It's been probably over a year since I've even mentioned my car on this forum...but no fear...the project was done, driven around for a bit, and now is ready for it's next steps. I have moved for purposes of work and have been way to busy, but to give a run down...the car is an '88 SE that I put all TII powertrain into w/ sp engine and bunch of misc goodies. Now has come the time for the body work to begin. I have taken almost everything back off the car. I plan to run some local auto-x's and drag and drift,lol..all around a fun car. So I'm getting the front clip prepared before putting the new motor, tranny, driveshaft, rear end, etc back in...why put pretty stuff in an ugly engine bay. This thread will be the start of my updates..hope you all enjoy and maybe pick up some stuff along the way...



I have lost pics along the way, so this first one is after the motor was taken out and I began removing everything from the front clip.



Most everything came out pretty well...as it should being that I've had the motor in/out of this car 4 times in 3 years,lol.



You'd be amazed at how many LITTLE things the engine bay has in it!



Pictures just show progress over two weekends as I have little to know time to work on this, which upsets me..but something has to pay for all of it!



Also, for those of you who have ever had brake fluid leaks, oil lines bust, etc...check out my rail on the driver's side...that stuff will EAT your paint if you let it sit long enough!



After everything was out, I just powerwashed it all before dragging it down to the shop to have the front end tightened up. Some of the factory supports are weak and will be reinforced. Holes are being welded and grinded off..so a nice clean look will be accomplished. The underside will be coated for rocks/dirt/etc during drift competition and custom brake ducts will be added shortly.



Last pic is as it sat before I came home for the week for work...I'll have new pics and updates by next weekend.



Oh, and wait til you see the paint setup...it's gonna be SWEET!

Yeah I sandblasted and repainted my engine bay in one of my old RX7s...



Turned out nice but ALOT of work to strip the bay.





I actually wrapped up the harness with duct tape and hung it up in the air so i didnt have to fish it through the dash.



Then peel off the fresh painted duct tape and the harness is safe!



You can leave SOME of the stuff in there, just duct tape it, it will withstand sandblasting without damaging anything.







Really though, I recommend sandblasting after the welding and repairs you are doing, it's the best way to go. You don't have to go crazy on the blasting either. If you look you still see pink (well it's actually old red paint from factory), but the exposed steel is where i had slight rust spots, so i blasted until the surface was rust free and only steel was showing. You can save time and sand by just lightly blasting everything, and blasting clean any bad sections, and then afterwards sand it down smooth for about 15 minutes in the spots where people will be looking closely. Who cares about the other spots, they will be covered up by parts, so it doesn't matter if the surface has a perfect reflection right? Look how mine turned out, only the rad support, front inner fender area, and firewall were quickly sanded down after blasting.



1st pic was after sandblasting, second was after painting. Polyurethane supergloss black!

I think I remember seeing those pics on the forum a long time ago..looks good!



Yea, a lot of areas are being sandblasted, sanded and painted. The guy doing my actual body work (I can build and engine and tune it...but bodywork scares me,lol) has a nice setup. It's hard to see, but in the last pic w/ the shop..there's a tbird restoration project and a buick back-half drag project..this guy knows all about sandblasting and restoration. We're treating this as a restoration, but a strong one that can put up w/ heat and my driving techniques,lol.



Oh, and the harness really isn't a big deal..once you do it enough. The engine harness was out, standalone units are less junked up..and the power/fuse harness on the driver's side actually unplugs from the engine side and you can just fish it through the hole and leave it in a bag on the drivers foot board.

Sounds like your car is in good hands then!



I can't wait to see it!

What happened to the attached pics?? They just disappeared?

We lost about 29 pics that were uploaded yesterday, just reupload them. It was a little bug with the software upgrade.

Oh, well that would explain it,lol.



Pics are going back up... and I should have more this weekend.

heh looking good https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683329.gif



cant wait to see finished result...specially some pics of it drifting https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

looks like it'll be real nice



do you run power steering?

