daily driver

[Kenny Senter]

hey guys,

I bought this car back in May of this year (08) and have been steadily improving upon things as I see fit including new suspension, wheels and tires, fixing the a/c, adding a stereo, etc.

First things first, this is the car in the condition in which I received it, pretty nice in the beginning, and a good platform to improve upon.
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/exterior_001.jpg

http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/exterior_004.jpg

http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/exterior_007.jpg

its got a couple dents and dings, but nothing major. All those things I can take care of later if I so choose to do so.
heres the list of how the car was "modded" when I purchased it:
"5 Speed N/A, with 154k miles on the chassis, and apx 15k miles on the the motor. Motor was built by Dale and myself about a year ago. Motor was built with Rotary Aviation apex seals, all new seals, and everything was spec'd out perfectly with a micrometer.

Body is straight other than one dent near the front fender from a persons knee while leaning over the engine bay. Some scratches around the hatch area from loading/unloading stuff. The only bit of rust is on the hatch, and about the size of a quarter. According to carfax, it's never been in an accident, and everything is as it should be.

A/C system is all there, but has never been hooked up (no belt) in my ownership. The previous owner said it worked fine before he blew the motor. Heater works like a champ.

Regular oil changes and maintenance always preformed on time.

~15k mile motor
RA Apex Seals
No emissions other than a TII Cat
No Power Steering
<1yr old brake master cylinder
Turbo Catback
New shifter bushings
Racing Beat headers
GXL Limited Slip Diff is included, but not installed
S5 Tails
S5 Mirrors
S5 Turbo Steering Wheel
S5 Shifter surround
S5 Stereo surround
S5 Turbo alternator
Battery is brand new
Radiator hoses ~1yr old
Belts ~1yr old
S4 Turbo Wheels
5 lug conversion w/ turbo brakes"

The first few things I did was add the cooling tray under the engine, an oil change, and a good bit of suspension which consisted of:
a Fighters Garage camber link
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/camberlink2.jpg
Cusco camber plates
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/cusco.jpg
Dropzone Coilovers on KYB AGX's
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/suspension_011.jpg
also installed were Suspension Technique front and rear swaybars with Mazdatrix adj. endlinks. I have yet to install the LSD and my front and rear CP Racing strut tower bars
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/suspension_002.jpg

I really couldnt stand that suspension. It was overly stiff and not very well damped, it just bounced all over the place. The Cusco camberplates also made it very difficult to turn the steering wheel and made atroutious popping noises while steering (I know, race car parts, but not a racecar). I sold the camber plates, dropzone setup, and the KYB's and purchased a set of Ksport Coilovers. These are extremely better than the previous setup and I cannot speak enough words on the improvement.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/DSC_0023.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/DSC_0025.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/DSC_0027.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/DSC_0031.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/DSC_0033.jpg

and at the same time picked up the new "hot version" 5zigens FN01RC
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/5zigen_004.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/5zigen_002.jpg

thats pretty much how the car sits now. I'm purchasing another 7 parts car and it comes with the s5 TII wheels and an Apexi full exhaust (with a header but I already have the RB header). I'll be installing the exhaust towards the end of the month.

for now:
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/Bridge_002x.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/River_001x.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/Spools_001x.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/Dashx.jpg
(Im kinda partial to her backside, has such a nice rear!)

[Kenny Senter]

I guess I should mention also that since owning the car I have fixed the a/c, painted the brakes, , new lower balljoints, new outer tie-rods, added the a/c cooling fan, new belts, new fuel filter, new fuel sock on pump, added SAFC, did a complete stereo setup cause the car had none (Clarion headunit, Memphis MC series front and rear, will be re-installing my Diamond Audio amp, and possibly adding a bass tube or something small of sort).
I've got an s5 bumper and some molding pieces in the garage, as well as the aero pieces for in front of the rear wheels (considering selling those if anyones interested, or trade for TII sideskirts).

[Whizbang]

do you have a picture of the CP racing brace installed?

[Kenny Senter]

I still have yet to install them, the front brace hits the stock fan so I will either have to get a different brace or wait til I do an Elec fan if and when I ever do. I'm also open to trades on the CP racing bars for a set of different manufacture...no ebay please.

I can get pics of the set if interested

[djmtsu]

Great looking S4. Don't see many like that anymore. I like that almost everything you have done serves a purpose. And the FN01's look friggin sweet. What are the specs, if you don't mind.

[Phoenix7]

oooooooooooooooh, very clean!

