I've been reading/posting on the forum for a few months now, and thought I'd finally post some pics of my car. This is my first RX7.

It's an '83 Limited Edition with 118,000 miles. The last inspection sticker was 1993. I've had lots of problems with the fuel tank & carb, but finally think the car is reliable. It is a one-owner car and has no rust in it. The clear coat is getting thin, the driver's seat is torn (reason for the covers), the dash is cracked and it could use new carpet. There'a a list below of things I've done and plan to do.

Thanks for all the help everyone has given me!










Done:

New battery
Rebuilt carburetor
Had fuel tank cleaned at radiator shop, primed & painted
Treated fuel tank with Marine Clean, Metal Etch, and POR 15 Gas Tank Sealer
New fuel pump
New fuel filter
New fuel hoses between tank & fuel pump
Installed secondary fuel filter at carburetor
Removed air (bowl) vent solenoid (dead)
Installed remote fuel pump kill switch
New fuel gauge sending unit
New (rebuilt) alternator
New battery cable ends
New air filter
Changed oil & filter
New spark plugs
New spark plug wires
New rotor
New distributor cap
Flushed radiator
New thermostat
New anti-freeze
New radiator hoses
New belts
Rebuilt wheel cylinders
New brake shoes
New (rebuilt) calipers
New brake pads
New outer tie rod ends
New idler arm bushings
Changed transmission oil
Changed rear end oil
Cleaned and painted wheels
Cleaned and painted wheel wells
New tires (Yokahama EVS 100)
New windshield wiper blades
Replaced driver side mirror
New window/door seal
New door weather strip seal
New door handle covers (interior)
Converted leading igniter to HEI/GM (Sorensen EL102)
New clutch, pressure plate & throw out bearing (Grip Force Racing)
New clutch master & slave cylinders, and pressure hose
Replaced instrument cluster (tach was not working – 118,147 -> 92,914)


Future projects:

New heater hoses
Re-build window regulators
New inner tie rods
Front end alignment
New oil pan gasket
Bonez cat or cat replacement pipe
Bonez or Pacesetter cat-back muffler
Paint job (original color)
Racing Beat lowering springs
Tokiko shocks
New carpet
New seats (e-bay Mazdaspeed?)
New dash pad cover
Re-cover door panels

- David

 

Looks pretty good. How much did you pay for the 7? Looks like its getting good care. God bless

 

I bought it off eBay a few months ago for $1,560, which was probably too much with all the work I've had to do and other stuff it needs. I've wanted one of these ever since they came out new, but my kids were small then and I couldn't afford one. I guess I'll keep this one for my grandaughter-- shes 15 month old now

- David

 

Looks nice.

 

Ya, that could be a little high because the carb problems and everything else. Overall though, it looks great

 

vary nice

 

Looking good man

 

Looks good!

 

excellent looking car david! i've always admired the LE's and had wanted one of my own. it pleases me to see that you've put the work into your car. keep up the good work!

 

That's quite a list of parts and repairs, a labor of love to do that much work and expense. Great job on bringing it back to life. It's nice to see a reasonably stock restoration, instead of widebody kits and big port motors. Seriously, I have a GSL that will get the same treatment one of the days.

 

takes a lot of discipline and maturity to do this and Trochoid is absolutely right, it's really nice to see this type of restoration as opposed to widebodies, outrageous turbos and plain-jane bastardizations.

 

I think you are doing a great job. Its great to know that the car is going to a home where it will be cared for. Congratulations on the buy, and welcome to the dark side.

 

Thanks for all the encouragement, guys!

I just wish there were more restoration things available. My son and I are working on a '66 mustang and there are literally hundresd of parts you can buy to make it look like stock, or anything else you want.

I plan to keep the 7 fairly stock until I have to go into the motor, then it's no-holds-barred!

I plan to do some suspension improvements, and possible set it up to run in one of the stock classes at SCCA events. There's a hill climb I'd like to do in the Blue Ridge mountains (near my home) next August.

- David

 

looks nice

 

WOW! Looks awesome! Hey man, update this thread as you work on it.

 

as far as restoration, there aren't many NOS parts that are re-pos. for oem stuff, try www.mazdatrix.com . the for sale/wanted forum here is a good source. also, ebay is ok. i am envious of your LE. its the one first gen i still have to have. one that i'll hang onto forever. i hope you do the same. great work!

 

hey thats really nice -keep up the good work is good to see an nice origanal example

 

Nice find...keep up the good work...A long time ago I remember a friend had one of these cars and he showed up with the wheel lip polished..If you get done with all your other things you got planned to do, try an experiment and see if you car polish the wheel lip on those wheels...I don't know how he did it, but I do remember that it looked really nice when he did it..Maybe taking the wheel off and try it on the inside of the wheel as a first step..You might have to use paint stripper or something that strong...Just an idea......

 

The wheels are two-piece aluminum. When I got the car, they were painted silver and the paint was chipped. I assumed they came from the factory like that so I cleaned them and re-painted with wheel silver paint. When that gets to looking crappy, I may take the paint off and try polishing the lip.

- David