| Work I have done so far... Page 2 |
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| October 5, 2002 |
| What a day. First, a little history. When I first got the car, it needed a transmission which I bought and installed (see first entry). This transmission worked allright, but it wasn't from a GSL-SE and the shifter didn't spring back into neutral if you pushed it left, like it is suppose to. I picked up a $50 used GSL-SE transmission earlier this year, and decided I'd replace mine with that later in the year. Well that day was today. I had everything apart and back together in 6 or 7 hours. The first time I drive it I hear these horrible noises coming from the transmission in all gears. Turns out the transmission I bought that I was told was "good", was not at all. Now I must spend next Saturday putting my old transmission back in. As far as good events today: I changed the oil, that went well. I also installed a catalytic coverter on the car so I can pass the state emmision test. All this at 152,852 miles |
| Transmission difficulties |
| October 12, 2002 |
| On this rainy day, my friend and I put my took the bad transmission out of my car and put the old transmission back in. Before installing it though I fixed the shifter spring so that it works normally now. I also replaced three exhaust gaskets because they were all in bad shape. I filled both the transmission and the rear axle with Mobil 1 Synthetic gear lube. The car is running well, major items I need now are a new Vent & Vacuum solenoid as well as some new front springs / struts. |
| One last transmission change |
| It was a really nice day outside for November. Earlier in the week I replaced my Vent & Vacuum solenoids and that resolved any remaining idle problems. Today I sanded down some small rust spots below the rear hatch glass and sprayed two coates of primer on them, until the day comes that I can get a paint job. I swapped the shifter out of my transmission for another one because mine had a torn boot, which would cause the inside of the vehicle to smell like transmission fluid while driving at times. I adjusted the door strikers on the driver and passenger side which helps the doors shut nice and tight. I am also waiting to receive an alternator from a 1988 Rx-7 to put into my 1985. The 1988 one is rated at 70 amps and mine is only rated at 55 amps. I figure the more the better. I'm over 155k miles now. I have been driving 170 miles a day for work this onth. I'm also trying to find an exhaust leak but I didn't have much luck today. |
| November 10, 2002 |
| A few minor repairs |
| November 17, 2002 |
| I changed the oil and filter today at 155,900 miles. I also took the spark plugs out and cleaned them up. I'm still waiting for my Struts/Shocks to arrive. I'm also waiting to receive an alternator. Today I ordered a distributor cap and rotor, new wiper blades, and new NGK spark plugs on NAPA's online parts store. |
| Oil & Filter Change |
| I have my new Tokico HP shocks and struts! I also have the alternator I am going to put in, all this weekend. I changed the Distributor cap & rotor at 156,420 miles. |
| November 21, 2002 |
| November 23, 2002 |
| I put in the rear Tokico struts today. The old ones were KYG GR-2's. I also installed the 70 amp alternator. 156,766 miles. |
| The Arrivals |
| Rear Shocks & Alternator |
| I changed my spark plug wires today. I replaced the nice NGK wires I had on there with a set I bought from NAPA. They are 7mm, made by Belden. I would not recommend them. They barely fit lengthwise, and fitment on the plugs and distributor cap leaves you wondering if they are connected. Oh well. I also replaced the wiper blades. Oh, and somehow my gas cap is leaking. I filled the tank up and took a few high speed right hand turns, then found gas spilt out! I'll be getting a new gas cap and trying it, but the one I have looks fine. 157,139 miles. |
| November 23, 2002 |
| Spark plug wires |
| December 8, 2002 |
| I finally changed my air filter for the first time. I don't know how long it was in there for before I got the car, but it was very dirty. I also changed the fuel filter. At least the one in there though wasn't the original. This is at 158,149 miles. |
| December 11, 2002 |
| Well I had to go to inspection and I ended up failing. The car passed all there tests but I have an exhaust leak so they can't pass me. I know where the leak(s) are, at the gaskets between the connecting exhaust pipes. I need to get good quality gaskets that can withstand the heat created by the rotary engine exhaust. I burn right through gaskets that I get from the local auto parts stores within a few hours. I have 45 days to get it fixed and return to reinspect. |
