So I picked up yet another rx7 but this one holds a special spot in my heart. It's the 83 Limited and shes in rough shape. I decided that this one must live to see the road again; But it's high mileage(160K+) and the Interior and exterior are both sun damaged. So I thought I would document the restoration of it and hopefully get some help along on the way.
My BIG question is how many of the limited 7's have been converted to the back interior? Should I try a restore it to the red or go black?

So far I have pulled the exterior trim pieces around the windshield (I broke almost all the clips trying ops) and i'm painting them with rustoleum gloss paint.

Poured 2-3oz's of motor oil down the carburetor to help with rotating the motor around by hand. Also I am removing the stock exhaust for the Rb twin pipe system, and removing the stock oil cooler for a front mount .

When I bought the car it came with some goodies I.E. full Rb exhaust kit, ss brake hoses and a lot of small Mazda OEM parts still in bags

More to come and Pictures too

 

Congrats on scoring a LE...my parts car is a LE and I have decided that it will live again as well. I think the 83 LE wheels will be the most prized portion of your build. If you can score a set in decent shape and paint the car the correct shade of Chateau Silver, no one will care what your interior color is...lol. If you need the limited badges I have a nice set too.

 

my limited badges are in a bit of ruff shape now that i look at them the staring to crack and peal ill pm when i have money if you want... yea the wheels are in really good shape cool so i now know what color to paint it couldn't tell if it was gold or silver lol
oh more pictures to come ill make sure to take better ones with a actual digital camera not my cell lol

 

Good score! I've been trying to find a LE for years!

 

Nice the exterior looks to be in better condition than the 85 rx7 I got. But interior wise the car I have is black and in great shape. I would have to say I would prefer the black interior over the red that I saw from an 83 rx7 I saw at a junk yard. The black to me just looks a little more sporty than the whole interior being red unless you can mix it up a little.

 

I think you should keep it red. It looks more classy. The black looks more sporty, but the red is really one of the distinguishing characteristics of the LE. Just my $0.02. BTW, nice score, I have and LE too and I really like it.

 

Keep the original colors, interior and exterior. The color combo and the wheels is what makes the LE so cool. Take those away and you've got another GS.

 

Had some extra time on my hands to do a little work.. removed the over weight useless so called oil cooler and thought hey i would show some more of my pain lol








Both doors are the same


Any idea how to/if that pipe can be removed for the straight one

 

Tell me you are going to install a front mount oil cooler. If not then put the beehive back on or your headed for oil failure.

 

I was kinda thinking the same...the beehive is not the most efficient especially when used in performance oriented builds, but on the street its adequate enough. If your not going front mount, then you should prob run the beehive.

 

i just cut pipe back after the second outlet..
never had issues

 

yea i am going with a front mount i am getting the oil cooler from www.rotary-works.com/ and then using rb ss lines. I thought about cutting that pipe but didn't know if it could unthreaded. The reason I am changing to the front mount is I HATE the beehive I lost a motor to one and i have no plains for the two i have that are siting in a bucket, that and shear factor of weight and cooling


Edit: oil cooler in question is
Aluminum Oil Cooler 21.75"x7"x4" , core:18"x4.5"x2.75", AN10 Inlet & Outlet
Item Code: RW-OC-03-BLK


just a thought the 86 style oil cooler might be better and cheaper way to go hummm?

 

I'm going to use the Rotary-Works FMOC in black. It is a little pricey at $200.

Aluminum Oil Cooler 21.75"x7"x4" , core:18"x4.5"x2.75", AN10 Inlet & Outlet

 

its my opinion that if you are restoring this LE, you should repaint it the original color and restore the interior to oem specifications. heck, i have a crack free maroon dash you can have for free if you'd like it.

 

o.0 black would be very nice but i think your right.... crack free maroon interior parts that has been my biggest fear with this is finding good looking/useable interior parts...ill pm you mazdaverx713b