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Just did a 1200 mile road trip in the Appalachin mountains
1995 Popular Equipment Package, basically stock except for JDM downpipe, RB catback, Koyo radiator and FC thermoswitch. 56k on the clock after the road trip, original engine with vac job and full cooling system replacement (all hoses and reservoirs changed).
Car did great. I drove with the A/C on almost the whole time (car has factory R134a A/C) except early in the morning when it was cool out. It never overheated (well, the stock gauge never went past the middle, so it's at least stayed under 230F). Did a lot of twisty back roads driving with the A/C on turning 5000+ rpm. Oil consumption was significant (went through about 2 quarts over the trip) but I guess that's to be expected with OMP working and older oil seals. I went from Michigan through Ohio to West Virginia, then through Kentucky and back. Considering it was over 90F out over the weekend I'd say it held up well.
Here's just a couple quick pics, one stopped at a gas station parking lot in southern Ohio and one pic from Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky.
Very nice!
I thought the original AC was R12. When I put in a rebuild, I took extra time so I didn't break the seal on my original R12 system.
Still blows ice cold air in mine.
Original AC is R12 but not on 1995 models and maybe some late production 1994. It's a pretty rare thing, but a good advantage of the 1995's. It works well but in stop and go it's not as good as when you have a lot of air over the condenser. I'm not sure how it compares to a good condition R12 system. It also puts a noticeable drag on the engine; as I've pointed out in other threads, this is partly because the FD is old and doesn't have an electronic throttle to automatically compensate for it. A/C's in general have gotten a lot better over the years.
Originally Posted by Narfle
Cool drive. That's beautiful country. Any thoughts about the JDM downpipe compared to stock?
I'm very happy with it. You can't beat OEM heat shields. It's like a normal car inside. You can feel a very slight amount of heat if you push down on the shift boot (got new ones of those too) but nothing like an unwrapped steel aftermarket pipe, which is basically a toaster or spaceheater on your right leg as you drive.
As for pics, I've got a few. Among other places I went to Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest, which also has this naturally formed stone bridge. I went to Mammoth Cave as well as the Corvette museum, and a wild life reserve in southern Ohio. This one below is from Crown City Wildlife Area in southern Ohio:
This is from the natural bridge in Daniel Boone National Forest in KY
This is me eating Chicken and Sweet Potato waffle at a place in Louisville KY , with an English Ale.
That's really beautiful. My wife and daughter go to Louisville pretty much every year for some horse thing, but I've never been there. That bridge is pretty cool and the food... Mmmmm. Only down south would you get sweet potato waffle and fried chicken.
There are tons of twisty roads in KY that don't have a lot of cars on them. If you've got time, skip the interstates. I took routes US 52, US 23, state roads 9009, 15, and 715.
715 is fun. The speed limit is 35mph and it's honestly tough to maintain that. The road is narrow, about a lane and a half. It can barely fit two cars side by side. It reminded me of the Stelvio pass in that way, although the scenery is much different.
cool!
when I bought my 93 touring it was stock with 37k miles and I had to drive 1100 miles to get it home from Dallas, TX to Detroit, MI.
First time driving a 3rd gen and having out of state plates and being hispanic made me very paranoid of police so I drove the speed limit the whole way with cruise control most of the time, only stopping for gas/food/bathroom. I got as high as 27mpg on a particular long stretch of highway between fillups! Never to be replicated again...
Love threads like this. Properly modded and maintained FDs aren’t nearly as fragile as everyone seems to think. Some years back I drove mine 8 hrs to and from the Rockies with 3 days of mountain drives in between and it never missed a lick.
We've got some great driving roads in the mountains down here. I drove mine to the top of the smoky mountains national park and hiked a few weeks back. The car did fine except I wish I'd had AC!
I know a lot of people see this area at DGRR but y'all should message me if you ever go driving in the smokies in TN. I'd be happy to point out some good roads and see some other RX-7s
When I bought my 94 7 years ago I bought it from a guy in SanJose Cal.. I flew down and drove it back to Post Falls Idaho Non Stop I didn't have a lick of trouble with the car. It had 91000 plus miles with 10000 on re-manufactured motor. I have made three or four 1000+ mile trips over the years to various places and it usually gets 20 plus MPG and uses minimal oil. Guess what it is completely stock !!
No complaints other than I am 66 years old and it is getting harder and harder to get in and out of LOL !!
Awesome. I love seeing threads like this. Glad you are enjoying her. I am planning on doing the same with mine very soon. Not sure if I want to trailer her up north or just drive it yet though.
06-18-18, 09:20 AM
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