Joe Maddox Rx7

Not even sure where to start... I'll give it a good update soon 😆

Joe Maddox Rx7

Ok! Lot has happened since the last update, as you can see they are now painted, I will try to walk through the process on how this came to be!


This is what the underside of the GTUs looked like when i started. I decided to take it all the way down as well and paint it with the outside.

After getting everything prepped for assembly i got started on the paint

I started with the engine bay

The underside turned out great!

Ready for all the new parts!

So after an unbelievable amount of elbow grease I was ready for the assembly of the suspension and brakes!

However i got distracted again. Liam wanted another go at an rx7, the miata was finished up and he is loving the 2jz build.

Liams 16th birthday party he inherited the 2011 Signature Series!

We got the new engine installed 😎

Engine in!

Swag 😎

New Megan racing exhaust!

New mazdaspeed ms01r rims!

The collection grows! A set of 15in ms01 type R for the miata. 16in ms01 lemans for the gtus. 17in ms01 lemans for the white comet 18in ms01 forged fir the mb fd. That leaves the restored set of 16s and 17s fir the wall above each fc!


So we found a rare 1/1985 released sport model (manual everything, no sunroof, manual steering, no bins or rear seats, etc... light). One owner, last on the road in 1997.





He instantly got to work on it!

I will need to make a build thread soon for this fc. Big plans, a gtus jr.

It will be a quicker thread. The low car to the gtus high car build.

Joe Maddox Rx7

So the bodywork for this project has been extensive already and in case you missed it here is a recap of how far this car has come:

the first thing I started on was this wing:

The guy was selling the car, i asked to buy just the spoiler. We settled on a price and i bought it.

Unfortunately he ripped it off, tore all the mounts, ripped the rubber and bent the inner bar. I got a better deal but its a bigger project now.

I bent it back best i could. It is a GP Sports factory finishline style product for American dealerships. Its very unique 👌

Lots of work later, fiberglassing, resins, rubbers and glues I got it to new!



After the spolier was finished i turned to the last of the body work.

All finished and ready for primer and paint!

While prepping both the cars for paint i got distracted again 🙃

Joe Maddox Rx7

Donut media is a fun youtube channel, most car guys are aware of it, but this particular episode was a lot of fun and inspired my next fc purchase.

There are three rare fc models produced, the infini(my current rhd), the GTUs and the 10th anniversary edition. The holy trinity 🙌 😆



Be sure to check out the whole episode:

So I decided I needed one and went on the hunt! I found one in south California near Tijuana. The car needs a full restoration but is a numbers matching (has its id tags and title). I got a great deal on it and brought it back to the shop! This car as well will get its own build thread!

Joe Maddox Rx7

I bought my first Rx7 in 1999. It was a Limited Edition 1979. I got it for 100$ from power sublimity just outside of Salem. They couldn't get it running after it was brought in as trade. I was given a day on site to work on it after I bought it and got it running. From that day on I've been hooked.

So while build these rx7s i need something to enjoy. I really would like the opportunity to recapture my first rx7 and my favorite rx7 fb (my old 1983).

I saw this mint condition 1983 Limited Edition rx7 for sale, it was exactly what I needed while I finished building the trinity! So I bought it! Here are some highlights:

Joe Maddox Rx7

Liam enjoying his first run in it

Joe Maddox Rx7

So fc prices these days are getting a bit high... 🤣








Prices these days makes me feel like im funding a trip to space!


Well back to the GTUs! I started on restoring the HVAC system. New heater core and relays, cleaned inside and out. I have decided I am removing the AC system. Instead I plan on modifying the AC box to hold a HEPA filter instead.







I finally got started on the fuel system. ⛽️
New fuel pump, walbro and a new hanger. The tank ended up looking amazing. I was so scared first popping it open. It was full of gas when I drained it and I had no clue how old it was. Turns out it was perfect! I am stoked 🙃 so I just stripped the old deadner off and recoated it and sealed it in POR15.



With the addition of the 10ae and it getting a 100% stock oem restoration I have decided to put the nos battery box and tray to that build. So I got this custom made battery hold to run with an optima in the gtus. Flat black on aluminum will pop in the white engine bay! 👌

Joe Maddox Rx7

I finally unboxed the VSXX rims! I cannot wait to put them on the car!







In order to paint my car properly i needed a better compressor, to run a better compressor i needed more power... So i bought a good compressor and started rewiring the shop!

Joe Maddox Rx7

Time for suspension!!! It feels like I've waited forever for this part but I got everything on and it's all amazing. The car is going to be like driving a iron beam but it will be a dream to hit the corners and slideways!!
First thing was touching up the wheel wells:





Fuel lines and brake lines in first!

Fuel tank next!

The subframe went in great!



Excited to see the calipers on it

Joe Maddox Rx7

It was time to start on the body! I first mounted the spoiler, the RE wing. It went on great! I love the two different styles both fcs will have!



I then got started wet sanding!



Time to start wet sanding!!!

Barely able to lift my arms for this picture, but done!

Just about ready for paint!