Rotary Car Club - 85gsl-se build... waiting 9yrs is now happening

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85gsl-se build... waiting 9yrs is now happening

First allow myself to introduce..... myself... My name is Nathan and I am originally from Australia, I am currently living in Minnesota, USA (past 14yrs)...

About 9yrs ago I purchased an 85GSL-SE from a mate which had an issue with 2nd gear for $400.. so after the tow truck dropped it I decided to confirm that for myself.. 5k rpm, drop clutch, snap 2nd doing a burnout and boom.. confirmed haha... So myself and a buddy dropped the drivetrain out of it in the hopes to do a turbo upgrade... Well being that I had just opened a Meineke which included buying the land, building the building and outfitting the shop the cash flow stopped... this was back around 2005ish

This car was an ex cali car so absolutely rust free.. It has sat for 9 yrs in a shed.. the only issue is some mice decided to eat thru the roof lining.. right above both visors... %^$%^$^&%*&*^ pissed off...

So shoot forward to current day.. 3 days after wife said no to upgrading my motorcycle due to no funds I came across a 13B-REW for sale... was still running in an fd.. was apparently an $8K build by previous owner that only got a base tune to get it running then he sold the fd to move onto another project (an ex cali car) so I purchased the engine / trans package for what I feel was a nice price (but my wife didnt agree oops)

So this winter the install will begin with that same buddy that was there to strip it down... (He had never heard of the RX7 till meeting me and after showing him my dream car FD he turned up with one 3 weeks later) his now puts down around 410hp at the wheels... I dont have the money to buy his so this is whats happening instead... (pic attached of his car)

so I will try to keep the post updated with mods etc.. I work as a Machinist for the University of Minnesota.. so I have access to a huge waterjet, lathes, mill (manual and cnc) welders, brake, shears... pretty much anything.. I work daily with Mastercam and Solidworks so designing new mounts for engine and tranny will be fun... it if all works I may have to make a few sets as a kit for complete swaps...

also attached pics from my old rx7 and rx3 back in Australia

to be continued

Starting point... some photos of how the car was when I got it and how it has sat for 9yrs... (may actually be closer to 11 thinking about it)

had some small issues.. biggest was dent in the rear which we heat shrank the metal and ground smooth, then bondo filled (very thin skim coat)

I removed the rear trunk lock, and found a new front bumper section for $60..

added a photo of my buddies FD in my old shop... Sold the business about 8yrs ago...

pics of drivetrain I am installing...

picture of new waterjet we got at work this year

a picture of my home shop... it is a lot dirtier now and full of crap.. I also have a ben pearson tubing bender (exhaust bender) from my old shop I kept.. it is a press bender but it allows me to build many custom exhausts or do exhaust repairs etc... I have TiG and MiG welders, acetylene setup, and a hoist...

smoe additional photos..

my goal is to have mine sitting and looking like the rx7 attached... only the color may be army green... dark matte style

thats it for now.. more updates once under way.. I have to finish my sons dirtbike and organize the shop before winter then it starts...

I like that rotary lift.
Good luck with your build.
You seem to have a few irons in the fire there.

Welcome!

You wouldn't be willing to cut some 3pc wheel faces would ya? LOL I have the CAD already, just looking for someone to cut them.

Good luck with the projects and getting funding approval from the wife lol.

Oh dear god please do something about the wastegate placement and that absurd dumptube.

Otherwise should be a fun project. Helped a buddy build a 410rwhp 13B-RE Cosmo powered 1st gen.... originally a 12a auto cali car. Thing was immaculate. Now the frame is twisting from the POWA! :lol:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT (Post 335085)

pictures throw in randomly.. car runs and drives... but is far from finished...

https://i.imgur.com/pFyfIVC.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Hhc5rX3.jpg https://i.imgur.com/RoIIV8D.jpg https://i.imgur.com/R8EeRDm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/nyimGLq.jpg https://i.imgur.com/snb9iyk.jpg https://i.imgur.com/8UhTLgq.jpg

after almost 2 years of working on it here and there I got to drive it for a little.. had to take my daughter for a ride as she has been working hard with me... the other 3 kids not as much hahaha yes it rubs.. knew it would as I hadnt set ride height to final setting... after this video we adjusted it and drove it again with myself and 7 kids piled into it haha.. joy of being in the country

Looking good. I really dig the color.

havent updated in a while.. blew the motor... guess i hadnt really been 'rebuilt' so I had Kevin Baltz rebuild it and we are still currently tuning it...

hoping to be running 20psi soon....

https://i.imgur.com/fg45C09.jpg

Very nice! I like the 8 seats in there.