90s revival - 92 RE-Amemiya import
#1
90s revival - 92 RE-Amemiya import
Been meaning to make a build thread to relive the good ol' days of 7club, figured I might as well start now.
I've already had the car for 6 months, it arrived at port oct 18 2022 and immediately I knew it was going to need some TLC.
Fortunately rust was limited to hardware and powertrain components, the shell is in great shape afaik.
The car arrived with mods to the engine including:
Immediately noticed the clutch was toast, and quickly after receiving my rotary compression tester finding that my rear rotor likely had a blown apex seal (no compression on 2/3 faces)
Im going to keep updating this until I get caught up
First test drive after getting it home
Auction photo
Auction photo
Auction sheet
Auction photo
Photo sent from importer
Port of Tacoma 10/18/22
First look around
Wedged that k&n filter on to at least attempt to block debris
Front rotor compression
Rear rotor compression (I was in denial for a while and continued to drive it hoping it was just a stuck seal)
I've already had the car for 6 months, it arrived at port oct 18 2022 and immediately I knew it was going to need some TLC.
- Auction grade: 4 (best possible scenario for its age)
- 23,460 verified kms
- No major damage
Fortunately rust was limited to hardware and powertrain components, the shell is in great shape afaik.
The car arrived with mods to the engine including:
- IHI RHC7 single turbocharger
- extra 2 injectors welded to some crude intake elbow that were not functional
- Knight Sports ROM tune
- 3/4 extra piggyback control units for boost, fuel, turbo timer, and something unmarked idk.
- RE Facer AD front bumper
- RE hood (modified extra vents)
- RE halogen headlight kit
- 99-spec sideskirts
- RE wWangan wing
- pair of Work Equip 05's in back
- resprayed pearl white (orig. brilliant black car)
Immediately noticed the clutch was toast, and quickly after receiving my rotary compression tester finding that my rear rotor likely had a blown apex seal (no compression on 2/3 faces)
Im going to keep updating this until I get caught up
First test drive after getting it home
Auction photo
Auction photo
Auction sheet
Auction photo
Photo sent from importer
Port of Tacoma 10/18/22
First look around
Wedged that k&n filter on to at least attempt to block debris
Front rotor compression
Rear rotor compression (I was in denial for a while and continued to drive it hoping it was just a stuck seal)
Last edited by x mazda rx7 x; 06-19-23 at 01:09 PM.
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boostin13b (06-19-23),
Montego (06-20-23)
#2
Rotary Enthusiast
I remember seeing this one when I was shopping. The mileage really stood out for me, Definitely looked like it has way more miles than claimed but was probably just stored very poorly. I'm excited to see the restoration of this one.
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x mazda rx7 x (06-19-23)
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x mazda rx7 x (06-19-23)
#4
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neat! that kit looks great on the outside. that turbo was really popular back in the day, although its probably hard to find any info now. ARC intercooler is really good.
but what is going on with the water pump, isn't the belt on the wrong side?
but what is going on with the water pump, isn't the belt on the wrong side?
