Jester's Sunburst Yellow Type R Bathurst R - '01
- Thread starter Jester*
- Start date
That is the hope! I have also identified a summer job, a refresh of the doorhandles and door locks. Already ordered the lock kit from Code Red in the US and I'll get some aluminium handles ordered in the coming months. Might even do the mod to prevent the stiff handles while I am at it.
Oh super easy to remove all the trim and wiper, even for a heavy handed lad like myself!
So the RX7 and I went into battle....again.
Feeling smug that I had cured the source of the leak I went out to rotate my silica bags and check the car out.
Oh look at that, spare wheel well nicely rippling away with a bit of water in it. The plus side of this was that the top of the boot carpet was still dry, which means it is less likely the water is coming in the wiper plug and straight down onto the carpet. So that fix may be doing something.
So I stripped alot of the rear trim off in the name of science and it does seem like the water is coming in the back left hand side of the boot which nicely points to the plastic nylon plug thing, that you screw some trim into. So I popped it out and found....
Well that washer is doing sweet FA.
Here are some that I prepared earlier.
Along with a liberal smear of silicon sealant to give it a helping hand, in popped the new one.
Before anyone asks, yes I did do the other side as well. The irony of fixing one side so that the other one can start to leak was not lost on me.
While I was at it with the rear lights popped off I smeared some sealant on these little light retaining clips as in the US a few people have reported water gets in here.
Not pretty but it will give the old girl a fighting chance.
I popped some of the foam trim tape on some of the trim that I have pulled out and I have made a start on the hatch trim pieces too.
The pillowballs have arrived from Japan, so I have everything required for a full bush refresh.
Feeling smug that I had cured the source of the leak I went out to rotate my silica bags and check the car out.
Oh look at that, spare wheel well nicely rippling away with a bit of water in it. The plus side of this was that the top of the boot carpet was still dry, which means it is less likely the water is coming in the wiper plug and straight down onto the carpet. So that fix may be doing something.
So I stripped alot of the rear trim off in the name of science and it does seem like the water is coming in the back left hand side of the boot which nicely points to the plastic nylon plug thing, that you screw some trim into. So I popped it out and found....
Well that washer is doing sweet FA.
Here are some that I prepared earlier.
Along with a liberal smear of silicon sealant to give it a helping hand, in popped the new one.
Before anyone asks, yes I did do the other side as well. The irony of fixing one side so that the other one can start to leak was not lost on me.
While I was at it with the rear lights popped off I smeared some sealant on these little light retaining clips as in the US a few people have reported water gets in here.
Not pretty but it will give the old girl a fighting chance.
I popped some of the foam trim tape on some of the trim that I have pulled out and I have made a start on the hatch trim pieces too.
The pillowballs have arrived from Japan, so I have everything required for a full bush refresh.
The good news is that the dehumidifier has been doing a stellar job and I have got nearly 1L of moisture out of the car.
The boot has remained dry, the hatch skin is all dry, No wet carpets I actually feel like I may have won.
In my confidence the spare wheel is back in the car for the first time in quite a few months.
I have also finished foam taping all of the boot plastics that I removed, so in the next week or so I'll pop them back in. Then she is a wash away from being ready to roll out and back up to TPS for rebushing, diff brace install, steering rack refurb and some tarting up.
The boot has remained dry, the hatch skin is all dry, No wet carpets I actually feel like I may have won.
In my confidence the spare wheel is back in the car for the first time in quite a few months.
I have also finished foam taping all of the boot plastics that I removed, so in the next week or so I'll pop them back in. Then she is a wash away from being ready to roll out and back up to TPS for rebushing, diff brace install, steering rack refurb and some tarting up.
Ferrox117
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 7, 2022
- Messages
- 602
I love this car more than my own…
looks so clean!Hahaha thanks. It is currently wearing a winters worth of dust and debris. But thats just a clean away from being gone!I love this car more than my own…
I think I have spent more time tarting, fixing, buying parts for it than actually driving it. But we'll get there
. Once all the age related bobbins are done I want to get some miles on the clock.As we have started Easter, I have managed to finally get some time to pop the 7's interior back in.