[Kenny Senter]

17x8 +35 225/45/R17
17x10 +25 245/40/R17

I want a smaller section width, maybe a 215, so they will "slightly" stretch like the rears are. I dont wanna go with anything larger than a 245 on the rear and I dont like the way the front profile looks in propsective to the rears. I know a lot of people dont like that, but this car isnt for a lot of other people. :)

[Phoenix7]

ouch why? why do people like the stretched rims?

[TehMonkay]

You're running a bit HOT on the temp gauge

[Phoenix7]

nice camera too, those last shots came out nice.

[djmtsu]

You're running a bit HOT on the temp gauge



If that is the case, its also idling very low.

[TehMonkay]

If that is the case, its also idling very low.

Yeah it's only at 12v so i assume it's not running, lol, but that's still the correct temp assuming the gauge isn't broken.

[Kenny Senter]

the temp gauge has always read high like that. The previous owner had a temp gauge installed and came to the conclusion that the factory gauge is out of spec and always sits high. I do want to get another temp gauge for myself though, but that is "normal" for this car.

[Max777]

nice! My friend is getting an S4 coupe tomorrow! We just unflooded it today, ran like a champ!

[Kenny Senter]

bought another 7.
88 GXL with what is thought to be an atkins rotary stg2 streetport s5 engine. Car comes with Apexi N1 exhaust with pre-silencer, brand new Powerslot rotors and Hawk HP pads, Eibach springs on stock shocks, of course the GXL LSD, Racing Beat header, TurboII wheels (mesh style) painted black, H4 headlights with silverstar bulbs, and is complete otherwise.

I have swapped the exhaust and brake rotors and pads over to my car. I'm gonna do a compression test on the engine and hope its good. The story behind that is it started running funny so the prev. owner assumed it was blown. Hmmmmm... So I'm hoping compression test out fine. Then I gotta do my research to see what I need to do to make it work in my S4, or if its even worth doing. My car has a 20k mile fresh rebuild as it is and is running great with no problems.

Trying to decide if I'm gonna strip what I want/need off the GXL or part it out as it is.

[Phoenix7]

Very cool, congrats.

[Kenny Senter]

thnx, I appreciate comments.

Havent decided as of yet if Im gonna part the GXL out or not. If it runs, might just try to flip it.

[Phoenix7]

flip it, make a few bucks for your current project.

[Kenny Senter]

spent the afternoon "modernizing" a spare set of s5 tails I have.

here's a nice comparison...
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/modern_001.jpg

removed diffusors from behind the lens
http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/modern_002.jpg

http://altomo.info/~kenny/images/RX7/modern_003.jpg

after putting the first light back together I realized I should have kept that black piece in there as to not show the tag light. So I had to re-open the light and reinstall the black piece, argh, lol. Live n learn. The effort was well worth the reward.

BTW: I have a set of s5 lights for sale now if anyones interested.

[Kenny Senter]

have done a good bit of stuff since last update.

maxed out the camber on the Ksport coilovers and lowered the front another 3/4". It now sits proper as the front was a lil too high previously. Much Much better!!

Mounted an s13 240sx lip onto the car the other day and drove around for a bit to make sure its gonna be stable and everything good. Took it back off today and gonna wait til I get some skirts before I put it back on. So the OEM strip is back on in the meantime.

Installed autometer water temp gauge. Really didnt wanna pull the pump off the car because "if something can go wrong...." and everything is fine right now, lol. So I instead used an in-line adaptor in the upper radiator hose for the temp sensor and mounted the gauge in an a-pillar pod. It sits low and out of the way as to not draw more attention.

Pulled the rust-free hatch off my GXL parts car and installed it on the driver. I already have the switch from the GXL in the cluster so it has controls to it, but I can't for the life of me find the plug that is "supposed" to be in the harness according to members on the "other" forum. But in the mean time, the wiper arm makes for a great handle to aid in opening the hatch, lol.

Should have updated pics soon. Should've take some with the s13 lip on but I can mock it up for some pics if I really wanna.

Also located and replaced a leaky caliper on the pass. rear. Of course, pulled it from the parts car (this parts car idea is proving invaluable!). Of course had to bleed the brakes after that was done, but I also performed a fluid flush in the process.

[Kenny Senter]

some new photos...
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/1987%20Mazda%20RX7/depot_002.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/1987%20Mazda%20RX7/depot_005.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/1987%20Mazda%20RX7/depot_006.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/1987%20Mazda%20RX7/depot_007.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/1987%20Mazda%20RX7/depot_008.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj95/kennysenter/1987%20Mazda%20RX7/big10_001.jpg