Cowboyfun

Well, I've decided I'm going to tell a little story about how I got my car and the subsequent build-up. The last few weeks I've gotten hordes of pm's about my car, how I did it, what it cost, etc. So here it is: The Chronicles of the 83CYMFB.

If you don't want to read, just scroll to the bottom to view the pics from the beginning to now.

It's hard for even me to believe that I started this project only a little over a year ago. It all started with my girlfriend opening her mouth, telling me her uncle was selling his "old mazda sports car". Of course I knew that it was the RX-7 she was referring to, when it was $700 for the car, well I couldn't help myself.
I mean he was the original owner, how bad could it be?
Upon first inspection, it looked great, ran well, the A/C blew cold, and seemed to have plenty of get-up and go. Hell, the paint looked like crap, who cares, there a gas stain on it, eh, who cares. Tires bald, eh who cares. So I bought. And suddenly I was the second owner of this car that was as old as I. I came down later that night and picked her up. I was amazed to get 4 sets of keys, all the maintence records, and the original owners manual-even the little plastic wallet key that mazda made back then!

And it began. I stumbled upon rx7club.com after having some trouble with the fuel system-hence how I met rx7doctor...who so loving said "change the fuel filter you idiot". So needless to say I bought a new fuel filter and put it on.
I became addicted to the site, all the gorgeous FB's, FC's, and FD's. Then I saw Troichids thread about his widebody project. And thats when the bug bit me, hard.
I went out and bought a sander, some paper, some paint remover, and a bunch of rattle cans. I spent 3 weeks sanding in my driveway, masking off with newspaper (what a no-no), creating my own "spray booth" with a tarp. And rattle canning my car silver, lol. I was planning on getting a "real" paint job, but couldnt afford it so I figured that would last me a while...it did.
Then the bug for more power bit me. Everyone said, go with mechanical secondaries, and ditch the rats nest. So I did. I was satisfied with it, for a while.

I'm not sure what really started it off, but I found myself one night looking at rebuilt engines and bought a streetported 12a rebuild from rotary wharehouse with 3K miles on it. Perfect! Then I bought a 13bre trans from an -se (from the doc).
I found myself taking an autobody repair class and autobody painting class at the college (so much for academics). And after spending 4 months learning how to paint, I painted my car.

The CYM FB was born. Going CYM was a natural choice for me, I wanted CYM FD, but couldnt afford it, lol. I wanted to be seen, having been run off the road more than once already by the not-so-attentive SUV driver. And so CYM it was.
3 more weeks spent prepping, and stripping, and cleaning, and welding, and bondo. And she was ready for paint. I painted her up, and put it on bake. An hour later she came out of the booth, and all I could say was "Wow".
We pushed her over to the autoshop and I put her up on the rack. We had previously pulled the old engine out and removed the A/C. I installed the streetported 12a with my new front mount oil cooler, new clutch, and put it all together.
I worked on it the last week of school until 11pm everynight getting everything finalized on it. Had to get the carb on, had to get the exhaust on, and had to fix that oil leak (ended up that we forgot to put the oil pressure sensor on-oops).

So with the timing off by god knows how far, and the carb straight out of the box, we hook it all up and turned the key...and it started, for a second. So we tried again, and It was alive. Spent the next few weeks getting it in tune enough to drive.
Now 4 months after all of that I can say that my car is almost finished. Need a few small trim pieces to finish the interior. Need a few small exterior pieces to finish the exterior.
I've also decided that I've put too much effort into this car to ever sell it. So soon I will be replacing the 12a streetport with something that will actually be legal (perhaps a stock 12at). Either way I know that I have had fun with this car and can't wait for the next one...which will be in a long time, lol. So here are some pics from start to the present. See you all at Seven Stock 9!!

The Begining:








The Construction:








Finished Product:

MattG

iTrader: (2)

Looks awesome!!!!

