Here is the beginnings of a build that I wanted to do for a while. This is my 1978 4 door Mazda GLC



a 32 day stay at Earl Sheib to fix up the rocker panels and msc rust...



next it was time to do a little work to some suspension and steering...



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all series 2 rx7 struts and brakes up front

 

Painted and assembled...



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and installed on the car



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For the drivetrain I want to go with a simple clean 12a with aftermarket carb and headers...I also needed a rx3 front crossmember and engine bracket.



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I also was gonna need all the bits and pieces I could get from an RX7 for a manual trans conversion as the GLC is an auto... Rather than buy all the things I need piece by piece, I figured it would be better (and cheaper) to just get a running RX7 parts car. This is a lot harder than it sounds. Ideally I wanted a crashed or rotted running first gen for under a grand...the search seemed to last forever...until this gem turned up on craigslist list....



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Here is a couple more pics of the donor...its a 83 Limited Edition with 101k on the clock...


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I tucked the GLC away in the garage so the work can begin on raping and pillaging all that I need from the 7.


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The only problem is...(its not really a problem...) The 7 is pretty ugly, but not nearly in bad enough shape that it warrants being completely stripped and scrapped. So I guess I'll have a future build on my hands...lol

Thats pretty much where I'm at now. I'll be using all the engine and trans and hydraulics for the manual trans swap and will take pics over the coming weeks to update the progress. Please feel free to let me know what you think...

 

Here is a couple of shots of the car after the body shop did some work...



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For the money, it came out good...as long as you dont get too close...lol. I am not trying to build a show car, but I wanted to stay inspired at the same time.

 

I love it... I had a '80 2dr glc... I found it while driving by a crappy dealership.. it was mint, one owner(old lady) 74000 km. old school beige ext. and brown int. drove it home for $260. I wish I never got rid of it.... I'd kill for another one.. a rotor in it would have been soooo sweet.

Nice project... I cant wait to see how this turns out.

 

Thanks jeepkreeper...hopefully the weather holds up so I can get some things done over the coming weeks.

 

I've got a good five hours tomorrow morning to get some work done...I am excited to finally start.

 

Just an update...between bad weather and sick kids, its been difficult to get going. Maybe thanksgiving w/e will prove productive.

 

That's a nice find on the RX7 for under $1K. I cruise Craigslist all the time wonder how I missed it. hehe Nice GLC.

 

I paid exactly a grand for the car. It came with a ton of parts including some non specific reciepts from Racing Beat for "engine work" I dont think it was even up on CL for like an hour...lol!

 

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Got busy over the last couple of days...finally!

 

I'm interested in the automatic shifter and the base for 78 glc project. I'm making mine automatic. If you still have the pieces give me a ring. Tony 773-301-5887.

 

I should have the GLC completely apart in the next few weeks. I have all the pieces still as they are on the car. Let me know if you need it right away...I'll just take it off.

 

The quicker the better. Take it off with the base and get me a shipping quote so i can paypal you the loot. thanks alot. Tony 773-301-5887. If you know anyone looking for stock parts, my glc has 47k miles. Everythings coming out. Motor, trans,driveshaft, rearend. Motor has new: clutch cable,accelorator cable, ngk plugs,ngk wires,weber 32/36,radiator,oil,pressure switch,water temp switch, in boxes new: complete timing kit, starter,alternator, brake switch. Too much to list. Will trade for a nice turbo,wastegate,blowoff valve,gauges, etc... or $500.

 

After working 13 days straight 12hrs a day, I will have the day off and can get some more done monday and tuesday. If all goes to plan Tony I'll have that auto shifter out of the car and boxed to send to you.

 

I was able to get back in the garage recently...here we go.



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Space is quickly becoming an issue. With two cars apart, a sloped driveway and a mom that keeps coming out to ask..."whats that smell?" This build is proving to be a bit challenging. Not to mention it was like 20 degrees out the other day while I was doing this...lol.

Gotta do some cleaning in that engine bay, then I can start a mock up process. Then its all apart again for paint in the engine bay and engine and brackets etc before final fitment.
No turning back now!!!

 

I also decided the 7 has to go...anyone interested let me know...clean title and 400 bucks and its yours

 

Just when things were moving along, we are set to get a blizzard of 12-18 inches. This is gonna suck for me as all my stuff is stored in the backyard under tarps. And right on my days off again...DAMN.

 

Well...this is gonna put a hitch in my progress for a while....



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I haven't even been to the other side of the house to check on the drivetrain that I have stored under a tarp under the back porch. Hopefully the tarp is still in place. If this is any indication of how this winter is gonna be, I better think about getting that engine and trans inside.

 

Wow and I thought I had it bad at 42 degrees here I moved down from the Chicago area to get awayz from cold but cold is following me. Although is alwAys almost sunny ;-)

 

We are no strangers to snow here, but with all of NY's cutbacks, they may have cut their own throat on this one. Its been 3 days and our neighborhood has not been plowed at all yet! Screw working on my project, I just want to be able to get to work at this point! LOL.

 

Ok...so it is about a week after the friggin' blizzard we just had. I was able to get a little something done. I got the GLC original crossmember off the car so it could be modified to work with my 12a in the engine bay.


With it off the car I brought it to work with me so the spot welds could be drilled out and the piston engine mounts removed.