Build Threads The place for complete build threads of 1st Gen RX-7s.

Spetz's 1985 5 Letter Resto/Build

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-10-21, 12:27 AM
  #101  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
I'm beginning to really like these rims. The price was too good to pass up. I may just cancel the Rota RKR I ordered haha. Gave the car a good wash and shammy today. Cleaned the rims up a bit as well. I think when I store the car this winter is when I will refinish the rims. In the mean time - Enjoy!


Old 09-16-21, 11:31 AM
  #102  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Yesterday I finally received my shift boot from Redline Goods. Great quality, if I was to order again I would have gotten Maroon, instead of Dark Red. The colors would have matched better IMO. Nice to have that all back together, although it looks like I need another HVAC unit, as this ones not working and the lights aren't turning on at all.



Old 09-16-21, 01:25 PM
  #103  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
RX7_Renesis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 289
Received 104 Likes on 63 Posts
Your new shift boot gives your car a very modern Mazda KURO interior look.

My 1980 SA came with the black rubber accordion style shift boot .. which I always thought looked cheap.

I will definitely checkout Redline Goods when I'm ready to upgrade my interior.
Old 10-21-21, 06:42 PM
  #104  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
HVAC fixed. Found out I was missing a fuse.... Doh!

Was unaware of the HVAC use mounted the opposite direction of the other fuses. Sneaky buggers at Mazda. Its nice to be able to use the defrost now on cold mornings!

Old 05-25-22, 01:17 PM
  #105  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Been a long while since an update! In the time since my last post we put up a 40x30 shop at the house so I finally have a garage to work in/store the car properly. I also got my rims!

I am still deciding on what to do with the paint/bodywork, being unoriginal paint though - I may my repainting it to match my truck.

Here are the new rims. I went with 15x8 0 Offset Rota RKR. I will being install my racing beat springs as well as the new struts/shock absorbers very shortly so i should have an idea of what tire size I will be going with and how much fender flare I will need.





Unsure about these center caps. They sit out too far.


Old 05-27-22, 05:51 PM
  #106  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts

195/65R15

195/65R15
Old 05-28-22, 05:57 AM
  #107  
Have RX-7, will restore


iTrader: (91)
 
mazdaverx713b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,725
Received 1,059 Likes on 897 Posts
Those look really nice!! What are you planning for the center caps?
Old 05-28-22, 04:35 PM
  #108  
Senior Member

iTrader: (8)
 
eprx799's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Akron area
Posts: 654
Received 47 Likes on 33 Posts
I would use those center caps if they could be cut in half. Otherwise they look like the stick out to far. My2 cents.
Old 05-30-22, 12:18 PM
  #109  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
So I've mounted the new rims/tires. New shocks and racing beats are not installed yet. I will have to do some metal massaging to get them to fit properly and probably entertain the use of camber plates in the front. I do have a professional fender rolling tool and I will be running fender flares so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. I love the amount of meat on the tires. In my head this is definitely what I had envisioned so its nice to see it coming together finally.







Old 05-31-22, 05:51 AM
  #110  
Have RX-7, will restore


iTrader: (91)
 
mazdaverx713b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,725
Received 1,059 Likes on 897 Posts
The wheels look good and the center caps that came with the wheels look great as well!
Old 06-15-22, 04:06 PM
  #111  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Today i changed the tires out from 195/65R15, down to 195/50R15. These should fit a lot better. There was rubbing at the front of the front fender when turning the wheel. This gives me almost 2 inched extra room and they seem to look better.

I also have the new front strut/top hats installed with the racing beat lowering springs. I will be installing those to the vehicle as well hopefully this week. So close to being drive-able again!


The following users liked this post:
RX7_Renesis (06-15-22)
Old 06-20-22, 12:17 AM
  #112  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Installed the Racing Beat springs today and it sits nice. The new tires seem to add to that as well. Took it for a quick drive and damn does it handle like a gokart now. I may have to take out the front strut assembly again because I have some clunking up front and upon inspection it looks like the tops aren't seated properly and the boot/dust cover is bound up at the top.

​​Oh well, back to the drawing board.

I also cut 1/3 off the rear bump stops.





Also got my side of the shop organized



Definitely gonna need some flares...

Yeap.... 100%. I'm not sure how well FB fenders roll or pull, I have a professional fender roller tool but have no experience with FB's. Any insight would be appreciated.
Old 07-19-22, 10:24 AM
  #113  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Guess what useless item is being installed this weekend




The dream of going for a drive with my wife and daughter will be fulfilled.. and cherished.