You should be very proud, looks like you put alot of work into it, and it turned out great!

sincere_

wow... that is beatiful.... seriously. awesome job

sincere_

ok after lookin at this car for a couple mintues... i have to say this is the best color scheme ive ever seen on an fb.. CONGRATS! I love yellow and black.

totensiebush

I would remove the front plate if I were you, its only a $10 fix-it ticket and it will look a LOT better without it.

edit: and are you not using any sort of air filter for it?

RealXhausted7

Nice attention to detail in the engine compartment!

Cowboyfun

No I have filters on it, they just are not in that pic...thanks for askin tho.
I put the plate on it when I went to RotaryFest in the bay (where the pics where taken). I don't need to give anyone an excuse to pull me over...

Thanks for the comments. I'll be posting my parts list soon.

nick812

Very nice i was thinking about the Yellow. Or i would love to go the 78-80 green i have seen on some of the JDM rx-7's.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Good story. I found it funny when you quoted doc, 'change the fuel filter stupid', and when you misspelt my name. I was honored when you said my car inspired you, but disappointed when you started to rattle can your's.

That said, you have learned a hell of a lot, made a great deal of effort and produced a very admirable product out of your love for the 7. Outstanding, keep up the great work.

Cowboyfun

Sorry for the name mishap, I would mispell my own name if it weren't stitched into my underpants, lol. (j/k). FWIW the rattle can was an afterthought, I was planning on just having it primered to keep it from rusting, but had thought ah hell, I can rattle can it and make it look good (i was wrong).
But thank you for the kind words. Its nice to see that other people appreciate your work.

slashdawg00110

Looks great!

Naegleria_Fowleri

It looks absolutely fantastic. The flag thing on the side is a bit much in my personal opinion, but it still looks really great. The work on this car is top notch. Congratulations. Its great to see a story like that as well. Its always great to read the stories behind some of the cars on teh forum.

Cowboyfun

Thanks for all the comments.
Heres a partial parts list
NEW INTERIOR PIECES
GSL-SE DOOR PANELS
GSL-SE SEATS
GSL-SE SUSPENSION
GSL-SE TRANSMISSION
RACINGBEAT STREETPORT EXHAUST
ROTARYSHACK OER SIDEDRAFT CARBURETOR
FRONT MOUNT OIL COOLER WITH BRAIDED S.S. LINES
BODY SEALS
DOOR RUN CHANNELS
COMPETITION YELLOW MICA PAINT
BODY SMOOTH & REMOVE ALL DENTS
NEW CLUTCH RACING BEAT STAGE II
NEW STEERING LINKAGE
NEW STEERING BOX
NEW WHEELS
NEW TIRES
GLASS MOONROOF
PIONEER HEAD UNIT
PIONEER 6” 3-WAY REAR SPEAKERS
CUSTOM WOOD CUPHOLDER
HOLLEY RED FUEL PUMP

I'm sure there are things missing, but thats what I've got written in my log.

So far running parts total...about $8000

Let this be a reminder to the newbies that restoring a car can be very very expensive.

d0 Luck

everything looks good, except the wheels and stance of the car.

DriftFB

Yellow has never been my thing, but you obviously did a good job on it. And stick with those wheels they make your car different from all us mesh wheel guys. +1 for the checkers being too much, to each is own though.

I only found out recently, does any one else know what trochoid's name refers to?

Cowboyfun

Yeah, the checkers were an afterthought. I got them for free, so I figured why not. I'll take them off later this year probably. I'm gonna do just an OEM pinstripe down the side when I take it off...black of course.
And no, I haven't a clue what the name refers to, enlighten us.

DriftFB

its the shape of a rotor housing.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

LOL, I guess someone finally figured out the reference. It's also the type of oil pump used in a rotary. The inner shape of a rotor housing is a particular type of trochoid, I don't remember if it's a peritrochoid or hypertrochoid. Trochoids are a particular group of mathmatical shapes.

DriftFB

now its the more I know. lol at math

Cowboyfun

Wow. Interesting.