Only one missing clip, which I managed to source from a Mazda Bongo spares supplier!
I was sat in the boot while doing this. It was the easiest way! Everything going back easily and refreshing any interior trim clips that looked weathered. The foam padding making everything a nice snug fit.
I think I mentioned I had my suspicions that the rear wiper had been removed before and while sat in the boot and putting the last trim piece I noticed that the rear washer nozzle was missing something quite critical......the washer pipe to the reservoir :biglaugh:
Quite satisfying having everything back together. Fingers crossed thats me done chasing leaks in the 7.
In other news the 7's drop off at TPS has been delayed a few weeks due to work backlog and Easter. A shame but just one of those things.
Washed off the winter grime that had built up, disconnected the CTEK and took her for a quick post winter drive to the petrol station and general shake down.
Fired up on the button, and had a great little trip out. Makes the work worth it.
Oh and I have ordered a set of black aluminium door handles from Essex Rotary for when I refresh the locks in the summer!
Only one missing clip, which I managed to source from a Mazda Bongo spares supplier!
I was sat in the boot while doing this. It was the easiest way! Everything going back easily and refreshing any interior trim clips that looked weathered. The foam padding making everything a nice snug fit.
I think I mentioned I had my suspicions that the rear wiper had been removed before and while sat in the boot and putting the last trim piece I noticed that the rear washer nozzle was missing something quite critical......the washer pipe to the reservoir :biglaugh:
Quite satisfying having everything back together. Fingers crossed thats me done chasing leaks in the 7.
In other news the 7's drop off at TPS has been delayed a few weeks due to work backlog and Easter. A shame but just one of those things.
Washed off the winter grime that had built up, disconnected the CTEK and took her for a quick post winter drive to the petrol station and general shake down.
Fired up on the button, and had a great little trip out. Makes the work worth it.
Oh and I have ordered a set of black aluminium door handles from Essex Rotary for when I refresh the locks in the summer!
Soooooo came home today thought I would check on the 7 as we have had some rain and hey presto, a bit too much water came pouring out from the hatch trim on the drivers side.
So I had to have words with the car which resulted in boot plastics out and this.....
Cleaned up the areas where spoiler interacts with bootlid. Improvised some neoprene washers from other clips I had lying around and applied a liberal amount of silicon sealant to the areas of concern then bolted her all back up. The only clip I have my reservations with is the push clip part of the spoiler as you don't secure it from the bootlid like the others, so you cannot double down and seal it from underneath.
Now we wait.....
So I had to have words with the car which resulted in boot plastics out and this.....
Cleaned up the areas where spoiler interacts with bootlid. Improvised some neoprene washers from other clips I had lying around and applied a liberal amount of silicon sealant to the areas of concern then bolted her all back up. The only clip I have my reservations with is the push clip part of the spoiler as you don't secure it from the bootlid like the others, so you cannot double down and seal it from underneath.
Now we wait.....
So I went away for a week training. Came back and the wife told me we'd had some decent precipitation, so with baited breath I lifted the boot hatch and had.....absolutely no water run down the boot struts. Whisper it quietly.......it may be fixed
So she was dropped off at TPS yesterday for the following work.
Complete rebushing underneath.
New engine mounts.
Diff brace fitting.
Alignment
Removal and refurbishing of the steering rack.
New steering UJ.
Oil + filter
Popping off the wiper arms for sandblasting and refreshing.
So she will be away for a few weeks, the wallet will take a bashing but she should drive like an absolute dream afterwards.
So she was dropped off at TPS yesterday for the following work.
Complete rebushing underneath.
New engine mounts.
Diff brace fitting.
Alignment
Removal and refurbishing of the steering rack.
New steering UJ.
Oil + filter
Popping off the wiper arms for sandblasting and refreshing.
So she will be away for a few weeks, the wallet will take a bashing but she should drive like an absolute dream afterwards.
