Cam's 1988 RX7 SE Project Thread
04-26-10, 08:03 PM
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Cam's 1988 RX7 SE Project Thread
This is reposted from japanesenostalgiccar.com. The story so far:
4/15/10
I just picked this up today, it's a 1988 Mazda RX7 SE from Marco Island, Florida. She's got a five-speed, air conditioning, and a sunroof. Perfect summer cruiser! Being extra clean with 66,086 miles helps, too.
I only have this one picture now; I'll be sure to take more tomorrow!
4/16/10
Most of today consisted of a mahoosive rainstorm, so I didn't get to take any pictures, but tomorrow will bring much sunshine and a chance to wash, claybar, buff, seal and wax my new baby's finish. I haven't picked out a name for her yet, but I have taken to calling her "cocaine" intermittently, since she's from South Florida, pure white, and quite addictive. :P This morning, I took her for emissions testing, which she passed with flying colours. While at the shop I called up the local auto parts store and had them set aside some stuff for me. After work, I went home and met my friend Matt, who showed up riding his JNM (I'll post pics later, when it's sunny). We changed the oil and topped off the power steering fluid. All the other fluids look good, but tomorrow I'm taking it up to the Lube Stop (where Matt works) for a swap to full synthetic in the gearbox and rearend. :tu:
4/17/10
More rain today...it seems this happens every time I buy a car. I brought my work home with me, so to speak...I loaded the back of the RX7 with a full arsenal of detailing supplies, and hopefully the weather will be nice enough to do a full detail tomorrow. I'll be sure to take pictures every step of the way and post up a tutorial for you guys.
This morning I stopped by my friend's Lube Stop and had him swap the tranny fluid and diff over to full synthetic. Good thing, too, since apparently the PO topped the gearbox off with ATF :shock: and there was water in the differential fluid.
My favourite nephew's staying with me this evening; his parents are giving him an '08 Mazda 3 when he gets his license next month. After a ride in Uncle Cam's hot rod, he was hooked...should I let him drive it?
At the very least, I'll have to teach him how to autocross this summer. We'll be a Mazda racing team, hahaha.
See you tomorrow! :tu:
4/18/10
Not really much of an update today. It was about 44 degrees all day, so I didn't wash the car. :cry: However I did visit my girlfriend in the city.
My girlfriend's not a car person, ya dig? She is entirely not used to going out with a celebrity (and its owner). This car seems to draw crowds wherever it goes, along with a bevvy of compliments. I'm a proud papa, hehehe. Anyhow, I have a strict "no-food-in-the-car" rule (don't we all?) but I broke it just this once. The little Thai doggy bag just fit so perfectly in the coin tray:
Heh, pink tights. Must be Gram Lights. More tomorrow!
4/15/10
I just picked this up today, it's a 1988 Mazda RX7 SE from Marco Island, Florida. She's got a five-speed, air conditioning, and a sunroof. Perfect summer cruiser! Being extra clean with 66,086 miles helps, too.
I only have this one picture now; I'll be sure to take more tomorrow!4/16/10
Most of today consisted of a mahoosive rainstorm, so I didn't get to take any pictures, but tomorrow will bring much sunshine and a chance to wash, claybar, buff, seal and wax my new baby's finish. I haven't picked out a name for her yet, but I have taken to calling her "cocaine" intermittently, since she's from South Florida, pure white, and quite addictive. :P This morning, I took her for emissions testing, which she passed with flying colours. While at the shop I called up the local auto parts store and had them set aside some stuff for me. After work, I went home and met my friend Matt, who showed up riding his JNM (I'll post pics later, when it's sunny). We changed the oil and topped off the power steering fluid. All the other fluids look good, but tomorrow I'm taking it up to the Lube Stop (where Matt works) for a swap to full synthetic in the gearbox and rearend. :tu:
4/17/10
More rain today...it seems this happens every time I buy a car. I brought my work home with me, so to speak...I loaded the back of the RX7 with a full arsenal of detailing supplies, and hopefully the weather will be nice enough to do a full detail tomorrow. I'll be sure to take pictures every step of the way and post up a tutorial for you guys.
This morning I stopped by my friend's Lube Stop and had him swap the tranny fluid and diff over to full synthetic. Good thing, too, since apparently the PO topped the gearbox off with ATF :shock: and there was water in the differential fluid.
My favourite nephew's staying with me this evening; his parents are giving him an '08 Mazda 3 when he gets his license next month. After a ride in Uncle Cam's hot rod, he was hooked...should I let him drive it?
At the very least, I'll have to teach him how to autocross this summer. We'll be a Mazda racing team, hahaha. See you tomorrow! :tu:
4/18/10
Not really much of an update today. It was about 44 degrees all day, so I didn't wash the car. :cry: However I did visit my girlfriend in the city.
My girlfriend's not a car person, ya dig? She is entirely not used to going out with a celebrity (and its owner). This car seems to draw crowds wherever it goes, along with a bevvy of compliments. I'm a proud papa, hehehe. Anyhow, I have a strict "no-food-in-the-car" rule (don't we all?) but I broke it just this once. The little Thai doggy bag just fit so perfectly in the coin tray:
Heh, pink tights. Must be Gram Lights. More tomorrow!
