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Hey fellas, I thought I’d go ahead and document what I’ve been doing with my 93 touring and get you all caught up with the progress. The idea was to get my kids off the iPads and into cars and if not for my boys then for those who are kicking themselves because their 5 to 10 year project is taking too long.
Over the years I’ve had all sorts of great plans for this car, none of which ever happened (thank God). In my mind I must have done a couple single turbo conversions, upgraded the twins, and maybe an engine swap or two and I’m still trying to forget all the body kits I thought were awesome way back when.
The Readers Digest history is that I bought the car in in 95 or 96 and used it as my daily until about 2000. I didn’t treat her as well as I should have during that time and she eventually told me so while I was ripping down the freeway well over the posted limit. Fast forward 20 years and now the plan is to just drive it again before I die. Here is a pic I found in my toolbox (apologize for the condition) after a wash in 96.
And here I am in 2000 pulling the engine.
So fast forward to around February 2020, I decided that all the grandiose build plans were only slowing me down, so I decided to just put her back together stockish plus the parts I’d been carrying around for 20 years. An added bonus was the wife had to have landscaping put in so that killed any radical plans (at least for now).
That’s when I did the smartest thing I have done in a while and bought some check valves from a Dale Clark. I knew he had an rx7 affliction but didn’t know it was stage 5. Since Dale can’t sleep at night knowing there is an rx7 in his town that’s not running, he came over to see the carnage and that’s all it took. He tells me we will have this thing running in no time and next thing I know is he’s pulling the fuel pump. See pic below.
Yes, a little nasty and the tank was worse. So he starts working on sourcing a tank and I have my boys help paint the engine.
Not bad for a 10 and 12.
I start digging into boxes to inventory what I have managed not to loose after 20 years and around 9 moves.
Sent out my dp and lim for a coating and did the brakes while waiting for them to return. With the help of the clamp my son was even able to seat the retaining ring.
Getting the engine back together. Dale taking me to school. I go to clean some parts and by the time I get back Dale is almost done with the engine. Results of the “name that stud” thread. Ready to go.
The little guy getting things done. Helping out with the battery harness Dogs are a big help. Cleaning parts. Not going to use them but he doesn’t know that. Wife trying to catch us slacking off. Deleted the AST but he doesn’t know that either. Had to replace these. Changing out a fan motor. Thanks to Dale for the spare. Upper and lower ball joint covers were hurting. Much better
Engine is home after 20 years. Helping out with the inter cooler pipe. This didn’t go as well as the engine but I can live with it. Had to get a real radiator. Engine in. Mocked up. Had to get her off the harbor freight jack stands.
Knocked out the transmission seals and fluid also did the rear end fluid and rebuilt the stick shift.
Sorted out the exhaust. Went with the stock mid and the fujistubo cat back I’ve had in a box for 20 years. So that’s why all the slop. 20 years and finally hanging where it’s supposed to. While I was under the car just having a look. I noticed that two of my front end sub frame nuts were missing and the rest were finger tight. Commander and PFC all in place. New tray from Ray
After a fuel leak and some igniter issues she fired right up. Let her run for a while and shut her down. Quick oil change and realized I can only get 3d and 4th gear.
So back on stands to figure that out. I think that gets you all caught up.
Again a special thanks to Dale for getting me rolling and keeping me on track, I’d still be putting the engine together if it wasn’t for him. And to all you guys that have documented your builds in detail. I’ve read them all and learned from each one. This community is awesome!
Love the build!
The car is looking great and having Dale there is a big time plus!
My son helps me work on my FD too and now he's learning to drive with it.
Its great bonding time and the memories are priceless.
Congrats in getting her up and running!
Thanks Steve. It’s been a long time coming. Learning to drive on the fd sounds like you are in the running for best dad ever.
I’ve read through your thread as well and the stuff your doing is impressive. Waiting to see the results of that DBW and if you get the rx8 for your son
Thanks, it’s definitely been a family affair. My dad was helping me pull the engine (he took the picture) and now that I have my boys helping it completes story for me. As for the tray not sure the year. I just ask for a part and Ray makes it happen The invoice has it listed at 260.31 and he lets it go for 198.32. The thing fits like a glove and looks great. The more Mazda stuff I buy the more I like it.
Wow, I think the coolest thing is to have family and friends there with you. Happy to see your kids are involved and they will never be victim to a shady mechanic. The missing bolts, scary! I also had a fujitsubo exhaust from a gb I did 10 years ago and I finally let it go - I kept the apexi N1 dual. Really happy to see you tearing it all apart to put it back together right. Also thank you Dale from me too!!
Thanks Ben. Yea I’m getting old but don’t remember ever having a reason to remove those nuts. As for the boys, they don’t know it yet but tomorrow they are going to help me pull the transmission. I thought I was done, then realized it won’t go into gear. Buzz kill.
Wasn’t looking forward to doing this but was necessary and totally worth it in the end. I had the minions help me out which is always a good thing. Step one, remove negative terminal. Step two, drop 10mm in the engine bay. Learning occurred 👍 Took awhile to figure out how to remove the stick but he got it. And only broke a couple tabs removing the center piece. Now it’s a floater Finished up with the interior and started on the undercovers before his brother joined the party. Teamwork makes the dream work. Little dudes did good. All I can say is thanks to Dale for letting me borrow the transmission jack and helping to get it out. And amazingly no one was injured during its removal. Thought I cleaned this up during the stick rebuild. Man was I wrong. This was as nasty as you can imagine. Probably a 1/4 inch of crud on the pan and around the magnet. Had to sync up the shift rods. Required a lot of wd40 and a hammer on the rod ends. After some coaxing and cleaning it shifts like new. I slapped it back in and for the first time in over 20 years my youngest son and I took her out for a drive. Still got some stuff to work on but she’s really close. Next is alignment, paint, and some tint. Not necessarily in that order.
Thanks for sharing. I love to see you including the boys!!! I have my 14 year old helping me tune right now. He likes these 3rd and 4th gear pulls. I love that he is interested and look fwd to him getting his car.
I also love to see you back in the game after quite some time. Another rotor head lives on!!!!
Thanks testrun. I’ve been following your build from the start (car looks awesome by the way.) Also following your new SP turbo tuning thread. I might have to go that route eventually. Will definitely follow your lead if I do. Have your son record one of those 3d gear pulls, I’d love to see it.
While I was under the car just having a look. I noticed that two of my front end sub frame nuts were missing and the rest were finger tight.
I guess as long as you didn't hit any bumps...LOL. Holy **** that's sketchy. That's great you caught it though, wow.
I love threads like this. It has all the right things.
1. Getting back to the project after so many years
2. Getting the kids involved
3. Getting friends involved (Dale is the man! Actually, I guess HE got YOU involved lol)
4. Restoring the car with new, fresh parts
5. Knocking out a bunch of issues in short order and driving the car again after so long
I guess as long as you didn't hit any bumps...LOL. Holy **** that's sketchy. That's great you caught it though, wow.
I love threads like this. It has all the right things.
1. Getting back to the project after so many years
2. Getting the kids involved
3. Getting friends involved (Dale is the man! Actually, I guess HE got YOU involved lol)
4. Restoring the car with new, fresh parts
5. Knocking out a bunch of issues in short order and driving the car again after so long
Great thread. Keep it up, and welcome back!
Appreciate the support. This build has already surpassed my expectations and is just getting started. Getting the kids off the iPads (at least for a bit), parts off the shelf and onto the car, and driving it before I died, checked all the major blocks for me. The fact I was fortunate to meet and learn from Dale, is the icing on the cake.
12-31-20, 10:23 AM
Sweet thread!!!