Quick update on the RX7
This will just be text but I hope I can convey the emotion of it. Picked her up yesterday from TPS, and the transformation is absolutely incredible.
So just a quick breakdown of work.
1. Full suspension rebush - Bushes supplied by me.
2. Steering rack removed and refurbed.
3. Vibratechnics engine mounts installed (this was an addon on the day of drop off, proved to be a good idea as 1 was way perished)
4. Alignment.
5. Oil & filter.
6. Diff brace fitted & diff oil changed.
7. Ball joints on the upper front arms both split when the arms were removed. Replaced.
8. Sandblast & repaint of wiper arms.
UJ was in excellent condition and didn't warrant changing.
I cannot begin to explain how good the car felt on the drive home. No slop in the steering wheel, I had dead travel in the wheel before the work, now completely disappeared and added weight to the steering. All 4 corners of the car feel more....connected to the road. So much more confidence in the way she handles and puts down the power. I can barely notice the change between the turbos now as she pulls hard to redline.
The only negatives so far, is that she feels a touch firmer and the engine mounts have introduced a bit more exhaust resonance into the cabin but it is by no means a dealbreaker as cruising along it isn't an issue. Just when you are getting on it and ripping up through the gears.
The team at TPS Reece, Josh & Kim have been excellent, and even though the work took a bit longer than originally thought I am extremely happy with the end result. She drives how I always thought the RX7 should, and it also goes to show that buying garage queens is never always straightforward. You buy a solid base, then have to spend to bring them up to a proper driving standard.
This will just be text but I hope I can convey the emotion of it. Picked her up yesterday from TPS, and the transformation is absolutely incredible.
So just a quick breakdown of work.
1. Full suspension rebush - Bushes supplied by me.
2. Steering rack removed and refurbed.
3. Vibratechnics engine mounts installed (this was an addon on the day of drop off, proved to be a good idea as 1 was way perished)
4. Alignment.
5. Oil & filter.
6. Diff brace fitted & diff oil changed.
7. Ball joints on the upper front arms both split when the arms were removed. Replaced.
8. Sandblast & repaint of wiper arms.
UJ was in excellent condition and didn't warrant changing.
I cannot begin to explain how good the car felt on the drive home. No slop in the steering wheel, I had dead travel in the wheel before the work, now completely disappeared and added weight to the steering. All 4 corners of the car feel more....connected to the road. So much more confidence in the way she handles and puts down the power. I can barely notice the change between the turbos now as she pulls hard to redline.
The only negatives so far, is that she feels a touch firmer and the engine mounts have introduced a bit more exhaust resonance into the cabin but it is by no means a dealbreaker as cruising along it isn't an issue. Just when you are getting on it and ripping up through the gears.
The team at TPS Reece, Josh & Kim have been excellent, and even though the work took a bit longer than originally thought I am extremely happy with the end result. She drives how I always thought the RX7 should, and it also goes to show that buying garage queens is never always straightforward. You buy a solid base, then have to spend to bring them up to a proper driving standard.
Didn't realise I hadn't updated this for a while! So not much happened after the last post in 2023. Personal circumstances meant that I barely got the 7 out through the rest of the year bar a little appearance at GoJapan!.
But I ordered her a little present from HKS coming later this year otherwise she slept all the way through untill last week.
RX7
So there are some RX7 updates! She got a bath and put back into road condition, tyre pressures checked, dehumdifier removed and general bits and bobs.
Fresh MOT
No advisories and plenty of compliments about her condition underneath and overall. I only did about 280 miles last year which was criminal and I have a ticket to PH annual event in August so she will be rolling out for that at the very least.
I managed to snag off @Ceylon a centre console armrest storage pocket to replace my ash tray coin pouch.
But I ordered her a little present from HKS coming later this year otherwise she slept all the way through untill last week.
RX7
So there are some RX7 updates! She got a bath and put back into road condition, tyre pressures checked, dehumdifier removed and general bits and bobs.
