RJRX-7

Since this is the "introduction" thread I guess I'll start with me. My name's Ray J, I'm 18 and I'm currently a college student at Moorpark. I'm Mexican and a full DIY'er (I have a feeling the two are connected somehow). I also take pride in saying I have never let a mechanic touch my car and I never will.... till I get my *cough* rebuild and clutch change *cough*
anyways
Glad to finally join the rotary community!! I've been saving up my money for 2 years and thinking about what kind of car I've wanted to own since 13. I've thought and contemplated and had my eclipse gsx, Integ GSR, S13, Celica GTS, Miata, even a Mustang GT phase .
Anyways... I finally manned up and got the 7

In the past two months I've been relying on minimum wage to fund my car. After I pay off the two tickets FOR MY 7 in the same month ($800 total) that ruined my clean record!!!
strange thing is... I don't care!! I have a 7 man!!
So as you can tell these past two months have been interesting.

So on to the car.
I bought a White 1990 GXL 2+2 seater coupe with blue interior. So its N/A.

Reliability Mods since I bought it:
Changed Air Filter
Put in new NGK SP, the last guy mixed up the trailing and leading.....
I put Redline MT-90 tranny oil.
Changed oil to 20W-50 (summer in CA) along with Oil Filter
Changed Fuel Filter
Flushed Radiator with Distilled water then put in Green AF with Distilled water (60%W-40%AF)
Changed Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses
Changed Motorad <--- to Nippon Thermostat
Heater Hoses look fine for now

Next Step in Reliability:
Change belts
Change all vacuum hoses
Put in Poly/U Bushings set
Lube up rails for Moonroof, and Power Windows
Rack and Pinion Bellow along with Outer and Inner Steering Rods
Change Transaxle fluid <--- That's what it is right?
Change Brake Fluid
Hawk Pads
New Rotors
Plus some sticky summer tires Pilot A/S plus or w/e (I'll look into it later)

Changed interior:
Changed the Instrument Cluster (old one was nasty)
The instrument Cluster Bezel (previous was spray painted white...)
Changed Glove Box (previous was spray painted white and fading...)
Installed different Accel Pedal. (old one had a super glue hill on it)
Panels for side mirrors in good condition (old ones cracked and glued)
Changed to a not so good condition shift boot (old one had super glue everywhere)
Put in a better shift boot surrounding plastic cover

Next Step for interior:
Greddy Shift **** (Blue grex/trust)
Stock shift boot
New carpet
New sun visors
Better radio surrounding plastic cover
Recaro driver's side seat
Seat belts for rear 2+2 seats (yes, I know only midgets fit there)

Haven't gotten into the Performance yet but I want to keep it N/A. So I'm selling my other car for the rebuild.

For my N/A performance I'm going to keep it modest.
Short Shifter
RB cat back exhaust.
Rebuild with Street Port.
ACT Aluminum Fly w/ a clutch and street disc
Koni Red Coilovers
RB Sway bars
New Toe Eliminators
some other stuff I already threw in the reliability category...

Its not really in order of my priorities, its just a rough outline of whats to come.
and don't judge my categorizing!!

But I believe this is my rule of thumb
1. Reliability
2. Performance
3. Comfort
4. Appearance

Anyways, since its kind of my third car, I still think of it as my first TRUE car.
If there is anything that you think I should add please say.
Any positive comments or constructive criticism welcome.

Oh.. and pics will be up soon.

RJRX-7

Got the photos here

daviddeep

iTrader: (4)

Looks really clean. The paint even looks great, which in an S5 Crystal White car probably means it's been redone. Even the interior looks good. Sounds like your plan to address reliability and deferred maintenance first is a good one. Congratulations and welcome!

wolf_9782

welcome to the rotary brotherhood! hope you enjoy your time with the FC

RJRX-7

Thanks I appreciate it. I want to get it decent before Sevenstock in SoCal.

Mad props to everyone in this site for all their tips. If it wasn't for all the Rotorheads here that fight for the reliability of the engine I might not have ever got it.

Have to keep the misinformation from spreading.

Brice_Brice

Your top priority is reliability. Porting wont give you the best in that category

gtu-bridged

nice

p1rat3

Nice car, and sounds like you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. Goodluck

daviddeep

iTrader: (4)

I don't know if I agree with this statement. Unless you're talking about some wild peripheral port... a mild streetport can give you a nice, noticeable power bump without really sacrificing any reliability. I put over 40,000 miles on a streetported rebuild, then when the car rusted out I gave the engine to a friend who's still using it now.

Mayhem85

really nice car

Toole

car looks clean, congrats

RJRX-7

Thanks everyone, appreciate the positive comments.

However, Brice Brice I have to lean towards daviddeep's side on saying I think I can run a mild Streetport safely, but I am willing to be open to your side of the story if you have had past experience with the reliability issues on this.