White 85 GS, new project, 07-10-11
08-13-11 | 07:40 AM
#52
Me too Dave, but reality is getting in the way a bit. I'd hoped to be making progress this weekend but both Billy and I are just too darn busy with end of the summer gotta get it done stuff.
So The White One Project is on the back burner for a week or two (or three) but I'll post stuff up as soon as I get those new red leather door panels in.
Thanks!
So The White One Project is on the back burner for a week or two (or three) but I'll post stuff up as soon as I get those new red leather door panels in.
Thanks!
08-15-11 | 11:04 AM
#53
The original White One ended up in Billy's yard after Chris, who bought it from me as a rolling shell, sold it to him as a parts car after getting rear ended. So Billy removed the hood from the White One, which still has the pristine decals underneath and the nice bright white paint, just like the way I used to keep it. It will be a nice replacement for the current hood on the White One Project, which has that hole burnt it the paint. Billy will use the hood from the White One project for the race car, so it will need to be painted anyway.
Billy also has the White One's front fenders, which I'll be swapping on to the White One Project in exchange for the decent but not perfect fenders that are on it now. So most of the front end sheet metal from the original White One will be on the White One Project. Talk about reincarnation!
I'll snap a few pictures this weekend, when I mount the holy hood from the White One Project on the Silver One, then drive over to Billy's to swap the original White One hood onto the Silver One and load up the fenders, door panels and various hard to find red interior parts that Billy is also donating from his wide body race car project.
Did you guys follow all that? If not, wait for the pictures, it will make more sense.
Billy also has the White One's front fenders, which I'll be swapping on to the White One Project in exchange for the decent but not perfect fenders that are on it now. So most of the front end sheet metal from the original White One will be on the White One Project. Talk about reincarnation!
I'll snap a few pictures this weekend, when I mount the holy hood from the White One Project on the Silver One, then drive over to Billy's to swap the original White One hood onto the Silver One and load up the fenders, door panels and various hard to find red interior parts that Billy is also donating from his wide body race car project.
Did you guys follow all that? If not, wait for the pictures, it will make more sense.
06-23-12 | 07:46 PM
#54
OK, back from the back burner. The Silver One sold and the check hasn't bounced yet, Brett finally got his hoods figured out and it's back to the White One Two.
Here's a couple of photos as I begin:
Here's a couple of photos as I begin:
06-23-12 | 11:45 PM
#56
Ray I like the door panels that are in the car. Let me know if you are gonna dispose (sell) of them after you get your leather ones in...they might be perfect in my grey 81 with burgundy/ grey interior...
By cfamilyfix at 2012-02-21
great project by the way!
By cfamilyfix at 2012-02-21
great project by the way!
06-24-12 | 09:08 AM
#57
Dave, yes I did have to let the Silver One go in order to turn my attention to this project (which will be even better). We had a good time together, I bought her for $1200, fixed her up and drove her for 44,000 miles for a little over two years. She sold for $3100 to a guy who has been wanting one since his first 85 GSL back in the early '90's. He's very happy.
Here's the ebay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT
The compression in the new project sounds good if you turn it over by hand, but I'm not even going to try to start it up. Instead I'm going to tear this 12A down along with my other two 12A cores and do a rebuild, I want a fresh engine in this one.
Everything else will be redone as well, I'm stripping the car down to the sheet metal for a paint job, then will reinstall everything using the best pieces from my parts shed. It will take a few months but this is going to be a really nice car.
Family fix, the panels are yours if you want to pay the shipping or stop on by down here in Georgia for a pick up (warning: shipping is expensive on door panels).
Here's the ebay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT
The compression in the new project sounds good if you turn it over by hand, but I'm not even going to try to start it up. Instead I'm going to tear this 12A down along with my other two 12A cores and do a rebuild, I want a fresh engine in this one.
Everything else will be redone as well, I'm stripping the car down to the sheet metal for a paint job, then will reinstall everything using the best pieces from my parts shed. It will take a few months but this is going to be a really nice car.
