Rotary n00b checking in

[ArtOfRuin]

Hey all,

I just purchased my first rotary-engined car yesterday and P71 suggested I come here for assistance in fixing it up and buying needed parts. I bought a 1987 Mazda RX-7 GXL, blue/blue, 5-speed, 98K on the body/10K on a dealer rebuilt/installed 13B engine. It was the victim of a break-in and is missing a bunch of interior bits, and there are a few electrical oddities (i.e. the wipers were Mickey-Moused to work off a toggle switch). Mechanically it's fine other than a sloppy shifter (shifter bushings?). The body needs paint but there's no major rust. It's a fixer-upper for sure, but I have all winter to work on it. My eventual goal is a nice summer toy and autocrosser. I also own a 98 Subaru Impreza 2.2l coupe that is my daily driver and winter beater.

Glad to meet you all!
Jonathan

[AwakenNoMore]

Art of Ruin? Lamb of God fan? if so you are win, welcome.

[ArtOfRuin]

Thanks, and hell yeah, I'm an Lamb of God fan! \m/

[rotorhead87]

Sounds like a you got a good project at hand...welcome to RCC!! If you get a chance post some pictures of you new ride, so we can see what your working with.

[ArtOfRuin]

I'll try to get pics tomorrow, before it rains. Plans for the S4 this week are to change the oil and drivebelts, remount one of the tires that came off the rim, get it inspected, replace the shifter with an eBay Miata short throw, and drive the everloving crap out of it before winter sets in!

[ArtOfRuin]

The weather has not been cooperating recently, but I was able to snag a few pictures of the RX-7 before it started raining again.





And now, some pictures of the damaged interior:

As you can see, the steering column cover and ignition were damaged. The horn relay went kaput, so a second horn was rigged up with a doorbell on the dash as a horn button. I resoldered the relay today, as well as the brake light relay (that one went out on me right after I got the car. Luckily, the shop I went to for inspection caught it before they inspected it). Now that the stock horn is working again, I'll remove the second horn.



Center console damage. Note the Razo shift knob so I'm not tearing up my hand on the shifter threads.



This is the wiper switch the P.O. jury-rigged up when the wiper switch relay shorted out. I'm waiting on new relays so I can repair the stock switch.



It needs:
-Thermostat
-Front wheel bearings
-Oil pan gasket
-A bunch of missing interior bits
-Hatch-to-body seal
-Shifter bushings
-Fresh paint

I have some of the parts I need, but the weather needs to clear up before I can start installing them. I've been concentrating on electrical issues in the meantime.

Planned mods will include Hawk pads, Brembo rotors, strut tower bars, anti-roll bars, K&N air intake, Racing Beat headers and exhaust, GC springs, and Koni adjustibles.