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93 RX7: The Project from hell!!!

Well since I am new to the rotary world and also this forum I am going to start a thread showing how I took my car from trash to treasure. I have always been a Honda guy and figure that now that I am getting older I should have a car more my age. My dream cars have always been...

1) Acura NSX...Most likely will never be able to afford this one though.
2) 93-98 Toyota Supra....Very unlikely
3) 93-95 Mazda RX7...Dream obtained(might become a nightmare though).

So I found my RX7 in brownsville and made a family trip to get it ( of course you know the wife was just overjoyed to go with me). I got rid of my mint condition 2000 Honda Civic with just about everything you can do to a honda done already. Very nice car just scared to get it stolen wherever I went. I know that this is a major project and it is not cheap to own one of these but I plan on only using maybe once or twice a week and never more than 100 miles at a time. Well here is some information on how I got it:

Street Ported engine with 3mm Apex seals
-99 Efini twin turbos
-Scoot Carbon Fiber Hood (hood needs re-clear)
-Vis Racing Carbon Fiber hatch
-Border fenders
-C-West body kit (front bumper needs work)
-Orange cooper type paint
-Stock chrome wheels
-99 turn signals
-PFC w/ commander
-aluminum AST
-Greddy Trust intakes

Plans in some type of order:

- Replace radiator with Aluminum Radiator and new fans.
- INSTALL STOCK FENDERS....
- Install C-West rear bumper
- have front bumper repaired
- Get car repainted but same color
- Re-clear carbon fiber hood possibly paint same as car along with hatch
- downpipe install with heat wrap
- get turbo heatwrap blanket
- Locate and install misc interior pieces that I do not have yet.
- Eibach drop springs but not agressive ones.
- Alot of fluid changes and maintenance
- HId kit
-some high end catback exhaust

Mainly just want to do all reliability mods on it so that I am not rebuilding it in the first month of driving. I am really not loaded but do wheel and deal nicely and that is how I plan on getting the extra cash to keep this on the road. One thing I would really like to do is try and find out why the car got the way it was when I purchased it. It seems that someone loved it at one point and then broke it's heart. Well enough of me jabbering on about nothing and here are some pictures of how I got it about a month or so ago and how it is now....

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0052.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0071.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0072.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0073.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0077.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0078.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0RX7/rx7_1.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0RX7/rx7_2.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0RX7/rx7_3.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0RX7/rx7_4.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0RX7/rx7_5.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0RX7/rx7_6.jpg

AS you can see it did need some help and still needs alot more....

I installed the headlights, put in a cloth driver seat, installed door panels, removed hatch shocks because they were causing the hatch to bow, installed front bumper but will need to reinforce, installed door handles, changed oil, etc. Pics will be in second post..

Parts I have on the way already are:

-Guage Hood and trim
-A/C panel with switches
-Apexi Exhaust
-Tein Coilovers
-black leather driver seat

I have big plans for the wheel selection but have to find them first. Want massive lip in an 18" setup. Looking for some veilside wheels. Hard to find though. WEll thanks for looking and will keep you guys updated.

yeah somebody hacked it up probably like 5 years ago when modding was a fad. if you are concerned about reliability of the engine over the long haul, you will need to either replace all the sequential turbo solenoids, hoses, and check valves; go non sequential, or go single turbo. also look at an upgraded side mount intercooler.

hope it goes well...

Definetly a huge undertaking there friend. Best of luck.. and when in doubt, ASK A QUESTION instead of blowing something up :)

Looks like it'll take a couple weekends...lol Good luck!

Just think, in about 10 to 12 years your son will be sitting in that same seat saying"Dad can I have the keys to the car tonight?"
Good luck with the project.

man that car sure needs love. From what I can see, it found the right owner.

Keep us posted it's always nice to see 7's come back to life.

You were afraid of getting a 2000 civic stolen so you got an FD?

GL on the project. Owning an FD is one of the great pleasures of life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supernaut (Post 9345729)

You were afraid of getting a 2000 civic stolen so you got an FD?

With the 100 million rice boys owning civics, properly modded ones are prime realstate for parts. Given that a honda civic is a very common car to get stolen. Might even be number one right after the toyota camry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supernaut (Post 9345729)

You were afraid of getting a 2000 civic stolen so you got an FD?

GL on the project. Owning an FD is one of the great pleasures of life.

FD's hardly ever get stolen.

Well compared to civics, chances are like slim to none.

I have never thought about my car getting stolen when i used to bring it to work, the track etc. All i was afraid of is people sitting on it, scratching it, dinging it with their doors etc etc. So i limit and try to prevent any trip with the FD where i have to actually leave the car parked.

I had a 2000 SI and i have had my neighbors tell me people come by my house at freaking 4 IN THE MORNING, stop by my driveway gate, point at the civic, and leave.

