NATEFRAME

I would like to introduce my self to the members of rx7 club. I would my first 7 about a month ago from the friend of a friend. You could say I kinda got talked into it, but I have been having the fast car itch for awhile.
I have spent lots of time playing with toyota 4x4's and DSM's, do I dare mention that there. My DSM experience was horrible, I will never have another one of thse things.

Anyways I got my 7 non running with a uncompleted cooling system. Basically a koyo radiator, and no fan. The car had sat for a little over a year under a pine tree, so it was and still is very dirty. I will share some pictures at the end here.

My initial impression is pretty good, its really nice to not be in FWD anymore. Thats not front end damage, the hood is popped.
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Is this stock, mazda could have not left huge gaps like this, and paint lines?
I am going to have to find one of these.
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Mocking up the fan brackets.
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Since it has a Haltech EMS on it, the factory gauges dont work. All this work was done by the P.O., I am sure there is a way to make them work, but I was in a good mood today and figured I would try to make my own gauge cluster.
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Should be a fun summer project.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures.
-Nate in ann arbor mi

Snaple07

iTrader: (17)

That's some very nice ride and nice fabrication on the gauge cluster...post some pics when you're done.

NATEFRAME

I have been waiting for a 3.375 inch hole saw. Thats what I am going to need for my speedo and tach. I had to source a custom speedo cable from speedometer solutions. They are in milwaukee I think. Just ordered it on friday, so I cannot comment on quality yet.
I have been extremely busy gutting the engine bay. I really needs to be totally cleaned and repainted.

Just messed up on my gague plate, the turn signals and high beam lights are not quite evenly spaced. Will probally make another plate in the future. Maby get access to a programmable bridgeport machine...???

give me a few minutes and ill put up some more pics.

NATEFRAME

As promised, update pictures.
As she sits in my barn.
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Is there an easy way to remove this damn harness. It dosent appear to unclip on the inside. It goes directly to a fuse box.

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Still trying to sand down/clean the paint.

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Doing a full engine bay clean job, even removed the clutch master and brake booster ****.

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Going to have to fix this. Was defintally loosing a little tranny fluid, the bottom of the car was really dirty. The heatshields were the worst, amazing they dident catch on fire.

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Subframe, coming from dsm land, this was very easy to get out.

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Old and worn front strut/spring combos. Going to have to do something about this.

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Still not finished, but I hope when I get pulled over this puts a smile on the cops face. I am using old gauges from my DSM to play with the lay out. I think the rotary will max out that 1600F EGT gauge...

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I think this piece of **** is off of a combine or some other farm impliment. It does do a pretty good job however...

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enjoy...

dpkid101

welcome. nice project

maac0953

wow man your really going all out on this car.good stuff i like the idea of the dash cluster thing too. what color is the bay going to be white or black. my car is silver and the owner before me painted my bay black.lol yuck owell

NATEFRAME

The engine bay is going to be flat white. Figure I will try some agriclutural rustoleum from the local hardware store. I havent had great luck with paint on any car. It all will scratch and chip. Just gunna have to be carful putting the engine in.

Just a few items left to take care of before I get the spray gun out. Found a small hole in the right side frame rail. Going to do a little patch work there.

Also have to fab up some mounts for my radiator and charge cooler. Figure I will keep the oil cooler in the factory location. I see no reason to change it.

I am very happy I made the switch so far. I still havent tried getting parts from a dealer, but it cannot be any worse than dealing with chrysler. Too bad there is no mazda dealer in ann arbor, I have to go all the way across town to ypsi. Hopfully I will be able to give mazdatrix some business.

Should be painted in a few days. Ill post some pictures then,

cheers

FlyFD

I'm a recent rotary convert myself and yeah I agree with you, nice to be away from FWD

shm21284

Nice car, Mr. Nate. I enjoyed it before you tore it down, now, it will never run again!!!!

shm21284

Oh, and you should post a new thread on your build in the fabrication section. I think people will agree, this project is deemed worthy for that.

https://www.rx7club.com/fabrication-250/

Or the 2nd gen specific section

gear_grinder

iTrader: (4)

woot woot for MI rotary

cptpain

iTrader: (1)

a rotarys EGT's can be higher than 1600*F

Nice to see you getting baptized by fire.


BTW, that subframe needs to go! Since those control arms are aluminum, you can take a wire wheel to them and either paint them or powdercoat them, or you can media blast it and clear it.

Any removable piece that has rust and cannot be saved... replace it.

Sorry, anytime i see someone do something like this, my OCD kicks in and has to tell people to clean that ish..... of course, i did the same thing to my FC years ago.... completely removed the front and rear subframes, reconditioned subframes, new poly bushings and new suspension etc etc... that thing never handled so good

phunny

Welcome, I converted about a month ago from dsm's also. The only downfall I keep running into is the amount of information out there for these things isn't so great. Oh, and finding stupid little parts.

-charlie

shm21284

Man, you and nate should hang out then, I've been telling him not to bee so OCD on this project (you should see his 4 runner and his father's cummins ram), the rx7 is going to get its *** kicked!

NATEFRAME

surprised to see people talking in my thread.
Just taking a break from the RAM project at the moment, the oil is draining out of the pan.

I really have to get some pictures on here, have made some good progress as of late.

And yes, I am extremly OCD, to the point where it is ruining personal relationships and consuming vast amounts of money.

My plans are to get the suspension powdercoated, if I could ever stop this stupid diesel from leeking.

cheers