New FD RX7 Owner Intro
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
New FD RX7 Owner Intro
Hey RX7club,
Purchased my first RX7, a black '93 R1 from a JDM auction about 2 months ago! Patiently awaiting its delivery next week and been lurking on this forum for the past 8 weeks just acquiring knowledge about the FD life.
It is in mint stock condition (both visual and mechanical) with less than 20k miles and absolutely not modifications done to it (only thing that needs a touch up is the front lip). Intentions are to keep 100% stock look inside and out, perform all the reliability mods, and do a light tune with the stock turbo setup. Here she is before getting shipped over:
Any other North Jersey RX7 owners on here?
-matt
Purchased my first RX7, a black '93 R1 from a JDM auction about 2 months ago! Patiently awaiting its delivery next week and been lurking on this forum for the past 8 weeks just acquiring knowledge about the FD life.
It is in mint stock condition (both visual and mechanical) with less than 20k miles and absolutely not modifications done to it (only thing that needs a touch up is the front lip). Intentions are to keep 100% stock look inside and out, perform all the reliability mods, and do a light tune with the stock turbo setup. Here she is before getting shipped over:
Any other North Jersey RX7 owners on here?
-matt
#2
It's Britney b*tch!
Mmmm Montego Blue Mica. Love these cars. And I always appreciate seeing clean, stock, FDs. She's beautiful! Welcome to the forums.
What made you purchase this car? Why an FD?
What made you purchase this car? Why an FD?
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
So why the FD, haha: I was the weird kid on the block in the 90s that wanted a bunch of JDM cars, while my friends all had posters and models of their Lambos and Ferraris! They didn't get it, nor did i get them, haha. IMO the FD is the most gorgeous sports car ever designed (unobtainium/hyper cars aside). Top it off with so many unique design choices Mazda chose, it makes it in the top 3 of all time in my book Also stoked to get into the weeds of learning to rebuild and tune rotary setups. Thinking of trying to find a FC or FD project shell this summer as well.
Any good clubs/shops/communities around the NY/NJ/CT catering to the RX7 community.
-matt
Any good clubs/shops/communities around the NY/NJ/CT catering to the RX7 community.
-matt
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Febreze Mee (04-11-20)
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#9
Junior Member
Great choice. I spent a year looking for my 94 FD and found one with 5,000 orig miles. First things I did were the reliability mode like you. smart choice. Good to keep it stock otherwise, value wise. Welcome to the forum and good luck with your car. When I got mine shipped I wound up standing in my garage sometimes at night staring at it with a smile on my face. See if that happens to you.
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
ready to shower her in some gifts once she arrives! About 80% of the round 1 reliability/maintenance parts have arrived so just waiting on her arrival!
It was quite the long adventure trying to get her for me as well @jricci . About 7 months of auction hunting 2x a day, 4-5 days a week! No doubt will there be a lot of weeks of just looking and admiring in my future haha.
It was quite the long adventure trying to get her for me as well @jricci . About 7 months of auction hunting 2x a day, 4-5 days a week! No doubt will there be a lot of weeks of just looking and admiring in my future haha.
#11
Congrats on the super clean pick up!
Just wondering what else you’ve got planned for the rest of phase 1 and phase 2 reliability?
Also, I see a down pipe, is that needed for reliability since your car is JDM and doesn’t have the stock precat like the USDM models?
New R1 lips are still available from Mazda and not too expensive. I’d recommend just buying a new one to make sure it’s super clean to match the rest of the car’s condition.
Just wondering what else you’ve got planned for the rest of phase 1 and phase 2 reliability?
Also, I see a down pipe, is that needed for reliability since your car is JDM and doesn’t have the stock precat like the USDM models?
New R1 lips are still available from Mazda and not too expensive. I’d recommend just buying a new one to make sure it’s super clean to match the rest of the car’s condition.
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
@RXSHUN Great question which would be awesome to vet on here in case my R&D on these forums resulted in some misses. Here's my all-encompassing project work list:
Phase 1:
Overall, its a quick and simple list thus far... Did I miss anything from my stock FD maintenance and reliability list? I know there is a little scope creep with the downpipe/midpipe upgrades, but figure its an easy swap back if i don't like it or wind up appreciating the stock more.
Phase 1:
- Vac lines and check valves
- Engine Oil
- Trans Oil
- Diff Oil
- Coolant
- Thermostat
- Coolant Cap
- Apexi PFC
- Fuel Filter
- Injector o-rings
- Air Filter
- Low Premix levels (if oil pump in good condition)
- Plugs
- Brake Pads
- Basic Cleanup (wipers, lights, detailing)
- Downpipe (realized the JDM didn't have the precat after I bought it, got it used for a steel anyways, technically not needed)
- Midpipe cat delete (maybe not reliability as much as also wanting a little bit of grunt, inner child in me and extra smiles/mile)
- Cera-cote turbo manifold
- Cera-cote hot side turbo housings
- Cera-cote downpipe
- Wideband
- Datalogit
- New R1 Lip
- Ding removal and scratch touch-up
- Catch can (? not sure, pending inspection)
- Radiator (? not sure, pending inspection of tanks)
- Ceramic clear coat paint (? not sure, pending inspection)
- Oil Pump delete (? still on the fence about this)
Overall, its a quick and simple list thus far... Did I miss anything from my stock FD maintenance and reliability list? I know there is a little scope creep with the downpipe/midpipe upgrades, but figure its an easy swap back if i don't like it or wind up appreciating the stock more.