And i know you remember that one day at honda day at etown where like 12-13 hondas were stolen from the spectator lot lol

He shouldnt worry about someone stealing it. He should worry about fixing up the car the right away.

You got your work cut out for you but I’d stick with 2mm seals if possible. 3mm are heavier and chatter your housings and you get less of a seal. I'm sure someone will chaime in claiming the 3mm are better but just my opinion.

seems tho the fd would be quite easy to steal...

good luck with the project :icon_tup:

Looks like an awesome project, going to take some work though!

Your work is cut out for you there.....good luck.

Later

Defiantly has potential... good luck.

good luck w/ the build man. the seats already made a huge difference on the interior. got some ways to go. but look like this project is in good hands now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arghx (Post 9344650)

also look at an upgraded side mount intercooler.

what is a side mount intercooler for FD ? totally wouldn't expect that from someone w/ 6k posts :P

Definitely alot of potential!!!

I want your hood!!

>_>

XD

Keep up the great work!!

Well Got some parts in already and just waiting for the car to come back to paint to Install them.....

Items recieved already....
-Tein coilover setup
-Guage Hood/ Trim
-Black Leather passenger seat
-A/C Bezel with controls

Items that should be here in less than a week...
-Apexi Catback Exhaust

Can't wait to get back from paint...right now are doing prepwork and waiting for me to tell them the color I want....Cant decide between an orion blue color since car was originally blue or just keeping orangish color and saving some cash....WEll will post pics after paint...Thanks for all of the positive comments...

You have alot of work ahead of you, good luck!

you could of got an nsx for low 20s and in the end will probably save you some hair.
rx7 = love/hate relationship

ive seen them im much worse condition brought back....i think if will be a fun project...enjoy my friend

Quote:

Originally Posted by montego (Post 9345451)

man that car sure needs love. From what I can see, it found the right owner.

Keep us posted it's always nice to see 7's come back to life.

check out this one lol

Keep up the good work, and keep us posted! :bigthumb:

Here is a couple sorry updated photos...one is with the passenger seat and the other is of the coilovers that will go on the car when it gets back from paint.....

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0121.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7/SSPX0125.jpg

Installed the coilovers, removed the sideskirts, installed the dash guage hood and a/c controls, changed out spark plugs, etc. Starting to look nice but still need to install the front bumper and stock fenders. Have pictures I will upload later. I did decide to go stock body as I have always had clean stock body cars plus it was too much work to salvage the kit.

I will be selling kit with brand new rear bumper soon. Pulled out of body shop because of cost them to redo and also time to complete. Plus before I paint needs to be driveable. I don't want to spend all that money to have a pretty car that can only sit in the garage. This is going to be an expensive project though.....

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get the car for?

hey man good luck with the project! looks like it does need a lot of love.

have fun, and get ready to spend some jack!

Looking good so far. I have a project of my own but I started from a roller. Can't wait to see what it will look like finished

Because i have a slight bit of OCD.....

I would tear apart the entire front end of the car

I guess it's a start lol, good luck!

more like molested bastard child from hell ... its automatic!! just strip the car down to the frame, sand it, weld it, coat it and install all new shit! what else you gonna for with $30k ?! save it LOLOL HAHAHA.

i say fix the body and paint before you start messing with the interior.

the engine pics look like there was a small fire at one point, either that or it's just really dirty.
glad to see you're taking it back to the stock body, IMHO I would've gone 99 spec if I was spending the money, but at least you're doing it right. THANK YOU for ditching those front fenders, those are disgusting. I really hope you don't have to sell it, this car needs some love from someone who knows what it needs. Also can you give us a picture of orion blue? A buddy of mine here in town has a lemans corvette blue FD and it is sex.

orion blue metallic is used on mercedes and is a rare color....I have a bmw with a blue that is close but not quite as good...The engine shows no signs of fire it is just really dirty. I am the one who almost had a fire by pissing fuel while I drove 30 miles....I really just need to get exterior done so that it won't look so hideous....

now that interior is way better ...

definitely got your work cut out for you. first thing you should do if you haven't is see if the boost control system is working and keeping it at 10 psi. judging from the rest of the car, the previous owner probably has no clue.

uhm.. Apexi power Fc and Auto trans???

I don't think that's going to work... you better take the easy way and make it manual (and I mean it)

It was in the car when I got it and the commander works fine but the trans hold light flashes and sometimes can't respond to the power...Was planning on 5spd swap but just need to get the $1000 or so together to do it..Thats gonna be a while...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedworks (Post 9531112)

uhm.. Apexi power Fc and Auto trans???

I don't think that's going to work... you better take the easy way and make it manual (and I mean it)

Banzai racing sells a harness for that very purpose
http://www.banzai-racing.com/product...ss_adapter.htm