Purchased a 1983 GS 5 Speed a couple weeks ago, and I guess I could start uploading/updating whats been going on so far. First, though, a bit about me. I'm 28, and I've been wanting to build/restore a car since I was 10. This car has already become an obsession. Mechanically, I'm very competent, just inexperienced with automobile specific subassemblies. I'm an aircraft electrician/avionics technician by trade, and have always tinkered with pretty much anything I could get my hands on that could be disassembled, since the age of 6.
tl;dr: even if I've never worked on it before, after I carefully take it apart, I can tell you whatever you need to know about it. This is my first RX-7.

So here she is, The Pumpkin:

Current known modifications are as follows:
"Exhaust"
Homemade header w/ Pacesetter flange kit; individual ~2.5" runners for about 2.5', then a Y-pipe immediately before a presilencer. After the presilencer, there's about mayyybe three feet of curved 3" piping that exits just in front of the rear right tire:



Paint Job"
Almost a Mazdaspeed Orange, almost a Home Depot hue, nearly a traffic cone in and of itself, the paint job is great in some areas, but not in others:




I realized the car is polarizing just because of how loud both the paint and exhaust were as soon as I first laid eyes on it. Personally, I love it (why else buy it, right?) but thought the orange wheels on an orange car was going to be too much. I heard about Plastidip, and due to the lack of commitment required, opted to plastidip them white so far. More to follow!

 

So this thread is going to be typed somewhat after the fact, as I have been very busy with work and this car. When I last left off, I had gotten the car up on jackstands in order to change the oil, oil filter, air filter, service the manual transmission, differential, change brake pads, and, most importantly, inspect everything I could get my eyes on. Here's few pictures of that weekend:


Now the wheels were in some desperate need or cleaning/restoration, so I did what I could for a temp fix in order to lock out any more corrision/grime:


A proper stripping, refinishing and actual painting is still in store, but I will be waiting till the new tires come in so that there will be no taping involved, and I can actually get all of the rim.

 

I remember seeing this car on CL. That exhaust must be super loud! Neighbors probably hate u...lol. White wheels are definitely better than the orange I must say. What are ur plans for the car?

 

Lately the the plan has been to assess, observe, and inspect. I've been listening for noises, tightening loose hardware, and spending hours under the car looking for the origin of leaks, sadly. Additionally, the oil pan gasket being the biggest leak has left the undercarriage lovely! After a bit of wiping up, I *hope* I found the source of the diff leak. A loose bolt on the front case! Also found an interesting sticker under all that grime: (car is a gs)

 

If u haven't re-sealed your oilpan yet, I would suggest the right stuff. I had a leak when I first got my car and attempted to re-seal with permatex gray and it still leaked. Had to re do it a second time using the right stuff and leak is now gone.

 

Could you be more specific? I didn't buy any sealant, and it looks like the last guy used some grey stuff (probably what you tried) and obviously here I am Is "the right stuff" a name brand? I bought the Beck/Arnley 034-0455: is there a better gasket to use?



I've actually never done an oil pan gasket before; I just planned on referring to the manual. Is there a good writeup you could link me to?

 

This: http://www.permatex.com/products/our...he-right-stuff

You'll need to search for a thread with instructions but basically remove the oilpan, use razor blade to remove any old gasket material both on pan itself and engine, clean well with mineral spirit, make sure bolt holes on housings are clean, apply right stuff and bolt it up. I didn't use the paper gasket myself. I took my time cleaning the mating surface so I knew it would seal well.