1984 Gsl 5.0L build
 

Hey guys I've started a 302/T5 build . I'm a relatively new to mechanic work and all my previous experience is with volkwagens. So this a place to post my progress and ask Questions . I've been watching the forums for a while and have done months of research before starting this project . So once I relised that my 12a would need a rebuild my muscle fan friends finally convinced me to pull the trigger on this

Car needs lots of work but here are some pictures of where I'm too now

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...1bd7e05cd3.jpg

As she was before it was put into my new to me garage . Sat outside the first year I owned it

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That's better

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Subframe and control arms out.

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5.0L out of a 1988 mustang , 140 000kms for $400 . Came with a T5 aswell

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Holley 650 carb, elderbrock intake manifold, shorty headers and some other odds and ends .

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...02a5451787.jpg

Rear seats I removed from the car and sold for a smooth $500 profit

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...b7bea25404.jpg

Where the project sits now. Im currently working till end of November.

So next on the list is getting the front end finished, I have all new bushings , ball joints , tie rod ends , rotors/pads , struts/springs and new wheel bearings. So I'll be busy sanding painting and reassembling the front end.

I'll hopefully be ordering a Granny 5.0l kit In the near furture.
Thanks in advanced

love seeing these projects from the start
great work

Thank you! I should have a productive trip home . To cold to do anything else but stay home and work on the 7 and I have all my parts waiting to go .

Very cool, I would recommend doing the FC subframe swap since you have already pulled yours.

Yea I've been thinking about it. I do have all new parts for the box setup already tho . When you switch to rack you still keep the fb subframe tho correct? Because the kit I got is for the fb subframe.

Hey Zach nice to see another 1st gen build and look forward to seeing your build progress. My build is pretty slow going so I look forward to watching others builds progress.

IF you have a kit then yes, did you buy a used respeed kit???

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...71e55b0c74.jpgEngine on the stand with new intake and carb sitting on it. Soon be time for paint and new goodies including rebuilt gt40 heads
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...3932050f24.jpgMy brother is selling his gslse so ive been given some parts including this e fan
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...a3867f5a54.jpgAlso got these wheels for a great price. 15x8 20 offset . With my adaptors will definitely need flares
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c5f8955311.jpgHis car needed seats so he had borrowed mine. Letting him keeping them to sell the car and taking these in return.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...109ed42431.jpgStuts and springs put on but need strut mounts so waiting on those.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...a95f8ee646.jpgNew ball joints and control arm bushing pushed into my freshly painted control arms and subframe
it's 3am now so my wheel bearings are ready to go into the rotor. I have a bearing punch and I don't think my roommates would like it if I decided to do that now.

as for my steering. I've decided to keep the box for simplicity where I'm using the grannyspeed for my swap . have new tie rods and idler arm bushing to install.

Great looking rims
Looks like you have a clear vision
What are the a arm bushings?

Yeah I do have a pretty clear plan . probley going going to change 1000 times before the car is on the road again . I'm using all energy suspension in the front and I'm going to find rubber for the rear bushings . idler arm bushing is just from rock auto .

Looks good, I still need to do my LCA bushings. I ended up going fully poly in the rear as well, its been fun to drive so far.

I've heard that poly in the rear is bad for oversteer . you have any issues sense you went poly in the back?

Do you plan on tack welding those new ball joints? New ones seem to have a habit coming loose because the press fit isn't that good.

yea I'm planning on getting a few tacs before I put them back in read that before. better safe then sorry. also wondering anyone know off hand the length bolt used for the lca . I had to cut the bolt to get the old bushing out and drill the old bushing up .

While the engine is still out,I would start to figure out how you will route the ALT/WP/Crank belt.
Seeing you have no Power steering you will either be going V belt or using a special set up to allow the serpentine belt to be used.
It may involve changing the water pump.

no in the autox I did with the car it felt great, very neutral at the limit. I am only running 195s though

I was planning on using one of those aftermarket alt brackets that let you use your alt as a tensioner and just measuring it afterwards.
I have a lot of work to do with the engine. I have a new waterpump oil pump all new gaskets and new gt40 heads and timing gear.plus I still need to get a ignition system and most likely a e303 camshaft.
right now I'm rocker gaurding my wheel wells and just coated my subframe so hopefully tomorrow I'll have the subframe and contol arms back in. then when my strut mounts get in it can get my front end back in. so I can roll it outside for engine bay cleaning and paint prep.

Have you made any progress over the last month?

No i haven't. Busy with Christmas then I had to go back to work for a month. I've received all the parts you put the motor and front end together . Also a friend of mine is getting ready to weld the floors for me so there progress is coming

Plan change
 

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So some one local bought this car that was hit in a parking lot and some one smashed the windows out while it was sitting in a car lot. They are taking the engine and trans and giving me the shell for my old rotary and trans for spares as a even trade. The body damage is bad but it's rust free and I have all the parts to replace the damage and this one is in amazing shape inside and rust free making my life much easyer . So another delay but I won't have to replace the whole interior and a better shell in general.

From what I can see in the photos this looks like a good deal for you. Besides the damage the car looks good.

Did you ever get the engine in the car?

If so, what headers did you use and how well did they fit?

Update : small but hopefully back on track
 

It's been a long time sense I've worked on the car . Busy , life happening untill it to a point of tomorrow never comes . So updates . Grey car is in my driveway ready to come into the garage, the white car is scrapped. Just a frame to hold the glass in untill im ready for it . A sold some parts to get back another 400 from it
sadly the local gt40 heads didn't work out . Buttt
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...10cd9e1bbd.jpg

Engine is ready! New head gaskets , main seals, tore down cleaned reassambled , new timing intake installe. Waiting on hardware for the headers, waterpump and pulleys. A altonator bracket and air cleaner for my holley 650
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