Upgraded the GTUs...
08-20-08, 05:49 PM
#1
Upgraded the GTUs...
I bought this RX-7 about six months ago--non-running, with a dead-battery and flat tires. My buddy found it sitting on the side of the road outside of a small repair-shop. Anyways, he talked to the owner of the shop who said that HE took ownership of the RX-7 after discovering that the GTUs had a blown engine and the original owner couldn't afford payment for past-services.
I went down there the next day and paid the guy $1000 cash, and had his tow-service tow it to my house. I popped in a spare-engine, refreshed the engine appropriately, cleaned the interior and restored the paint. My intention was to simply "flip" the GTUs, but after a week behind the wheel I was hooked.
With higher gas-prices looming, and a busy summer-work schedule, I decided to scrap my major "big turbo" build-up. I sold several thousand dollars worth of parts, sold my spare chassis and started daily-driving the GTUs.
This was it's condition after I finished restoring it:
I went down there the next day and paid the guy $1000 cash, and had his tow-service tow it to my house. I popped in a spare-engine, refreshed the engine appropriately, cleaned the interior and restored the paint. My intention was to simply "flip" the GTUs, but after a week behind the wheel I was hooked.
With higher gas-prices looming, and a busy summer-work schedule, I decided to scrap my major "big turbo" build-up. I sold several thousand dollars worth of parts, sold my spare chassis and started daily-driving the GTUs.This was it's condition after I finished restoring it:
08-20-08, 05:50 PM
#2
Since finishing the restoration in June, I've added some cool new parts.
~Series 5 Turbo front-lip
~Series 5 Turbo side-skirts
~JDM GAB-Sports REVO coilovers *rare and awesome*
~JDM Infini model wheels with 1" hub-centric spacers in the rear
~JDM Power-folding mirrors
~JDM FTP's
~JDM side-marker lenses
~OEM Fog-lights with OEM center-console switch
~Modernized Series 5 "EURO" taillight assembly (notice the center-section)
~Racing Beat S/S exhaust (cat-back and down-pipe)
I also installed a pretty nice stereo system with a storage-bin mounted Kicker Solo-Baric 8" subwoofer (very clean, custom "box" and a locking lid) and 6 other nice speakers mounted in the stock locations, along with two amps cleanly installed in the other (locking) storage bin.
Overall I'm pretty happy with my latest "FC creation" and I'll be tearing down the engine in early October for a refresh and a street-port.
Now it looks like this (excuse the crappy 2.0 megapixel camera shots):
~Series 5 Turbo front-lip
~Series 5 Turbo side-skirts
~JDM GAB-Sports REVO coilovers *rare and awesome*
~JDM Infini model wheels with 1" hub-centric spacers in the rear
~JDM Power-folding mirrors
~JDM FTP's
~JDM side-marker lenses
~OEM Fog-lights with OEM center-console switch
~Modernized Series 5 "EURO" taillight assembly (notice the center-section)
~Racing Beat S/S exhaust (cat-back and down-pipe)
I also installed a pretty nice stereo system with a storage-bin mounted Kicker Solo-Baric 8" subwoofer (very clean, custom "box" and a locking lid) and 6 other nice speakers mounted in the stock locations, along with two amps cleanly installed in the other (locking) storage bin.
Overall I'm pretty happy with my latest "FC creation" and I'll be tearing down the engine in early October for a refresh and a street-port.
Now it looks like this (excuse the crappy 2.0 megapixel camera shots):
08-20-08, 06:34 PM
#6
I was gonna edit my comment, but got here too late for the ninja edit.
I really like how you took a lot of OEM + JDM stuff and made it look so sleek. I thought those were 'vert wheels, but went and read again and looked closer at the centercaps since the tuck was close. I was thinking "that's pretty close for 15's" lol. It's very tasteful and aggressive without looking "boy racer". Nice job!
I really like how you took a lot of OEM + JDM stuff and made it look so sleek. I thought those were 'vert wheels, but went and read again and looked closer at the centercaps since the tuck was close. I was thinking "that's pretty close for 15's" lol. It's very tasteful and aggressive without looking "boy racer". Nice job!
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08-20-08, 07:37 PM
#8
Thanks fella's. Yeah, my goal with this car was something less aggressive. I've built three of my last five RX-7's with the Mazdaspeed lip, so I wanted to try for something more OEM + in the front-end department. Not only that, the JDM folding mirrors are also in many ways more subtle than the OEM s5 (vented) mirrors. Everything else, including the euro-tails and Racing Beat exhaust wouldn't really be noticed by the average bystander unless pointed out.
08-20-08, 08:28 PM
#11
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That is definitely a sight to see. It's a beautiful car, man. Great job with the restoration. It's something I'd love to have one day.
By the way, any info on the white FC?
By the way, any info on the white FC?
08-20-08, 08:51 PM
#13
08-20-08, 10:38 PM
#16
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Beautiful. I remember when you posted this car up a couple months ago for sale. I was tempted to sell my S5 T2 then use that money to fly from NY to Seattle to buy this car.
My situation remains moreorless the same- if you ever consider selling this, I GET FIRST DIBS!
Kudos for excellent work on a fine car.
My situation remains moreorless the same- if you ever consider selling this, I GET FIRST DIBS!
Kudos for excellent work on a fine car.
08-21-08, 02:05 AM
#20
And to answer your question Turbo II Rotor, the motor's inside my particular driver's-side mirror seem to be somewhat worn out... You can hear it 'whirring', but the mirror just kind of bucks/pops and it refuses to go any farther outward. Basically I had to put that little convex mirror in there to help out, lol. I don't really mind it though.
Yeah firzen, I remember talking to you about the car...
Either way, I'll let you know if it's ever back on the market. You definitely have earned first dibs, haha.I appreciate the comments and compliments! I can't really think of what else to do to the GTUs other than maybe some small spacers for the front wheels--and I have a rear camber-adjustment bar on the way... Other than that.
Maybe tint the fog-lights yellow? Tint the windows? Lightened flywheel?Definitely need to get some better pics up though.
The older brother sports the vert BBS's:
