damn thats freaking clean!! thats a great find, good luck with the s5 swap ! damn your so lucky...

if you know of any other 7's out there for free hit me up

 

just curious... but why an s5 N/a swap?

 

Oh! I can't wait to paint my car white with the black trim!

 

Thats nice! The one i just got is the same color but needs paint. I'll paint it once i get all the bugs out. Not to mention all the broke stuff in it.

By the way I paid 425.00 for mine. The last owner couldnt get it running.

 

Yea Landon....why even waste your time w/ an S5 n/a swap.....or any n/a swap for that matter? (20b aside obviously). Unless of course you happen to have a free S5 n/a lying around, in which case I hate you.

So I couldnt get down to the south side of the bay this time around, car isn't back together anyway, she'll be ready next time...

 

Lmao....

 

Rofl, next best thing basically- $100 for the long block. That, and the fact that it's a quick easy switch, & I have little time w/ school starting back up to work on it, so I could get it up and running very quickly. My future goal for the car would be: (*sorry, first gen owner at heart alert*), peripheral port 13B, with S5 rotors, and weber down drafts. I know turbo/20B are going to be alot faster, but for the price, considering I'd do the porting, etc, it would be alot cheaper. Plus, bragging rights of having a PP'd motor. In any event, that's a little while down the road, but I do plan to do it =)

 

Damn kid! all these deals....maybe I need to move back home...

I hear ya, a P port 13b is nothin to scoff at, plus it'll sound like the car version of that rotary death cart you had, needless to say....AWSOME!

I just got the subframe back under Naomi so as soon as I find an grease cap for my TII halfshaft I should be able to get everything up and running. Hopefully you'll have this car back on the road so we can go tear up that road that starts w/ a "P" and shall go un named...

 

So, update. I rebuilt that S5 block, didn't port anything. Swapped it in, removed the emissions (sigh) for the ease of installing it, and it's running great! I converted from power to manual steering (had the lines cut, & pump removed, & w/ the engine out, when better of a time to swap racks), and got the factory sterio working. Also, got an acrylic sunroof, and put stock phone dials back on (HUGE 80s fanatic, lol)

Totally saved this car from the crusher, & it's my new daily. Couldn't be more pleased with the car! I'll get some updated pictures soon.

 

lol phone dials. I miss those...

 

Updated pictures:


A/C is installed!! Keep in mind that the AC was fully gutted before-- there wasn't a single component except for the remnants of wiring, the logicon, and the evaporator, and the evaporator had a hole in it! So ya, with a bit of luck (full AC system in a car in the yard, and an incognative yard salesmen only charging $60 for ALL the components, minus a line & compressor), and a guy a few towns over clearing out a storage unit for *free*, I got all the stuff for AC install on the cheap. While I had it all out, I put a new o-ring at each coupling joint, changed the expansion valve & dryer, re-weaterstripped the evaporator, for a more efficient heat transfer, and put in a re-man'd compressor (the used one I got, leaked at the seams).

Got a stock stereo from a friend, works great except for the cassette deck.


GXL seats, slightly tattered and torn, but better condition than the S4 highbacks. More comfortably 80s, too.






Got a set of phone dials, in decent condition clearcoat wise put on. Brand new tires. Traded out the cut factory springs for a set of those tanabe lowering springs.

Have a full exhaust awaiting install-- it's a RB header, i *think* an RB presilencer, 2 borla mufflers that resemble stock muffers, and a non-RB y pipe. Also got a full S5 intake manifold, upper & lower, to go w/ the S5 block.

Keep in mind, this car was all built from parts that I got for free/below average price, when I could. Total, I've got ~$1800 into the car. It's a great dependable daily now-- & That's what I'm after- just a semi base model, stock daily. I enjoy it, anyway.

Hope you've enjoyed the car's story, I'll get more pictures up as more parts are installed, such as the new exhaust & S5 intake system.

I even went as far as resoldering the CPU, warning light cluster, & replacing the bad relay in the wiper switch. Damn near everything works now!!

Have fun-

Landon

 

Nice ride, needs some body work, but so does mine, haha. Good find dude.

 

Ya, haha. I covered up the dent with an inconspicous "love" sticker =P. Going to buff it once it cools down a bit, I think that'll help the paint pop a bit more.

Cheers!

 

I got my car for free too! Some relatives asked my dad then my dad asked me and that's when I freaked out! 2 months later I'm driving it home from Michigan, stopped by NYC to show it off. Best gift in the world!!!

 

Updates!!

So, in the time passing- i found a non-powersteering AC bracket. Makes the engine bay look alot less half ***, & a lot more "hey, he knows what he's doing". Manual rack + PS bracket w/ no pump = hmmmm. Lol I'm sure you know what I'm getting at.

S5 intake manifold is installed, VDI & AUX auctuators run from DIP switches, air sourced from a factory smog pump. MANY THANKS to everyone on here who did write ups on this!

And finally got the new exhaust I was after-- RB header & presilencer, Borla catback. It's alot quieter! Almost factory quiet, but it's all strait through in the silencing department, so it does have that tasty rotary whine when you give it gas... yum.

picture time!


Found these on my computer, decided to upload. From the rebuild of the engine, in my garage. Fun times.





AC works! Condensation on low side line. I'm hoping to go back to R12 or Freeze12... the heat transfer coefficient of 134a is just... well no dice.

S5 intake, also got a stock airbox & "restored" it- got the OEM sticker attached, brand new mazda filter (for best filtration of air particles & best restriciton to flow. oh well

RB header, & sport model aluminum undertray

resoldered the warning cluster! all lights/clock works

UPGRADE- S4 early GXL wheel, leather wrapped. Sure, i'm one of the 1% that like this, but it goes w/ the 80s theme so well.

DIP switches

 

80s gadgets- 1988 radar detector (works, but not plugged in, as I doubt it would save me)

class of '86 cap pillow...

Car phone, soon to be mounted

1984 DaHon folding bicycle, I commute on this after I park her @ a local mall & ride to class. This was a garbage find, & was also free!
Up next- 1988 California front plate, cutting out the rust in the roof to weld in parts of a roof from a cancer free donar car, & other rust repair, then reinstall of the headliner. Also planning on shampooing the carpet, pulling the dash & fixing the air mode motor, etc. Rtek S4 NA computer is on the list as well... stay tuned!

Landon

 

nice, i need to find me a non ps bracket.

 

Awesome,
I nominate a neon greenshift **** w/ pink boot string to compliment your strut brace paint scheme

 

Some time's gone by, last time I posted here it was almost the end of October, it's now mid April! Here's what's new:


Converted back to a true R12 system, using Freeze12 refridgerant gas. Definitely a noticeable improvement, considering I still have the old "designed for R12" Condenser and Evaporator in there!


Added the Turbo/Automatic condenser E-fan, & it's wired up to turn on when the compressor engages. This helps keep the vent temperatures lower at stop lights.


The block off caps I bought @ Discount Auto Parts always dried out & cracked after only a few months... Here you can see I machined my own out of delrin. This is the intake for the AWS, and that has been removed.


So long, phone dials! I got these Enkei 92's off Craigslist for $250 with tires. They're only 14x6.5's, but I've been after these wheels since 2005 when I let my set go that was on my 85 RX7 (pic below)


Said previous FB


Got an Aluminum hood off a vert in the junkyard!! Got the hinges too, but haven't had *that* much time to pull the fenders & install, so they're just sitting in the garage for now.


S4 aero mirrors!! They're hooked up & working too, pics following:


Power Mirror switch in non-power mirror consule.. This way I can still keep my yoyo holder...


Said yoyo holder. =)


Wiring which had to be lengthened so the switch could be further forward.


Got this center consule out of the yard, as always the plastic "U" clip was broken, made my own out of homedepot aluminum bar!