| December 16, 2002 |
| This weekend I replaced the two rubber O-rings that seal the pedestal that holds the oil filter in place. I had a slow oil leak from there from the old O-rings. It was pretty easy to due, and now I have no leak :). I was almost exactly at 3000 miles since my last oil change so this was a good time to change it. I put in Penzoil 10w-40 and a Puralator Pure One oil filter. This is at 158,880 miles. I bought some Strut spring compressors so I can finally replace my front struts. I'm a bit concerned about the install, I've never replaced struts before. I must say that the Tokico HP shocks I put in the rear made the ride a bit firmer then the KYB GR2 shocks that were in there. I'm having trouble with my starter now too, sometimes it doesn't always turn over when I turn the key. It'll take a few turns of the key to finally get the starter to begin turning. It gets as bad as me having to reach under the car with a bar and tap the starter while turning the key in order to get it to crank! Why do I love this car so much??? |
| Filter changes |
| Failed State Inspection |
| Misc. Repairs & ramblings |
| December 16, 2002 |
| Front Struts - Finally |
| Today I changed the front struts on the Rx. I found some cheap strunt spring compressors on eBay for like $14 shipped. I would of rented them from a auto parts store but no one around here rents tools anymore. Anyway, the only snag I had was with the top bolt that holds the strut piston to the top of the shock tower. It was a real pain to remove. Other then that it's simple. Jack the car up, remove the wheels, 2 bolts for each brake caliper, 4 bolts for the top, 2 bolts on the bottom, and the whole thing comes out. Then you need to compress the spring and get that top nut off. Once thats done you can slide the hardware off the old strut and pull the old strut out and put the new one in. The struts that were in there were completely dead! Instead of offering resistance, the strut piston just fell into the housing, so I was pretty much riding on the springs and thats it. The difference in ride now is like night and day. I was so use to the harsh ride before that I feel like I'm in a luxury car now. These are Tokico HP struts by the way. This change was done at 159,367 miles. I'm awaiting some exhaust gaskets that I ordered from the local Mazda dealership here. Hopefully they'll hold together and I can get back to state inspection and pass. |
| December 28-29, 2002 |
| I picked up the gaskets I ordered from the dealer today. Upon installing the gaskets I found I had a hole big enough to stick a pencil into, in one of my exhaust pipes. Now I need to replace the pipe before I put the new gaskets in. I was able to replace the gasket closest to the exhaust manifold and that made a big difference in sound. The Mazda gaskets are made much stronger then the cheapy ones I had in there. I replaced my NGK spark plugs with new ones, model BR9EQ-14. I also installed rear Sony 6.5" speakers that I received for Christmas. So I need to get that exhaust piece soon so I can go back to state inspection and pass their exhaust test. |
| Happy New Year! A little late but, oh well. I did get that exhaust part and installed it and passed state inspection, all back in January. It's been a terribly cold winter and I hope it starts to warm up soon. The car pretty much sits now. I start it once a week or two and maybe drive it around the block a few times if I can get out of the snow. Using the Eclipse GSX I bought as my daily driver so at least I'm cutting down on the wear and tear on the old Rx-7. So thats that, I can't do much until it warms up, then as I do more to the car, I'll add more here. Pray for spring warmth soon! :) |
| Febuary 26, 2003 |
| It just sits there |
| June 8, 2003 |
| It's been awhile |
| It has been over 3 months since I've last written an update. A lot has gone on since then. I did get the car started I think sometime around St. Patrick's day. It was flooded badly and would not start for anything. I thought I had a serious problem but, after unflooding multiple times with the help of a friend, it started up and runs normally. I replaced my starter with a rebuilt one in March as well, it definately starts up quicker now. I've replaced the oil once or twice over this period as well but i didn't make a log of it. I recently received an order I made to Victoria British which included a new rear deck mat, rubber glass run channels, KYB strut boots with bumpers, and new brake/clutch pedal pads. |