You do realize with that $1200 he's replacing old worn out bushings right? I wouldn't exactly call that frivolous. I've just done the same. We're replacing stuff because it's an old car and we'd like it to be able to perform at least as well as stock, not because we're getting some mad-tyte new parts, ya dig? It's not like I'm never planning on going, it's just that when you have these things the car is already down, or down in GA, haha. Or in the case I'm getting ready to put it down, it's for a good cause. Damn, the only things aftermarket I've put into it is suspension (which is complete now, and I'd say it's a wise investment for autoX or road course), intakes, downpipe (more for reliablility than anything), that's pretty much it. I have some MSD wires but those were free and don't really make much power if any at all, haha. The HPDE you guys had in Sanford, the only reason I missed that one (that I can remember) is because my power steering pressure line was leaking and I didn't think it would even pass tech inspection, and I didn't tell you because I figured you'd rag on me for not taking care of my car. Trust me Ashraf, if I can actually get a time when my car is running properly and you're having an event, I'll be there. I'm chomping at the bit to start with all this, but I'm not going out in a car that is either subpar or has potentially dangerous problems, and problems that can get even bigger (in the Air Force they teach you all about preventive maintenance ). I would think you of all people would respect that. And you know the inherent problems with rotaries. I'm not knocking you OR your car (I know you're a busy man rebuilding everyone else's cars too, mine included haha), I'm just saying you know where we're coming from, haha. If I wanted to just come out to drive, I'd just drive my Prelude, but I want to take my beloved because for me it's a process of not only wanting to make myself a better driver, but make it a better car and more fun to drive. Plus I genuinely enjoy working on it, and all rotaries. I don't want to be just a driver, I want to be the crew chief too, haha. I'm not trying to start **** with you Ashraf, I just get tired of people getting onto me for not taking courses when they don't even fully know my situation. Like I said, when I can get both times aligned, I will be there. And I see that being very soon. If that control clinic isn't the same time as Deal's Gap count me in. I was leary at first before I found out the tarmac would be wet because I don't have the money to be spending on tires all the time, I VERY seldom spin my tires (like once every few months IF THAT) because my tires are good and I want them to last as long as possible. I'm still scared of wrecking or something but I'm down either way now, I can fix it if something breaks, haha.

Good times, good times. I'll never forget the terrified look on Gary's face, HAHAHAHAHA. Classic.

Phil, you know when restoring a car it's all a process. You don't get a car that already looks good, you get one that's OK at best, and you make it the way YOU want it to look, and the way YOU want it to drive, etc. I know you're tired of putting money into the car, I've already put over $7k into mine, not including purchase price (well, some of the parts won't be installed until the engine rebuild but the money is already spent so it counts haha). It's all about love man. I L-O-V-E my car, driving it, looking at it, humping it, all that. It keeps me motivated knowing that someday it will have everything I've wanted, it will BE everything I've wanted. That is a lot of work to be done before next month though, so I see your point as far as that goes. I'll lay out a smokescreen in your honor, or for whatever reason cause I can't even control it anyway. But it sounds like a nice gesture right? LOL

 

Couple pictars.

These are the only 2 that came out halfway decent. I know she needs paint btw.

 

You could always do the spotted cow theme.... NOT!!!! Look slike she's in good shape otherwise, how is the inside? So I'm guessing you got the ignition and shifter problems sorted out?

 

Oh she's a super clean unwrecked TX chassis/body. Not a spot of rust and the framerails look like they've never even seen a jack before. All the body panels line up perfectly. The interior is pretty clean. Tear in the bolster of the driver's seat. Stereo was stolen before I bought her.

As for the ignition, it turns out the screw holding the switch into the cylinder was really loose, and the key was just pushing the switch right out of the way. Took about 30 seconds to find and fix after a good night's sleep.

Oh and I just reinstalled the stock shifter with the new lower bushings from my Mazdaspeed shifter, and it's working fine again.

