Pics of your Convertible!
#651
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#654
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I know you asked a couple specific questions, but it was actually in storage a couple different times.
My wife's parents bought this car for her in 1989 as a college graduation present. Unfortunately, they didn't realize it was a manual transmission - which neither my wife nor anyone else in her family knew how to drive (!). And I was in Alaska in the Air Force and she joined me right after she graduated from college. Not a great place for a convertible rear-wheel drive vehicle. So we stored it my in-laws' garage from early 1990 - 1994. We drove it a few hundred miles each summer, but by 1994 it still had less than 3,000 miles. Took it out of storage when I moved to DC to drive as daily driver from 1994 - 1996, then put back in storage with about 15,000 miles when I changed jobs (required more of a commute). Sat in storage from 1996 - 1999 when I left Air Force and moved to NJ (and my commute became very short). From 1999-2003, I used the car as our third car, mostly in summer. Drove it until 2003, putting about another 15,000 miles on the car from 1999-2003. Then put it back in storage until now. So, that would be 10 years in storage this time.
Car is mostly stock, except for a few changes I made in mid 2001: new head unit, MBQuart speakers all around behind factory grills (headrest speakers stock and controls still work appropriately), removed spare tire and replaced with subwoofer enclosure and amp underneath cover, installed very good security system with lots of options and replaced exhaust with Racing Beat cat back.
Also took off the BBS valve stem covers and replaced with generic chrome covers since it seems the BBS ones magically disappear .
That's the car's life story. It is at mechanic now, who is going to attempt to hand crank and then start today. Will probably bring it back to Jersey in next few weeks (would be sooner, but business travel is interfering).
Will let everyone know (to the extent they care ) what happens in this journey to bring the car back to life!
#656
Sorry for late reply . . . been busy .
I know you asked a couple specific questions, but it was actually in storage a couple different times.
My wife's parents bought this car for her in 1989 as a college graduation present. Unfortunately, they didn't realize it was a manual transmission - which neither my wife nor anyone else in her family knew how to drive (!). And I was in Alaska in the Air Force and she joined me right after she graduated from college. Not a great place for a convertible rear-wheel drive vehicle. So we stored it my in-laws' garage from early 1990 - 1994. We drove it a few hundred miles each summer, but by 1994 it still had less than 3,000 miles. Took it out of storage when I moved to DC to drive as daily driver from 1994 - 1996, then put back in storage with about 15,000 miles when I changed jobs (required more of a commute). Sat in storage from 1996 - 1999 when I left Air Force and moved to NJ (and my commute became very short). From 1999-2003, I used the car as our third car, mostly in summer. Drove it until 2003, putting about another 15,000 miles on the car from 1999-2003. Then put it back in storage until now. So, that would be 10 years in storage this time.
Car is mostly stock, except for a few changes I made in mid 2001: new head unit, MBQuart speakers all around behind factory grills (headrest speakers stock and controls still work appropriately), removed spare tire and replaced with subwoofer enclosure and amp underneath cover, installed very good security system with lots of options and replaced exhaust with Racing Beat cat back.
Also took off the BBS valve stem covers and replaced with generic chrome covers since it seems the BBS ones magically disappear .
That's the car's life story. It is at mechanic now, who is going to attempt to hand crank and then start today. Will probably bring it back to Jersey in next few weeks (would be sooner, but business travel is interfering).
Will let everyone know (to the extent they care ) what happens in this journey to bring the car back to life!
I know you asked a couple specific questions, but it was actually in storage a couple different times.
