RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum - DUMA FD's build thread

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DUMA FD's build thread

hey guys, i'm new on the forum, i've always liked rx7's but never had a serious thought of purchasing one, until i came across this deal from my friend, he purchased it from the auctions 2 years ago with the intention of repairing it, but with lack of time and effort, he gave up on the project and now i have it

my goal is to make it a nice weekend car, i'm staying with the factory sequential turbo set up, the motor is staying fairly stock, i don't want any trouble until later on when i get a spare 13b and learn more about the rotary motor, i will be doing a color change, probably painting it a nice royal blue, and i'll be looking for a 99spec front end

i do need some parts for this car, if anyone has them, please PM me
-LHD driver side window switch
-hood (oem or aftermarket, local to SF, CA)
-headlight covers (pair) i might even pick up the whole headlight assembly if it's a good deal
-front bumper reinforcement bar (local to SF, CA)

onto the pics!

the picture i took of the car, through a gate at a mechanic's shop (where my friend's uncle owns)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/...8dc7aac630.jpg

i did a brief look over on the car, the car has been sitting for 2 years and when i put a jumper pack on it to try to test the motor, it wouldn't start, i did know the car was involved in an accident but i'm not concerned about that since i manage a bodyshop in san francisco, i will be fixing the car at work

some pictures i took when it was at the shop
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5194/...fcf5d5fedf.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/...eb85b6254c.jpg
black interior!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/...e687078958.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/...c1916af962.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/...ba7299853b.jpg

i called my friend with a tow truck and he came and swooped it up for me, here it is arriving at my shop
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5193/...b2e3bc4ab0.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/...ec277ddedf.jpg

some pictures of it sitting in my side lot
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/...b00486c92f.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5320/...939eb699be.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/...73ef958311.jpg

i sat there with a jumper pack constantly cranking the motor, everytime i cranked it, it sounded like it was going to start and then it doesn't...it's so close!!! however, i did not give up, after a couple more tries, i heard a beautiful sound and a glorious amount of smoke came from the exhaust, IT'S ALIVE!!!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/...414074f76b.jpg

great to see another rx7 saved from an uncertain death!

that interior looks to be in GREAT shape.

That interior is in great shape, much better than my seats look!! Great find.

thanks guys, I'm told I'm lucky to find one with black interior as most come with tan

took off a bunch of stuff today, both headlight assemblies, intercooler, intake, battery, just to get a clearer view of the damage which isn't as bad as i thought it was, a simple pull on the frame rack should get it straight

the vehicle did not have an AST, and i noticed the lines were zip-tied and seemed like someone messed with it before, i believe the previous owner did the removal

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/...a5e2d60364.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/...e0c8b22408.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/...5bc91cb90d.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7068/...cf0d1d3baf.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/...9d399a3076.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/...7759e93d1f.jpg

good luck on the build

found a nice little surprise, the car has a koyo aluminum radiator, one less thing to buy in the future

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/...32fd01f116.jpg

i also installed LED lights in the car, using my 9smd GODZILLA panels for the front map lights and a 31mm 6smd for the trunk light, i have yet to do the license plate lights, but will soon, if anyone is interested in these lights, shoot me a PM, all plug n play with 1 year warranty, a basic LED interior conversion kit for a FD is $21 shipped to anywhere in the US

BASIC LED FOR THE MAP LIGHTS
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/...24b6da0077.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/...517d7bd162.jpg

9SMD GODZILLA PANELS FOR THE MAP LIGHTS (WHAT I USED)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5348/...36e2d95545.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5198/...b6e1f4c081.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5316/...42837c7a43.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/...99d6d0a6ea.jpg

Nice find and welcome to the rotary world.

Lots of guys would love to source a complete set of interior and exterior LED lights. Several of us have tested many of these and have posted up our recommendations. We are by no means experts though and someone who can put together an interior and exterior kit would do well. The kit should include gauge and cluster lights for the interior and all the LEDs needed for the exterior bulbs.

Of course you'd need to be an official vendor to do this or to organize a group buy thread but I'd bet you'd do quite well with kits for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen cars.

In for an LED kit... :D

i don't want to post an advertisement because i'm not a vendor, but feel free to give me a call at 415-735-5337, PM me, or email me

I don't think that will fly on this forum. Consider doing a GB. It's a good deal.

Yeah. Group Buy is the way to go.

picked up a JDM right side fender with side marker for $100 today from my buddies shop, i don't plan on using the sidemarker so i will be shaving the hole closed, the sidemarker light itself will be for sale
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/...3d3d81636f.jpg

my other friend had a bumper laying around, it came from a FD that he bought a long time ago, and he never used this bumper, i needed it just to mount it for now, i'm not really a fan of it but i might modify the grill openings and re-fiberglass parts of it to see if i can make it look better, but hey, it was free so i can't complain
after searching online a little bit, i found it's a VIS Racing KS Style bumper
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/...7824f6b56f.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by automationLED (Post 11055472)

This bumper looks like it's floating in the air in the picture. must be a good bumper,,

just picked up a Broadway 270mm convex mirror, i just have to have this in all of my cars, it makes visibility that much better

what i like about the 270mm is that it's small enough where the visors won't clip it, but the convex allows you to see the whole rear window

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5198/...54cedccb23.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/...eddcb65f3c.jpg

i wanna do the led conversion to my fd

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93hybridFD (Post 11060640)

i wanna do the led conversion to my fd

You got PM, or you could always give me a call/text at 415-735-5337

Nice save, good luck with the restore.

I use 300mm broadway in all my cars :D

little update today, yesterday i had a buyer come check out the rotary and we agreed to sell, i got a deposit and today i called my friend to tow the car over to The Shop San Bruno to get the motor pulled

had to get the NSX out of the way since it was blocking the FD
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/...fbe7c220dd.jpg

off the RX7 goes!!
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/...6e8d69d816.jpg

when i got over to The Shop, i saw another FD on the lift, found out it was also getting a LSx treatment!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/...4c6d877bcf.jpg

here's what the red FD has
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/...b702037c77.jpg

the owner of The Shop, Matthel's LS7 powered FD, this thing is a beast!
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/...7400e5c31d.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/...bd53da2bd6.jpg

that's all for now, motor should be pulled by tomorrow, then i'm gonna tow it back to my bodyshop on saturday or monday to get the bodywork done and painted, once that's completed, i'm gonna do the LS1 swap

good luck on the build