Old 07-19-22, 10:38 AM
  #114  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DWNUNDR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Jordan MN
Posts: 323
Received 22 Likes on 14 Posts
Seats are only useless if not used.. I was sold a seat setup cost an arm and leg and when it arrived it wouldnt fit.. ended up being a 2nd gen rear seat which tbh is much better as the butt area sits deeper causing pass knees to sit higher need less leg room.. still not much there though haha

ive run my car with me 6.1 my buddy 6.5 and my teen daughter and her friend.. ooh it was a comfy fir for me haha the pic is my daughter and 2 family friends.. first time donut for front passenger hahaha


Attached Thumbnails Spetz's 1985 5 Letter Resto/Build-9e4db7d6-8204-4fd4-89a0-217610657830.png  
Old 07-19-22, 10:45 AM
  #115  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by DWNUNDR
Seats are only useless if not used.. I was sold a seat setup cost an arm and leg and when it arrived it wouldnt fit.. ended up being a 2nd gen rear seat which tbh is much better as the butt area sits deeper causing pass knees to sit higher need less leg room.. still not much there though haha

ive run my car with me 6.1 my buddy 6.5 and my teen daughter and her friend.. ooh it was a comfy fir for me haha the pic is my daughter and 2 family friends.. first time donut for front passenger hahaha
Do you have any pictures of the rear seats installed?

I have FC rear seats I will be installing with the end result looking like this. I know I have to modify the metal pieces that originally housed the bins to get the carpet to come up properly like in the below picture. How much of a job was it to get it to look/fit properly?

This is not my car but another's on the forum. That's what I'm basing mine off of.
Old 07-19-22, 10:53 AM
  #116  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DWNUNDR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Jordan MN
Posts: 323
Received 22 Likes on 14 Posts
Doing som digging thru my build thread

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...&gid=1&pid=152

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...&gid=1&pid=153

i built a little frame to fit it.. not as clean as the one you posted but works
Old 07-19-22, 11:17 AM
  #117  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by DWNUNDR
Doing som digging thru my build thread

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...&gid=1&pid=152

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...&gid=1&pid=153

i built a little frame to fit it.. not as clean as the one you posted but works

That helps immensely! Those pictures of the brackets and what not will help me out!
Old 07-19-22, 11:23 AM
  #118  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DWNUNDR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Jordan MN
Posts: 323
Received 22 Likes on 14 Posts
1inch steel tube.. slot for seat clips..

ill try to look later for more pics of it..
Old 07-21-22, 01:03 PM
  #119  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by DWNUNDR
1inch steel tube.. slot for seat clips..

ill try to look later for more pics of it..
Do you have recent pictures of the back seats installed and do you have any pictures of what you did with the front seat belts being exposed?

With the storage bins removed the front seat belt retractors are visible and I have been looking for a solution.
Old 07-21-22, 01:10 PM
  #120  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DWNUNDR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Jordan MN
Posts: 323
Received 22 Likes on 14 Posts
I actually ordered stuff from back home in Australia if I remember correctly.. shoot Ill have to look when I get home if I even ended up using it all to cover the retractors... its not a huge deal unless you want purely resto original look... but then lets be honest.. its not original anyways...

Old 07-21-22, 01:18 PM
  #121  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by DWNUNDR
I actually ordered stuff from back home in Australia if I remember correctly.. shoot Ill have to look when I get home if I even ended up using it all to cover the retractors... its not a huge deal unless you want purely resto original look... but then lets be honest.. its not original anyways...
I would still like to try and keep it OEM looking :p
Old 07-21-22, 01:21 PM
  #122  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
I got my new center caps for the wheels. Decided to go with plain black. I am contemplating which center cap domed stickers I am going to order so they have some sort of insignia on the. They make the classic MAZDA logo like is on the front and rear of the car.




Old 07-23-22, 11:59 PM
  #123  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
I test fit the seats today. Definitely will be doing some modifications so they will fit properly and still try and keep an OEM look. I love how well the colors match. It's almost like Mazda decided to use the same rolls of red fabric for the seats between the second and first gens


The following users liked this post:
mazdaverx713b (07-24-22)
Old 07-24-22, 05:40 AM
  #124  
Have RX-7, will restore


iTrader: (91)
 
mazdaverx713b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,725
Received 1,059 Likes on 897 Posts
I think those seats are a perfect match!! I'm really excited to see the finished product!!
Old 05-06-23, 11:09 AM
  #125  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Spetz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Summerland, BC
Posts: 150
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Still a work in progress.

Recent work done;
-Engine and transmission mounts

Current list of projects on the go include;
-Refabricating the radiator shroud
-Rear seat installation
-Subwoofer install.

Motivation picture

The following users liked this post:
VA RX7 (05-06-23)


Quick Reply: Spetz's 1985 5 Letter Resto/Build



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:47 PM.