I thought it would be fun to have a place to show what you've done to your old school ride.

I found a missing steering column trim piece and installed it in my 74 RX4.

I also discovered a pile of NOS parts hidden away in an old storage bin in my old-parts treasure chest.

I made my 74 RX4 immortal by starting this thread.

Do you think the trashy engine compartment would look better if it were sandblasted, had the rust replaced with cold steel, and repainted?

 

nice. how was it swapping in the SE suspension? i'm guessing the engine came from the SE too?

 

Yes more info on how to get the fronst SE suspension to bolt in flush.. I have abt 3/4" gap betweent the top if the tower and the strut top.

Also on topic yesterday I went to the body shop and helped tape off parts and take off parts so the metal work can start

 

I had to swap a water pump on my Rx-4 on Saturday night. I was driving home from a car show Saturday afternoon when a heater hose split and I lost all of my coolant. This loss of coolant took out the water pump seal. It made it back to the car show Sunday though.

 

Thanks to the innovative engineering of Dr. Gambone, the problem was overcome. He suggested that I use a 4''x4''x2'' laminated plywood and cut a hole in it big enough for the strut top (for each side, I used two stacked together); drill 4 holes for the bolts of the strut to pass through; install longer bolts on the strut and put it all back together. The blocks of wood helped raise the front end up enough to drive over railroad tracks without beating the dog out of the undercarriage.

On another note:

Dr. Gambone put independent rear suspension from an FC into his RX4.

He has a boat load of pictures of it.

He was the one that built the front suspension of my RX4. He has pictures of that build also. It is pretty trick. It has manual rack and pinion steering from a wrecking yard. I can't remember if I got the rack from a Datsun or a Ferrari. Probably the Datsun.

The fender wells had to be flared to keep the tires from doing the fingernails-on-a-blackboard sound.

JS, I really like the repainted dash trim color you used. It looks very nice.

Still working on you list.



I was told by the previous owner that it came from an NA S4. It has 130-135+ lbs. of compression and revs up very fast.

It is a hoot to drive. Rev to 3k; dump the clutch; stomp the throttle; let the dual throat Dellorto carb wind it up to 8 or 9 grand; slam it with authority into second; hold on tight and fight to keep it pointed straight ahead.... Major rush.

 

nice rx4
i hope u used marine plywood
is this the rx4 that was sitting in the shop with your other projects?

i finished my tank today and took the beast for a drive couldnt get traction on anything in any gear. bearly made it up the gravel driveway skided all the way. .

 

Thanks man, I tried to find a color that would be close to the brightness but with out the brownish color.

Right now the previous owner put the SE suspension in and on the strut tower studs he put two nuts threaded down all the way then installed them and put a nut on the top. only 3-4 threads are holding the top bolt on due to the short studs.. Very hillbilly

 

Last weekend I picked up another running stock 12a for my collection of spare engines for future use in the RX3.

Also got the drive shaft from the 82 RX7 - Replacable U joints. This will be used to build the new drive shaft I need!

 

FB driveshaft is either too short or too long. I cant remember right now, long day at work.

 

Yes it is the one that was at my shop for several of the "Rotards Doing Rotarded Things to Their Rotories" meets.

I'm fairly certain it was marine plywood. We both know how dry the Willamette Valley in Oregon is, so marine plywood would be wise. When exposed to humidity and water, the Marine plywood glue helps it stay together better than non-marine plywood.

Put some weight on the REPU rear wheels if you want traction. I prefer the "traction" used by bikers. When given a choice of which traction to pick, I like to choose a girl with red hair and nice fun bags.

 

lol fun bags. good to see one of the projects got out of the shop

im putting the bed on tomorrow so then ill be able to put some heavy **** in there.
I don't think my wife will approve of red heads with fun bags
altho my project is going slow i hope to come out to a meet in the summer

cheers
chris

 

Pictures of Dr. Gambone's RX4 with FC rear suspension.

The GTR is getting a needed repaint and de-dent body work restoration with a little customization.

Started sanding off the old, weathered, black decal on the rear deck.

It will still basically be white with black badging; much like it was when it came off of the showroom floor and as it is now.


We don't need no stinkin' badges...

The original GTR badging and black hood/trunk lid will still be black and the white will still be white, but with a bit more bling than may have been available when it was new.

The white will become pearl white and the black will become, well, black.

Then it's going to get a fine gold metal flake clear coat followed with more clear coat, etc.

pic later

 

Where is Dr. Gambone located? I would like to see if he could do some work on my RX4....Thanks

 

Steve is on the forum. PM Gambone and ask him. I would be very surprised if he takes it on because his wife keeps him pretty busy around the house, but it's his call.

He works full time for an auto repair shop in Salem, Oregon. If you took your car to them and demanded that he be the one to work on you car, might be the the only way.

 

Pearl on; black next.

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.

 

Random pictures of the suspension.