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My Light Beige GSL-SE Restomod Build

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Old 11-22-10, 11:43 AM
  #26  
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Thanks.

Here are some new pics of the car:



Old 11-23-10, 08:39 PM
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That Mazda sign -- says "Motor City Mazda" -- where's it at? I know it's not Detroit!
Old 11-24-10, 09:21 AM
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It is in Colorado Springs. The colorfull building was the office for the dealership and both the fenced in lot and the lot I'm parked in were for the dealership. They have a section of town now with a ton of dealerships all in one place and the call it Motor City but this parking lot isn't over there. I'm guessing the sign is late '70s. It is hard to see in the pic but around the DA in Mazda there is the NGK sun in white.
Old 11-24-10, 06:32 PM
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keep it original!!

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I love how the sign says Test Drive the New Rotary Engine on the bottom
Old 11-29-10, 11:14 AM
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it is a very cool old sign.

Over the weekend, I pulled the front rotors and inspected the barrings because I was getting a vibration up front. The barrings were loose but in great shape so I tightened them down and the vibration went away.
Old 11-29-10, 02:14 PM
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car is looking great!! very cool pictures of the SE in front of the old Mazda dealership!
Old 11-29-10, 02:27 PM
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Thanks.

I also replaced the O2 sensor. The tip was almost completely melted off the old one. I replaced it with a bosch direct fit one. The best price I found was Advanced Auto for $35.
Old 12-20-10, 11:12 AM
  #33  
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Next to go on the car:


I still plan to go with adjustable struts in the future but couldn't pass up the deal.
Old 12-20-10, 11:53 AM
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Nice find. I scored an 84 GSL-SE for free a couple years ago as well. Didn't take quite as much effort to get mine running though. I actually started it up and drove it on the trailer.
Turned out, the ignition system had been wired wrong, and the carb had a metering rod binding. 30 minutes of tinkering, and it run like a champ.
On the other hand, no amount of buffing/polishing will make the paint/primer patchwork shine. As it is now, you have to look hard to tell what is still paint, and what is rattle can primer.......
I won't litter up your thread with pics, unless requested......
Old 12-20-10, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
Nice find. I scored an 84 GSL-SE for free a couple years ago as well. Didn't take quite as much effort to get mine running though. I actually started it up and drove it on the trailer.
Turned out, the ignition system had been wired wrong, and the carb had a metering rod binding. 30 minutes of tinkering, and it run like a champ.
On the other hand, no amount of buffing/polishing will make the paint/primer patchwork shine. As it is now, you have to look hard to tell what is still paint, and what is rattle can primer.......
I won't litter up your thread with pics, unless requested......
Thanks
Do you have a thread for your car?
Old 12-20-10, 12:07 PM
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No. I never bothered with a thread about either of my cars. Guess I could do that, but I don't have many recent pics of either, and only a couple of the SE. It's not real pretty, and looks like it's completely sprayed with rattle can red/brown primer.....
I've also got an 83 red GS runner (avatar pic), and a 83 white GSL that should be running soon.
The GS was $500, and the GSL was also free......
Old 01-11-11, 05:02 PM
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The new springs and struts/shocks are installed. I also installed the front SS brakes hoses and speed bleeders all the way around. One of the speed bleeders snapped in the caliper when I was installing it so I will have to fight to remove it the next time I need to bleed the brakes.
Old 01-11-11, 07:01 PM
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how does the car sit and ride with the new springs and shocks and struts?
Old 01-12-11, 09:22 AM
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I measured the car before I installed but I haven't had a chance to measure it because it's been snowing and cold. I will see what the height change is on Friday. The ride is a little harsh, the Tokico blues are very stiff. They are almost too stiff. I'm hoping that they break in a little since I don't even have 30 miles on them.
Old 01-17-11, 11:52 AM
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I measured the car. The springs rased it up. from the ground to bottom of the rocker panel (not the seem) is 8.5" back and 8.25" front.

Next on my list is changing out the motor mounts, tranny mount, and swapping the drive shaft with the one off my other car.
Old 01-17-11, 01:37 PM
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sounds like a good plan! are you going with oem parts?
Old 01-17-11, 02:04 PM
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I'm pulling the motor mounts and tranny mount off my other car. I was looking at mazdatrix and the right mount is the same 12A-13B but the left isn't so I'm going to have to get one of those. The mounts I'm using arn't oem. The drive shaft I have is an original driveshaft that's had the u-joints replaced and balanced by a shop.
Old 01-21-11, 08:59 AM
  #43  
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I installed 6.5" alpine type s speakers that I had in the place of the original rear speakers. They sound a ton better. Now I need to do the fronts.
Old 01-22-11, 07:15 AM
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Nice work!


Just by the way, I had a 1965 Galaxie 500 with a 352 auto. No ps, pb, ac...nothing. That thing was NASCAR all the way.
Old 01-22-11, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by johnfoothill
Nice work!


Just by the way, I had a 1965 Galaxie 500 with a 352 auto. No ps, pb, ac...nothing. That thing was NASCAR all the way.
The galaxie is a great car, they don't build them like that any more. The thing is a tank and quick. 300hp and 427tq pulls the 4200lbs car very well. I did some mods to the car about 10 years ago but now I going to restore it because it is so rare. It is always fun to drive because of the atension it gets. People will say stuff like "I snuck 6 people into the drive-in with one of those" or "I was pulled over by one of those" or 'I drove my dad's to the prom" etc. Mine has P/S, P/B, A/C, Beige/white with white/black interior. The motor is the thunderbird 390 4bl.
Old 01-25-11, 03:29 PM
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I still need to install the tranny mount and driveshaft. Also next on my list is to replace the 2 coolant lines to the intake.
Old 01-25-11, 09:50 PM
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That car is BEAUTIFUL. Keep it that way. Don't do any crazy body mods or anything. The Rx-7 club needs good examples of what these cars looked like off the show room, especially the GSL-SE.

Oh and about that Mazda sign- it reminds me of the old Gone in 60 Seconds when the camera crew was inside the Mazda dealer as Halicki rammed the police road block.
Old 01-26-11, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by DaBrkddy
That car is BEAUTIFUL. Keep it that way. Don't do any crazy body mods or anything. The Rx-7 club needs good examples of what these cars looked like off the show room, especially the GSL-SE.

Oh and about that Mazda sign- it reminds me of the old Gone in 60 Seconds when the camera crew was inside the Mazda dealer as Halicki rammed the police road block.
Thanks, I don't have any plans for body mods on this car. I just want the car to sit a little lower, I'm even leaving the stock wheels.

You now gave my something to do this weekend, watch Gone in 60 Seconds. I have it, it's just been a while since I've seen it.
Old 01-27-11, 06:04 PM
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What springs do you have on the car?

I have tokiko blues + racing beat springs. Ride is a bit jouncy, but pretty good.
Old 01-27-11, 06:21 PM
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eibach springs


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