Total, since obtaining this car for free in November, 2009, I've spend about $3300 on it, not including fuel or insurance. I tried hard to deal hunt, and only bought stuff if I got a real good price on it, or was in desperate need of it. I've learned alot, and made some money along the way in the means of fixing some of the local guy's wiper switches and reflowing CPUs & warning light clusters. There's little that's yet to be turned over.. Right now the only things that still dont work are: Cassette tape player, Reverse light/shift up light (missing the 5th/reverse switch completely), 2 or 3 light builbs in the graphic equalizer, and the lightbuilb that displays the mode in the logicon. The car also is on blown shocks, is missing a front sway bar bushing entirely (desperate cry for a full re-do of the car's bushings), and has a hefty CLUNK every time I shift, due to a front diff mount made of botchly welded square bar steel, done by the previous owners "friends".

I've put 10K miles on it, regularly get 22mpg (driving like a prius owner, though . lol ) and have only been stranded once, when a coolant hose ruptured on me. Like I said it's been such a fun car to own, and I'm kindof saddened that I've nearly completely restored it, as there's not much left to do. Thanks for reading, hope I can inspire someone else to save another one of these crappily awesome 80s cars

 

More pictures:


Obtained all the cruise equipment from a friends car, before he sold it. Cruise now works.


KEY HOLE ILLUMINATION!! I got an FB05 CPU from the vert that donated the red hood in the junkyard. Reflowed it, however the seat belt/lights on warning beeper didn't work!! My old FB01 beeper did... Solution: De-solder all the circuit components that control key hole illumination, & solder them into the FB01 board. I now have a board that was FB01 from 1988-2011, and is FB05 2011-on... LOL. Just have to install the light in the driverside door handle keyhole, the +/- leads sheared off & must be resoldered.


Idiot cluster still all working (bottom left is for E-fan, I've got an SE manual so I don't have that light), finally got a blue surround for it.


I installed a closed-loop indication flasher LED in the gauge cluster... Keep this flashing & MPG's aren't too bad. I coast alot & rarely mash on it, I'm getting 20 mpg CITY WITH a/c!!


Light when off. It is a bit distracting at night though lol


S4 aero wing


S4 Aero rear wheel difusers


Didn't go with the front S4 aero because A) he lost the driver side piece & B) I have a 626 Lip


Car in all its glory


Interior pic. Note how blue & clean the carpet is! I pulled the dash & scrubbed it down w/ soap & a hard bristle brush, then pressure washed it, then dyed it with "Royal Blue" RIT dye.


New hatch, with 80s anti rust stickers, and fresh tint.


Pass side. Carpet is like new!!!

 

After the CPU reflow months back, my security started working, HOWEVER, I'd cut the wires to the driver side door handle when I installed it days after obtaining the car. So, the security always went off when opening the car. My "bandaid" fix was removing the security computer. Well, I finally found white door handles, with the security wires in-tact. Re-wired it up, & put the computer back in... Bam, working security system.




Hatch carpet was also removed, scrubbed & pressure washed. The color came out OK so I didn't need to dye it.


Here's the carpet right after pulling it out of the car... & me in all my nerdy-ness


And here's a low-dollar cellphone picture of the carpet right after the first wash after being dyed


Interior with everything removed. While it was out, I added a air mode motor that I got from the junkyard. Now my AC/heat comes out where I want, Face, feet, or defrost, + all the half/half combos. Before I just had the motor disconnected & the thing zip tyed in face mode, lol.


1984 Dahon Folding bike, I keep in the hatch and ride it to class parking at an off campus mall. Found the bike in the dumpster, yet another free, sweet, 80s whip


My roommate Joey is a grand welder, & welded in these 2 patches that I cut out of a parts car. No more rust, & the car's ALOT quieter on the highway now, lol


Here's the patches after being primed. I never got further on the body work than this, but one day I'd like to grind the welds down & repaint, I just don't have much time with school & the yoyo thing to be doing all this car body work. One day, though!

 

Information overload!
glad to see u haven't been stackin theses past few months, even if you have been withholding updates. Don't get discouraged there is always more to be done, suspension, seats, wiring prettyfication lol

 

LOL ya the wiring is terrible.. That's something I wouldn't mind doing. I'd also like to pressure wash the engine compartment. Will keep working!

 

hey i have a set of good working shocks and springs, lmk if you wanna buy em, im pretty local.

 

Here's the car as of september, 2011. I'll need to take some more recent pictures. Found a really nice & clean set of T2 seats and some MINT S4 tails on craiglist.