thumpgun

Are there any Chattanooga area people on the forum? Tried a search and didn't really get anything solid. Any of Rotary Services in Chattanooga crowd around here?
Just checking to see. Trying to get back in touch with a few people and see how many rotary cars are still around the area.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

I'm in Knoxville but I find myself down there at least a few times a year. Don't really know any of the owners in Chatty but I've seen a few first gens around town. There's a guy that autocrosses his pretty regularly at the events down there. There was an SA at Bug-a-Palooza last year that looked pretty nice.

thumpgun

I go to Bug A Paluza every year with my Bug. I didn't see it there. I know there's one of the Chatta VW guys that has one. He's posted about it on the VW site. I used to work at Rotary Services before we closed it several years ago. I still talk to a few of the rotary guys that worked there. We used to have a lot of RX-7's around Chattanooga. But I don't hardly see them around anymore. Thanks for the reply. Maybe I can get up around Knox sometime and check out the cars there.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

This year was my second year. VW's are my girlfriend's thing but they're rubbing off on me. She just got a '71 Super so we'll probably be in that next year. Never heard of Rotary Services, there was an actual rotary shop in East TN? No one around Knoxville will touch them. I know a few FC and FB folks around Knoxville. It's been a long time since we actually got a meet together though. Maybe if we can find some Chattanooga 7's we can get the two groups together.

thumpgun

That would be great to get a few cars together and hang out. We used to have a small group and hung out at the garage. Yeah, for several years there was a shop in Chattanooga. I think it's been closed now for at least 8 years. One of my best friends owned it and he worked on rotaries since the 70's. He used to train Mazda technicians back in the day. I worked there with him for a few years until we closed it down. I still have a lot of NA plates, housings, coil packs, injectors. Got rid of a lot of stuff over the years.
I'm trying to get my '61 sliding ragtop Bug ready by April for BP. Not sure if I can do it or not, lol.

T&B rotary

haha I live in munford TN about 25 min away from memphis and I think im the only 7 owner around here ive nvr seen any others!! rly sucks!

thumpgun

You're pretty far away from us. I figured there would be some rotaries in Memphis. It seems that usually bigger cities tend to have more RX-7's than smaller towns. Yeah, it sucks when you don't have anybody to hang out with that have a common bond of a certain car.

T&B rotary

:I kno rite! nahh only one ive ever seen was a 1st gen drivin by two gay guys :/... not even any rotary machanics around here.., and its hell trinna find parts or one at a salvage yard if your rly lucky! and im 17 and not many ppl my age even knos what an rx7 is...not even any tuners running around.

Grease Monkey

Im just north of Chattanooga a few miles in Ooltewah. Just picked up a 90' Vert. I am new to rotaries. I have seen a few rx7s in the area over the years though. Occasionally I've seen a fb driving around (stock) and a yellow s5 convertible. I havent seen them though since the summer. There was a hardtop fc being worked on at Fausto's Power Garage in ooltewah a couple of days ago though. Theyre around here, just few and far between.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

I'll be passing through tomorrow and again on Sunday. Holla if you see a black vert FC up and down 75.

thumpgun

Grease Monkey, I live in Cleveland and there's a couple of guys in Ooltewah that apparently all they do is 7's. I know where their place is but have never met them. It's not a business as I understand, but father/son and some friends. And they all mess with rotaries. Other than that, since we shut down years ago. I know of no one else. Otherwise if you need any help, gimme a yell and some of my rotary crew can try and help you out. Keep watch on this thread for some possible "area" gatherings.
Lizard, have a good, safe trip this weekend. I'm going to be messing with my FB this weekend. So if you see a bright red FB, or possibly a slammed white '68 Beetle, it's me. Gimme a yell. I'm going to add you guys as friends on here, so we can possibly get some cars together sometime.

thumpgun

Supposed to be going to pick up a GSL limited slip rear end, heater core, wiper motor and a couple of other pieces for my '85 This weekend. I'm going to convert to the LSD and disc rear end. Had a whole car for this years ago. I ended up selling it and ditched my plans for the conversion. Hopefully get the parts and make it happen. I'll post pics if I get the parts.
Everyone have a great Thanksgiving.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, the trip went well. Picked up an '88 vert with a J-spec S5 SP turbo swap in FL Hooray for 17mpg on the highway!

The GSL rear is well worth the swap. They do tend to wear out though since they are a clutch-type. Might want to rebuild it before you install. The brakes are a good swap too, if anything just because it's easy to change the pads. Probably lighter, too.

thumpgun

Wow, you made a good score. That sounds awesome. You'll have to get some pics up when you can.
I've never heard about the wear on them. I need to check inot that. The brakes were my biggest reason for wanting to swap. Rather have a disc all the way around. I agree, changing pads is easier.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Some shots:

thumpgun

Sweet! That's a nice car. And it's got a TII hood on it. 2G cars are one of my favorite 'vert cars. They look really good. Glad you were able to get it. Bet it was fun driving it back home. Got any plans for it?

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Thanks! Yeah, the hood is carbon fiber but I'm not sure what company made it. It's got the typical 2nd gen issues... idle surge, grinds in 2nd and 5th, exhaust leak, etc. but nothing too major. It wasn't the most fun I've had in a seven... Jacksonville to Knoxville with no license plate and the seat was stuck forward so my knees were in the steering wheel

Not many plans for this one yet, other than fixing the issues. The guy gave me a lot of extras that he never had time to install - short shift kit, front and rear camber kits, S5 tail lights, and a boost controller. So I'll put all that on too. It's going to share autocross duty and give me something to play with while the first gen is apart.

Grease Monkey

Thats a nice looking vert LizardFC!

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Grease Monkey, where you from?

Grease Monkey

I am a few miles north of Chattanooga in Ooltewah.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Oh duh, totally missed the other post you made up there!

Grease Monkey

Haha, no biggie. I had to go to Nashville to get my vert. I've only had it for aout a week now and am already in love with it lol Im having a time getting all the electrics fixed and erratic idle on warmup cycle. Whole radio is completely dead, windows, airbag, etc. all need attention. Does the vert you just bought have any electrical weirdness?

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

It has an idle surge... lopes between 1200 and 1500. It actually idles normal while it warms up. Hoping to fix that with a TPS and BAC adjustment today. Other than that, surprisingly no gremlins. The guy seems to have done a good job with the wiring. He used the Jspec S5 engine harness and ECU but kept all the interior wiring factory. The only things not working that I've found are the cruise control and the A/C.

Aren't these things fun? Nothing better than cruising around with the top down on a nice day. Too bad it's only gonna get colder for awhile. Got any pics of yours?

Grease Monkey

Mine has a s4 front bumper on it I think It also looks like a different pass. fender judging by unpainted parts that are still blue in color. All in all it looks pretty good. Just needs some small repairs. Here are some pics:

thumpgun

Oh yeah, very nice! Sweet ride! Glad you finally posted some pics. My VW club is having a toy drive tomorrow at 1 if you wanna drive up and hang out, drop off a toy. It's open to all cars.