I went to Madison, WI a couple of days ago to look at ckyguy's 1987 GXL and ended up buying it. He was a great guy to work with, and even picked me up from the Greyhound station, thanks again bro.

She's a little rough around the edges, but most of it is stuff I've had experience repairing, so it's coming along nicely now. The rust is the biggest problem, but I"m trying a new method using chicken wire coated with bondo, with triple expanding hardening foam filling it, then fiberglass, and bondo to smooth out the contours. It seems to be working pretty well so far and I don't think it'll give me too many problems in the coming years as long as I take care of it.

As far as mechanical condition, it has 105,xxx miles on it an is running pretty well. The idle missing occasionally, and you can push the car when the e-brake isn't engaged (the ebrake doesn't hold on hills either), and the AC needs a recharge. All the power options work except the lighted exterior lock, and the passenger window needs a track cleaning. She starts up perfectly cold, and on the 6 stops I made back on the 4 1/2 hour trip she started up warm every time without hesitation of any kind.

I took a few quick pictures before I locked it in the garage.

Here's the front, looking scary:


Huge *** exhaust (doesn't sound too loud though and the left side needs to be straightened):


Here's the interior after I cleaned it out and applied some Mcquier's:


What the engine looked like when I got it:


And what it looks like now after I got bored waiting for fiberglass to dry:

 

And here's a couple of work in progress pictures:




I've applied most of the fiberglass except for a few small patches in the rear section, and I should have the area fully filled and sanded by Monday night so I can paint Tuesday. I'm holding off on the passenger side, which isn't nearly as bad (the only hole is on the section under the door) until more time becomes available. The rear needs new brakes too.

I'll post more pics as soon as I can stuff done.

 

clean ride. looks nice. what did you use to clean the engine bay?

 

The engine bay clean up is excellent!!!! Nice work

Castrol super clean?

 

Wow, the engine bay pics look FANTASTIC.

Any tips for cleaning the engine bay like yours? I'm thinking about doing it, but don't look forward to taking 3/4 of the **** off to clean the engine bay paint etc.

Looks GREAT though, good luck with'er!

 

wow, the engine bay got hella cleaned... nice job, I just picked up my vert from montgomery w/Bridge_Ported, I love my car; he was impressed at the good deal I got. It is in process of the TII swap with some goodies, good looking car and good luck.

 

Damn... and I thought that word was LONG since played out...

Guess not

 

Looks nice! And yeah, the engine clean up looks terrific!

 

damn, I'm becoming my father using lame terms in attempt to be cool

*crying to myself*

 

haha, not pickin on you dude, just get this thought in my head of this one ricer one day, EVERY OTHER WORD was hella. Drove me up the wall.

 

Ok... sorry to stray the thread off-topic.

What did you use on the plastic to get it to shine so well. I tried using my mcguier(sp?)'s wipes, but they dont work so good.

 

yeah man, your engine bay looks damn clean especially from compared to the before picture... what's your secret???

 

yea man great job what did you use for your engine bay and what kind of exhaust is on there

 

Hehe, the engine bay was just a side project too. It's pretty easy though, just takes alot of elbow grease.

Here's what I used:
- Coral Blue water based degreaser ($2.99 @ Walmart)
- small dish brush, stiff bristle
- large dish brush, softer bristle
- McQuier's Plastic and Rubber conditioner ($7.99 at target, in the spray bottle)
- bucket of water
- lots of rags

The process is pretty simple, and the 13b isn't bad at all compared to my Honda's engine.

1.) Spray some Coral Blue on the soft bristle brush and work out the grease. I usually go around the perimeter of the bay, and get the hood, then go around in a circle and inwards until you end up in the center. Use the stiff birstle to get in those little places or any spots that are too tough for the other brush.

2.) As you go along, every foot or so of engine oyu do, get one of your rags damp with the water in the bucket and wipe up the gunk the brush left. Dunk the brush in the bucket to get it cleaned a bit.

3.) Use a dry rag after the damp one does it's job to get any excess.

4.) Let everything dry for ~ an hour.

5.) Use the McQuier's as you normally would on the interior.

It takes awhile, but it's worth it. Just make sure you're very careful around your electric components like connectors and the coilpacks. DO NOT get McQuier's on the belts, you'll regret it forever, lol.

I'm going nuts at work here, I want to get home and work on my baby

I got a pretty good deal too. GXL, 105k miles, new tires, clutch and unknown name exhaust for $2,000.

 

Just be aware it will look good until the rust comes back - and it will rear its head in much larger spots than you are filling right now.

To do it right - the rust needs to be removed, PERIOD. But it will probably look good for awhile.

 

Yeah, I'd have to weld on new body panels, which is something I"m not willing to do right now. It's fiberglassed over, so it should be awhile as long as I keep it waxed.

The front quarters are going to be replaced when I can find some suitable ones.

I'm trying to plan out the car-puter right now, that's going to be a blast.

 

Car-puter?

 

those are some big fart cans

 

That they are. A little bigger then I would prefer, but they aren't rusted, and they don't sound ricey (although I need to check the exhaust gaskets to see if the rumbly sound is coming from underneath and not through the cans).

 

Good work , I love the before and after engine shots.

Have fun!

keep us updated!

 

Well, that makes me the only rx-7 owner I know in Sun Prairie...I think Sean said the mufflers were HKS if your wondering.

Anywho the engine bay looks nice...I wish I had the patients to do that to my TII.

Good luck, and have fun!!

 

I did a bit more work today and it's looking much better. She really needs new rear pads, which are going in tomarrow. The passenger's side is next, and hopefully I can get that exhaust hung straight.

In a week I'll be able to whip out the polishing compound and get the finish nice and shiny.

 

wow, looks good man.

Oh... and your exhaust is crooked.

 

daaamn, that looks so smooth

 

Looks great !