Chattanooga, TN area RX-7's

thumpgun · 11-26-2011, 11:19 PM

This thread is to help try and get Chattanooga, TN area people together with their rotary cars. If you have a rotary car or parts. Post here and we'll try to get some rotary cars together for some hang outs, tech support and parts swapping.

djmtsu · 11-27-2011, 10:05 AM

My wife is from Chattanooga, and I am there quite a bit. In fact, I was just there this weekend!

I have only ever seen a handfull of RX-7's when visiting. Usually for sale, or rotting in someones yard. I can hit you up next time I'm down. Would love to see your cars.

thumpgun · 11-27-2011, 01:21 PM

There used to be more 7's around here. I think they are all dying off and no one can fix them. Since my bro closed down his shop several years ago, all the 7's have been dying.
My TII is about to have the motor pulled out and rebuilt. We think it may have a cracked front plate. And the '85 is just getting some gradual upgrades as time and money allow.

thumpgun · 11-28-2011, 04:39 PM

Worked on my project GSL rear brakes and 3rd member yesterday. Getting this stuff ready to transfer over to my GS. Got the calipers apart, the brackets off. Going to have to get reman calipers though, and use these for cores. Everything else is good though. Picked up the parts Friday evening and worked a little over the weekend on them. I'll try and do photo's when I actually get more done and start on the install.

djmtsu · 11-28-2011, 05:05 PM

I did the GSL swap on my GS last year. Easy as cake. I should have rebuilt my calipers while I was in there, but I put my pressure bleeder on them, and they didn't leak so I let it ride.

I wish I would have stripped the axle, painted it and rebuilt all the bearings while it was out, but I was in a hurry at the time.

thumpgun · 11-28-2011, 05:35 PM

I was going to rebuild these and even after soaking them for almost two days the bleeder valves still broke off. Even broke the base on my old bench vise trying to get the brackets off. I'm going to paint all of it, make it look good. Nice project to add to the list for the winter.
Here's when I picked the parts up Friday. I believe they've been wet for quite some time.

djmtsu · 11-29-2011, 08:02 AM

Wow, yeah that stuff has been sitting a while. Where did you find it? I always look at Craigslist in Chattanooga/NW GA when I am hunting down stuff since I am there so often.

In fact, Chattanooga is where I found my current FB, and 2 years ago found a mint SA for a friend.

thumpgun · 11-29-2011, 09:51 AM

I got it from a guy down the road from me. I sold him a '85 GSL parts car (no motor or trans) several years ago and was trying to buy it back. He's an old school Celica guy but has a few junk 1G 7's. He wanted to keep the one I sold him and had these parts already pulled, so I got them.
Back several years ago my guru buddy had I'd guess 10 or so 1G cars for parts at his house. Got divorced and his ex junked all of it. He used to have an all rotary shop in Chattanooga. I worked there the last 2 years it was open.
We had a lot of parts cars there. I ended up with one 1G and five 2G cars from that. They're all gone now. Parted out and sold. I still have a lot of 13B NA plates and housings, coil packs and some other stuff all packed up. I also have a 13B 4 port motor.

thumpgun · 12-01-2011, 10:22 AM

Got some info on the other forum about coil overs. I'm going to look into coil overs and get some more ideas. I'm not in a rush for any of this anyway. I've had this car for many years and have had a lot of fun with it.
I just wanted to finally do some suspension upgrades to it. Hopefully be decent enough this weekend to get the GSl housing cleaned up and maybe painted.

Since you mentioned bearings, I was wondering if I should replace all the bearings on that LSD or just run with it? It turns good, doesn't have any wiggle and makes no noise. I mean while it's apart would probably be the time to do it. I just wondered if they really need it or if the factory bearings will hold up just fine.

djmtsu · 12-01-2011, 11:29 AM

I would do it just because it is out, and you don't want to do it again. I think I have a right rear wheel bearing starting to make noise. I should have replaced them when I swapped axles, but was lazy (it happens alot).

So, are you going to go to the Deals Gap Rotary Rally? If so, let us know. We caravan through Chatt every year and can meet up!

thumpgun · 12-01-2011, 01:31 PM

I'm definately doing the wheel bearings. I'll price all of the LSD bearings and see how that comes out. I've never had one apart until now. I just don't want to mess anything up trying to take the Diff apart and changing bearings.

I have thought about doing the Deal's Gap run a couple of times. And I never have yet. I'd like to go, but it really depends. I go to a huge VW show here around the same time. So I'll just have to see, and I'll let you know so I can follow along with you guys if I go.
I'd prefer to take my TII on that run. But I don't think I'll have it rebuilt by that point. But I'm sure the FB would be a blast. Like driving a big go-cart around in the mountains!

thumpgun · 12-07-2011, 08:37 AM

Got my housing cleaned up and a coat of paint on it. I still have to get my calipers and e brake cables.
My heater core went out. So I have to replace it before I start anything else. Ever done that? I'm sure it's going to be an adventure, lol!

Here's a pic of the housing. I did it while I was rust sealing the pans on my '61 VW I'm building. I've been working on it and doing some on the GSL parts also.

djmtsu · 12-07-2011, 12:35 PM

I have not done a heater core in an FB (yet) but you do have to remove the dash!

85rx-7gsl-se · 12-07-2011, 02:11 PM

Damn I didnt want to hear that DJ.

thumpgun · 12-07-2011, 11:57 PM

I've heard you might have to remove the dash, but not sure yet. Need to look in the manual and see. I figured it would be a complete hell to change it out, lol!