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x mazda rx7 x (06-19-23)
#5
#6
was hoping to enjoy the car a little more before having to overhaul but this at least gave me the opportunity to give it a fresh start. Pulled the engine out 1/5/23
First time pulling a 13B. Surprised how easy it went
After accepting that the compression wasn’t going to magically reappear, the decision was made to get at it and pull the stinker out
Initial thoughts: crusty af
Ordered an NPT- barbed fitting and jp3 rear bleeder to remedy this rear coolant nipple.. this would turn out to be a recurring issue with various coolant passages
Should have spent the money on a flywheel stopper (or an impact) I did buy an impact after doing this lol
Irons were all in fantastic shape. Barely any step wear to comment on
I thought this was a stock port at first but the guys at Atkins informed me that was not the case
Rear housing was toast. Picture isn’t great but there’s deep scoring from the broken apex seal
The culprit
First time pulling a 13B. Surprised how easy it went
After accepting that the compression wasn’t going to magically reappear, the decision was made to get at it and pull the stinker out
Initial thoughts: crusty af
Ordered an NPT- barbed fitting and jp3 rear bleeder to remedy this rear coolant nipple.. this would turn out to be a recurring issue with various coolant passages
Should have spent the money on a flywheel stopper (or an impact) I did buy an impact after doing this lol
Irons were all in fantastic shape. Barely any step wear to comment on
I thought this was a stock port at first but the guys at Atkins informed me that was not the case
Rear housing was toast. Picture isn’t great but there’s deep scoring from the broken apex seal
The culprit
#7
after pulling the motor. Some parts showed up from Japan that I purchased prior to realizing I was going to spiral down the engine build rabbit hole
also sent my internals to Atkins For balancing/porting
ATC sprint with RE-Amemiya horn button to keep the theme going into the interior
Favorite aero mod for FD’s. Have one on the LS car as well
HKS Hipermax coils because yen was too cheap to pass up on this bargain (sub 1k shipped)
Decided to give my old SA3’s a second life after leaving them like this for the past 11 or so years
Barrels and lips cleaned/polished by me
Got the faces powdercoated arctic white
235 up front and 255 in the back
Soaked my parts in evaporust before taking the housings to Atkins for street porting
Brand new S5 higher comp rotors
Brand new housings
Various seals
also sent my internals to Atkins For balancing/porting
ATC sprint with RE-Amemiya horn button to keep the theme going into the interior
Favorite aero mod for FD’s. Have one on the LS car as well
HKS Hipermax coils because yen was too cheap to pass up on this bargain (sub 1k shipped)
Decided to give my old SA3’s a second life after leaving them like this for the past 11 or so years
Barrels and lips cleaned/polished by me
Got the faces powdercoated arctic white
235 up front and 255 in the back
Soaked my parts in evaporust before taking the housings to Atkins for street porting
Brand new S5 higher comp rotors
Brand new housings
Various seals
Trending Topics
#8
With help from YouTube and Atkins rebuild DVD it was finally time to stack the 13b and tackle some side quests like painting some ugly aluminum bits.
things I’ve purchased for the build so far:
This covers it for past-completed work and moving forward will be current updates as I make more progress
Painted the front cover along with some other small parts
Atkins street port
First time doing this, Atkins DVD came in clutch as well as YouTube videos like radpotential
Looks 100x better than when it came out so I’m stoked 💪
ORC flywheel & clutch setup (clutch not installed atm)
Turblown stud kit
FFE trigger wheel and banzai under drive pulley
Reason for getting new pulleys
things I’ve purchased for the build so far:
- turblown stud kit
- goopy apex seals
- atkins cryo side seals
- atkins solid corner seals
- OEM water jackets and springs
- Turblown EFR shorty turbo manifold
- BorgWarner EFR 8374 + turbosmart dual port wg & bov upgrades
- Radium fuel rails
- ID1050 & 1700 injectors
- hellcat 525lph fuel pump
- Haltech Elite 1500
- Rywire haltech harness + aem coil harness
- JP3 rear iron coolant bleeder
- ORC 409D Single Plate Metal Clutch Kit + flywheel
- GReddy V-mount IC
- RE-Amemiya AST
- RE-Amemiya shift collar
- Wedssport braided clutch line
- Project-Mu braided brake lines
- HKS Hipermax IV SP coilovers
This covers it for past-completed work and moving forward will be current updates as I make more progress
Painted the front cover along with some other small parts
Atkins street port
First time doing this, Atkins DVD came in clutch as well as YouTube videos like radpotential
Looks 100x better than when it came out so I’m stoked 💪
ORC flywheel & clutch setup (clutch not installed atm)
Turblown stud kit
FFE trigger wheel and banzai under drive pulley
Reason for getting new pulleys
Last edited by x mazda rx7 x; 06-19-23 at 08:12 PM.
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gracer7-rx7 (03-05-24)
#9
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (2)
WOW !!!!
Another awesome build.
