I believe this is the correct section to post this. If not, please move with my apologies.

Several months ago I purchased a 1988 RX7 Base (Claret Mica) from the original owner in ATL, GA. The chassis has 265k miles on it and the engine appears to have been rebuilt within 5-12k miles. The interior is easily a 9/10, the engine is a 10/10 (for a NA engine!) but the paint is a 5/10. I do not know if this is the original paint job or if someone re-painted the car with a single stage. The paint is in GREAT condition....aside from the fact that there is NO clear anywhere on the car.

I have gone through and started cleaning and prepping the engine bay for my upgrades and found the paint in the engine bay to be almost flawless. I decided that I would re-paint the car the original factory color because it appears to be a rare color for an RX7 (claret mica 2H).

I've got about 90% of the car taped off and will finish the sanding tomorrow morning. I hope by around lunch time to start putting on the first of 5 light base coats. I will let it harden 24hrs and go back sunday to apply the first 2 coats of clear. I'm going to let those set for 6-10hrs and then wetsand with 1500 grit. Monday night I'll go back in and tack everything and do the final 2 coats of clear. Let it settle for 48hrs and then start putting everything back together.

This is my first large-scale paint job I've done on my own so I'm hoping I do the car justice. I'll post up some "before" pics of the week I brought the car home. as well as a preliminary engine bay shot before the goodies (i.e. turbo) go in.

I appreciate any feedback you guys have.

 

This is just a small teaser of the mostly finished engine bay and the tails for the car. The pics were taking with my cell phone so they don't look all that hot but hopefully you get an idea of where it's headed.

 

You weren't kidding, thats a clean body and the interior is the best I've ever seen. Good luck on painting and thanks for posting up pictures!

 

Thanks for the feedback! I'm pretty excited about it (hence why it's 3am here and I can't sleep!)

I always like to do something unique with my cars and it seems this color was only offered on the RX7 for 1 year and they're very few and far between. I hope I do it justice.

 

Looking good so far, Matty. Contact Etowah Chemical and get a gallon of Warrior. They make this chemical and it will clean your engine bay even better than it is and help bring out more shine.

I assume you have the fan shroud off for cleaning/pics. You will have to have that back on there to use with the stock fan. I see you have lots of things not connected, so I figure the shroud is off for the pics.

I have a nice double sheave alt pulley that would look nice up there if you install the turbo kit.

 

Hey Todd. I'll tke your advise on the "warrior". The shroud and fan are out for good. I've gone to a single pusher e-fan as well as relocated the battery. I'd say that about 35% of everything in that engine picture is about to come out for good anyway. I've decided to do the turbo swap for now just to have some giggles and give me something to play with while I build the other block.

Bryan @ BNR is supposed to be helping clean all of the stuff up on the turbo kit for me so I'll post some more pics of that when I get it finished.


As for the paint, I've taken a lot of time off. It is parked over at Q's shop near my house and his mother has been very sick lately. We're not going to rush anything right now as he needs to be focused on her. When she gets better and he'll be around again I'll finish the last two sanding stages and then stat pouring the color on.

 

So, the car has been over at Q's shop but his mother is real sick so I'm holding off on finishing up the paint right now until he's back at home for good.

In the mean time I've taken the turbo and manifold over to Reed to be freshened up and I'll pick it up tomorrow. I'll get the new intake manifold and carb hat back and get it cleaned up and painted and I'll finish polishing the TMIC and I'll be mostly done.

I got the 4309 from pat's old car from the new owner on ARS. $50 score!

I'm going to yank the engine out and paint it, then throw the turbo stuff back on and drop it all back in. Should be quicker/easier than wrestling with it all...plus, having the engine out will give me a chance to go over the bay with the "warrior" chemical you mentioned.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm hoping this turns out well.