Buy an FC? Hahaha.


So speaking of our little rotary world, I met a guy named Seth yesterday and sold him a FC wiper motor, and we got to talking and he
knows everybody on here. He's the guy who had Donnie's SA before him, and something to do with a caged FB and Billy, and he's got
that red FC that used to have the gold SVT wheels that's been to a meet or 2, and he knows Crit and Collin and everyone else... I
thought it was pretty cool. He started putting the motor in and it starting raining crazy hard, then hailing. Fun night

 

Crit needs a pick me up...........and intervention.


Lets everyone take this time to express the positive things about his good old 1985 SE. I will start.


I like the fact he has come to know the entire engine compartment inside and out.

 

Ray, the FSM descibes how to do it. Its not hard. I used a big crescent
wrench or a channel lock, can't remember which when I did it almost 20
years ago. You won't hurt it, just don't go all monkey on it and over
tighten it. Snug it up as described in the FSM, test and then tighten
when your satisfied.

 

Ray, here is a link to a good description of the FB steering box adjustment procedure.

 

ray, it's fairly easy, i did mine yrs ago. besides, it's an excuse to buy a new tool.

 

I'm pretty sure when I did mine I only had to mess with the small center screw to fix it up. I don't remember going to all that trouble described in the link earlier.

 

I like the fact that he is the only one that I have ever seen with a custom sunroof umbrella.

 

The fact that he is known across seas as the Criterous

 

I'm not sure why Crit needs an intervention... Can I help?

Crit should get an FC.

Wait....this isn't helping, is it...

Crap, oh..um.... His SE is pretty sweet. I've driven it a few times and liked it a lot. Helped a lil bit with the interior and such... It's not worn out to **** like a lot of FBs I've seen, so...yeah that helps too. It was really, really, REALLY fun to ride in the first time I went autocrossing. Made me feel a lil crap about my car though cuz it felt like his handled a whole bunch better.

Why the intervention?

 

Colin, that's Critoris, not Criterous. Critoris is a fantasy warrior, very popular among young folks and the computer game crowd. Here's a utube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBxv7KGmwMA

So Crit, What's Happening?

Thanks for the FC offers Brett and Collin, but you know how it is, once you've discovered the FB you don't need anything else.

Anyway, I've read the steering box tutorials till my eyes water and I just don't get it so I'm going to go out and wrench on the damn thing. Thanks guys for pointing them out, at least I have a clue about some of the stuff in and on the box.

Of course mine looks nothing like the ones in the tutorials, here's a photo:



Some nuts and bolts missing but it looks like there still are lots of things to wrench on so I'll go whack on them after dinner.

If it gets better, great, if it gets worse, that will help me decide on what to do next: used box or go rack and pinion.

 

Ray - pop that little round cap off. You need a big adjustable wrench or a big socket to loosed that big nut that has the (3 small holes in it which I think is there to be used by a punch). Once you loosen it, then inside where you removed that little round cap is a - I think 10 or 12mm nut. Loosen that nut and take a flat head srew driver and turn the flat head part in clockwise a turn at a time. With the flat head on the screw hold it in place and tighten back the 10 or 12 until you get your desired adjustment and the slop goes away. Dad and I have done alot of them. Some are just slap worn out and others adjust out with no problem. Once you get that done tighten back the big nut with the 3 small holes in it and you should be in business

 

Thanks Roland, Tim, Michael and Greg the Younger, all I need to know is that it can be done, that overcomes the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. Maybe by the end of the day that will change!

 

I'm having serious thoughts about ditching the GSL-SE. The REPU won't run well once it's cold, and I could use a more comfortable daily, at least for a big guy.

 

Sell it to me! Mine is BACK AT ******* MAZCARE!

Sorry. I'm really really angry...

 

You could always get an FC...it's a little larger inside and they really are good cars. It'd only be a small learning curve for you, and maybe, JUST maybe, I could *actually* help YOU for once in ever...

They're cheap, easy enough to work on, comfy, cheap, and did I mention comfy?

I'd recommend getting a GXL to start with. That way, even if you don't want things like power windows you can sell them to help offset the price of the car.. That and you won't have to do hub swaps and diff swaps for the more valuable parts.

Maybe you'd like to swap cars with me for a few days and see how you like a decent running FC? Better than going and buying one and finding you just hate it..

