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This is going to be the build I should have done all along. After 20 something years and 7 FC’s I am going to do it.
I wasted the first 6 FC’s because I was too broke and too immature to do an actual build. I spent these years chasing women and dreaming of building a car that, let’s face it, is not a poor man’s car. Even when FC’s were cheap, they can add up fast.
Speed up today, I’ve been financially stable for years, married, two kids. Built a few cars not on a bums budget. And I decided it was time to get an FC and do what I should have always done.
Searched around for a while and man… These cars aren’t cheap anymore. After dealing with a few people that didn’t know how to do business or were full of crap, I found this FC close to home. About 30 miles away. Go check it out, and the deal was done. I tried to haggle some, but I’m not a good negotiator. Wasn’t a bad deal regardless.
This is going to be a somewhat slow build as I don’t have a garage and have to work on it as weather permits.
86 base. No frills except for AC, which I didn’t even know was an option on a base. Has a decent paint job, low mile Mazda reman, emissions and OMP delete, a low voltage issue, a whine in the trans and service records dating back to 1986.
The short term plan:
Sport aero package
Coilovers (ordered)
Exhaust (ordered)
Fix all the gremlins
Drive it till something goes
The long term plan:
Paint (debating on which color to go with)
Black interior
TII trans
Street port and rebuild a spare engine
6 port turbo
Modest 250-300whp
I will do my best to keep this page updated as much as possible.
First thing I did was remove the rear bumper and side skirts. The rear bumper had sat for a while and was warped, so it was a struggle getting it to line up.
I should have more progress this weekend, since Kentucky Christmas is supposed to be 60°.
Excited to follow this build! Congrats on the purchase.
I'm glad you're ditching the body kit, they're kind of atrocious to my eyes.
I like them…. But not on my own personal car.
I have now spent a little too much money on this thing. Hopefully get some things lined out on it this weekend with more updates. The forum just isn’t what it used to be and it makes me sad that Facebook has taken over. There’s such a wealth of knowledge here and I’m afraid that one day it will get lost to the ages.
Cool build man. I'm psyched to see what you do with this FC. As for budget, tell me about it. Rx7s aren't cheap, but even cheap cars aren't cheap anymore. Ask me about my $25k+ track NA miata .
Came home from work and had some goodies. A big bag of LED’s for some of the bulbs, a Banzai Racing dual alternator pulley and belt kit, along with their adjustable alternator bracket and the second part to my very soon to be obnoxious exhaust, the 3 inch resonator.
I got the full aero package ordered, minus the wing, which I’m going to pick one up Saturday. I also ordered an entire turbo setup from an S4 TII, complete with a front mount and Power FC.
Ordered a new radiator, e fan and LRB radiator panel. I want to make sure this thing stays cool.
Big bag o’ 1157 led’s Banzai goodies Summit resonator
Looks like a solid base to build your dream car. I really like the paint colour - these cars look great in maroon.
I really, really wish these cars were still cheap. It would be so nice to have one nice one and a second one to drive year-round here in Canada and not care about the rust. It also makes me sad to think that it's harder for young people to get into these cars now.
Keep posting as you work on the car, I'm excited to see where this goes
Reckon I’m due a new alternator. This one is brand new but is not charging. This things been running off of pure battery basically. Running voltage. Non running was 11.4. Has a steady drop when the headlights are on.
Test the alternator independently at the parts store. It may not be the alternator especially if it's new. It likely is but it's easy to test to be sure.
Test the alternator independently at the parts store. It may not be the alternator especially if it's new. It likely is but it's easy to test to be sure.
It’s a rock auto reman, so I automatically assume it’s toast. It is only 7 months old. But we will see what the parts house says. I did get the front bumper on though. Got some new nice glass headlights with LED bulbs. And then proceeded to drop one and shatter it. 🙄
Last edited by jerd_hambone; Dec 26, 2025 at 04:35 PM.
Nice work so far, this is similar to the build I am working towards. I am aiming for much more modest HP #'s though at 170hp or so at the engine.
My 87 is a GXL with the same paint code but with grey interior. I like the respray color on your car much better than stock! I assumed the stock color was unusual but not rare, the more you know.... Unfortunately, mine is "R" titled and has had front driver side work.... I really want to do the Enfini green or possibly the purplish stock color if I were to change the paint. The stock color is kind of growing on me after all these years, though. I assume trying to paint match yellowed clear coat even after a good cut will likely look off anyway.
I was considering the LRB rad panel as well. I am just concerned about the added weight. I want the aero package, too... hard to find. I would augment the s4 aero mirrors for the the s5 aero mirrors... they look better to my eyes and s5 skirts. I can't imagine that there are any s4 skirts kicking around still. LRB makes the front sub-frame panel, which helps. Now if only I could find mud flaps.... I would consider those, too.
