Thanks.

Here are some new pics of the car:

 

That Mazda sign -- says "Motor City Mazda" -- where's it at? I know it's not Detroit!

 

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.

 

I love how the sign says Test Drive the New Rotary Engine on the bottom

 

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.

 

car is looking great!! very cool pictures of the SE in front of the old Mazda dealership!

 

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.

 

Next to go on the car:


I still plan to go with adjustable struts in the future but couldn't pass up the deal.

 

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?

 

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......

 

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.

 

how does the car sit and ride with the new springs and shocks and struts?

 

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.

 

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.

 

sounds like a good plan! are you going with oem parts?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

What springs do you have on the car?

I have tokiko blues + racing beat springs. Ride is a bit jouncy, but pretty good.

 

eibach springs