I really love this kit, I remember the green one just like it sold recently.
Thank you for all the detailed pictures, it really helps those of us who have not done this type of work before.
Subd for sure.
p.s. Those 3 spoke Advans are me and my wife's favorite rims <3
Another awesome build.
I really love this kit, I remember the green one just like it sold recently.
Thank you for all the detailed pictures, it really helps those of us who have not done this type of work before.
Subd for sure.
p.s. Those 3 spoke Advans are me and my wife's favorite rims <3
Last edited by rotaryextreme; 06-19-23 at 08:41 PM.
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x mazda rx7 x (06-19-23)
#10
WOW !!!!
Another awesome build.
I really love this kit, I remember the green one just like it sold recently.
Thank you for all the detailed pictures, it really helps those of us who have not done this type of work before.
Subd for sure.
p.s. Those 3 spoke Advans are me and my wife's favorite rims <3
Another awesome build.
I really love this kit, I remember the green one just like it sold recently.
Thank you for all the detailed pictures, it really helps those of us who have not done this type of work before.
Subd for sure.
p.s. Those 3 spoke Advans are me and my wife's favorite rims <3
#11
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
I see the new motor still has the broken tab on the rear iron for the trans bolt hole. Do you have a plan for that?
And as stated the car had the water pump belt on wrong so the water pump would have been spinning backwards. Fun!
I've NEVER seen that TB elbow before, wondering if it was custom made or something.
Not surprised the motor was blown, that is a total late 90's setup of "throw some fuel at it and pray" - with a single turbo you were just playing Russian roulette every time you hit the pedal.
Set this up right and this car will be awesome for many years to come.
Dale
And as stated the car had the water pump belt on wrong so the water pump would have been spinning backwards. Fun!
I've NEVER seen that TB elbow before, wondering if it was custom made or something.
Not surprised the motor was blown, that is a total late 90's setup of "throw some fuel at it and pray" - with a single turbo you were just playing Russian roulette every time you hit the pedal.
Set this up right and this car will be awesome for many years to come.
Dale
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x mazda rx7 x (06-20-23)
#12
I see the new motor still has the broken tab on the rear iron for the trans bolt hole. Do you have a plan for that?
And as stated the car had the water pump belt on wrong so the water pump would have been spinning backwards. Fun!
I've NEVER seen that TB elbow before, wondering if it was custom made or something.
Not surprised the motor was blown, that is a total late 90's setup of "throw some fuel at it and pray" - with a single turbo you were just playing Russian roulette every time you hit the pedal.
Set this up right and this car will be awesome for many years to come.
Dale
And as stated the car had the water pump belt on wrong so the water pump would have been spinning backwards. Fun!
I've NEVER seen that TB elbow before, wondering if it was custom made or something.
Not surprised the motor was blown, that is a total late 90's setup of "throw some fuel at it and pray" - with a single turbo you were just playing Russian roulette every time you hit the pedal.
Set this up right and this car will be awesome for many years to come.
Dale
Honestly blown away that car never even came close to overheating in the week or so i was able to scoot around in it lol, never noticed the wp belt, yikes....
You hit the nail on the head though as far as the old build. I would bet money it was put together a year or two after the car was made, using whatever they could find lol. Theres some stickers in the bay for ERC or 'Elite Racing Company" who appear to still be making time attack FD's.
edit: realized you were referring to the trans bolt, I have the broken ear, probably going to attempt to weld or even jb weld it back on as it fits into it's place easily
Last edited by x mazda rx7 x; 06-20-23 at 10:41 AM. Reason: misread
#13
Did some side-quests today to make use of the nice day we had
had to make sure this little ear matched the rest of the iron
too bad this paint doesnt sparkle once it's dry
JB weld, we'll see how it goes. Worst case scenario I'm short one trans bolt bfd
rear iron inspection cover getting cleaned
I know the tab goes under the iron this was just a mock up
had to make sure this little ear matched the rest of the iron
too bad this paint doesnt sparkle once it's dry
JB weld, we'll see how it goes. Worst case scenario I'm short one trans bolt bfd
rear iron inspection cover getting cleaned
I know the tab goes under the iron this was just a mock up
Last edited by x mazda rx7 x; 06-21-23 at 09:43 PM.