The car currently has the power steering rack in it as I didn't have time to swap it out. For drift purposes, a lot of people will argue that the power steering is better to keep in the car since it has a closer steering ratio, however, I hate powersteering. One, it takes up a LOT of space and weight in the engine bay, and two..it does rob some power and it's one less belt to worry about blowing off while running high RPMs for an extended time. If your in a drift and the belt goes..look out! I prefer the feel of the manual rack which will go in once the engine bay is finished.



As for an update, the metal work is done as far as straightening the front end, filling some small holes and cleaning up the holes I cut for the intercooler piping. Paint prep began yesterday and I should have pics by this weekend!

good stuff man! should be awesome once she is complete!

I'm hoping to have it out after christmas for some tuning, it'll take at least that long to get the exterior body work done and get the cage in! The motor that was in the car is probably the same one I'll put back in it for a few months = 400hp = https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png

I just saw the car again. I didn't have my digital camera, so I used my cell phone, but don't have the adapter to pull them down from. The car is in great shape, metal work done...some studs removed, ground down,etc... it's going to the booth on saturday



I have pics of the sample paint, but I wanna keep it a teaser...

UPDATED PICS https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png



Here she is in the booth and with the base coats.... I won't have finished clearcoated pics til next weekend since I couldn't stay at the shop all day...no matter how much I wanted to!

That color looks so hot, I like it!



nice work, keep it coming!

'99 Spec Rx7 Innocent Blue Mica, code 20P



I WAS going to do a gold pearl over the blue to kind of set of the gold gram lights that are going on it, but the pearl almost looked silver over the blue...so I passed on it.



On the firewall you see the "1320" masked off...we sprayed some pearl around that so when you walk around the car w/ the hood off the 1320 "jumps" out at you w/ the pearl..it looks great! The entire care will sprayed this color once I get the front end back together and get the engine back in,lol.

That is absolutely gorgeous



What is the signifigance of 1320 may I ask?

I still can't sleep just seeing it!! I have waited four years to see that color on my car!

I hear that, I waited quite a long time to have a guards red 2nd gen!

https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

Yea..everything is worth it in time, lol.

I completed missed your question, sorry about that...



its for 1320Engineering, I didnt have time to get the logo put on. There are 1,320ft(approx) in a 1/4 mile...it's our crew name and online parts store domain name. My Rx7 will be used to hype some new parts and our ability to tune/build rotary engines in our area...

An Innocent Blue Mica FC??? JAAAAAAAAAY DEEEEEEEEE EHMMMMMMMMM!!!!!



That is too awesome. Good luck with your project, and I hope everything goes well for you.

OMG, that is so hot....jealoussssss. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png

Should have clearcoat pics this weekend... i've seen it sitting out front of the shop when I drove by a few days ago and the sunlight hit that clear..it was insane ..so beautiful... can't wait to get it back in my garage to get it back together so i can have the exterior done!

Ok, it's been too long since updating this thread w/ new pictures, but here you go. 3 coats of clear....next up is a custom steering rack, painting the crossmember....coating the underside and wheelwells, and then moving the car up to my garage here...



The photos don't do this paint justice, but I absolutely love it:

sexy

Quickie update... I've got a new oil pan on order and when that comes in w/ the new mounts, etc..I'll post some updated pictures. I also have to finish my custom steering rack.



Just thought I'd bring this post back out of the dead...

YAY for pics.... finally this beast is coming together. i'm definately looking forward to end product! hats off sir.

I'm a HUGE procrastinator....



I did buy a racing beat front sway bar and adjustable end links this weekend though..lol... the parts keep piling up... right now I'm in the process of finding a new place to live, so I'm kinda sketchy about bringing the car to where I am now in case I have to move it again in two months...

rent a small garage if youre moving soon!!! we dont want other people snooping around your project, do we? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

Small garage would be nice...bigger garage is even better!



Racing beat called me and my little suspension order should be here from them on Tuesday, no word on the other stuff yet...

Just got a phone call that the mazdaspeed stuff won't be in until March 15th or so...



bah, the drag of getting quality parts from japan is the wait...

Some minor stuff in...



Racing beat front sway bar and heavy duty end links...





should have more later....