My wife's parents bought this car for her in 1989 as a college graduation present. Unfortunately, they didn't realize it was a manual transmission - which neither my wife nor anyone else in her family knew how to drive (!). And I was in Alaska in the Air Force and she joined me right after she graduated from college. Not a great place for a convertible rear-wheel drive vehicle. So we stored it my in-laws' garage from early 1990 - 1994. We drove it a few hundred miles each summer, but by 1994 it still had less than 3,000 miles. Took it out of storage when I moved to DC to drive as daily driver from 1994 - 1996, then put back in storage with about 15,000 miles when I changed jobs (required more of a commute). Sat in storage from 1996 - 1999 when I left Air Force and moved to NJ (and my commute became very short). From 1999-2003, I used the car as our third car, mostly in summer. Drove it until 2003, putting about another 15,000 miles on the car from 1999-2003. Then put it back in storage until now. So, that would be 10 years in storage this time.
Car is mostly stock, except for a few changes I made in mid 2001: new head unit, MBQuart speakers all around behind factory grills (headrest speakers stock and controls still work appropriately), removed spare tire and replaced with subwoofer enclosure and amp underneath cover, installed very good security system with lots of options and replaced exhaust with Racing Beat cat back.
Also took off the BBS valve stem covers and replaced with generic chrome covers since it seems the BBS ones magically disappear .
That's the car's life story. It is at mechanic now, who is going to attempt to hand crank and then start today. Will probably bring it back to Jersey in next few weeks (would be sooner, but business travel is interfering).
Will let everyone know (to the extent they care ) what happens in this journey to bring the car back to life!
Good job on the minor but great upgrades and additions, you have a perfectly balanced vert. Please keep it the way it is, it's not too often clean RX7's are in near stock condition and still on the road.
I wish that all goes well on bringing it back to life and back on the road again.
#657
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Location: New Jersey
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Wow! That is a very interesting car life's story, it's been is storage more than driven almost and that is the best part about it.
Good job on the minor but great upgrades and additions, you have a perfectly balanced vert. Please keep it the way it is, it's not too often clean RX7's are in near stock condition and still on the road.
I wish that all goes well on bringing it back to life and back on the road again.
Good job on the minor but great upgrades and additions, you have a perfectly balanced vert. Please keep it the way it is, it's not too often clean RX7's are in near stock condition and still on the road.
I wish that all goes well on bringing it back to life and back on the road again.
On another note, I just got a call from the mechanic. After making sure the apex seals were lubricated, he cranked the ignition 6 times and it started right up. And that included having to figure out what setting the fuel-pump kill switch was in . I didn't remember which position was on/off and you can't even see it when throwing the switch, so no way to mark it. I could tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you . I might put a diagram in the car somewhere or just a piece of paper that says "forward = on"
So car is now running!
I told mechanic to put on rack and check for any obvious leaks and then start and run for an hour or so. Already dumped full tank of old gas and put fresh gas in before starting. Going to get new battery, new air filter, change oil/filter, check trans and diff fluid (redline just changed before storage, probably OK), check brake pads/rotors, check hoses and belts, replace spark plugs, check air conditioning and get working again . . . then I think I am ready to drive to New Jersey.
Anything else you guys can think of to check?
Last edited by NJAttyDave; 06-05-13 at 11:56 AM.
#661
Thanks very much. All the mods I made are easily reversed. I do have to say that there are some stunning cars in this thread that make the stock car look like a boring artifact. But I think I would rather put a healthy down payment on a different car than dump too much into my RX7. But that is just what I think now - if I keep looking at the pics in this thread, I could easily change my mind. Already thinking of adding the front lip to the car.
On another note, I just got a call from the mechanic. After making sure the apex seals were lubricated, he cranked the ignition 6 times and it started right up. And that included having to figure out what setting the fuel-pump kill switch was in . I didn't remember which position was on/off and you can't even see it when throwing the switch, so no way to mark it. I could tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you . I might put a diagram in the car somewhere or just a piece of paper that says "forward = on"
So car is now running!
I told mechanic to put on rack and check for any obvious leaks and then start and run for an hour or so. Already dumped full tank of old gas and put fresh gas in before starting. Going to get new battery, new air filter, change oil/filter, check trans and diff fluid (redline just changed before storage, probably OK), check brake pads/rotors, check hoses and belts, replace spark plugs, check air conditioning and get working again . . . then I think I am ready to drive to New Jersey.
