Spetz's 1985 5 Letter Resto/Build
#76
Rotary Enthusiast
Indeed. Really good work.
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Spetz (06-12-21)
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Spetz (06-12-21)
#78
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thanks everyone. Here are some pictures of it installed and compared to the old aftermarket wheel I had. Definitely prefer OEM modified over Aftermarket.
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mazdaverx713b (06-13-21)
#79
Rotary Enthusiast
Yes, I completely agree with your take. Nice work, looks great in the car.
#81
Full Member
Thread Starter
Update on the oil cooler! While I was working on some other minor things I was able to find time to drop off the oil cooler at my friends shop. Their aluminum welder, also a friend of mine welded up two new bungs and redid the welds all on that one side. Pressure tested it, cleaned it up and painted it for me
Installed it this weekend in 45º C weather, took her for a test drive and absolutely zero leaks! I was ecstatic.
Some more good news, I have some red rear seats on the way! Since we are going to be having a kid, i wanted the 3 of us to be able to go on cruises together one day. I was so torn as to get rid of the car and get something with 4 seats or keep what I have and try to source some rear seats. Also only spending $250 for the set seemed like a good deal to me!
Will update when my seats show up as well as my springs
Installed it this weekend in 45º C weather, took her for a test drive and absolutely zero leaks! I was ecstatic.
Some more good news, I have some red rear seats on the way! Since we are going to be having a kid, i wanted the 3 of us to be able to go on cruises together one day. I was so torn as to get rid of the car and get something with 4 seats or keep what I have and try to source some rear seats. Also only spending $250 for the set seemed like a good deal to me!
Will update when my seats show up as well as my springs
#82
Rotary Enthusiast
You're gonna need a family photo, all 4 of you.
Such a great build.
Such a great build.
#83
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thanks! I appreciate the feedback!
This weekend I will be taking out the seats and carpet so I can deep clean them at work. I want the interior 100% clean before the new seats go in as well as finishing up my stereo modification. Also, believe it or not, there was still washable paint in places you wouldn't believe from the original theft recovery - little reminders of its rich history. XD
This weekend I will be taking out the seats and carpet so I can deep clean them at work. I want the interior 100% clean before the new seats go in as well as finishing up my stereo modification. Also, believe it or not, there was still washable paint in places you wouldn't believe from the original theft recovery - little reminders of its rich history. XD
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mazdaverx713b (07-03-21)
#85
Full Member
Thread Starter
Also, i thought i would ask you. Must I remove the entire dash to get to the heater core on this bad boy? I'm thinking about waiting until I have my garage set up before tackling that, if that's the case. Also gives me a chance to remove all the old wiring and what not.
#86
Have RX-7, will restore
iTrader: (91)
To access the heater core, you must remove the entire dash. Its not terrible to do and you can have the heater core replaced in 5 hours or less.
I still can't believe this is the same car I remember reading about 20 years ago. It just blows my mind. It was the screen saver on my computer back then. The picture of the car freshly painted parked in the grass. I wondered where the car had ended up after Stacey hadn't logged on in some time. Very glad the car is in great hands.
I still can't believe this is the same car I remember reading about 20 years ago. It just blows my mind. It was the screen saver on my computer back then. The picture of the car freshly painted parked in the grass. I wondered where the car had ended up after Stacey hadn't logged on in some time. Very glad the car is in great hands.
#87
Full Member
Thread Starter
To access the heater core, you must remove the entire dash. Its not terrible to do and you can have the heater core replaced in 5 hours or less.
I still can't believe this is the same car I remember reading about 20 years ago. It just blows my mind. It was the screen saver on my computer back then. The picture of the car freshly painted parked in the grass. I wondered where the car had ended up after Stacey hadn't logged on in some time. Very glad the car is in great hands.
I still can't believe this is the same car I remember reading about 20 years ago. It just blows my mind. It was the screen saver on my computer back then. The picture of the car freshly painted parked in the grass. I wondered where the car had ended up after Stacey hadn't logged on in some time. Very glad the car is in great hands.
You can still see that multicolored speckled paint they use. It's funny the little reminders you find.
I can't wait to finish the interior. I'm still trying to decide on which shift **** I want. I like the OEM but it's old and faded brown now. I'd like something simple, probably weighted and possibly might throw a shorter shifter on.
The center console bits are all cleaned and prepped for paint. I will be doing that this weekend after doing a couple coats of adhesion promoter.
