Video Log Of The Restomodding Of My '76 RX-5 Cosmo (New Vid New Vid Jul 10/2024)
#151
Engine, Not Motor
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Aaron; i can't believe i just watched a video of you watching paint dry, quentin tarentino you are
Hobbies should stay hobbies, so it's computers during the day (which is no longer a hobby) and cars at night.
#153
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Because of the holidays I only just got back into the project after not being able to touch it much for about 2 weeks. I'm editing part 9 right now but don't know when it will be up as the work I wanted to include in this episode isn't quite done yet (almost though).
#154
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Hey Aaron, I just picked up a 1976 Cosmo. If you need some trim, tail lights, or grills, I have about 3 sets of each.
I am restoring mine too, but I think Canada was less kind to yours!
I am restoring mine too, but I think Canada was less kind to yours!
#156
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Sounds good.
Have you any ideas for a rear axle swap? The rear rotors are basically non-existent.
I am going through options on potentially swapping in an FB 3rd member. The front is getting FB spindles and strut assemblies, as well as the RE-Speed Big Brake kit, making it 5 lug with TII calipers. Also an FB booster and master cylinder are going in. If I can get an FB rear end in there, I can get the RE-Speed 5 lug axles and better brakes there as well.
Surely its possible right? There just isn't any info out there for Cosmo's dammit!
Have you any ideas for a rear axle swap? The rear rotors are basically non-existent.
I am going through options on potentially swapping in an FB 3rd member. The front is getting FB spindles and strut assemblies, as well as the RE-Speed Big Brake kit, making it 5 lug with TII calipers. Also an FB booster and master cylinder are going in. If I can get an FB rear end in there, I can get the RE-Speed 5 lug axles and better brakes there as well.
Surely its possible right? There just isn't any info out there for Cosmo's dammit!
#157
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I'm not about to swap the rear axle. There was an extra set of rear rotors in the trunk when I got the car still in their original Mazda boxes. Just a bit of surface rust from sitting.
Now, the thing is, the Cosmo has a weird lug pattern of 4 x 120. So I may end up getting the rear axles redrilled for a more common pattern if I can't find wheels, along with the fronts. There is almost certainly another car that has similar brake rotors. It would take some measuring of the Cosmo rotors and then some calls to manufacturers to find them, but I'm sure they exist.
Or, it is not unreasonable to have a machine shop just make a set.
But I'm really not that concerned with it at the moment. The rotors I have on the car are new anyway so I'll just blast them and then have them turned.
Now, the thing is, the Cosmo has a weird lug pattern of 4 x 120. So I may end up getting the rear axles redrilled for a more common pattern if I can't find wheels, along with the fronts. There is almost certainly another car that has similar brake rotors. It would take some measuring of the Cosmo rotors and then some calls to manufacturers to find them, but I'm sure they exist.
Or, it is not unreasonable to have a machine shop just make a set.
But I'm really not that concerned with it at the moment. The rotors I have on the car are new anyway so I'll just blast them and then have them turned.
#159
Sounds good.
Have you any ideas for a rear axle swap? The rear rotors are basically non-existent.
I am going through options on potentially swapping in an FB 3rd member. The front is getting FB spindles and strut assemblies, as well as the RE-Speed Big Brake kit, making it 5 lug with TII calipers. Also an FB booster and master cylinder are going in. If I can get an FB rear end in there, I can get the RE-Speed 5 lug axles and better brakes there as well.
Surely its possible right? There just isn't any info out there for Cosmo's dammit!
Have you any ideas for a rear axle swap? The rear rotors are basically non-existent.
I am going through options on potentially swapping in an FB 3rd member. The front is getting FB spindles and strut assemblies, as well as the RE-Speed Big Brake kit, making it 5 lug with TII calipers. Also an FB booster and master cylinder are going in. If I can get an FB rear end in there, I can get the RE-Speed 5 lug axles and better brakes there as well.
