This is mostly just a cliche post about how this is just a place for me to keep track of my build and blah blah blah but really I think this car is something special. And I've been doing a lot of work to it every since I bought it so I do want to keep track of it all and have something cool to look back and see the timeline of it.

The previous owner said before I bought the car from him he owned it for 12 years, and he built it to be the car it was about 8 years before. And he said the car just sat for a couple years before he decided to sell it. Unfortunately he already sold the aero, driver's bucket seat, and a few other things before I got to it. I still had a pretty solid base to start with, just needed some loving.

Basic breakdown:

• Bought the car in February of 2015
• Got it running same night with just a good ol tune up
• Drove it for the summer and did lots of burnouts
• Rebuilt the engine over winter
• Car ran like **** all of 2016
• Bought Haltech ECU, angle kit, tons of fun stuff to still be installed
• Car will be going to Elite Rotary Shop in Illinois in a couple weeks for the ECU install (as well as a few other things like new ignition coils)
• Also bought a Sexy Style aero kit somewhere in there
• Car needs paint real bad as well as other cosmetic fixes to make it look pretty, that'll happen next

Here's what was already done to the car when I got it (straight from previous owner):

Drivetrain:
-Series 5 Jspec 13Bt engine with OEM Mazda rebuild parts by Shook Racing
-FD corner seals
-S4 low comp rotors
-2751 Engineering block off plate kit
-Throttle body mod
-Racing Beat duel belt underdrive pulleys
-Mazda Trix oil cap
-Banzai Racing polyurethane motor mounts
-ACT SS Clutch
-Mazda Trix trans mount
-Tomei 2-way diff
-Panspeed lightened flywheel

Turbo:
-Trust/GReddy 20G turbo
-Trust/GReddy cast iron manifold w/t4 adapter
-Trust/GReddy Type C External wastegate
-Earl’s AN turbo feed lines
-Earl’s AN oil cooler lines
-Trust/GReddy throttle body elbow
-Trust/GReddy turbo inlet hardpipe/silicone intake plumbing
-Trust/GReddy FMIC V-Spec
-HKS SSQV BOV

Cooling:
-ARC 1.3 Bar radiator cap
-Koyo aluminum radiator
-Samco silicone radiator hoses
-Buddy Club temp sensor

Exhaust:
-Racing Beat 3” downpipe w/o2 bung
-GP Sports 3” Spec II Pro Ti exhaust

Fuel:
-OEM 2x720cc & 2x1000cc RC Engineering top feed injectors
-Nippon/Denso fuel pump (from twin turbo Supra)

Ignition:
-MSD 6 A ignition box

Interior:
-Wolf 3D v4+ Flying Lead standalone ECU w/handheld unit
-Pivot 80mm racing tach w/shift light
-Pivot 60mm HIPPIE series boost gauge
-Pivot 60mm GEKKO series oil pressure gauge
-Pivot 60mm GEKKO series water temp gauge
-GReddy turbo timer
-AEM UEGO wideband
-C’s short shifter
-Stainless braided clutch line

Exterior:
-Foresight Japan rear wing
-RE Amemiya mirrors
-Imola Red paint (BMW)

Suspension:
-Stance AL+ Pro coilovers


Here's a few pictures to go along with it too as well progress along the way. I wish I would've done a better job taking pictures but I still have a decent number of them that documented the progress.

This is the night (and following day) after I brought the car home from Illinois. It wasn't running so I trailered it home. Some fresh spark plugs/wires, and some fresh gas did the trick to get it running. Didn't have a drivers seat either so the test drive was pretty interesting on the snowy Wisconsin roads.






I had a set of HRE's already so of course I put em on right away to make the car look at least a little bit better.





I also like having nice interior so I did a couple simple upgrades. I took out the old beat up, worn out steering wheel and replaced it with a Vertex wheel and PBM shift ****.






The RX7 was my daily for the full first year after I bought it, crazy i know, but it was actually very reliable. I also took it to a couple drift days because I wanted to give it a try. Turns out I'm not good at drifting but I love it so I'm going to keep giving that a go (more on that part of the build later). At the end of 2015 I sold the HRE's, bought a daily, and tore apart the car cause I knew the engine was in need of some help. I rebuilt it with the Atkins kit over that winter.






Now comes spring of 2016. Car ran like ****, didn't know why, couldn't figure it out, started buying parts to make it look better. Since the HRE's were gone I needed wheels. A friend of mine had these 2 piece Advan SA3A's sitting around and for some reason told me I could have the full set for $100. There were some very, very minor bends in 2 of them but nothing that even afftected the balancing so I was stoked. Also bought a Sexy Style front bumper from Touge Factory but the kit was discontinued so I couldn't get the side skirts or rear bumper. Eventually I found them from a local-ish guy. Used and painted different colors, but probably the only time I'll find them for sale again so I bought them. A little paint and they'll be looking just fine anyways.