04-26-10, 08:03 PM
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Now is finally the time for a long-awaited update...
I pulled the car into the garage to remove these awful door edge guards. They peeled off rather easily but left behind a ton of adhesive. Even with a hairdryer and Goo-Gone it still took nearly two hours per door to get all of the adhesive off, inside and out.
Sadly, four days into ownership someone somehow broke my tail light lens, so as soon as I can I'm going to upgrade to Series 5 tail lights.
I also discovered that the fuel leak was the result of a faulty pulsation damper, so the car was parked until I replaced it. I started tearing things apart with a friend, and discovered a bunch of hoses that needed replacing.
I also discovered another nasty surprise. It looks like a golem came in my airbox.
I did take the opportunity to push the car outside and wash it, so as I wait for parts I am detailing it as well. I'm going for the works: claybar, polish, seal, and a coat of wax. I am documenting it with photos and I will post a tutorial when I'm done.
Oh, and I installed new windshield wipers. :P
I pulled the car into the garage to remove these awful door edge guards. They peeled off rather easily but left behind a ton of adhesive. Even with a hairdryer and Goo-Gone it still took nearly two hours per door to get all of the adhesive off, inside and out.
Sadly, four days into ownership someone somehow broke my tail light lens, so as soon as I can I'm going to upgrade to Series 5 tail lights.
I also discovered that the fuel leak was the result of a faulty pulsation damper, so the car was parked until I replaced it. I started tearing things apart with a friend, and discovered a bunch of hoses that needed replacing.
I also discovered another nasty surprise. It looks like a golem came in my airbox.
I did take the opportunity to push the car outside and wash it, so as I wait for parts I am detailing it as well. I'm going for the works: claybar, polish, seal, and a coat of wax. I am documenting it with photos and I will post a tutorial when I'm done.
Oh, and I installed new windshield wipers. :P
04-26-10, 09:49 PM
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I'm sorry, guys...I haven't always been an RX7 guy but I have ALWAYS loved the S5 tails. I will keep the S4s around if I decide to go back to stock, though. 
04-27-10, 01:36 PM
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Im liking this :] i have same car. trying to make the SE work. lol
My build is on hold unfortunatly :\ I was in the process of getting ready to swap motor and tranny but my girls family is coming for a weeeeeeeek!! .....fack.
My build is on hold unfortunatly :\ I was in the process of getting ready to swap motor and tranny but my girls family is coming for a weeeeeeeek!! .....fack.
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. I have to agree with the 'stay S4 tails' crowd, but hey, it's your car. Keep up the good work 
.
04-27-10, 03:34 PM
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I am going to miss the phone dials when I go to five-lug. ;_; I will probably rock them on the B210 I'm getting soon.
Thanks for the kind words everybody!
05-15-10, 12:22 AM
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Okay, update time.
Today I focused on the interior while I wait for the gasket remover to start working. It's softening up the intake manifold gasket slowly but surely, and I hope to have it gone by Sunday. I was missing the rubber covers for the clutch and brake pedals, and the accelerator pedal was quite worn. In lieu of cool aluminum pedal covers, I decided on grip tape and visited a skate shop owned by a friend. He drives a WRX and hooked me up. Here's the result:
I also spent a fair amount of time scraping the bubbled window tint strip off the top six inches of the windscreen, as it was hampering my ability to see stoplights. The rest of the tint has held up fairly well, but after 22 years it's turned an unfortunate shade of purple and will be replaced later this summer. It took me about five hours off and on but the result, after polishing, is well worth it. "I can see clearly now, the tint is gone..."
Back inside, I hung my Choro-Q FC3S from the mirror. I've been collecting Choro-Qs for a few years now; surprisingly this is my first RX-7 (I have nearly every variation of Skyline, though).
I also decided to finally do something about that broken tail light lens. My girlfriend had printed up and is selling some stickers of cat popsicles; I used one to cover up the hole and hopefully keep water out. Now, instead of getting pissed off when I see the crack, I smile.
My nephew got his license today. Mazda tov!
Today I focused on the interior while I wait for the gasket remover to start working. It's softening up the intake manifold gasket slowly but surely, and I hope to have it gone by Sunday. I was missing the rubber covers for the clutch and brake pedals, and the accelerator pedal was quite worn. In lieu of cool aluminum pedal covers, I decided on grip tape and visited a skate shop owned by a friend. He drives a WRX and hooked me up. Here's the result:
I also spent a fair amount of time scraping the bubbled window tint strip off the top six inches of the windscreen, as it was hampering my ability to see stoplights. The rest of the tint has held up fairly well, but after 22 years it's turned an unfortunate shade of purple and will be replaced later this summer. It took me about five hours off and on but the result, after polishing, is well worth it. "I can see clearly now, the tint is gone..."
Back inside, I hung my Choro-Q FC3S from the mirror. I've been collecting Choro-Qs for a few years now; surprisingly this is my first RX-7 (I have nearly every variation of Skyline, though).
I also decided to finally do something about that broken tail light lens. My girlfriend had printed up and is selling some stickers of cat popsicles; I used one to cover up the hole and hopefully keep water out. Now, instead of getting pissed off when I see the crack, I smile.
My nephew got his license today. Mazda tov!
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