Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

Hello
Having owned an FD for a little more than a week now, it is tome to start a project worklog I got plans for the car, but i am not rushing it. I just need a place to think out lound, organize my thoughts, and get some input on the ideas i have. Hopefully i can get some help.

About the car:
- Euro spec RX-7 FD, with one previous owner.
- Registered 10th of August in 1994, and is FD #19 to leave the Hiroshima plant that year, headed for Germany.
- Bone stock when i bought it, except BBS rims and Remus Exhaust
- 46k km / 28k miles

Exterior Plans:
- New rims. Either 17" or 18". I like BBS LM, but i am not sure if i should get something lighter.
- Tinted windows
- 99-spec rear lights
- 99-spec front bumper
- 99-spec front lights and fogs
- Carbon lip, skirts and diffuser (those flat skirts that are mounted under the car)

Interior Plans:
- Spirit-R (as much as i can find)
- Leather upholstery on the entire interior (i want premium German feel)
- Subtle stereo upgrade

Engine Plans:
- The engine should allways look stock to anyone unfamiliar with the FD
- BNR-twins
- Streetport
- Apexi Power FC
- Reliability mods
- Methanol Injection
- Powergoal: 400+ HP


Pictures:

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

So, the first thing i did was to get the paint reset. I dont know the english term for it, but the idea is to get it back to near new condition, by polishing all the scratcehs and stuff. I got some help from a local detailing enthusiast, who knows what he is doing, and had the proper gear and garage for the job



Freshly washed:







Testing polish:



At it with my brother helping me out:

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

The garage owner comes by for an inspection:


Done!!





Wax


I also did a wing delete before the polish. I have pluged the holes temporarily with paintet plugs. Will get the wiper and wash nozzle removed and the hatch repainted this summer.

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

So, continuing with the small improvements, i ahve gotten some clear indicator lights off ebay:




I am also painting the yellow and red reflexes at the sides, since they are not required here in norway. They will be brilliant black, same color as the car.

At the same time i am painting the fogs i bought and everything will be mounted on the car when i get back from holidays in july. Gona leave them to cure for a month, making sure the paint is properly hardened before it go on the car.

I also got some Plastidio and glossifyer that i will use on the front lip and mudflaps, to get them more black than the gray color they have today.

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

Hey Zepticon, nice to see a Euro spec FD! They are super rare.

The two red lights on the sides of the license plates on the rear bumper, how do they look at night when they are on?

I have a US spec FD and my Croatian license plate looks retarded on my rear bumper...I would want to find a Euro spec rear bumper like you have....but they are impossible to find...

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

Yepp! Super rare is the word for them. I know the 93 mod was made in quite a few numbers, but the 94 and 95 only sold a couple hundred. Mine is number 19 in 1994 and was registered in august if i remember correct.

They are never on. Both the front yellow ones and the rear red ones are just dummies that are there to fill the holes.

Hmm... I would guess they would not be that hard since most people i have seen want to swap them to US or JDM bumpers since they dont have the rear fog lights and such.

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

yeah I guess the US or JDM rear bumper does look nicer/cleaner, but I would want to have a standard euro rear license plate that would fit with the appropriate bumper...

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

I have put on the newly painted reflexes. In europe both the front and back are dummies without any light in, so i figured that painting them black would look better. And it did. In the end the holes will be welded.

Will mount the foglights this weekend. Have to do an oilchange, and thus rent a lift, so i will do the lights and mount back the R1 front spioler then. I removed the front spoler to plastidip it shiny black.

Was supprised how good it looked without the lip tho.

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

So, was going to mount the foglights today, and did, but i could not find the damn folight plug in there, so i took them of again. Does not all EU spec cars have this?

When i was done, i put on the plastidipped R1 spoiler and then washed her. Lots of pics:

R1 lip:

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

Rest of the car:










My little driving companion

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

I'm not sure about the Euro spec FD's having front fog lights?

But the FD looks super clean btw!

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

I have researched a bit, and it seems that the relay that controll the front fog lights on the US/JDM versions, controll the Rear fogs on the EU spec. Knowing that, it is just a matter of finding the correct wires, and splice in a Front fog harness. I will never need the rear fogs, so i can just remove the bulbs from them and we are good to go

The propbel is that i need to pull alot of parts of the car to get the front wire harness out, and i am not doing that anytime soon.

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

Hmm that's interesting, I guess EU laws had some weird standard that made rear fog lights a priority over front fog lights?

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

So instead of the 626, i did some work on the RX yesterday. The 99-spec mod.
I was planning to use vinyl foil inside, but that went out the window and i used proper paint instead. And the result came out super!

One of the lights:


In the oven at 150C for 8 mins to melt the glue:


Inside:



Done painting:


And today ill mount them together and bake them one more time for the glue to stick.

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

taillight conversion looks great! Nice job

jetlude

iTrader: (9)

What shade of black did you use? Was it flat black or satin?

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

It is flat black, some sort of plastic paint i found.

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

And then i had put everything back together:





Actually i think it looks so good i need to get a set of real 99-specs

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

Not much happening here whil the car is in winter storage miles from where i live. But i ahve been shopping a bit for the next season. 99-spec oem sexyness!
Will spend some time filling, sanding and fixing before paint

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

Thanks
The e-spec is a rare beast. Only 1152 e-specs where sold, so its actualy fewer e-specs than Spirit-Rs. And if you want the 94-95 its less than 250 of them sold in europe. So i am very happy that i managed to find one

Next on the list is trying to find a good source for 99-spec front bumper parts.

Bubble Tech

iTrader: (4)

looking good! Nice job. I always lovedddddd that rear bumper with the fog lights<3 but it only looks good with euro plates =(

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

Oh thats interesting that you like it. Quite a few people on the EU forums say that they prefer the USDM/JDM rear bumpers.

But I'm with you, I also like the EU rear bumper with the fog lights. And I have euro plates with a US rear bumper...damn lol

Zepticon. If you ever decide to sell that rear bumper...keep me in mind bro

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

Isnt that always the case? You want what you didnt get? Same for my 626, all i wanted was a V6 sedan, all the US people want is the hatchback And everyone wants JDM accessory

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

Grass is always greener on the other side

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

So a small update from me today.
Dint get as much done this summer as i wanted to due to my daily driver acting up, but at least something is in place.

99-spec wing:



Side reflex/marker delete:




FEED style side steps:




I am not sure i like the sidesteps tho, might end up going with the OEM side skirts instead, or even just painted mud guards.

I have also started gathering parts for the next upgrade: