New to this site, so...
 

apology in advance if I'm covering old ground! I've stripped down my '82 5-speed for a new radiator, etc. and am wondering where to look for advice on what to be careful over...Also, how to tell if my 20-yr-old fan clutch (turns but feels sluggish and dust falls out when I turn it) needs to be replaced...I think so. Cost? Finally, what I should expect to pay for a catalytic converter (rusted out) and exhaust back from there (all street stock...no go-fast mods intended) TIA, folks!

If you go the restoration route, you're going to get you're clocks cleaned out. The fan clutch alone is a $210 unit and you're just getting started. There's a reason everyone mods these cars instead of replacing everything with stock parts...;)

Forget a new fan clutch. If it's shot, it'll be cheaper and more effective just to get an electric fan. Get the VICTORIA BRITISH catalog for all things FB. Expect to pay ~$150 for a new cat. As far as stock exhaust, no idea where you'd find that. Call your local Mazda dealership if you want to pay out the ass for one.

By the way, if you're not going for performance and are willing to deviate from O.E. on the exhaust, the Pacesetter exhaust is a cheap (although not very highly regarded) exhaust, just DON"T BUY THE HEADERS UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR CAR TO STINK

Wow, I think you're the first person I've ever seen who is going to restore a FB and not upgrade. Keep us updates on the progress of your project. Just about all of us, including myself are moding our FB's in some way or another. Glad to see someone wants to keep theirs original. Hope your project goes well and doesn't leave you penniless (especially if you go for Mazda brand stuff) Later :)

no covering old ground would be asking about

atf treatment
direct fire
gear ratios


those are the most anoying q's cause they get asked so much and if you go back a couple pages your sure to find a post on the stuff and usally that post will link you to even more post.

so steer clear of those questions

If you can, screw the car, and get a presilencer or staraight pipe. And if you have the cash, a new racing beat exhaust would kick ass.

I tried to go the stock route when restoring my 80. It's just too expensive. I had to replace my exhaust, I ended up going Racing Beat, much cheaper than stock. We don't have emissions laws in Kansas though.

A stock exhaust was measured in four figures vs. three figures for Racing Beat.
go figure!
hanman

GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY!!!! I knew the stock exhaust was overpriced, but FOUR FIGURES!! How on Earth does Mazda justify that?

That's ok... I think they wanted $800 for a power steering pump.

that's why I don't PS anymore :)