 

What - I never thought I would ever see this day! The future forecast is calling for a TII Lots more room than a FB!

 

Damn Quad - What now ? Wish you woulda got the white one!

 

there's 4 holes in it and it's a 12mm for the center nut. the cap will come off really easy, just grab it with some pliers and wiggle as u pull on it. once u loosen the 12mm nut, turn the center screw out(ccw) til u get the play out. if the screw tops out before u get all the free play out, u'll have to make adjustments to the larger one.

 

I wouldn't be interested in an FC - just doing a little looking around. My weatherman has it pegged at a 50% chance of S14.

 

1st generation 79-85 Steering Box: The early ('79-82[?]) boxes have non-hardened sector shafts and just plain wear out. Most of the boxes I have adjusted were almost totally dry, with no lube visible. You'd wear out too, if you had no lube (I use GL4). That nylon 'bolt' is the filler. Use it. The later boxes require careful adjustment, in which you will need a spanner to tighten the box with. Loosen the 1 9/16" lock nut (I use a chisel) and tighten the sector shaft with the spanner while frequently checking the freeplay on the wheel. I use the screw for very fine adjustment. If you make it too tight, it will wear very quickly. I have had good success using a power steering box (with the power accessories removed) - it has almost one full turn less lock to lock - and it is noticeable. Steering is a bit harder in traffic. Beware.

 

Really Mazda Nissan
Wow just cannot see you in an S14 - I am used to seeing you in a rotary - but I cannot give you **** because alot of people that know that I am into rotaries say they cannot see me in a VW! They just do not understand.
Flat 4 cylinder + air cooled + naturally aspirated (Twin 62 Weber based Terminator carbs) +1360lbs = 6.20ET 1/8th mile @ 110 mph!

 

Don't go s14 Crit that's just lame and dorifto

 

Sorry to hear about the troubles with the SE's Crit and Quad and especially the REPU Crit, can't it be fixed? I must admit that about two weeks ago, when I was putting the Silver One together and wondering if I'd need another engine I thought maybe it was time to move on, sell out my FB investment.

But now I have the best FB I've ever owned - paid $1200 for it and so far, other than labor, I've spent $70 on an idler arm and $60 on a new battery. I still have the steering issue to deal with (can't get that steering box adjuster lock nut to let loose, but now that I know what to do I'll get it done) and I have a daily driver that should go 100,000 miles. That's 100,000 rotary addicted miles - I really don't think I could learn to love driving pistons again.

What's an S14 anyway? I googled it and found some BMW's on 14.net





And Datsuns on wikipedia:





Certainly that red datsun looks a little bigger than an FB but it might just be the photo. Just tell me it's not a Camero.

Michael and Roland thanks for the tips on the steering box adjustment, I think this will help if I can just get that 40 mm locking nut to loosen. I tried the chisel but it cut into the nut too far without letting loose. I'm going to soak it with PB blaster, hit it with a propane torch and see if I can find a 40 mm socket or spanner at the parts stores and go back at it this weekend. Once I get that fixed I'm going to treat myself to a new set of Kumho KR21's and a "professional" wheel alignment. That should get us into new car territory.

 

Crit don't shoot it down so fast. I know we have spoken before about the second gen not being a favorite - but would seem these guys have a point.

Still Rotary
Larger inside
Updated handling
Great brakes
Fairly inexpensive to purchase
Parts are abundant
Cold AC and Hot heater

Seems like it could have an upside.

Besides, you are watching the wrong weather person. You need to be tuning in to CBS

Ray the old school stuff is hard to make a daily out of. His current REPU issues are not terminal - still - once running better it still would not make for a great daily.

 

i don't know bout that bill. my 808 was daily driven from when i bought it and did the engine swap in 93 til wrecking it in 05 and like i told the insurance adjuster, it was just as dependable as anything else on the road. only thing i did to it during that time was lower ball joints and tie rod ends, and u-joints after putting in a gsl 3rd member. then there was the 74 rx4 before that, of which the engine was in the 808 and now the 7. and the 73 rx3 that started my rotary addiction. plus there's alot of issues i'll live with where others may not.

ray, if u end up needing a hand let me know and i'll try to make plans one weekend to help out. and the s14 is a popular engine option/swap of the nissan 240sx.