New FD owner from VA
 

Hi all,

I just recently purchased a '94 PEP VR RX-7 from Florida, and am waiting on the truck to pick it up and bring it home to VA. I'm excited to join the RX-7 community - I've been tip-toeing around these cars for a few years now and it was finally the right time to purchase one.

I bought the car as a 30th birthday present to myself and as a retirement gift to my 66 year old dad - he'll be garaging the car and driving it as well.

Pics to come once the car gets here, hopefully soon!

- David

PS: I'm wanting to post a few WTB ads for parts and such, can anyone clue me in on when my profile will get that capability? Forgive me if the answer is obvious, I did a search. Thanks

Here you go:


https://www.rx7club.com/introduce-yo...3E%3C-font%3E/



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Thanks :icon_tup: If the 10 posts have to be in this section before I can post some WTB ads or in any other section - I hope I get a lot of questions!

A bit more of my automotive story - my last fun car was a '99 10th anniversary Miata that I bought stock while in college, and eventually built into more of a track/auto-x car. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the FD compares to its little brother.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...d10e264459.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...bb1fbfdb0b.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...1a0a5889ed.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...3647d55024.jpg


Before that, it was a '88 Supra Turbo 5-speed. I've been without boost for too long...


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...6cf2f19ff6.jpg

I'm hoping I get word tomorrow that the transporter is on the road with my FD - can't wait!

Where are you at in VA?

I'm in Vienna, so the car will definitely come in handy as a NOVA escape vehicle :lol:

Nice Miata and welcome! Any specs/pics of your new car?

Thanks! I do have some so-so pics from the dealer, I guess I can't hold out much longer - better pics to come once it lands.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...4c44cb930f.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...1529f9a000.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...463a54f235.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...99c40da99c.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...8f63b1cc18.jpg

She was purchased by the selling dealer from a 83 year-old who couldn't drive it anymore, and will be coming with ~100 pages of records according to them. 88k miles, the only issue noted being a few minor cosmetic things like cracked defrost vent up on the dash (already ordered a new pair of vents).

I'll be giving it a thorough once-over when it arrives, and have a maintenance/mild build plan already in mind to make it a great street car that my father and I can enjoy :)

Mild build plans are a slippery slope :lol:

Beautiful FD and congrats on joining the community.

Ha, ain't that the truth - I went pretty wild with the Miata and want to build the FD to be "just right". Keep the stock seq twins, do a PFC, SMIC, full (quiet) exhaust and up the boost a bit with some suspension and other bits and hopefully stop there :lol:

Also, good to see a few NOVA guys are in the area, will definitely keep my eyes open for any get togethers.

Thank you! I spy LS motor in your avatar, my first ride in a FD was in a LS2 car at an autocross, an experience I won't soon forget :egrin:

Local get togethers are usually posted here

https://www.rx7club.com/ne-rx-7-foru...ryland-941319/

Good deal, I hadn't made it over to the regional sections yet. I try to attend the Great Falls C&C often, and am looking forward to doing some autocrosses again too. Glad to see that we seem to be a pretty active area!

The car looks very nice for 88k, MUCH better than mine which has about the same mileage on it. Tom is right about the "mild build", plans are quick to change, especially when it's time for an engine rebuild.

If you've got time to head up to the Baltimore area there is a complete Greddy SMIC for sale on Craigslist for much cheaper than what you'd pay here. A medium PFS would look best on your car since it's a VR but if you got the Greddy polished up nice it would be a close second.

Thanks for the heads up on the IC, I sent the guy a message - I had been looking at the RP SMIC (correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's one of the only new options on the market together with the CX Racing IC) but at 900 bucks, this used Greddy could be a sweet option once cleaned up.

Definitely hoping I don't fall off the cliff on this car - I kind of have it in mind to build a Spirit-R tribute of sorts(kind of like the Ti gray PEP car that Mazda USA owns that was built into a Spirit) so I'm hoping I'd be happy with mild bolt ons!

IMO, mods should follow and support what you want out of a car. Do you want a street car that's for the most part stock, but a little improved - or do you want a track car? If it's the former, you really don't need a v-mount and single turbo and big brakes and expensive shocks and etc.

An upgraded SMIC, catback, freshened street suspension and conservative tune will do wonders and provide a car you can enjoy.

But, it's your car....

Most definitely the former - with the Miata, I built a capable track/auto-x car that SUCKED to drive on the street. It had Sparco seats, harnesses, suspension, brakes, wide wheels and tires, etc. that made it a dream anywhere but where it spent >80% of its time. It totally took the joy out of ownership which led to me selling it to a guy looking for a HPDE track toy out in Colorado. It turned out that the whole "dual purpose" car idea didn't work out in practice - at least for me.

For the 7, a big part of the direction which it'll go is the fact that I'll be driving it in conjunction with my 66 year old dad. To that end I want something we both will enjoy driving on the street and the occasional autocross.

As an example, I'm not sure what the current exhaust situation is on the car (I'm glad to see it appears to be stock given there's no fuel controller installed), but the plan is to go with the Bönez DP/catted midpipe to the quietest 3" catback I can find, the Tanabe Touring Medalion.

On the suspension front, I'm actually trying to find what spring/shock combos are out there that are recommended since I'm not really looking for high spring rates an a ton of adjustability for tracking. Seems to be limited these days - if I go coilovers, it'd be something like Ohlins for the simple fact that I'd be concerned with street ride first - though I'm trying to avoid metal pillowballs and all that for NVH. Suggestions welcome!

Congrats and the new FD - very clean foundation to start with. Hoping to find one like this myself. Sounds like you have a solid game plan in mind and look forward to seeing the progress.

Congratulations! FD looks great. I looked long and hard for clean 10th ann NB but ended up with an S2000 instead at the time.

Thanks to you both! Here's a few more pictures to share now that the car has landed in VA:


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5a4bb677da.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...21392e8ce3.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c625128aba.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...a2eca8d79e.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e08fb34293.jpg

The car needs a little TLC - I've ordered new tires, a catted midpipe, and a few other odds and ends - but I believe the fuel pulsation dampener crapped out on me on the first "real" drive this past Sunday. Now looking for a good place to get this fixed, but definitely looking forward to having it back in full health!

Welcome to the community and i must say thats once clean FD im sure you will enjoy every minute driving it.