My 1983 RX-7 GSL "FB" build thread

[P71]

Introducing the build thread for my RX-7! It's a 1983 RX-7 GSL. 229,300 miles, original 12A (never been rebuilt) and 5-Speed manual. It has the glass and metal roofs, rear wiper (working!), power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise, tilt, and this awesome 80's cassette stereo with a separate equalizer and fade knob.

It got delivered on Saturday March 1st and I've already put about 50 miles on it, including a 35-mile jaunt through the hills . Runs excellent and only has some small foibles.

So without further ado, here are the pics from the last two days!

[circuit theory]

Nice get! SA's are great cars, it is to bad so many have been sent to the crusher.
Take care of it!

[WE3RX7]

+1 on the crusher note - I try to rescue as many as I can...

What are your plans for the car? 200K+ miles is awesome for the stocker, but I'd guess it will probably be coming out for a rebuild at some point?

[P71]

Right now the plan is to drive the thing all summer and enjoy it! I have a small list of things to fix mechanically/cosmetically, but nothing that will put it out of service for more then a few hours.

I hope the engine doesn't have to come out anytime soon, but if/when it does another rotary will surely go back in there. I'd kind of like to keep it a N/A 12A just because it's getting so hard to find these un-messed-with, but I know I scream "more power!!" more the Clarkson and Tim Allen combined.

[WE3RX7]

Yea - with my old GSL, when the original engine seized, I just swapped another running 12A in there, through a holley carb at it and went to town. The holley carb gave me some initial grief but its still running to this day with its new owner and made plenty of additional horses!

Put a nice mild streetported 12A with a modified niki and some RB exhaust, it'll run forever and be plenty powerful for a daily. You can always find a gutted out fb chassis laying around if you wanted to build a monster...

[kansei]

Originally Posted by circuit theory

Nice get! SA's are great cars, it is to bad so many have been sent to the crusher.
Take care of it!

^Ummm... SA??^

Nice car Michael, I'm picking up one myself, same Renaissance Red Metallic, maroon interior, 200k+ mileage as well. I can't wait to have a Series II GSL again, been way too many years!

But what's with the GSL emblems being down on the fenders?

Neal.

[P71]

It was repainted at some point and I think they just wanted the emblems down there. I kind of like it to be honest.

It sure is running nice though, 16.722@80.65! Not bad for a 230K mile, completely stock 12A. Needs some suspension work though, I think I have a ball joint going out...

[blwnrtr93]

I know where a one owner SA with low miles that I plan on picking up in the next couple of years. My old boss bought it when it right off the lot. Sadly he doesn't know how to work on them and all it needed 8 years ago was a carb rebuild. Probably needs more than that now.

[P71]

Here's some pics from the last week. Went to the drag races and put about 200 miles on it since I got it. Fixed a few little things with it as well.

[WE3RX7]

Thats crazy good times at the track for that many miles!

Hell my bone stock '88 SE only did a 17.2 @ 83MPH back in the day w/ only 95K miles, lol... then again, that was my first time at a drag track.

[P71]

Driver mod works wonders

[P71]

OK, here's the update! I've been getting her ready for SCCA Solo II events (autocrossing, cone-dodging, etc).

Here's the FC seats with the larger side bolsters as installed in an FB. I'm not worried about color as the whole interior will "fade to black" eventually!

I also had custom 12" numbers made up for it with my # that I use. These were a "test" to see if they fit and how they look. I have a set of GRM "barge boards" mounted to some magnets for ease of installation/removal but they aren't quite ready yet.

[P71]

My GRM sticker! Grassroots Motorsports is an awesome magazine, if you have any interest in autocrossing, HPDE's, or road course racing then you NEED to subscribe!

The engine shot is a "before", you guys will have to wait a bit for the "after" (I'm still working :P )

So far to get it ready:

*SA driveshaft and rear yoke flange with new Spicer serviceable U-Joints, balanced.
*Royal Purple 75W90 Gear Oil in the transmission and 3rd Member
*New Semi-Metallic pads and a caliper rebuild on the front brakes (rotors were excellent shape already and the pads broke in very, very nicely)
*Oil and filter change (Valvoline 10W30, WIX Gold)
*New NGK plugs (original style and heat range)
*Magnecor 8.5MM KV85 Competition Wires
*New Autolite battery (going to a Dyna-Bat sooner or later for weight)
*New battery hold down and battery box restoration
*Miscellaneous re-wiring, cleaning, gaskets, looming, etc in the engine bay
*Fixed all electrical maladies (power window, headlight, marker lights)
*New exhaust mid-pipe made and installed (there's no cats required now that she's 25!)
*FC seats
*Stickers! :P

[P71]

Here's some pics from the nice driving roads around here and an "after" shot of the engine bay. She's coming along nicely!

You can read about the first autocross in the AutoX section and she's down to a 16.3@83 (with a BADLY slipping clutch)

Going to drop a new clutch in this week and hit Woodburn's Import Shootout next weekend

[P71]