If you ever need to drill spot welds, get the correct bit. It is amazing what a breeze this job is with the right tool, and what a nightmare it can be if you try to do this with just a regular bit


This was all off within an hour, by drilling the welds with an 8mm spot weld bit and then using an air chisel to "coax" the mount to separate from the crossmember

 

With the mounts removed, I was left with 9 crappy looking holes in the crossmember.

This is how one side looked after hitting some of the rough spots with a grinder.

And both sides...



I decided to fill the holes to clean up the look of it a little bit. I have seen guys on Ausrotary go wild at this point and bust out the bondo and sandpaper and create the most spectacular refinished crossmember ever. I just decided to use a bit of JB Weld to fill and sand the holes. And then finish with a bit a flat black paint.



I think it came out pretty good. It should go well with the rest of the front suspension that was all treated the same and the soon to be painted engine bay.

 

looks good .....where are the engine mounts going..?

 

Thanks. Since I'm using a 12a, I will use an RX3 Crossmember which will bolt up in front where my sway bar bolts up. The front engine bracket will mount to this with rx7 engine mounts. The original GLC crossmember will get bolted back in place, but it no longer needs to hold the engine in any way. Its only purpose now is to give my lower control arms a place to bolt up to. I'll take more pics while I'm test fitting everything so it will be more clear. I've seen Starlets done the same way.

 

cool...... keep us posted........maybe you will be finish by spring . just in time for some car shows . i will let you no on upcoming events......

 

Thanks...I'm def trying to be ready for the spring!

 

Here is a couple of shots of the mounting configuration I am going for...



By cfamilyfix at 2011-01-08


By cfamilyfix at 2011-01-08

sorry about the crappy pics. I did this after work tonight and it was dark and I'm using a cell phone.

 

damn...I think I'll go back to using thumbnails...that's pretty huge. lol

 

Small update... I removed most of the items from the engine bay, and began to hit over the flakey paint areas with a wire brush. Removed the battery tray and front swaybar as these will be getting sanded and painted tomorrow. While the swaybar is out I'll replace all the mount bushings.


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More engine bay shots...
/][/URL]

 

looks like the engine would be to far forward...

 

Yeah...that is my feeling too...I think I'm gonna make some kind of spacer to mount in between the front bracket and the front cover of the engine. The shifter will be off a little, but at least I would sit a little farther back with the engine. I'll play around with it and let you know what I come up with.

 

I think I'm gonna borrow this idea from ausrotary...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8821/bjmlklkn013.jpg

 

Well we are currently getting another good dose of snow (10-15in) but I was able to get some work done before it started coming down tonight.



I was able to test fit some pieces in the engine bay. This was mostly done out of curiousity since the rx3 crossmember puts the engine position very foward. I was concerned about using the rx7 radiator, but first some cutting had to get done.



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and after...



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Here is what the engine and radiator clearance look like.



It is tight, and with this arrangement I would need to run the electric fan in front of the rad instead of in back

After fitting the gearbox, I can see that I will have plenty of room to move the assembly back at least an inch. After discussing with a friend, he agreed to make the spacer for me.

 

Here is the pic with the gearbox fitted up.



After putting the spacer in I'll be able to make a proper trans mount adapter to well...mount the transmission. Then its adjusting the shifter hole, driveshaft measurements, and header clearance. Next update when the snow melts.

 

nice..

 

Managed to shovel and then get to work today...I cut up some headers I had so I could start to make a custom set for this car.


There is a couple of clearance issues to fix, but I'll do more cutting after the engine is in its final position. Here you can see how the headers and some of the steering linkage don't want to get along together.

 

Its even worse when you try to turn the steering wheel...



The other issue I'm having is that the fb trans is a bit long. I am not really willing to cut this much of the tunnel to get the shifter through.


look at where the shifter will be with the hand brake...4th gear might get a little hairy

 

It will be even worse after I move everything back an inch. Anyone local got a good 79-80 trans for sale?? Let me know....

 

This thread makes me want a GLC so f-in bad.

You shoveled today to work on your car? Haha you got spirit man. We go like 18? inches of snow on eastern long island. I shoveled to get my truck out for coffee then been inside ever since. I wouldnt dare work on my rx7 right now.

 

Lol...I took vacation this week and I really wanted to make some progress, so yeah, I shoveled out like a foot of snow and got to it. after the second hour I couldn't feel my feet any more! Hopefully it will be worth it.

 

A good friend of mine just dropped off those spacers...


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That glc brings back memories to me. I had a candy apple red glc with a 12a dual webers. That was the fountain ave days. Goodluck with your project we all have to get together this summer. I went out to the garage and fired up the rx2 a couple of hours ago.

 

haha...I had a 82 626 coup I used to run over there. Sounds like a great idea.