Rescuing my 1983 GS
 

Hi, I was given an opportunity to re-acquire a 1983 RX-7 GS that I owned from 1985-1990. It has been under a tree in N California for 20 years and needs a lot of work. I will be looking for advice as I go down the long road of bringing this car back to its former glory. Attached is a picture of my first look at the car in 28 years.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...888871380b.jpg

awesome! welcome to the forum. look forward to the built thread.

Awesome that you were able to get your old ride back! Sad that it's been sitting unloved for so long. Good luck.

Welcome!! Glad you were able to find the car and purchase it back. How did you find it after all these years?

Looks to be in pretty decent shape for bring under a tree for two decades. lol. good luck on the restoration!

Thanks for asking, I sold it to my Squadron Commander in 1990 (I'm a retired USAF Pilot), I saw him at a reunion luncheon about 3 weeks ago and he straight out gave it back to me. Today, 8 Oct I picked it up and it is currently in my garage. I'm cleaning it up this week trying to get an idea of where I'm at on the resto.

That's really amazing!!! I can't wait to see more pictures of the car! The car is definitely more than deserving of a restoration. I can't imaging the memories that came flooding back when you sat in the driver's seat for the first time in 20 years.

1st Resto Week
 

Update #1 Got the car home I've been cleaning and assessing condition for the past 4 days:.

The Good:
The Car is amazingly rust free.....very minor surface rust but only in a few areas and no corrosion that I can find on the body, however the sunroof is very corroded from the inside, it is probably a total loss. Most electronics work. The aftermarket stereo is shot, that's about all I can find so far.

The Bad:
Lots of surface rust on undercarriage from sitting in the mud, I'll thinking I'll clean it as best I can then just undercoat the car. Wheels need re-conditioning one wheel is clearly bent. I many just order a reconditioned set. Passengers side front quarter panel has a pretty big dent and needs body work. Drivers Rear Tail Light has a hole and moss actually grew in there not sure I can get it out, but it works. Both doors need all weather stripping, and panels

The Ugly:
The engine is seized, and so is the clutch.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...19b2d347a4.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c647c1274b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0a01fdafc6.jpg

Update #2

Well it has been a week now an a lot has happened. The engine now turns freely after an overnight of WD-40 sprayed in the intake and putting the car in Reverse and pushing it forward to dislodge any "carbon lock" in the rotors. Today with the help of a friend I spun the engine with the starter and it built 30 PSI + of oil pressure! I've completely redone the cooling system, cleaned the engine bay spray painted and reconditioned what I could pull out of the engine bay, put new belts on it, pulled the gas tank out for cleaning and coating inside. I'm gonna re-do the fuel system up to the carb and pray that the carb doesn't need to be rebuilt. I've ordered some weather stripping for the doors and may work on them while I wait for the fuel tank. Here are a couple of pix:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...6f737ae0c2.jpg
Rescue day
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...011a27451b.jpg
Engine as it is today

Wow, that engine cleaning job looks amazing! Glad to hear you got the engine unlocked.

Welcome to the board. :)

Wow. That's amazing! Both the story and the way you managed to clean that engine bay up so well. Glad you got the engine moving, that's plus. What did you use on the alternator? Time travel? :)

What a transformation!!!!!!! WOW!!!

I think I'll try to start it tomorrow, I finished the cooling system and pulled the fuel tank had it cleaned and coated. Put in a new fuel pump, but it is very loud, gonna see if I can get a free replacement. Flushed the fuel lines then connected the fuel line up to the Carb., after the fuel pump had run about 5 minutes I noticed raw fuel in the secondaries, I'm hoping that fresh clean gas in the carb will free up the needle valve so it doesn't flood out tomorrow, we will see. Here are some pix:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...6a039e75fb.jpg
Cleaned and freshly painted
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5aeaaa3230.jpg
Engine before S-day (Start Attempt Day)! Lol

If that car were sitting for that long here in Ohio it would be completely ruined. Living in California saved that car. The engine bay looks amazing and I wish you the best of luck in starting the engine today! Very excited to hear how it turns out!

That is great work. I'm excited for you.

Engine bay cleaned up nicely.

that one of the best before and after images I've ever seen of an engine bay. Good work

Thanks for reading, I'm moving the rest of the effort to my "Build Thread" Here:

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...83-gs-1130935/

link fixed.

That's amazing that you found your original car and wow what a transformation it really looks great!