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rx-smebbin415 (04-25-20)
#14
Looks like you’ve got a pretty comprehensive list there.
The only thing I didn’t see was the air separation tank. You can read up on the debate around replacing it with oem, going with an aftermarket aluminum AST, or eliminating it altogether. People have varying opinions.
I also wouldn’t consider the downpipe to be something you would easily or frequently take on and off. Depending on the design it can be frustrating to install and some people even have to loosen engine mounts or spend quite a bit of effort getting it in.
Looks good though. Good luck.
The only thing I didn’t see was the air separation tank. You can read up on the debate around replacing it with oem, going with an aftermarket aluminum AST, or eliminating it altogether. People have varying opinions.
I also wouldn’t consider the downpipe to be something you would easily or frequently take on and off. Depending on the design it can be frustrating to install and some people even have to loosen engine mounts or spend quite a bit of effort getting it in.
Looks good though. Good luck.
#15
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (19)
I agree with rxshun. A new AST is at the top of the list. Reliability 1st.
Down pipe, big yes. it will cool off your engine bay and is usually a close 2nd on the list behind the aluminum AST.. I'd wait on the midpipe until I have some kind of tuning for the pfc. Too much flow and you'll start to creep., which is dangerous for the rotary. A hi-flow cat works great!
Down pipe, big yes. it will cool off your engine bay and is usually a close 2nd on the list behind the aluminum AST.. I'd wait on the midpipe until I have some kind of tuning for the pfc. Too much flow and you'll start to creep., which is dangerous for the rotary. A hi-flow cat works great!
#16
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Coolant hoses: good call, thanks for the tip.
AST: definitely what I meant when I wrote "catch can", not sure where my mind wandered off to. Only looked into an aluminum replacement, but intrigued by "eliminating all together", gonna look up what that entails to make sure things still operate well. Thank you.
Also finished up making the cufflinks for the big date
AST: definitely what I meant when I wrote "catch can", not sure where my mind wandered off to. Only looked into an aluminum replacement, but intrigued by "eliminating all together", gonna look up what that entails to make sure things still operate well. Thank you.
Also finished up making the cufflinks for the big date
#17
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Headlights
ready to shower her in some gifts once she arrives! About 80% of the round 1 reliability/maintenance parts have arrived so just waiting on her arrival!
It was quite the long adventure trying to get her for me as well @jricci . About 7 months of auction hunting 2x a day, 4-5 days a week! No doubt will there be a lot of weeks of just looking and admiring in my future haha.
It was quite the long adventure trying to get her for me as well @jricci . About 7 months of auction hunting 2x a day, 4-5 days a week! No doubt will there be a lot of weeks of just looking and admiring in my future haha.
#18
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Northern California
Does anyone wanna help out a new fd owner? I would appreciate it I have questions about AST and I just bought my fd a month ago it’s been at the mechanic and I haven’t even driven it yet. I don’t know where to start I had him do tuneup but I don’t know if it has original omp and where to look for it. Also need it to pass smog but don’t have stock air I. And it has fc commander.
thanks guys
thanks guys
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Does anyone wanna help out a new fd owner? I would appreciate it I have questions about AST and I just bought my fd a month ago it’s been at the mechanic and I haven’t even driven it yet. I don’t know where to start I had him do tuneup but I don’t know if it has original omp and where to look for it. Also need it to pass smog but don’t have stock air I. And it has fc commander.
thanks guys
thanks guys
I don't have enough experience yet with the FD, but IMO just like any car project, you want to understand the platform's nuances, quirks, and specifics before hopping in and getting started. Otherwise you potentially risk frustration and unnecessary costs in the future.
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Ermo_x7 (05-18-20)
#21
Yes, that is correct.
You must find someone in Japan with an auction license and work with them directly. There is no way you can do it on your own. You can find a number of sellers/exporters on the internet, i initially scheduled a few calls to chat with them and vet them to make sure they were a fit and I felt comfortable working with them, i suggest you do the same because there are a lot out there with mixed reviews. Overall, I was planning for a lot of time to go into making it happen, but it definitely surpassed that by a lot. Additionally, the fees and time along the way add up, so despite the car auction prices being lower there are $1000s to tack on to that when all said and done. Not trying to dissuade you, but be prepared as it will be many months of steady work and lots of waiting If the full experience winds up feeling too daunting, you can surpass a lot of this through other means such as finding a JDM importer here in the US that makes it infinitely easier for you.
You must find someone in Japan with an auction license and work with them directly. There is no way you can do it on your own. You can find a number of sellers/exporters on the internet, i initially scheduled a few calls to chat with them and vet them to make sure they were a fit and I felt comfortable working with them, i suggest you do the same because there are a lot out there with mixed reviews. Overall, I was planning for a lot of time to go into making it happen, but it definitely surpassed that by a lot. Additionally, the fees and time along the way add up, so despite the car auction prices being lower there are $1000s to tack on to that when all said and done. Not trying to dissuade you, but be prepared as it will be many months of steady work and lots of waiting If the full experience winds up feeling too daunting, you can surpass a lot of this through other means such as finding a JDM importer here in the US that makes it infinitely easier for you.
I have been looking at RHD specialties web site, but would like to check other reputable vendors.
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