The MillionMileFC Build Thread
 

I’ll open this thread with a Text format story of how I’ve gotten started and update with pictures and such as I repair and restore this 1987.5 S4 FC. We’ve dubbed “BMO”

let’s start not with the typical “here’s how I find him” nonsense, and go straight to all the effects this car has blessed us with the honor of containing, such as a nearly flawless/ nearly complete interior, almost all the power train, and a claim from the previous owner “ran when parked” along with a repair and maintenance log that spans back to 1988, and ends in 1996, when it’s clear (according to the window stickers latest date) was the last time this car has been registered or driven.

this also happened to be a year before my birth, as if it’s been waiting for me to grow up and fix it already. 😂

It seems to have been mostly garage kept beside the growth of some moss when I picked him up 3 years ago.

i stored him in the garage after we got him home and had…. Some minor complications (engine fire) and he’s been stored there growing some mildew on the steering wheel. I should’ve taken more photos but I’ll share what I’ve got before we get started and then we can all stick around for the ride.

Cleaned and “detailed” the interior with the kids and upon finding out the tires were bone dry and flat, (duh they’re 20 years old) we’ve ordered em in, and had little hands help me put em in the garage before I figure out how to left the thing up, I’ve never changed a tire before or used a jack, I’ll be learning with the kiddos. So they won’t suffer the same fate.https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...fc423b68e.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e03c0052d.jpeg
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Tiny helpers, such a blessing. You wouldn’t believe how many tire stores I went to before giving up and ordering online, apparently R14 tires aren’t very common anymore. 🙄

14" tires are getting harder and harder to find as time goes on.

Looking forward to seeing more progress on the car!

Its in the air 🥳
 

OKAY UPDATE TIME, so. I lifted it on the sides as the main jacking point for the front half of the car was…. On the floor, as these flat as a pancake tires were making front jacking pretty impossible, I did one corner at a time from the rear first, and GOT IT ON JACKSTANDS!!

✨🥳🎊

believe it or not there’s one tire here with some delicious 1990’s air still inside. So I gotta get it off the rim after I deflate that tasty tasty air.
and then the tiny helpers are gonna clean the wheels with me and unrustify them before putting on the new tires, I’m actually so excited that my little helpers are into this as much as I am 🤌🏻
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...32ea610ae.jpeg
The culprits rusted and responsible for the difficulties mentioned.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...f088f7805.jpeg
I made sure to keep all the lugnuts on so I didn’t lose them or their places, the rear driver side is rusted solid, so I’m gonna have to figure out how to do that whole fiasco another day

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c4a83f36b0.jpg
Time to pop these suckers off will update soon.

edit: yeah there’s no f-ing way, I cannot get them off, so I’m returning the tire spoons, and spending an extra $60 to have a machine do in moments what I couldn’t do in 4 1/2 hours.

sometimes, the money is worth saving the struggle. I know that’s not always an option, and a big part of this is DIY but I can’t DIMyself atm. So we’re getting a lil’ ~assistaunce~ this time. (The rebuild later will also need some help)

Congrats on your purchase. Happy to see another one being saved.

Just don’t give up on it! A lot of people do and a lot of half completed builds end up sitting for too long or get passed around and eventually parted out.

I picked up a set of Starion wheels about a year ago for a steal, still had the original tires on them. I got one tire off and the other three are still sitting here because I’m too old to fight four tires like that. Old dry tires are no slouch to break down!

Out with the old…
 

Got the new tires on the wheels thought one had a flat already….
went to fill it up and brought some soapy water to look for bead issues, shop just didn’t fill one of them up 🙂‍↕️🤣

(nearly had a heart attack over needing to find another wheel 😂)

gonna clean em up and tire shine em and set em aside for after the down pipe installation and the intake manifold rebuild (coming soon gentlemen and ladies)https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...9f1a19140.jpeg
New rubber babeeeeeeeyyyyy~
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...972e28207.jpeg
Little elves magically cleaning them thangs.

I’m not sure where you’re located, but if you’re in the market for some aftermarket 4 lug wheels, I have a nice set of 17’s with new Nitto’s on them. They look good on an FC, just not my style.

I’ll for sure keep that in mind I really like the 17 las-r wheels but that might not stick to my current tastes later on thank you sir

I believe this is the extent of the damage from the engine fire mishap, I’m not sure where to find/source these parts, but if anyone can help out in that department it would be greatly appreciated, I’m keeping an eye out for anyone parting out an NA so I can just scoop up all the hoses and the intake manifold, but this is a little more complicated than anticipated 😂 kinda fun but car guys are something else.

(I have never worked on a car before, so the RX7 and its powertrain were the obvious choice for a beginner.)
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...410ad0214.jpeg
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https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...6230ced7a.jpeg
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This grounding wire seems a little concerning.

by the way, by some miracle, despite the crispy/burnt/nasty appearance of the wiring harness, all electrical components seem functional and unaffected. So at least that’s safe.

Well good news the damage doesn't even look that bad. I see a TPS sensor that likely needs replacing, and some vacuum hoses. I would also strip all the wiring harness sheath off that burnt section and ensure the wiring to the injectors is intact. The other melted bits look like AC refill connection ports.

I wasn’t sure how much of it was TOTALLY cooked or if some of it is salvageable, knowing that the wiring is good was a miracle. I figured those sensors need replaced.
aside from the clip on the harness that’s uh…. Permanently sealed? Only the plastic is harmed but it’s solid, so I guess that one’s not getting unplugged 😂
I’m unsure if repair is possible for some things here. It’s so far out of my known ability, but I gotta try.

so If I get replacement OEM hoses it’ll be fine, but is there a cheaper easier to DIY solution like can I just use any rubber hose? Or is there a specific kind at a hardware store or something that I should pick up?

looking for ideas, not afraid to buy new tools or learn em, just happy to have a community here that’s so full of information.

I recommend using Silicone vacuum hoses, they last a lot longer than rubber hoses and have a lot more compliance. Just a general better upgrade.

You can get a multi-pack of different sizes from amazon like this kit

that’s pretty good! I found this searching some https://hpsimotorsports.com/products...se-kit-1983-92

not sure how it stacks up but @supraturbo1987 mentioned the site in another thread for his FD, and they also happen to stock an FC kit, but it looks like I got a bit of work to do here.

also idk if it’s the Fuel Pulsation Dampener that was at fault for the fire or the injectors not properly seated, as it happened to be while brother in law was trying to get it running as a surprise for me while I was at work (bless his heart)

anyhow he’s one of the first people who’s gonna ride in this thing lol because he’s an inspiration to me with his Subaru build. That thing is turbocharged and scary fast. 😂

But I’ll update soon, I just got my fuel pulsation dampener FPD banjo bolt delete from Atkins in the mail so that’s going in as well