Fresh MOT
No advisories and plenty of compliments about her condition underneath and overall. I only did about 280 miles last year which was criminal and I have a ticket to PH annual event in August so she will be rolling out for that at the very least.
I managed to snag off @Ceylon a centre console armrest storage pocket to replace my ash tray coin pouch.
It has just been one of those years, unfortunately my mum passed away in May and its been really hard to generate enthusiasm for the cars. But we are coming out of the other side now and I have the annual PH meet next week and she is being displayed in the Rare and Exotic section, so I wanted to start getting her ready.
The plan was to give the interior a bit of a clean but this turned out to be 5 hours of extra work I didn't exactly intend on doing.
I went to unlock the car and she didn't unlock on the drivers side, then wouldn't unlock on the key. Mild panic started setting in, and thankfully I could get in passenger side on the key. This sounds extremely familiar after the Mini having its own fit, so I did the only logical thing and started taking apart the drivers door.
Drivers door handle and trim out, really easy to remove thankfully. Leaving the latch and lock link bars exposed.
Door handle in hand!
There didn't seem to be much wrong and I could use the latch bar to open and close the door fine. But last year I ordered a door lock dust cover kit from Code Red in the US. So the obvious solution was to fit them now.
Just to show the old, no dust cover left, so nothing to prevent dirt and rubbish getting in.
Popped the lock out, gave the whole mech a good clean with a toothbrush and some compressed air. Finished up by using some silicone lubricant on everything to make sure the action was smooth and might stay that way for a few more years. Then got the new helper spring, key "door" in place then a new cover on top.
All installed and ready to go back into the door handle.
Back on the car, should hopefully be good for a few more years now! Rinse repeat on the passenger door for good measure. Another little job ticked off the list. I just need to get round to ordering the aluminium door handles so I can replace the plastic OEM versions, this will make sure they don't randomly split and fail due to age. On the list of parts to order over winter.
But this hadn't solved the door issue. So things escalated somewhat.
Not amazingly keen on RX7 door cards. They are definintely a huge fiddly pain, but with some persistance it came off and I started to investigate. The remote locking actuator didn't seem to be adjusted properly, so slackened the screws off and made sure the central locking was fully in the open position then tightened them all back up and now seems to be much better.
My mistake was to take the passenger side door card off as I thought there was an issue where it wouldn't unlock properly off the central locking, but to cut a long story short the drivers side is a smidge off adjustment wise. It requires me to unlock, open the drivers door and push the door lock latch about 1mm further and the passenger door unlocks. I can live with that.
But the passenger door card has been a bit bodged before, the window switch was sealed in as the locating tabs have been broken, with also some door handle damage. With the window switch not staying in place I had to use a few blobs of super glue to keep it in place. You can get replacement window switches (£60) and even strengthened door pulls from the US (Not cheap at £260 before shipping and VAT.) But the other plastic door trims are a different matter, that might need some proper research.
Oh and I unplugged the powered antenna so I can drive around without the whip. Mainly for aesthetic reasons, and I don't need the radio anyway.
The plan was to give the interior a bit of a clean but this turned out to be 5 hours of extra work I didn't exactly intend on doing.
I went to unlock the car and she didn't unlock on the drivers side, then wouldn't unlock on the key. Mild panic started setting in, and thankfully I could get in passenger side on the key. This sounds extremely familiar after the Mini having its own fit, so I did the only logical thing and started taking apart the drivers door.
Drivers door handle and trim out, really easy to remove thankfully. Leaving the latch and lock link bars exposed.
Door handle in hand!
There didn't seem to be much wrong and I could use the latch bar to open and close the door fine. But last year I ordered a door lock dust cover kit from Code Red in the US. So the obvious solution was to fit them now.
Just to show the old, no dust cover left, so nothing to prevent dirt and rubbish getting in.
Popped the lock out, gave the whole mech a good clean with a toothbrush and some compressed air. Finished up by using some silicone lubricant on everything to make sure the action was smooth and might stay that way for a few more years. Then got the new helper spring, key "door" in place then a new cover on top.