Family fix, the panels are yours if you want to pay the shipping or stop on by down here in Georgia for a pick up (warning: shipping is expensive on door panels).
06-24-12 | 02:14 PM
#58
Ray, i think the silver GSL was worth every penny and then some that it sold for! that car was super clean! you have a good plan for the GS. are you going to repaint it the original dover white? do you have a nice set of X wheels to install on the car to replace the nasty black wheels?
06-25-12 | 08:33 PM
#60
Those panels are yours Colin, we just need to figure out how to get them to NY. My daughter lives in Brooklyn, maybe we can avoid shipping.
Dave, yes, the color will be the original Dover White and black trim, in all it's glory. She'll be the Spitting Image of the White One:
Here's a walk around at the start of the project:
As of today the drum rear end is out and the LSD rear end is well on it's way to restoration:
I pulled the engine and transmission yesterday:
And the interior:
Dave, yes, the color will be the original Dover White and black trim, in all it's glory. She'll be the Spitting Image of the White One:
Here's a walk around at the start of the project:
As of today the drum rear end is out and the LSD rear end is well on it's way to restoration:
I pulled the engine and transmission yesterday:
And the interior:
06-25-12 | 08:35 PM
#61
I'll start with the Darth Vader X wheels that came with the car (along with a nice set of Yokohama Touring tires) after dosing those wheels with a bunch of paint remover:
But I'm pretty much settled on retiring the X wheels and switching to 15x7 Rewinds, Rotos or Panasports, if I can find them.
I scored some Tokico Blue rear shocks on ebay, still need to find the fronts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170866108238...84.m1439.l2649
I already have a set of Eibach springs to go into the total suspension upgrade (should I go with a performance front stabilizer??).
Next, I get to rebuild my first 12A from the 12A I just extracted plus the two cores in my parts shed.
Life is good.
But I'm pretty much settled on retiring the X wheels and switching to 15x7 Rewinds, Rotos or Panasports, if I can find them.
I scored some Tokico Blue rear shocks on ebay, still need to find the fronts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170866108238...84.m1439.l2649
I already have a set of Eibach springs to go into the total suspension upgrade (should I go with a performance front stabilizer??).
Next, I get to rebuild my first 12A from the 12A I just extracted plus the two cores in my parts shed.
Life is good.
07-23-12 | 08:03 AM
#65
Jozey, I'm always looking for maroon interior parts in good shape. As it stands the interior will be a mixture of parts from GS and GSL interiors from both leather and interior finishes. It'll be kind of funky but should be interesting. Still, if I could get my hands on a nice pair of maroon leather door panels...
Thanks for the interest Dudes, I'm having a great time with this project. Not much to report lately because all the work has been demolition and not the most interesting news, but I'll take some update pics and post them later today.
In a word, I am going to remove and renew every nut and bolt from the car, paint the shell back to the original Dover White, then put it all back together with new or rebuilt parts, a freshly rebuilt 12A, performance suspension and exhaust and all my best interior parts from the parts shed.
Now if I can just get Dave to sell me his mint stock red shifter ****....
Thanks for the interest Dudes, I'm having a great time with this project. Not much to report lately because all the work has been demolition and not the most interesting news, but I'll take some update pics and post them later today.
In a word, I am going to remove and renew every nut and bolt from the car, paint the shell back to the original Dover White, then put it all back together with new or rebuilt parts, a freshly rebuilt 12A, performance suspension and exhaust and all my best interior parts from the parts shed.
Now if I can just get Dave to sell me his mint stock red shifter ****....
07-23-12 | 09:47 AM
#66
you're killing me Ray, lol. i was actually thinking of selling it, but had second thoughts about it because i know i will never be able to find another.. but i can't think of anyone other than you or Stu that i would be willing to sell my unobtanium stuff to, lol. its up in the air i guess...
07-24-12 | 10:57 PM
#67
I hear you Dave. I know lot's of folks who form emotional attachments to their RX-7 parts.