Surely its possible right? There just isn't any info out there for Cosmo's dammit!
and there is stuff out there you just have to be patient and you will find all that you need and make phone calls
also Aaron iam still working the deal with a wheel manufacture that i have gotten a hold of throught a wheels next so if it goes though we will be able to have coustom cosmo wheels but i need design ideas.
#160
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Part 9: My 76 Mazda RX-5 Cosmo Restoration - Shaving The Door Handles
I've been doing a lot of engine work lately, so for episode 9 I change gears a little and move onto a random task: shaving the door handles. This involves installing a solenoid into the door which will now electrically activate the door latch, and then removing the exterior handle holes from the door. What I thought was a quick task turned out to be more time consuming than I thought due to the difficulty of working inside the door and my lack of sheet metal talent. Included in this episode: installing AutoLoc 50LBs shaved door solenoids, modifying solenoid bracket to fit doors, setting up a pulley mechanism, modifying stock door latches for shaved doors, door window removal, wiring the solenoids, cutting out sheet metal patches for the door handle holes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj85UXEsRuA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj85UXEsRuA
#162
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why the hang up on the fb??
and there is stuff out there you just have to be patient and you will find all that you need and make phone calls
also Aaron iam still working the deal with a wheel manufacture that i have gotten a hold of throught a wheels next so if it goes though we will be able to have coustom cosmo wheels but i need design ideas.
and there is stuff out there you just have to be patient and you will find all that you need and make phone calls
also Aaron iam still working the deal with a wheel manufacture that i have gotten a hold of throught a wheels next so if it goes though we will be able to have coustom cosmo wheels but i need design ideas.
I still have no info on the rear end swap, so I am just going to dive into it. This thing is NOT going to remain stock. It needs to handle much better to keep my interest. Stock will not do at Deals Gap.
#165
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I've been looking around, and making calls. But, if I want it to handle and stop (like I want it too) it will need some upgrades. Using the FB front spindles makes the front end much easier to upgrade.
I still have no info on the rear end swap, so I am just going to dive into it. This thing is NOT going to remain stock. It needs to handle much better to keep my interest. Stock will not do at Deals Gap.
I still have no info on the rear end swap, so I am just going to dive into it. This thing is NOT going to remain stock. It needs to handle much better to keep my interest. Stock will not do at Deals Gap.
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Question: The sound is pretty good for a having the microphone a distance away, but have you though about using one of those microphones that pin to your shirt? So your voice is a little more clear and not so much ambient noise around? I am not being dick and trying to be picky just wondering if you thought that? I also like the commentary that you added while the video was playing.
#168
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I'd love to, but alas, my camera does not have an external mic input. I have been shooting everything with my Panasonic DMC-FX3 point and shoot. It takes great video although the sound quality is lacking.
I've tried 3 digital camcorders and have been unhappy with the quality of all of them. They ranged in price from a $200 refurb to a $1500 pro-sumer HD camera (I got it on sale for $700) and they all record poorly in standard def compared to my point and shoot.
I've tried 3 digital camcorders and have been unhappy with the quality of all of them. They ranged in price from a $200 refurb to a $1500 pro-sumer HD camera (I got it on sale for $700) and they all record poorly in standard def compared to my point and shoot.
#171
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1. Always wanted to shave doors on something for the smoothness
2. There were no door handles when I bought the car
I'm thinking of also installing door poppers on my Insight as well, though not eliminating the handles, just for the convenience.
You'll see in the next video that I was very careful not to heat up the door too much. However in doing so, I caused a serious amount of metal shrinkage which lead to some major warping. I then had to spend about 3 hours beating the door as straight as I could get it. The drivers door went better with thinner wire, much less current and no forced cooling but still warped quite a bit.
#173
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I have not quite decided where yet, but there will be a small spring loaded plunger installed on either the door or the door jam. At this point I am thinking of replacing the courtesy light switch with the mechanism and relocating the switch to inside the door (using a microswitch).
#174
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That's an interesting idea that I had not considered. I wonder where I could mount a strut? Maybe at the front door jam? Then again, most pneumatic dampers don't have much push at the start of their stroke which is exactly where it is needed in this case.