Nice work so far, this is similar to the build I am working towards. I am aiming for much more modest HP #'s though at 170hp or so at the engine.
My 87 is a GXL with the same paint code but with grey interior. I like the respray color on your car much better than stock! I assumed the stock color was unusual but not rare, the more you know.... Unfortunately, mine is "R" titled and has had front driver side work.... I really want to do the Enfini green or possibly the purplish stock color if I were to change the paint. The stock color is kind of growing on me after all these years, though. I assume trying to paint match yellowed clear coat even after a good cut will likely look off anyway.
I was considering the LRB rad panel as well. I am just concerned about the added weight. I want the aero package, too... hard to find. I would augment the s4 aero mirrors for the the s5 aero mirrors... they look better to my eyes and s5 skirts. I can't imagine that there are any s4 skirts kicking around still. LRB makes the front sub-frame panel, which helps. Now if only I could find mud flaps.... I would consider those, too.
I will be following along, keep up the good work!
I think I was a little over excited about my hp numbers. I decided to aim for basically a stock turbo setup strapped to the NA engine. Plan to keep the boost low. As long as I have turbo noises and a nice cruiser, I'll be happy.
I have the LRB radiator panel on the way, so I will keep you up to date on that. I do love this color, but I'm going to go back to the original color. I've barely been able to find some Royal Maroon cars to judge off of. I do believe that this car is painted the 88 Claret Mica. I'm trying to find a vinyl wrap that's close to the original color.
I got lucky and found the sport 3 piece lip, and front and rear mud guards, I picked up a wing this weekend as well, but it needs some work. I'm still on the hunt for the mud flaps. I'll find a set one day.
I have the LRB radiator panel on the way, so I will keep you up to date on that. I do love this color, but I'm going to go back to the original color. I've barely been able to find some Royal Maroon cars to judge off of.
Mine is 3A Royal Maroon Metallic:
The metal flake is pretty subtle, and this photo is too far away to really see it. I would've preferred Sunrise Red when I bought the car, but in the years since then Royal Maroon Metallic has really grown on me.
The car is undergoing major surgery, but when I do end up painting it I'm almost certainly going for 3A again. The only thing I don't love about 3A is that since it's a single-stage paint, there's no way to blend it if a repair is required. You can't wet-sand it or you'll sand down into the flake. I'm not sure if a two-stage version would look right since the flake in the original is evenly distributed through the depth of the paint, and with a two-stage it would live under the clear. I'm thinking the best option is to paint it single-stage then clear coat over that, so that repairs would be possible in the future but it still achieves the right depth for the flakes.
When the time comes I'm going to get advice from my local paint shop before I purchase any paint.
The metal flake is pretty subtle, and this photo is too far away to really see it. I would've preferred Sunrise Red when I bought the car, but in the years since then Royal Maroon Metallic has really grown on me.
The car is undergoing major surgery, but when I do end up painting it I'm almost certainly going for 3A again. The only thing I don't love about 3A is that since it's a single-stage paint, there's no way to blend it if a repair is required. You can't wet-sand it or you'll sand down into the flake. I'm not sure if a two-stage version would look right since the flake in the original is evenly distributed through the depth of the paint, and with a two-stage it would live under the clear. I'm thinking the best option is to paint it single-stage then clear coat over that, so that repairs would be possible in the future but it still achieves the right depth for the flakes.
When the time comes I'm going to get advice from my local paint shop before I purchase any paint.
I like it a lot. That's the color mine is supposed to be. I've found a few wraps that are close to it, but none quite right.
The color of the car shifts a bit due to the flake especially if is dirty or low/high light. It is difficult to get good picture of the color due to inconsistent lighting conditions. It really comes alive in bright sunlight.
My first 7 was an S5 in winning silver, it looked tan mostly but looked like it had a salmon/pink hue at times because of the flakes and different lighting conditions.
I have now spent a little too much money on this thing. Hopefully get some things lined out on it this weekend with more updates. The forum just isn’t what it used to be and it makes me sad that Facebook has taken over. There’s such a wealth of knowledge here and I’m afraid that one day it will get lost to the ages.
Agreed. I try to be active to help keep it alive. Forums are a better place for more long from stuff like a build thread. However I do have a fb photo album that I also use a repository of photos and to keep my non-RX7 car friends in the loop about what's going on.
Agreed. I try to be active to help keep it alive. Forums are a better place for more long from stuff like a build thread. However I do have a fb photo album that I also use a repository of photos and to keep my non-RX7 car friends in the loop about what's going on.
I don’t have friends. So I have albums on my phone to show my non-car people co-workers my cars and watch them dissociate while I go on and on and on about my plans. 😂😂