I mean, think about it. Your daughter could very well inherit that shift **** some day, still sealed in it's original Mazda wrapper.
And there's no doubt that **** is pure unobtanium. If you sell it to me you'll almost certainly never own another one....
How about $75, I pay the shipping?
Update on the White One II project. Lot's of demolition and some new parts:
Front and rear suspensions are fully uninstalled and waiting rebuild:
Shell is pretty much completely stripped and the new GSL doors are temporarily in place. (Those GSL doors are from the Beige One, my first RX-7 purchased back in 2001):
All the bolt-on front end sheet metal has been removed so that the seams can be renewed to eliminate rust for another 30 years:
My neighbor loaned me this handy dandy flywheel nut removal tool that he made 30 years ago to work on rotaries:
The engine cores are lined up and awaiting tear down:
I mean, think about it. Your daughter could very well inherit that shift **** some day, still sealed in it's original Mazda wrapper.
And there's no doubt that **** is pure unobtanium. If you sell it to me you'll almost certainly never own another one....
How about $75, I pay the shipping?
Update on the White One II project. Lot's of demolition and some new parts:
Front and rear suspensions are fully uninstalled and waiting rebuild:
Shell is pretty much completely stripped and the new GSL doors are temporarily in place. (Those GSL doors are from the Beige One, my first RX-7 purchased back in 2001):
All the bolt-on front end sheet metal has been removed so that the seams can be renewed to eliminate rust for another 30 years:
My neighbor loaned me this handy dandy flywheel nut removal tool that he made 30 years ago to work on rotaries:
The engine cores are lined up and awaiting tear down:
07-24-12 | 10:58 PM
#68
I snagged these barely used Eibach performance springs from a local rotor head for $40, plus a hardly used pair of rear Tokico blues for another $50 shipped from a forum guy who lives in Missouri:
And another brand new pair of Tokico blues for the front end from another forum member from Minnesota. Only $100 shipped for the pair, to complete the set:
Lot's to do. But in the mean time, still shopping for a shift ****, in case anybody (Dave, you still listening?) has one for sale.
And another brand new pair of Tokico blues for the front end from another forum member from Minnesota. Only $100 shipped for the pair, to complete the set:
Lot's to do. But in the mean time, still shopping for a shift ****, in case anybody (Dave, you still listening?) has one for sale.
07-25-12 | 01:05 AM
#69
I wish my rx7 i'm parting out did have maroon interior too.
Unfortunately it's back/dark grey interior and exterior is painted black.
If you need anything else, feel free to check out my for sale thread here-
There is pictures at the beginning and i posted more just then --
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...-sale-1002535/
Unfortunately it's back/dark grey interior and exterior is painted black.
If you need anything else, feel free to check out my for sale thread here-
There is pictures at the beginning and i posted more just then --
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...-sale-1002535/
07-25-12 | 01:39 AM
#70
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
Ray, I don't think you'd regret an upgraded front swaybar. A rear bar might be a bit much, but a front bar adds a lot of Joy to driving the car. Racing Beat would probably be good, since you're not really worried about weight savings (I think). Otherwise, you can't go wrong with the Respeed bar.
Looks like a heck of a project you've gotten yourself into.
.
Looks like a heck of a project you've gotten yourself into.
.
07-25-12 | 07:17 AM
#71
Good point Mark, I've been thinking seriously about adding a stiffer front sway bar, racing beat or equivalent. Also a strut tower brace, like all you cool dudes have.
They are on my scavenger list.
1. Shifter **** (preferably Dave's Unobtanium unit)
2. GSL/GSL-SE red leather door panels in decent shape
3. Performance front sway bar, or possibly a kit for both front and rear sway bars - there was one on ebay awhile back but didn't know enough about the brand to bite (Sway Bar Set Front Rear NOS Turn Six brand for Mazda RX7 1978-1985 | eBay)
4. Strut tower brace, especially if I can find one that will fit around my mint stock Rotary Engine air cleaner
They are on my scavenger list.