Anything else you guys can think of to check?
On another note, I just got a call from the mechanic. After making sure the apex seals were lubricated, he cranked the ignition 6 times and it started right up. And that included having to figure out what setting the fuel-pump kill switch was in . I didn't remember which position was on/off and you can't even see it when throwing the switch, so no way to mark it. I could tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you . I might put a diagram in the car somewhere or just a piece of paper that says "forward = on"
So car is now running!
I told mechanic to put on rack and check for any obvious leaks and then start and run for an hour or so. Already dumped full tank of old gas and put fresh gas in before starting. Going to get new battery, new air filter, change oil/filter, check trans and diff fluid (redline just changed before storage, probably OK), check brake pads/rotors, check hoses and belts, replace spark plugs, check air conditioning and get working again . . . then I think I am ready to drive to New Jersey.
Anything else you guys can think of to check?
Good to hear your vert is up and running , more then likely the more you look at some coupes and verts on this site you might start the onslaught of aftermarket parts ha ha. It starts with one part and then the flood gates open . My vert even though not as clean as yours, started out as a stock na and now has a few aftermarket parts and a 13B t Swap.
Seems like you pretty much checked everything...ah! what about the fuses at the driver's kick panel he he. I would also look at the oil cooler hoses and the fuel pulsation dampener. Other then that you covered everything.
Cool. That is a good way to see what color looks bet on your vert.
#671
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: New Jersey
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Update - $500 later (to mechanic for bringing out of 10 years of storage) and car is back in NJ - drove back last weekend. Runs perfectly, looks as good as the day I put it away . Very happy.
Need new parking brake front cable (snapped) and am going to get a new head unit/nav double din radio. What do you guys recommend? None of them get perfect reviews, but I am leaning to the Pioneer units. Thoughts?
Need new parking brake front cable (snapped) and am going to get a new head unit/nav double din radio. What do you guys recommend? None of them get perfect reviews, but I am leaning to the Pioneer units. Thoughts?
Thanks very much. All the mods I made are easily reversed. I do have to say that there are some stunning cars in this thread that make the stock car look like a boring artifact. But I think I would rather put a healthy down payment on a different car than dump too much into my RX7. But that is just what I think now - if I keep looking at the pics in this thread, I could easily change my mind. Already thinking of adding the front lip to the car.
On another note, I just got a call from the mechanic. After making sure the apex seals were lubricated, he cranked the ignition 6 times and it started right up. And that included having to figure out what setting the fuel-pump kill switch was in . I didn't remember which position was on/off and you can't even see it when throwing the switch, so no way to mark it. I could tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you . I might put a diagram in the car somewhere or just a piece of paper that says "forward = on"
So car is now running!
I told mechanic to put on rack and check for any obvious leaks and then start and run for an hour or so. Already dumped full tank of old gas and put fresh gas in before starting. Going to get new battery, new air filter, change oil/filter, check trans and diff fluid (redline just changed before storage, probably OK), check brake pads/rotors, check hoses and belts, replace spark plugs, check air conditioning and get working again . . . then I think I am ready to drive to New Jersey.
Anything else you guys can think of to check?
On another note, I just got a call from the mechanic. After making sure the apex seals were lubricated, he cranked the ignition 6 times and it started right up. And that included having to figure out what setting the fuel-pump kill switch was in . I didn't remember which position was on/off and you can't even see it when throwing the switch, so no way to mark it. I could tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you . I might put a diagram in the car somewhere or just a piece of paper that says "forward = on"
So car is now running!
I told mechanic to put on rack and check for any obvious leaks and then start and run for an hour or so. Already dumped full tank of old gas and put fresh gas in before starting. Going to get new battery, new air filter, change oil/filter, check trans and diff fluid (redline just changed before storage, probably OK), check brake pads/rotors, check hoses and belts, replace spark plugs, check air conditioning and get working again . . . then I think I am ready to drive to New Jersey.
Anything else you guys can think of to check?