd party.

My Mom also said that we can file a civil suit against the occupants of the house in an attempt at some restitution for my car. Only thing is, it will be going to small claims court, so $5000 limit, but I would honestly be happy with anything right now. I dont think Ill even get what the cars worth with my luck. Anyway, at least Im doing SOMETHING rather than sitting around kicking myself because I didnt do anything about it...

~T.J.

JIMMY54

iTrader: (2)

Really without having the engine yet to work on all you could really do is get everything painted like you meantioned and redo fuel lines if nessary. Just do things that you would need to do anyways, even if they were just as easy without the engine in.

As for the harness...I know on my -SE that the harness on the drivers side cannot be removed since it controls the lights, alternator, starter and all that other ****.

setzep

Not a whole lot you can do without spending $ along the way. Taking the engine bay apart is a good start if you aren't ready to spend $ on it yet. Take all the stuff you want to look nice off and clean/paint/whatever. On my 83 I didn't end up removing much wiring, just some of the BS stuff you probably already took off already. There isn't much to these cars so there isn't much to remove

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

you need to add some periods to that letter of yours. you have like 5 commas in one sentence

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

it was just the first few paragraphs. after that its fine.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Bah, whatever . I dont need no stinkin periods...

I think Im gonna strip and clean everything, then get some money together for paint, then get it painted under there for now. I have no idea what I should be doing until I actually get something to install then I guess, lol

~T.J.

setzep

Do some serious power browsing in the single turbo section to gain knowledge

PS, periods never made a car faster so they aren't needed

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Well, I feel I know enough about the engine, fuel system and everything else, it was just a matter of asking what I could do now from people that have done it in the past. I wish I could just get cheap pieces of the project to at least make me feel like Im making progress. Like an intercooler to mount or something. Oh well.

Basically, I have NO money to speak of, and Im trying to occupy my time since I have nothing to do everyday, as well as keep my mind off the fact some hick *** ************* destroyed my years of hard work, money, blood, sweat, and tears in a matter of a week by working on the car and preparing for a 13BT swap that probably wont take place until 2020 at this rate.

Anyway, I think Im just gonna do this the way Ive done everything else. Just plan out what I want the car to be in the end, and take it a piece at a time until theres no more to cross off the list... I think Im gonna try and work on the engine bay, getting a roll cage in, and seats all at the same time. It seems to be the opportune time to do the engine bay, as well as the cage with both the interior and engine bay apart, and seats might come in handy later.

~T.J.

WanKeL FD RX-7

iTrader: (7)

Nice project TJ !

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Heh, yeah, I like to think so anyway, lol.

Tonight I just spent more time with her and took out the fuel lines (incoming and return), the vent line from the tank, all the hard brake lines, and the master cylinder. I covered all the openings where the brake lines go with duct tape, so nothing should get in there for now. I plan to take out the brake booster tomorrow, and then Ill wait to get it to my Dads house to take out the clutch master cylinder, lines, and bracketry. Its starting to look REALLY empty in there. Im almost ready to start cleaning, degreasing, rust treating (under the battery tray) and sanding. I think Im actually just gonna get myself a few spray cans made at an autobody shop so I dont need to get my paint gun out and all that ****. Then, Ill just spray the bay, and start putting **** back in.

Im gonna take all the lines and brackets and what all that go on the firewalls and inner fenders and paint them gloss black, as well as "rebuilding" (taking apart, cleaning, and painting) the headlight motors so they look good, as well as anything else that needs to go back in that I can clean up and paint (brackets or whatever). I think Im gonna clean and paint the booster and master cylinder black again, as well as the clutch master and slave.

I also called a place in Lynnwood that does Rhino bed liners, and they said that they could spray my battery tray with some leftover for free since its so small. That should help keep the color over time, and protect the metal. I hope that they have some white left over they can spray it with so it will match the rest of the under hood area. If not, Ill have it done in black.

So, once again, another useless update on my car, lol. Nothing really to be told except the other night I got a set of 4 Michelin Pilot Sports for free from a friend. They still have about 90% of the tread left (except one, but Im gonna get a replacement), so theyre gonna go on my 17x7 wheels once I buy those, which wont be until after the suspension swap (unless someone wants to buy them?), but at least I have the tires .

~T.J.

Heres a couple pictures of the tires:
http://www.angelfire.com/space/rotor...r/Dsc02240.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/space/rotor...r/Dsc02235.jpg

Heres a couple pictures of the engine bay I took earlier (still has a lot of junk in there):
http://www.angelfire.com/space/rotor...r/Dsc02242.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/space/rotor...r/Dsc02243.jpg