When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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.
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. 🙄
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 🤌🏻 The culprits rusted and responsible for the difficulties mentioned. 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
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)
Last edited by MillionMileFC; Mar 25, 2026 at 08:16 PM.
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!
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)
New rubber babeeeeeeeyyyyy~ 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’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.)
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.
Last edited by MillionMileFC; Mar 31, 2026 at 11:08 AM.
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.
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.
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
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.
I think you have a couple of different ways to fix things like this. But I think you're going to be learning how to solder, what dielectric grease and so much more. Youtube university is your friend!
I think you have a couple of different ways to fix things like this. But I think you're going to be learning how to solder, what dielectric grease and so much more. Youtube university is your friend!
Here’s something a little more cosmetic! Ignoring the engine issues and the fact that I’m gonna need a couple thousand dollars to get this puppy running, there’s a COUPLE of interior pieces and fabrications I would like to make, starting with a plastic vent replacement but not OEM ones in blue are hard to come by, and a little pricey my friend told me he had a 3D printer (awesome) and offered to print my broken plastics and I gotta say. They look pretty good I might paint it to match closer but he was guessing based of a description with whatever filament he had in hand, and I gotta say, it’s pretty close and I like the texture, 3D printing is super cool, makes me happy to live in “the future” because the nightmare of sourcing some of these parts pre-2005 must’ve been a very expensive and challenging project 😂🙂↕️ anyway, here’s pictures He made a pair! Even though only one was broken Ill have a backup for the brittle plastic on the other. Like. A. Glove.
thats the update for today, not a lot but I’m happy about it
I gotta say, it’s pretty close and I like the texture, 3D printing is super cool, makes me happy to live in “the future” because the nightmare of sourcing some of these parts pre-2005 must’ve been a very expensive and challenging project
Pretty incredible what you can do with them. Highly recommend looking at Wonderousbread's build thread to see what's possible with home scanning and mapping. My brother found a 3D model of a cup holder that goes in our center consoles and had a friend make it on his 3D printer for my birthday. I was astounded at how accurate of a product it made. Definitely interested in trying some mobile device apps that are on the market for making 3D scans for 3D printing.
Pretty incredible what you can do with them. Highly recommend looking at Wonderousbread's build thread to see what's possible with home scanning and mapping. My brother found a 3D model of a cup holder that goes in our center consoles and had a friend make it on his 3D printer for my birthday. I was astounded at how accurate of a product it made. Definitely interested in trying some mobile device apps that are on the market for making 3D scans for 3D printing.
I just finished reading his entire thread over a couple days, and it’s truly remarkable what modern tech can help us do.
Here’s something a little more cosmetic! Ignoring the engine issues and the fact that I’m gonna need a couple thousand dollars to get this puppy running, there’s a COUPLE of interior pieces and fabrications I would like to make, starting with a plastic vent replacement but not OEM ones in blue are hard to come by, and a little pricey my friend told me he had a 3D printer (awesome) and offered to print my broken plastics and I gotta say. They look pretty good I might paint it to match closer but he was guessing based of a description with whatever filament he had in hand, and I gotta say, it’s pretty close and I like the texture, 3D printing is super cool, makes me happy to live in “the future” because the nightmare of sourcing some of these parts pre-2005 must’ve been a very expensive and challenging project 😂🙂↕️ anyway, here’s pictures
thats the update for today, not a lot but I’m happy about it
did someone say 3D printing? My ears were ringing....
Prints look good, but you'd be surprised what you can still get for these cars. Those vent pieces are actually still available (even in blue), albeit more expensive than a 3d print. Right side Left side
This little tire wouldn’t hold air, I thought we just didn’t fill one up, but it was a bad valve stem core, and it’s officially my first real repair as a blossoming starter mechanic 🧑🔧 😂 I bought the parts and the tires fixed! So I’ll put em on after I attach the exhaust that comes in the mail tomorrow
let’s goooooo
On a side note, I just picked up a S4 motor and engine harness, and I don't plan on using a lot of the parts on the outside of the engine. If you need parts (like a throttle body or harness ), let me know. I'd rather they go to a good home than get tossed.
On a side note, I just picked up a S4 motor and engine harness, and I don't plan on using a lot of the parts on the outside of the engine. If you need parts (like a throttle body or harness ), let me know. I'd rather they go to a good home than get tossed.
I love this community, as luck would have it my throttle body is a bit too crispy and I’d much rather use your garbage parts than they get tossed, that allows for lots of new tinkering too!
so if you can DM me I’ll pay for shipping and that would be very helpful, thank you!
I also need to source the bolts that attatch the down pipe to the engine I bought bolts for $50ish but they attach the down pipe the the cat and the cat to and the etc etc but not the main first connection, so that’s next lol
Last edited by MillionMileFC; Apr 20, 2026 at 10:10 AM.
), let me know. I'd rather they go to a good home than get tossed.