All installed and ready to go back into the door handle.
Back on the car, should hopefully be good for a few more years now! Rinse repeat on the passenger door for good measure. Another little job ticked off the list. I just need to get round to ordering the aluminium door handles so I can replace the plastic OEM versions, this will make sure they don't randomly split and fail due to age. On the list of parts to order over winter.
But this hadn't solved the door issue. So things escalated somewhat.
Not amazingly keen on RX7 door cards. They are definintely a huge fiddly pain, but with some persistance it came off and I started to investigate. The remote locking actuator didn't seem to be adjusted properly, so slackened the screws off and made sure the central locking was fully in the open position then tightened them all back up and now seems to be much better.
My mistake was to take the passenger side door card off as I thought there was an issue where it wouldn't unlock properly off the central locking, but to cut a long story short the drivers side is a smidge off adjustment wise. It requires me to unlock, open the drivers door and push the door lock latch about 1mm further and the passenger door unlocks. I can live with that.
But the passenger door card has been a bit bodged before, the window switch was sealed in as the locating tabs have been broken, with also some door handle damage. With the window switch not staying in place I had to use a few blobs of super glue to keep it in place. You can get replacement window switches (£60) and even strengthened door pulls from the US (Not cheap at £260 before shipping and VAT.) But the other plastic door trims are a different matter, that might need some proper research.
Oh and I unplugged the powered antenna so I can drive around without the whip. Mainly for aesthetic reasons, and I don't need the radio anyway.
Seconded! I think the metal ones are just for lhd cars? I wouldn't mind replacing mine as it is a bit flimsy
I've found this from the US https://www.bubbletech.us/rx7-fd/p/passenger-handle. On the drop down you can select RHD.
But I cannot find the other plastic door trim sold seperately.
We did the PH Annual service, I left Kent after work Friday and winged it back to Basingstoke to stay with a friend, who was also coming to the service.
Cheeky photo with his turbo'd MX5 and R32 GTR in the background.
Then I headed off quite early on the Saturday and took my place out the front of the hanger and got casually one upped hard by the Skyline that parked next to me
Had a great day and had a chat to many like minded people and would like to do it again next year! I hope many people follow the lead of abandoning the piston for the obviously superior rotor tech. After the day finished I hauled back off to Kent. So clocked up the best part of 250 odd miles in total over the weekend. Which for me is the most I've done in anger when owning the car. Glad to be back on the road!
Now this week has seen a flurry of parts procurement for the 7. We started with my HKS package that has been a good 8 months in coming. Behold some pure JDM goodness of HKS floor and boot mats! HKS pressed some FD mats back into production for their 50th anniversary and I jumped at the chance to add something a little different and special to the car.
Now in the car.
I am proper chuffed with them! This hasn't been the last of it, with some odd coincidence a for sale post on FDOC.co.uk popped up with some black aluminium door handles for sale at a decent discount. The last part of the puzzle for the doors that I was about to order, so they have been snaffled up and are on the way to me now.
The final piece of the puzzle was I wanted to start getting some OEM+ parts. Namely the Autoexe carbon airbox and an uprated intercooler that is either a PWR or Knightsports make. So a wanted post went up and today I picked this up. Complete with a legitimate JDM Greddy box.
The Autoexe airbox lightly used, with one or 2 marks on it, but a good saving over buying from Japan and quicker than the 3 month current lead time. I might try and get a local detailer to quickly pop some PPF over it as the fitment is known to slightly rub on the bonnet and I'd like to protect it a little bit. Excitingly I do have a lead on someone selling their PWR intercooler in the coming months so fingers crossed that can wing its way into my parts collection.
Musings over the last week has me considering getting a Link ECU fitted next year, to bring the car into the modern era, not because I have crazy engine plans but more to enable better engine protection and a little more sophistication. While maybe adding a little more power along the way.
Cheeky photo with his turbo'd MX5 and R32 GTR in the background.
