I originally bought this 1-owner '83 GSL in 2005 when I was 17. It was in great shape except the engine was kaput and it had been sitting for years. My plan was to turn it into a street-able track day car.



Years passed, people were jerks, money was spent, things went wrong and I gave up and let a shop owner do what he wanted with it. That was about 5 years ago.

Turns out the guy never did anything with the car, just put it somewhere. Still don't know why, he could have a lot of money parting it out. But his shop closed, and long story short I got the car back.

So now it looks like this:



The paint is ruined and a lot needs to be fixed from so long sitting (many are things that I had already fixed because the previous owner had it sitting in a garage for just as long). But it's still got a great engine in it, excellent body and I'm determined to make things go right this time. So begins a restoration!

Wish me luck!

 

GL w/ your build! Mine is similar. What's your car's production month?

 

Does yours have the mustard interior too?

 

Thanks! I think gold and black look great. Maybe it's partly because I went to Purdue? :P

Can't remember the month off the top of my head, though if I recall it's in later of the two "halves" of the '83 production year. No mustard (does it look like mustard IRL? in your photo it looks beat up, but like a tan leather kind of thing), rather a multi-brown that I'm cool with. Sorry, pic was taken as a reference for the stack, not really as an illustration of the interior:



Today my new brown seats from wahootee arrived. Much better than the grey 2nd gen seats that I got long ago to replace a broken drivers seat:

 

Current carb is a Mikuni. I bought a roller on ebay for $80 and it happened to have a Mikuni and full RB exhaust, so I've been using those. The Mikuni dumps gas onto the top of the engine, nobody can seem to figure out why, so away it goes.

Old firehazard:



Replacement Stirling Nikki ($400):



I still have work to do on the intake manifold, which I took from a pile of parts I had in storage for something close to forever. Following Vipernicus' strip down guide.

Planning to get a RB streetport exhaust if I don't decide to go custom. Not done reading this thread yet.

 

are the front springs cut? it looks really low..

 

Actually it's got an adjustable coilover mod with Koni shocks and ISC springs. They're too hard for street use so I'm gonna swap out for something a little more street-able soon.

Its also set to a high degree of camber right now. Will be changing that the next time I've got it up on jacks. Horrible old cell phone pics:

 

would happen to be looking to sell the adjustable coilover mod by any chance? like once you have a street set-up you want.

 

They're really just spring height adjusters. I'd say the word "mod" comes from the trouble it took to make them work with the other components that were Frankensteined together.

I'll let you know what's leftover after the next suspension adjustment! If nothing else, losing the springs and shocks

 

Quick update. RB 12a streetport exhaust is on, replacing my rusty old RB 12a stockport exhaust. Carb and mani are on, fiddling with getting the throttle cable right. Might buy a new one, mine has a kink in it that I can't seem to get straight.

Debating whether to get an RB filter or make a custom setup like Cookboy did. Researching to make a diagnostic attempt on my wonky tachometer and busted oil pressure and fuel level gauges. Looking for a good upholsterer to do something about that rip in the drivers seat.

Pics to come. For now, 86 cent grocery store score:

 

Good to see the progress! My air cleaner is just a ripoff of Glazedham42's idea for a K&N mount. I saw the cheapo Spectre air cleaner at the parts store one day and went for it.
It's cheap and effective, but requires a donor stock air can.

 

looking to sell your side draft manifold?

 

I'm gonna hang onto the manifold. But if anybody is looking for a Mikuni for parts, it's available.

 

cool beans.

 

any update with suspension work?

 

Update time! Getting an estimate for paint/body work tomorrow morning.

Replaced rear rotors, calipers, and pads. Replaced clutch slave cylinder and master. New tie rod end and front sway bar link.

Still tinkering with the carb, can't seem to get it to idle under 2,000 RPM

Fixed temp and oil pressure gauge but tach is still jacked and haven't replaced the gas tank sending unit so it's still not working. Adjusted the ride height hoping that would fix the grinding pinion in the back, but hasn't changed. Not sure what to do about tha...





Got the pop-ups working!



Haven't replaced it yet. Had a quick alignment done to get by. Might get it replaced in december

 

I am interested in the front shocks and springs if you unload them thanks.

I also have an 1982 carb with 500 miles( pulled from my new 82 rx when I installed the racing beat kit) if you interested in trade..

801-707-5099

Thanks

Rick

 

If anybody wants the suspension components I'd be up for a swap. I need good condition original parts. The koni adjustable shocks, ICU race springs, height adjusters and camber plates all up for sale.

Thread from back when the kit was made: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...ackage-469039/

 

^^Edit^^ Springs are ISC, not Intensive Care Unit perhaps time to stop binge-watching Scrubs on Netflix!

 

Time for a photo dump! Last couple months paint work:

 

 

 

 

And it starts getting good!

 

Clear went on yesterday