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.
Hey everyone, I'm Mo. I live in Pensacola, FL and I'm the owner of a 1987 Rx7 FC. Bought it as a project car and am currently fiddling with the interior. Would love any and all information you guys could provide! Will definitely have a LOT of questions so I appreciate any help.
Picture of the car on craigslist before I bought it
This is after I removed the old carpet and bought and installed new red carpet.
That red carpet is very unique! Is it a brand new aftermarket carpet set? What are your plans for the car?
Thanks! And yeah, I ordered it off of Stock Interiors, was going to get the regular red shade but I decided bright red would be more to my preference, which it is! And currently my plans are in the following order
1) Re-do the interior completely
2) Engine swap (currently thinking about F20/2JZ)
3) Exterior and paint
Hoping to complete her by Summer 2018!
Right now I'm having trouble finding a dashboard locally, mine has a crack in it but until I can find one I'm just going to leave the old one in. I am also looking for seats but this is my first ever project car and I'm learning as I go. Where would I be able to purchase brackets for aftermarket seats?
I have a good maroon dash but shipping on it would be killer. Up north here we deal with rusty bodies and breaking and seized bolts. You guys deal with interiors that have taken a beating from the sun and heat. I'd rather have interior issues over rust any day. I bought an 85 RX-7 about 8 years ago and it was a FL car. Cleanest 7 body I've ever laid my eyes on at that point but the dash was peeling. I had to remove the dash and glue the cover back in its original position, lol. Worth it to do as the body was so clean.
Sounds like you have a plan laid out. Summer of 18 doesn't give you a lot of time if you're doing an engine conversion. Well, unless you're not going to mod the engine to the hills and have to have it tuned and have a lot of other things added to support the power. Then I'd say you should be able to finish the car by then.
I have a good maroon dash but shipping on it would be killer. Up north here we deal with rusty bodies and breaking and seized bolts. You guys deal with interiors that have taken a beating from the sun and heat. I'd rather have interior issues over rust any day. I bought an 85 RX-7 about 8 years ago and it was a FL car. Cleanest 7 body I've ever laid my eyes on at that point but the dash was peeling. I had to remove the dash and glue the cover back in its original position, lol. Worth it to do as the body was so clean.
Sounds like you have a plan laid out. Summer of 18 doesn't give you a lot of time if you're doing an engine conversion. Well, unless you're not going to mod the engine to the hills and have to have it tuned and have a lot of other things added to support the power. Then I'd say you should be able to finish the car by then.
How much do you think the total would be? I'm super interested. I also did some forum researching and am seeing a post where an S13 dash can fit in(?) What do you think? My dash currently has a crack right on top of the part where the cluster would go in. Speaking of clusters, is it true that a miata cluster can plug up to the rx7? And yeah, interior is a lot easier to maintain than the exterior stuff you guys deal with. As for the engine, I'm going to browse all the options when I get to that part. Still trying to figure out if I should just toss the old dash back in and finalize the carpet and I also need to think about seats.
I figure shipping on the dash would be a couple hundred bucks and it would have to go on a pallet. I don't even own a truck so I'm not sure how I would even get it to a shipping company, lol.
I'm not sure if a Nissan dash would fit or if a Miata cluster would work. I do stock restorations and light builds. Been doing that since the late 90's. For me, there's nothing better than a rotary engine in my RX-7. The way the car feels with the rotary and the way the chassis hugs the engine is amazing. The car was built for the rotary and I will always personally stick with a rotary. They can be built to be very fast and powerful so for me personally, an engine swap other than a rotary is out of the question. I would suggest a TII swap in your car and build it mildly, somewhere around 300hp. I think you'd really be happy with that. Very streetable and very quick if you want the power. Plus you are staying true to the car's heritage. Just my two cents.
Congrats on the 7. I have a friend whos doing a similar build. Right now hes having the motor rebuilt at a a place called rotary werks down here in kendall. Excuse my ignorance but I believe there's a rotary shop up there as well.
I figure shipping on the dash would be a couple hundred bucks and it would have to go on a pallet. I don't even own a truck so I'm not sure how I would even get it to a shipping company, lol.
I'm not sure if a Nissan dash would fit or if a Miata cluster would work. I do stock restorations and light builds. Been doing that since the late 90's. For me, there's nothing better than a rotary engine in my RX-7. The way the car feels with the rotary and the way the chassis hugs the engine is amazing. The car was built for the rotary and I will always personally stick with a rotary. They can be built to be very fast and powerful so for me personally, an engine swap other than a rotary is out of the question. I would suggest a TII swap in your car and build it mildly, somewhere around 300hp. I think you'd really be happy with that. Very streetable and very quick if you want the power. Plus you are staying true to the car's heritage. Just my two cents.
Honestly I'm liking your idea more. I think I might shoot for that. I do like the fact of keeping what matches it. I'm going to have a lot noob questions to ask you! Don't worry I'll do my own research before posting on here lol.
08-29-17, 12:58 PM
New '87 FC Owner!
I hope your car survives Irma.