The current stage of this car. Currently torn apart at my shop. Spent a couple grand on parts, a few of which I'm still waiting on. Mostly happy to get rid of this Wolf 3D ECU and go to a Haltech, it'll be nice to have software that's still supported and I can easily get tuned. This is going to be the stage where the car gets done right and I go broke but I'm gonna have one hell of a car in the end. The only thing that will be left now is paint.

A few of the parts I have already or have on the way at least:

• Haltech Elite 1500 ECU
• Villains Drift angle kit
• Sparco Sprint seats
• Electric fan with shroud
• Relocating battery to the back
• Still need fuel rails
• Still need bigger injectors (have 660/1000 currently, need 1000/1600)
• Still need FPR

 

Those 3 spokes are yes.

 

Good luck on the build, can't wait to see the progress. I'm in the same boat, just spent a couple grand on parts and waiting for things to arrive. As I wait, I sit and wonder "Why the hell am I wasting my money!?...ah rotary" lol.

 

that's how i felt once i finally got em on the car. i wasn't too sure about them when they were just sitting in my garage.



thanks dude. im having Elite Rotary finish up the wiring for me in a couple weeks since i don't want to **** up a $2k ECU. can't wait to drive this car again.

 

Couple new updates. Finished up the fuel system over the weekend. Got a Walbro 450lph pump in, 1000cc primary and 1700cc secondary ID injectors, an Aeromotive FPR, ordered some wrong sized fittings for the fuel so it took an extra couple days to get it finished.

Car is on the ground again and ready to be taken down to Elite Rotary to have the wiring done.

 

Keen to see how the sprints look fitted, contemplating getting some for my vert. Are they on the standard rails?

Should look mint painted!

 

I tried fitting them but took them out right away. They sat way too high no matter what I did and I don't really have the time to cut out the floor mounts to mount them lower right now. So back to my cheap NRG seat in the meantime til I have more time to make some custom mounts.

 

Beautiful Build!!! I'm about to start wiring in my Elite as well. I'm not sure what corner seals you got but from that pic of you assembling the rotor, if those are Atkins seals, they look upside down. I'm not sure what that would do. Maybe not seal proper or cause excessive step wear, or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

No, you are right. That pic was from before I realized I had them in upside down lol. They were corrected before I assembled everything.


Side note: I'm not sure how to make my pictures smaller when I upload them directly from my phone.

 

After picking out the empty parts boxes, Fritos bag from behind my mirrors, securing down a battery ground that was just wedged under my carpet to hold it against the floor metal, tightening up some loose/disconnected intercooler coupler (may have happened while loading or unloading from the tow truck bringing it home), moving part of the wiring harness so it wasn’t going to get crushed by the passenger seat when it got installed, and just other general cleaning up of the car, the car is finally back with a Haltech Elite 1500 installed.

Without getting too into detail about the things I’m not happy about, I am generally happy with the car now that I tidied it up after getting it home. Still needs a bit more work to get it rad again, but it drives!

 

have you got some videos of it running? looks like such a cool build

 

I just bought the new iPhone and lost all my photos and videos. but i'll definitely take more next time i'm at my shop now, so probably this weekend. lots to do this winter so i'll get photos and videos before and during the teardown (again).

 

Man I remember seeing this thing YEARS ago, was such a rad car. Glad to see its still alive and kicking, and in the hands of someone taking care of it

 

remember this from years ago, its awesome you have it coming back to life better than ever.

 

Thanks man! Should be looking much better after winter. Got aero already and should be getting it painted finally. Along with a few more fun parts for it

that's the plan at least!

 

What happened to the 3 spokes?

 

I still have them, a couple of them cracked so I gotta get the tires taken off still and have them welded

 

Are those golden RPF1s on the rear? They look as sexy on the FC as I imagined.

 

yeah they are, i actually hate RPF1's and think they look dumb lol, but i got em for a good deal from a friend of mine with brand new tires.

 

Either way, gl on the build

 

I have a little youtube channel/series called Clean Installs. Basically just a fun video project talking a little **** about friends cars and stuff. I had a local friend of mine do a video of my RX7, take a look!

 

Spent some more quality time at the shop today. Pulled the engine to get it ready to replace some seals and fix some leaks. Accidentally spilled all of the trans fluid onto the floor of my shop, whoops. Gonna try to clean up the wiring and make the engine bay look a little better/cleaner over winter as well.

 

Almost got all my parts in to do another winter rebuild.

 

All of my rebuild parts got here just in time for me to realize my front iron was bad. Now I have to wait for the iron that I ordered to get here. So close to engine assembly.

 

Engine rebuilt, everything replaced with OEM internal parts for the most part, Pineapple Racing water seals, that's pretty much it. Now all I gotta do is put the engine in. I want to get rid of a few useless wires and stuff but that can wait til later. I want to make sure my car is running good with plenty of time to fix if it's not.

Also, I keep a running vlog on my Clean Installs page of the RX7 progress and other random stuff if anyone's into YouTube: