hillbillyhector

Hello there. you dont know me, because up untill recently, I haven't been looking for RX2 mates with technical info and/ or a line on parts..... but I suppose the whole story is in order. if you get boed just click on the link and look at the pictures, thats what I do.

http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=...21b349eb0ac46b

I started working on this stock blue '73 RX2 coupe (U.S. version) of my friends about 9 years ago. it had a blown motor and auto trans we swapped with a 1st gen. 7, 12a and 5spd. trans. since then I've helped him tweak on intake and exhaust, the suspension, brakes, interior and stereo, ect. it was wrecked into a fence (a little too much throttle in the rain) about six years ago and repainted, vinyl top and moldings shaved, blah, blah blah.

to make a long story short, I recently gained possession of the car after years of watching thousands of dollars being spent to keep it on the road, and the abuse of daily driving destroy it. the car looks great from across the street, but needs a whole front clip (really just fenders and valence pan) and minor rust restoration before the new paint.

any true rotor enthusiast should understand what must be done. I've got all the new rubber seals and felts coming from scotts in Melbourne, and have started surgically removing all the chrome and trim bits for polishing and re-dipping. researching a panel-beater and paint shop is next, that will just take $. the information I am looking for is what people know about the GSL-SE rear end / brakes/ suspension conversion, as well as swapping the front suspension and brakes from the same donor car.

this will give me the brakes to handle the new motor, and a more common lug patten to except larger wheels.... right?
will I have to change out the brake booster/ master cylinder? its all brand new with silicone fluid... is silicone really the way to go? what does the rear end swap entail? does the driveline have to be modified? I would assume the shock and spring mounts relocated (and trailing arms?) how the hell does the thing mount up?

a few years ago I helped my friend do a weld-on ground control adjustable front kit, I cut the strut tube down, and welded it back together with the smaller spring cup, installed MR2 strut cartridges, and repositioned the upper strut mount for camber/caster adjustment, along with a vintage racing beat made larger sway bar. all this was fine and dandy before, but the car still exhibits understeer when braking, and (of course) oversteer when on the throttle. hopefully the whole strut assembly and spindle from the donor will swap out without too much cutting and welding. I would like to know what I'm getting into before everything comes apart. (and I buy another whole car for parts)

when we lowered the front, it was obvious the rear was next, but do to lack of funds, and little forethought, we just cut a coil out,( the 'for now' fix) but this also forced us to change the length of the stock panhard bar to relocate the axle correctly.

a coilover setup was the obvious future move, but why do it with the stock axle and drums?

any help, or at least acknowledgment that I'm not alone, would be greatly appreciated.
I am a certified automotive electronics tech, and may be able to help you with any questions regarding electrical (I work doing mobile audio/video) or electronics upgrades. keyless entry and power windows in a 2? I've done it before.

and I'm looking for a front windscreen too!!

thanks alot,
-forrest koogle.
santa rosa, Ca.

Darth Linux

well Forrest, you aren't alone.

due to my own lack of funds, I've had quite an adventure just keeping my RX-2 alive and running - I haven't even ventured into the area of upgrades/improvements/custom fabrication of stuff.

As far as the brakes go, I'd really like to find out how you do the full-on GSLSE swap. I know that the thread pitch is different on the RX-2 compared to the GSLSE so at a minimum, any original brake lines you do keep you'll need to cut of the ends, reflare and put the GSLSE fittings on so that everything connects to the calipers/wheel cylinders.

Opinions - I think the stock booster and MC would be fine but replacement MCs are nearly impossible to scrounge up - might be wise to convert to the GSLSE MC while you are at it just so you can replace/repair it in 10 years. I've never used silicone break fluid. Might be worth it for a race car, I doubt it would matter for a daily street car though - you aren't building up that much heat in rush hour traffic.

I've been wanting to lower my car but you mentioned that you had to reposition the panhard rod when you cut the springs - I didn't even think about that! Was it difficult?

keep us posted on your progress please.

hillbillyhector

the panhard modifacation could have gone a few different ways. my first inclination was to cut the rod down and thread both halves, then tap threads into either side of a larger O.D. piece, using it as an adjustable link, much like the way many strut tower bars are set up. this would allow for future adjustment when or if the ride hight changed. but I didn't have the right sized die... blah blah blah, I was feeling pretty confident just welding the shortened rod back together would work just fine, after all the panhard bears no weight, it just locates the axle.

anyway, what does it take to get some more replys around here? (and thanks for yours.) need anymore info on it, I could send you pictures and mesurements.

Darth Linux

answer: patience. Topics associated with older RXs are often slow to bloom. Even more so if the experience level on the topic at hand is minimal (as is the case in this is instance I suspect). I've had 4 RX-2's in my life and my current one I've had 4 years now and I've never done any of the mods you've mentioned, so you may have more experience on this than any of us. The net result of that is that we don't have any answers or meaningful contributions to make to the thread.

anyhow, stick around and shoot the breeze on any topic you find remotely interesting and let things brew on your own project. If I've learned anything about my car it's that owning an RX-2 or any pre RX-7 Mazda is an exercise in patience . . .

happy rotoring!
Dave