1. Shifter **** (preferably Dave's Unobtanium unit)
2. GSL/GSL-SE red leather door panels in decent shape
3. Performance front sway bar, or possibly a kit for both front and rear sway bars - there was one on ebay awhile back but didn't know enough about the brand to bite (Sway Bar Set Front Rear NOS Turn Six brand for Mazda RX7 1978-1985 | eBay)
4. Strut tower brace, especially if I can find one that will fit around my mint stock Rotary Engine air cleaner
07-25-12 | 09:26 AM
#72
Ok I'm jealous Ray! I wish I had summers off 
You can get a 2nd gen strut bar like mine but the snorkel on the stock air cleaner will hit it.
You could use a different air cleaner like a RB one or swap carbs to a better one than the nikki.
Otherwise it will clear the alternator no problem. I got mine on ebay for 30 bucks.
You can get a 2nd gen strut bar like mine but the snorkel on the stock air cleaner will hit it.
You could use a different air cleaner like a RB one or swap carbs to a better one than the nikki.
Otherwise it will clear the alternator no problem. I got mine on ebay for 30 bucks.
07-25-12 | 07:29 PM
#73
Tim I did have fantasies early on of getting an exotic Italian carburetor and some super sexy aftermarket 15" wheels.
But then I started to think about it and realized that the superiority of the stock Nikki and her rat's nest for overall performance and rotary satisfaction, coupled with the iconic good looks of the stock X wheels, makes these so called upgrades irrelevant.
And there's no way I'm not putting this beauty under the hood:
So what I need is a strut tower brace that will work around the stock blue air canister. I'm sure it can be done, anybody got any experience with this?
But then I started to think about it and realized that the superiority of the stock Nikki and her rat's nest for overall performance and rotary satisfaction, coupled with the iconic good looks of the stock X wheels, makes these so called upgrades irrelevant.
And there's no way I'm not putting this beauty under the hood:
So what I need is a strut tower brace that will work around the stock blue air canister. I'm sure it can be done, anybody got any experience with this?
07-26-12 | 05:03 AM
#74
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
The Respeed strut bar (non-triangulated) will fit fine Ray.
I'd pass on those Ebay swaybars. Price isn't that great, and the rear bar looks like stock size and offers no adjustment (which you're going to want if you upgrade the rear bar).
That price, plus shipping, puts you into the pricerange of the Respeed front swaybar. Considering that, I'd go with the good front bar and skip the rear for now. Just keep your eyes open for a 3 point adjustable rear bar in the parts section (skip the RB slide type adjustable rear bar, you want the kind with 3 holes for different end link mounting positions).
I'd pass on those Ebay swaybars. Price isn't that great, and the rear bar looks like stock size and offers no adjustment (which you're going to want if you upgrade the rear bar).
That price, plus shipping, puts you into the pricerange of the Respeed front swaybar. Considering that, I'd go with the good front bar and skip the rear for now. Just keep your eyes open for a 3 point adjustable rear bar in the parts section (skip the RB slide type adjustable rear bar, you want the kind with 3 holes for different end link mounting positions).
07-26-12 | 06:05 AM
#75
Thanks for the tip Mark, now that you mention it Billy's test mule still had the stock air cleaner, so I went back and sure enough it has a strut brace, respeed in origin no doubt (although it is triangulated, which I kind of like, maybe they have different types):
That sure is a great looking car, with lots of that brap brap.
I'll put that on my list, thanks.
Also I figured I'd just go with the original stock sway bar in back, just renew the rubber bushings. I've heard the polyurethane bushings can be too stiff and cause problems with the rear end getting weird, wouldn't want that.
Thanks for the tips!
That sure is a great looking car, with lots of that brap brap.
I'll put that on my list, thanks.
Also I figured I'd just go with the original stock sway bar in back, just renew the rubber bushings. I've heard the polyurethane bushings can be too stiff and cause problems with the rear end getting weird, wouldn't want that.
Thanks for the tips!