 

i agree with ashraf, $50 or so is not a lot to get some good learning in. Actually I forgot it was that cheap.

IMO a good suspension IS a safety feature.

While I won't tout my skills against Ashrafs, I know I am a better driver than most, even if i did acquire my mad skillzzzzzzzzz on the street. I can tell when a suspension is getting worn.

another reason for replacing all these bushings is in hopes of reducing wheel hop(worn pillowballs are a big source of this problem, as well as the annoying clunk). I am tired of launching and feeling like something a wrecking ball is banging into the back of my car. I like my car to be fast in every direction, or else i would drive a miata. low 12 ETs on street tires FTW!!!!!!!!

and finally like eric. i almost enjoy working on my car more than driving it.

 

I doubt a $50 investment would make me drive like Michael Schumacher. Fried shocks and gravel on the road on a turn caused that. A $50 investment doesn't replace bushings that need replacing. A $50 investment for a driving event doesn't make our cars more reliable.

 

^^^^That is kinda along Ashraf's point. You won't find a better mod for the money. $50 barely buys a tank of gas nowadays, but $50 on a road course(and the other $50 or so in gas) can teach a lot. *running from the nail-bat*

also, in a very threatening phone conversation I was informed that Eric does indeed like to drive his car WAY more than working on it. so in my previous post I only speak for myself when talking about how much I enjoy working on cars.

 

I'm still getting my moneys worth from the 50 bucks I spent on the autocross last year. Just ask BC about my controlled skid hah! I'd love to be able to get on the skid pad and bust a move to see what the car does without worries.

 

agreed, i almost skipped the DGRR this year thinking I would rather spend the money on the next course at VIR. i want to be able to open up wihtout concern over the police.

 

'controlled skid' ha! All I know is that I heard squeeling and thought "is that gary or am I about to get plowed into?" Then I peaked up in my rearview and saw a huge smile on Gregs face and just shook my head.

We planning a pre-DGRR mod day? I need a place where I can get my header and presilencer on then rig up my cat back it with my welder. If we can do it soon I might actually be able to get it professionally welded up. Even if I dont do the header i NEED new brakes. The pedal shouldnt feel like engaged ABS when I touch the brakes at 90mph.... At best my rotors are warped. The rear rotors are starting to look like a record so I think im on the last leg of those pads too.



BC

 

Hey guys, a friend of mine is looking to buy the following car he found on craigslist. Apparently it's in pretty good shape. The high mileage concerns me a bit... Anyone know anything about this car ?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/295534057.html

Thanks,

Keith
90 Vert

 

I don't think I've seen that one around town, hard to believe. Looks like it's in great shape for the most part but I agree about the mileage. Wonder who did the rebuild? Also... wouldn't an 88 have black trim around the car, not blue. I would guess it's been repainted. Also has S5 tails it looks like. Damn, I'm asking all the questions haha! Anyway, nope on my part but hopefully someone here will recognize it.

 

Good points ! I glanced at it, but didn't notice the S5 trim... Does look like it's in pretty good shape... I've never done a compression test. Is there any place it can be done cheaply around here or a backyard mechanic willing to do it for nominal fee ? Apparently the guy lives in Knightdale. I'm not sure if there's anyone on here that lives out that way.

 

Yeah I think a couple of people here might be able to do it, worse case Sounthern States can. Might have your friend see if he can get any more info out of the guy... tell 'em Teh RX-7 Club Knows About You!!!

 

*edit* double post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! man i am gettig tired of the lag or whatever is going on with this place.....


Does your friend know anything about RX-7s? I'd say take it for a spin and give it the usuall checkup for smoking on starts and under load along with everything else about these puppies.

 

Haha... I'll tell him big brother is watching. Ok, i'm showing my age... He doesn't know much about them. I know enough to be dangerous...I may go out there with him and take a look. I'll do a search on things to look for along with what I've learned. Hopefully that should be enough. Maybe we'll have a new car out at the Drive Ins. God knows I only make it once a year !

