1979 Spark Yellow Barn Find!

[lokirx706]

The other spark yellow has disappeared, assuming the owner came and got the car...



So on the first test drive the secondaries worked, since then, they have not. I am assuming the vacuum diaphragm for the secondaries has failed. On further inspection they were frozen shut, lubed them up and worked them back and forth until they operated smoothly. Then I did the mechanical secondaries mod, and I went out for a drive, MAN does the car feel faster. Feels like what a stock first gen should feel like, and with the open diff it melts the tires off lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQEA...ature=youtu.be

There is a video of some shenanigans...

I also put new radiator hoses on, new heater hoses, and a new thermostat. Oh and a new alternator belt to replace the old dry-rotted belt.







Hoping the weather holds out, I want to keep driving the car as much as I can!

[lokirx706]

Upgraded the dash lights to LED's Mostly because even with the dimmer turned all the way up I could barely see any of the gauges.



Picture doesnt do them justice, they are brighter in person.

Right after my last post of pics the accelerator pump started puking gas everywhere. Thankfully I caught it before it started leaking down to the exhaust, and in my driveway. Ordered a carb rebuild, and started tearing the carb apart and cleaning it.







Figured it was time to freshen up the rats nest since Im keeping it.





Today the rebuild kit came in and I got the carb together, everything is good so far. Idles perfect, runs great, starts easy. Didnt finish til dark so no pics.

However I did find some Hot Wheel Rx-7s that match my car!!

[speedjunkie]

Doing some great work!

[MolotovMan]

It looks like you got an awesome car, the thing that's even better is you know how to fix it right. Have you ever shown it to the original owner since you cleaned it all up?

[t_g_farrell]

Yeah the SA dash lights are always dim, always have been. I'm thinking about doing LED for
all the interior marker and taillights.

Thats a sweet looking ride. Bring it down to DGRR next year please.

[lokirx706]

Originally Posted by speedjunkie

Doing some great work!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by MolotovMan

It looks like you got an awesome car, the thing that's even better is you know how to fix it right. Have you ever shown it to the original owner since you cleaned it all up?

I did, and I meant to post about it but forgot. He loved the way it was turning out, I met him at a cars and coffee. He brought his Mercedes droptop but stood next to the SA for the entire time he was there reminiscing and telling stories about the car. Sometimes a friend of his would stop, or someone would ask about the car, he would tell them it used to be his. And then tell them how he sold it to me faded, not running, and then talk me up some. It was a good time for sure. Im glad he was happy to see the car back on the road.

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

Yeah the SA dash lights are always dim, always have been. I'm thinking about doing LED for
all the interior marker and taillights.

Thats a sweet looking ride. Bring it down to DGRR next year please.

LED's are worth it, big time. Sooooo glad I did it. Ive been building my FB into a track car, and was hoping to bring it to DGRR soon. But the SA is from Knoxville...

[lokirx706]

Decided to take the Spark to Daves Fall meet! For me it was a little over three hours each way. The furthest I had driven the car was about a half hour from home. Mind you, the car had sat for almost ten years before I got it. I had replaced all the rubber other than the old tires, and all of the fluids on top of the carb rebuild. So I figured it was now or never, the car needed to be tested. I took country roads the entire way, 170 miles of long country roads interspersed with small towns. A perfect way to see how the car would do in light traffic, at low speeds, and while cruising on a long trip. It felt a little crazy, but not even two weeks ago I drove my $700 Miata from Ohio to California for Miatas at Laguna Seca Raceway. So this should be easy!

The car ran like a freaking top, so smooth, so nice. It was a great roadtrip! And the meet was worth it!



Got to park next to an all original 1980 Solar Gold Leather Sport! There was also a Silver '79 there, but it was blocked in up near the garage. Didnt get a photo with it.







The drive home at night was equally uneventful. Which was a good thing, and now I have a lot more trust in the car. Im really glad I went, and Dave put on a spectacular meet! So it made the trip completely worth it!

[lokirx706]

Snuck out in between thunderstorms to take a spin!

[t_g_farrell]

Someday I want to get up there to Daves Fall meet. Looks like a great turnout too! Its only about 8 hours away from me I think.

All those SAs, yummmm.

[need RX7]

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

Someday I want to get up there to Daves Fall meet.

+1! I just found a thread about it, I wish I knew about it sooner. I only live 2.5 hours away.

[diabolical1]

you have a gorgeous car, man. i was never a fan of Yellow Rx-7s, but your car has definitely changed my mind on that. you will work out all the kinks over time and hopefully have many years with this beauty.


on a lighter note: if i were you, i would buy some fluffy baby clothing (include a bonnet, please) and a stroller, and i would dress the spare tire and walk it around the neighborhood.

[lokirx706]

Originally Posted by diabolical1

you have a gorgeous car, man. i was never a fan of Yellow Rx-7s, but your car has definitely changed my mind on that. you will work out all the kinks over time and hopefully have many years with this beauty.


on a lighter note: if i were you, i would buy some fluffy baby clothing (include a bonnet, please) and a stroller, and i would dress the spare tire and walk it around the neighborhood.

Thats not a bad idea.... lol

[lokirx706]

This lip has been -really- bothering me. I dont have an exact match to the Spark Yellow yet, still working on that. But in the meantime I figured all one color would look a lot better than... Well... This crackled thing it has going on.







The color isnt too far off, and will work fine for the time being. It already looks a hell of a lot better in the garage!

[t_g_farrell]

Thats called patina and you just crushed it! j/k

Looks 100% better. That low and no one will notice the slight difference.

[lokirx706]

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

Thats called patina and you just crushed it! j/k

Looks 100% better. That low and no one will notice the slight difference.

Yeah, I need to get some more pics in the daytime. Working on two other cars, and a house so I havent gotten to enjoy the last few nice days we have had out here.

Ill get some though!