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DWNUNDR (07-08-21),
mazdaverx713b (07-09-21)
#90
Full Member
Thread Starter
So tonight I decided to tackle the interior. Remove old unnecessary wires from the previous owners and do a full interior deep clean. This also give me a chance to find the culprit of the incessant buzzing noise.
Surprisingly clean but will be vacuuming and spraying disinfectant. 30 some odd years of grossness under there and the odd mouse poop from when it was stored previously.
The rear metal storage bin brackets also need to come out still for my rear seats
Bonus picture. Broken glass from the original theft recovery. How it ended up under the carpet I'll never know!
Surprisingly clean but will be vacuuming and spraying disinfectant. 30 some odd years of grossness under there and the odd mouse poop from when it was stored previously.
The rear metal storage bin brackets also need to come out still for my rear seats
Bonus picture. Broken glass from the original theft recovery. How it ended up under the carpet I'll never know!
#91
Full Member
Thread Starter
My springs finally arrived today! Just waiting on the rims. I'm guessing another month away. I've got the carpet deep cleaned and ready to back in, but finding the time is a constant struggle. Trying to get it all done before the baby arrives!
Great quality but no sticker I guess when you've got the Rx7/Rotary community by the ***** you don't need to give out stickers. :0
Great quality but no sticker I guess when you've got the Rx7/Rotary community by the ***** you don't need to give out stickers. :0
#92
Full Member
Thread Starter
Finally got some work in on the interior! Its almost all back in. Need to clean a few more bits and finish my tablet stereo install but I am so happy with how clean it ended up. 37 years of dirt, grim and sand removed from the carpet and seats!
#93
Full Member
Thread Starter
Almost have the center console completed now! The bluetooth stereo/amplified is installed and hidden behind where the OEM stereo was. I also have the tablet mounted on magnets to the center console surround. I still have to paint the ***** for the fan controls but the rest is going to remain OEM silver, including the vents that would not turn out if painted.
I also have a leather shift boot on order from Redline Goods! I went with dark red leather with black stitching.
Classic mexican blanket to protect from the sun
I also have a leather shift boot on order from Redline Goods! I went with dark red leather with black stitching.
Classic mexican blanket to protect from the sun
#94
Full Member
Thread Starter
Minor updates here, but I replaced all the bulbs and fully installed the center console stereo - now wired for my subwoofer as well! I went ahead and ordered a leather shift boot from Redline Goods in Burgundy!
Very stoked about this!
I should have the interior fully back together soon, and hopefully the rear seats in.
Very stoked about this!
I should have the interior fully back together soon, and hopefully the rear seats in.
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7aull (08-28-21)
#95
Full Member
Thread Starter
So, I've found some temporary wheels for the car! If I clean them up nice enough I might just end up keeping them on there! I kind of like the look. I will need to order some center caps through work as well. These are 15x7 +38 XXR 501's with Goodyear Eagle Sports. They have a lot of corrosion on outer polished aluminum lip so I might try and refinish that portion and repaint the centers, or just powder coat the whole rims one solid color. Let me know what you think!
#96
Rotary Enthusiast
I think they look great.
#97
Full Member
Thread Starter
Haha thanks!
Unfortunately though, these are the two better ones. The other two are doing the aluminum thing - oxidization and clearcoat peeling. I may try my best to clean up the aluminum and polish it back up, but if i have to then I will just powder coat the whole wheel. Any suggestions on color? I was thinking like a Charcoal Grey.
Unfortunately though, these are the two better ones. The other two are doing the aluminum thing - oxidization and clearcoat peeling. I may try my best to clean up the aluminum and polish it back up, but if i have to then I will just powder coat the whole wheel. Any suggestions on color? I was thinking like a Charcoal Grey.
#99
Full Member
Thread Starter
That was my thoughts too, but I don't have a lot of experience refinishing aluminum, or any metal for that matter. I only spent $150 for this set of rims with the tires included so either way i'm ahead. I like the modular look though - I will see what I can do to refinish them keeping the polished lip
#100
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
That was my thoughts too, but I don't have a lot of experience refinishing aluminum, or any metal for that matter. I only spent $150 for this set of rims with the tires included so either way i'm ahead. I like the modular look though - I will see what I can do to refinish them keeping the polished lip
Your results may not be perfect .. but well worth the effort since you got such a great deal on the rims and tires.