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gracer7-rx7 (03-05-24)
#14
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
My car was both neglected and high-mileage. Hehehe.
#17
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you should post some pics of the old water pump and pulley, i wonder if someone rebuilt it to spin the other way
#18
I would but that got tossed almost immediately upon disassembly. I would highly doubt they went through all that effort, plus wouldn't it just swirl in place given the passage on the housing? Pulley has channels for a belt though which might add validity to your theory
#19
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
JB Weld isn't going to hold... you probably need to take it to a specialist welder who can do cast iron?
Also, high compression rotors aren't really an upgrade for a turbo car. If anything, you want lower compression.
Also, high compression rotors aren't really an upgrade for a turbo car. If anything, you want lower compression.
#20
..But yea JB weld did not hold up (didn't have high hopes but figured it was worth a shot)
#21
not a lot to update on but I’ve been slowly refreshing parts to get them ready to be reinstalled. I’m sure I’ll get flamed for spray painting my intake manifolds but worst case scenario if it flakes down the road I’ll go through with vapor honing.
Wanted to do vapor honing but impatience and financial reasons led me to paint the aluminum bits, i think they turned out great but we’ll see how they hold up to temps (I did use engine “ceramic” paint at least)
Little mock up to motivate myself
Probably going to put some heat tape on the LIM at least or get a shield
Had a nice view while painting (my first car that made me want to take another crack at rotaries)
Wanted to do vapor honing but impatience and financial reasons led me to paint the aluminum bits, i think they turned out great but we’ll see how they hold up to temps (I did use engine “ceramic” paint at least)
Little mock up to motivate myself
Probably going to put some heat tape on the LIM at least or get a shield
Had a nice view while painting (my first car that made me want to take another crack at rotaries)
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x mazda rx7 x (06-28-23)
#23
Shooting for 500
iTrader: (3)
Looking great! I need to start my write up too. I’ve got a year and a half worth of catching up to do.
We Washington folks are busy refurbishing FDs. You, Twincharged Rx7, GtiKyle and I are all at it in the Seattle area. There are several more on the Seattle and PNW Rx7 groups.
Hope to see you out driving it before too long!
We Washington folks are busy refurbishing FDs. You, Twincharged Rx7, GtiKyle and I are all at it in the Seattle area. There are several more on the Seattle and PNW Rx7 groups.
Hope to see you out driving it before too long!
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x mazda rx7 x (06-28-23)
#24
Some updates
Painted the engine bay
I want to eventually respray the whole car, so I used the bay (and taillight cover) as an opportunity to test out some wesco paint that I hoped to match to this old RE time attack vehicle which is like a greenish-white. I think it came out close enough and still cool in its own right that I will paint the whole car this color eventually.
Got my Turbo Kit
After about an 8 month backorder from turbo source, my EFR 8374 IWG kit arrived with almost everything (minus t4 gasket..)
got it all mocked up and installed the Turbosmart BOV and WG.
Now i just need to sort out my motor mounts, wire in some sensors, and install the motor for the home stretch of work!
Painted the engine bay
I want to eventually respray the whole car, so I used the bay (and taillight cover) as an opportunity to test out some wesco paint that I hoped to match to this old RE time attack vehicle which is like a greenish-white. I think it came out close enough and still cool in its own right that I will paint the whole car this color eventually.
Got my Turbo Kit
After about an 8 month backorder from turbo source, my EFR 8374 IWG kit arrived with almost everything (minus t4 gasket..)
got it all mocked up and installed the Turbosmart BOV and WG.
Now i just need to sort out my motor mounts, wire in some sensors, and install the motor for the home stretch of work!
Last edited by x mazda rx7 x; 01-20-24 at 01:21 PM.
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