I just put some KYB AGX shocks/struts and new RB springs on.... It's looking good too !

 

Oh damn and I know what you're talking about so that makes me old.... hah!

Here's a good link on looking for stuff when buying, from a FC Turbo site but it will work.

http://www.fc3spro.com/TECH/h2b.html

Man you got to let me know how you like the new setup, and maybe a ride! I need to put new struts on my Vert so bad it's not even funny.

 

$50,000,000 would not make ANY of us drive like Schuie. But $50 for the skidpad will make you a better driver. Thats why all the major racing and performance driving schools use them. If you can't make it (like me, I'll be in S. Florida) thats okay, but you'd be wrong to underestimate its value. And and it would be a hell of a lot of fun.

Bad suspension components definitely numb and dull the agility of the car. I revamped my FD's suspension last spring. I had a 1988 Saab 900 that was so worn out that it rode like a boat anchored on a choppy lake. The thing would make you sea sick. Even so it still obeyed my inputs albeit not very sharply. My 740 Turbo could use a refresh. It clunks, groans, creaks and wallows. But it is controllable. Its kind of fun to get that car sideways.

 

I'm not underestimating it's value. It's just that basically ragging on someone about the money they are putting into parts replacing grates my nerves a little.

 

For what Josh said, I DO enjoy working on the car, but I don't know if I've ever known a joy comparable to driving the car. Most of the time when I can't make an event it's not even about the money, as much as it's about bad timing...working on the car already, having an issue that would disqualify me at tech inspection, not even HAVING the car in state, etc. When I can get everything to line up, I WILL be there. I agree, you can't beat $50 for the knowledge you will gain, and I can't wait to partake. I just have to have everything in order first. And in no way am I insinuating that I'm a good driver by not attending these things, I can't wait to learn so much more (I think I have alot to learn basically).

I think a pre-DGRR day would be a great idea. We can go over everyone's cars and see if there's anything that needs to be fixed or that we would like fixed before we go. Josh, Chris and I are doing Josh's bushings this weekend I believe. Maybe we can get ahold of a shop with a lift and look everything over one right after another. This is probably something we should have done a while back already since we only have a month left but I never even thought about it, haha. Hopefully we won't find much wrong though anyway. I think for Deal's Gap, our main areas of concern should be suspension and engine, but I guess that's obvious, haha. I'm just saying fixing a stereo would be nice, but let's take care of the basics first. And of course money will be an issue with some of us...i.e. if someone has some tired struts but don't have the money to replace them before next month, I guess we're out of luck.

 

Ah.

I did not get that from what he posted. I can see how one could assume he was saying that, but I read that as more if a statement that money in the car is all well and good, but the $50 car control clinic at VIR would be a wise priority. But maybe thats because I've known Ashraf for several years now or maybe I'm wrong. Hell, I'd go just to watch the vintage racing and drifting event I hear is going on that same weekend at VIR.

Speaking of VIR, here is a video of me on full course from last month. I'm pretty mediocre still, but I am still exercising the demons from when that 911 collided with me at VIR. I catching up with that supercharged 350 Z that was wearing race tires, but I still promise to get much faster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHzr-U006K4

 

not this weekend eric. i wont have the mazda stuff til next week, and the shock mounts til whenever they ship 'em.

 

A participant in the Feb 2007 MSCCNC autocross sent me some video: RX-8, SAE Formula car, and my FD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3hIyH7HU2Y

 

Eric, does that mean you'll be able to make it up for the drive this Sat?

 

We are going on Thursday morning as EARLY as possible. Whatever the group wants to do. I loved the drive up there and back with all of us together last year. It was alot more memorable than if we had driven by ourselves. I think it was also cuz Rebecca kept hanging out the Quesomobile's window!

This year, David and I are working together to get the FB ready. We're hurting for $$, and the FB has much fewer issues and no "surprise failures" to worry about. So we're not taking the SRT like we thought.