Quote:

Damn I didnt want to hear that DJ.

Do you need to change yours out too??

11-26-2011, 11:19 PM	#1
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	Chattanooga, TN area RX-7's This thread is to help try and get Chattanooga, TN area people together with their rotary cars. If you have a rotary car or parts. Post here and we'll try to get some rotary cars together for some hang outs, tech support and parts swapping. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

11-27-2011, 10:05 AM	#2
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	My wife is from Chattanooga, and I am there quite a bit. In fact, I was just there this weekend! I have only ever seen a handfull of RX-7's when visiting. Usually for sale, or rotting in someones yard. I can hit you up next time I'm down. Would love to see your cars. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

11-27-2011, 01:21 PM	#3
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	There used to be more 7's around here. I think they are all dying off and no one can fix them. Since my bro closed down his shop several years ago, all the 7's have been dying. My TII is about to have the motor pulled out and rebuilt. We think it may have a cracked front plate. And the '85 is just getting some gradual upgrades as time and money allow. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

11-28-2011, 04:39 PM	#4
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	Worked on my project GSL rear brakes and 3rd member yesterday. Getting this stuff ready to transfer over to my GS. Got the calipers apart, the brackets off. Going to have to get reman calipers though, and use these for cores. Everything else is good though. Picked up the parts Friday evening and worked a little over the weekend on them. I'll try and do photo's when I actually get more done and start on the install. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

11-28-2011, 05:05 PM	#5
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	I did the GSL swap on my GS last year. Easy as cake. I should have rebuilt my calipers while I was in there, but I put my pressure bleeder on them, and they didn't leak so I let it ride. I wish I would have stripped the axle, painted it and rebuilt all the bearings while it was out, but I was in a hurry at the time. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

11-28-2011, 05:35 PM	#6
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	I was going to rebuild these and even after soaking them for almost two days the bleeder valves still broke off. Even broke the base on my old bench vise trying to get the brackets off. I'm going to paint all of it, make it look good. Nice project to add to the list for the winter. Here's when I picked the parts up Friday. I believe they've been wet for quite some time. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer Last edited by thumpgun; 11-28-2011 at 05:38 PM.. Reason: photo's

11-29-2011, 08:02 AM	#7
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	Wow, yeah that stuff has been sitting a while. Where did you find it? I always look at Craigslist in Chattanooga/NW GA when I am hunting down stuff since I am there so often. In fact, Chattanooga is where I found my current FB, and 2 years ago found a mint SA for a friend. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

11-29-2011, 09:51 AM	#8
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	I got it from a guy down the road from me. I sold him a '85 GSL parts car (no motor or trans) several years ago and was trying to buy it back. He's an old school Celica guy but has a few junk 1G 7's. He wanted to keep the one I sold him and had these parts already pulled, so I got them. Back several years ago my guru buddy had I'd guess 10 or so 1G cars for parts at his house. Got divorced and his ex junked all of it. He used to have an all rotary shop in Chattanooga. I worked there the last 2 years it was open. We had a lot of parts cars there. I ended up with one 1G and five 2G cars from that. They're all gone now. Parted out and sold. I still have a lot of 13B NA plates and housings, coil packs and some other stuff all packed up. I also have a 13B 4 port motor. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

12-01-2011, 10:22 AM	#9
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	Got some info on the other forum about coil overs. I'm going to look into coil overs and get some more ideas. I'm not in a rush for any of this anyway. I've had this car for many years and have had a lot of fun with it. I just wanted to finally do some suspension upgrades to it. Hopefully be decent enough this weekend to get the GSl housing cleaned up and maybe painted. Since you mentioned bearings, I was wondering if I should replace all the bearings on that LSD or just run with it? It turns good, doesn't have any wiggle and makes no noise. I mean while it's apart would probably be the time to do it. I just wondered if they really need it or if the factory bearings will hold up just fine. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

12-01-2011, 11:29 AM	#10
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	I would do it just because it is out, and you don't want to do it again. I think I have a right rear wheel bearing starting to make noise. I should have replaced them when I swapped axles, but was lazy (it happens alot). So, are you going to go to the Deals Gap Rotary Rally? If so, let us know. We caravan through Chatt every year and can meet up! __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

12-01-2011, 01:31 PM	#11
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	I'm definately doing the wheel bearings. I'll price all of the LSD bearings and see how that comes out. I've never had one apart until now. I just don't want to mess anything up trying to take the Diff apart and changing bearings. I have thought about doing the Deal's Gap run a couple of times. And I never have yet. I'd like to go, but it really depends. I go to a huge VW show here around the same time. So I'll just have to see, and I'll let you know so I can follow along with you guys if I go. I'd prefer to take my TII on that run. But I don't think I'll have it rebuilt by that point. But I'm sure the FB would be a blast. Like driving a big go-cart around in the mountains! __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

12-07-2011, 08:37 AM	#12
thumpgun Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dixie, baby! iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 14	Got my housing cleaned up and a coat of paint on it. I still have to get my calipers and e brake cables. My heater core went out. So I have to replace it before I start anything else. Ever done that? I'm sure it's going to be an adventure, lol! Here's a pic of the housing. I did it while I was rust sealing the pans on my '61 VW I'm building. I've been working on it and doing some on the GSL parts also. __________________ '85 RX-7 GS / '73 240Z/ '61 VW Kafer

12-07-2011, 12:35 PM	#13
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (10) Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 21	I have not done a heater core in an FB (yet) but you do have to remove the dash! __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5