Then I headed off quite early on the Saturday and took my place out the front of the hanger and got casually one upped hard by the Skyline that parked next to me
Had a great day and had a chat to many like minded people and would like to do it again next year! I hope many people follow the lead of abandoning the piston for the obviously superior rotor tech. After the day finished I hauled back off to Kent. So clocked up the best part of 250 odd miles in total over the weekend. Which for me is the most I've done in anger when owning the car. Glad to be back on the road!
Now this week has seen a flurry of parts procurement for the 7. We started with my HKS package that has been a good 8 months in coming. Behold some pure JDM goodness of HKS floor and boot mats! HKS pressed some FD mats back into production for their 50th anniversary and I jumped at the chance to add something a little different and special to the car.
Now in the car.
I am proper chuffed with them! This hasn't been the last of it, with some odd coincidence a for sale post on FDOC.co.uk popped up with some black aluminium door handles for sale at a decent discount. The last part of the puzzle for the doors that I was about to order, so they have been snaffled up and are on the way to me now.
The final piece of the puzzle was I wanted to start getting some OEM+ parts. Namely the Autoexe carbon airbox and an uprated intercooler that is either a PWR or Knightsports make. So a wanted post went up and today I picked this up. Complete with a legitimate JDM Greddy box.
The Autoexe airbox lightly used, with one or 2 marks on it, but a good saving over buying from Japan and quicker than the 3 month current lead time. I might try and get a local detailer to quickly pop some PPF over it as the fitment is known to slightly rub on the bonnet and I'd like to protect it a little bit. Excitingly I do have a lead on someone selling their PWR intercooler in the coming months so fingers crossed that can wing its way into my parts collection.
Musings over the last week has me considering getting a Link ECU fitted next year, to bring the car into the modern era, not because I have crazy engine plans but more to enable better engine protection and a little more sophistication. While maybe adding a little more power along the way.
Nothing to report on the 7, baring the PPF to the carbon airbox is coming along. Have had some updated pictures this week so should be good to collect next week.
With the car season pretty much petering out, I have put the 7 to bed, but it does have a new place to sleep for this winter. I bought a Carcoon, I have umm'd and ahh'd for a while about getting one. But decided that it was worth getting one as I hate the way winter causes me the worry of water ingress, condensation and all that. Car storage being at least £100 a month, I decided stumping up the money for a Carcoon was wise. As after 6 months of use, it will then save money over car storage. Plus I can at least keep an eye on her.
Here she will stay. Just for piece of mind I put a little kitty litter pot to catch any errant condensation that might get into the interior and I've not used the optimate battery charger that comes with it, as I have a CTeK quick connect, that is currently doing its thing. So far quite happy with what I am seeing.
With the car season pretty much petering out, I have put the 7 to bed, but it does have a new place to sleep for this winter. I bought a Carcoon, I have umm'd and ahh'd for a while about getting one. But decided that it was worth getting one as I hate the way winter causes me the worry of water ingress, condensation and all that. Car storage being at least £100 a month, I decided stumping up the money for a Carcoon was wise. As after 6 months of use, it will then save money over car storage. Plus I can at least keep an eye on her.
Here she will stay. Just for piece of mind I put a little kitty litter pot to catch any errant condensation that might get into the interior and I've not used the optimate battery charger that comes with it, as I have a CTeK quick connect, that is currently doing its thing. So far quite happy with what I am seeing.
Temujin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2023
- Messages
- 260
Nice! How is the ctek? I need a trickle charger really rather than just unplugging the battery
I have 3 of them, so I guess I really like them
.Really solid and haven't let me down yet, I've had the oldest one a good 3 years now. Attaching the little quick connect to the terminals saves loads of hassle and can do away with clamping them, much more secure.
Temujin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2023
- Messages
- 260
Which model do you use?I have 3 of them, so I guess I really like them
Really solid and haven't let me down yet, I've had the oldest one a good 3 years now. Attaching the little quick connect to the terminals saves loads of hassle and can do away with clamping them, much more secure.
