Engine, transmission, driveshaft are all back in place. Almost a runner again:D Couple more days hopefully.

Just picked up a Kia Ring and pinion gear set( The entire third member) I plan on swapping over the gear sets into my carrier to see if it works with a small bearing carrier. I will post the details/results in Gravity Fed's Kia thread;)

Other than that I plan on starting the engine up today or tomorrow more likely. Tired from yanking the front axle apart laying on rocks at the junk yard:D

woo gearing!

Yeah Gearing is a sweet thing. Here are some shots of recent progress.

from when the engine/trans went into the new shiny home.
http://i26.tinypic.com/5zgy2v.jpg
With some parts on it now. S4 Alt, wiring harness simplified etc..
http://i29.tinypic.com/1z3p8j7.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/1495hn4.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/2088hew.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/zspt9g.jpg
And the new gears awaiting disassembly
http://i30.tinypic.com/14tpkyq.jpg

love the color

That looks so good. Nice to see FBs getting TLC

Nice man... it looks really slick with the engine back in it. She'll be good for years to come now!

Hey Dave, the work looks great, left you a PM on that other "site" and then came over here to see what was up and found this thread.

Looks really good, the car seems to be coming along nicely!

Dropped the radiator off for repairs today. Should be done tomorrow afternoon for about 65 bucks. Fingers crossed that old bird will hold up to the tests they run.

Hey Tim, Good to see ya over here. Yeah, I had enough of the other place. I am here to stay;) I still check PM's every now and then. I am trying to have the car ready for Octobers OGTA meet to unveil the resto.

The car is almost ready to run again. Then the rest of the car gets torn into:D I swear it is never endiing. You don't realize how many parts there are to the car until you clean, restore and repaint every one of them. Takes waay longer than you plan it to. But then again, This is overkill for a leaky rad!!:D

Parts update:

I am about to lay down some clear on the headlight braket/cages, hood latch, hood hinges, air cleaner top, and headlight cover undersides. All have been painted the same orange to match.

Calipers later this week along with the rear axle assembly once fitted with new gearing. Busy week ahead, oh yeah can't forget the underside of the hood to do as well. Sheesh!

Well, The old crusty rad fell apart during the flushing process:D The core litterally came out from inside out he said. I will see it later today. Just ordered a replacement from Black Dragon. I almost had a shop in Atlanta build me a nice one but it really isn't in the budget.( Around 1k) Next year;) Shameless plug, If anyone needs a bitchin radiator( The best in the country for sure) give Jack Baldwin a call at DB Products LLC. They build rads for most of the DP cars, Grand AM cars, NASCAR Etc.. Very nice guy to talk with.He will be getting my business on a sweet rad/oil cooler combo one day

http://www.racedbproducts.com

EDIT: The rear end is NOT a big bearing afterall. I was misinformed. However, The gear set swaps directly over and if you use the Kia Pinion spacer it "appears" to be the correct depth and gear meshing. I will give all the info to Gravity fed to add to his KIA thread.

Kinda on a hoilding pattern until the rad shows up. Maybe Saturday, we'll see.Until then there is much ore to paint and assemble.

Wow that orange color sure is perty! I am loving the pictures Dave.

Keep up the good work, I will be using this thread this winter when it comes time for my car to go under the knife :)

horrah for crapped out radiators. Figure the thing is 25 or more years old, its probably about time. Probably better for the well being of your engine too. Corrosion is not known for its great thermal properties.

Hey Stu! Glad you found your way over here. Thanks for the kind words. I am trying to do the rotor gods rite. When you start on yours let me know. I can swing by and help out with anything you need.

Gravity: Yeah I am not complaining, It served it's time very well.

Hope that exhaust works out for ya.

I have 2 batches of brew going now. Should be ready in a couple of weeks.

Yep. Already have it mounted up. Welded back together, and gaskets that will fit it found locally;) The resonator that was rattling was doing so because the insides have crumbled and are clogging the path. Also shaking around. It should flow awsome once I replace that resonator.
MMMMMMMmmmmm..homebrew beer!!

I am currently in the middle of removing all the rear bushings. Not a particularly easy job considering the bushings are fused to the metal. I am drilling around the rubber until I can remove the center pin. Then I am chiseling the rest of the rubber chunks out. After that, I set it ablaze and let the remaining rubber cook itself crispy and then I scrape it out.

1 more lower arm to burn out and then the Watts linkage bushings. Then I reinstall the new RE-SPEED bushings

I also think I am going to undercoat the rest of the car while the axle is out of the way....maybe.

I am interested in how those bushings feel :D

Your thread inspired me to clean the #$%& out of my engine bay. Debating on starting a thread here, but it isn't a build up as much as a clean up.

Did you get Tim's old exhaust?

Hey Stu, Awsome man! Glad to hear you are getting started on the cleaning. That is the absolute first thing that needs to be done on ANY level of resto;)

The new radiator showed up today....They sent me a short rad with what I think is a loop inside the lower tank for power steering? It does not pose a return it issue for me. Just a couple ugly pipes I don't like. I may cut them off flush and and plug the holes.

I have mounted the radiator and the shrouds top and sides. I also am in the middle of running the battery cables from the rear passenger bin. This really cleans up the enginebay alot.

Installed the newly aquired R E full exhaust. I need to replace one of the resonators and it will be all good. The headers were just wrapped in DEI heat wrap and have never been run yet. ( he got a new exhaust)

I have decided to do the undercoating to the wheelwell area in the rear only. I need to save something for the winter time. And I really need to get the rest of the car painted this month.

All the bushings are out, and the linkages all painted gloss black. New bushings are going in tonight while we watch Dancing with the stars:D The rear axle will go in tomorrow. The new rear brake rotors and pads are getting here Thursday.

Wheew!! Sorry to ramble but it has been a busy week. I will get picks updated to where I am at tomorrow. It is too dark to get good shots now.


Thanks for all the kind words everyone.!!

Dave

If you got the short rad, that's S1-2. It is a 3 core, so better than S3 :D

Also, those lines could be for the automatic cooler. I have the same lines on mine.

PICTURES!


Also, are you running the stock(ish?) battery? I was thinking of going to a miata battery. It is smaller so I might be able to fit it between the back seat and rear tower bar.

Yeah it is a 3 row rad that will fit both auto and manual. I am just going to cut and plug the lines where they come out.

I use a Optima Yellow top battery.

I also am going to build a duct for the radiator that goes up to the bumper and funnels the air to the rad.

I installed all the bushings tonight. I used the arm press;) My hands are sore as hell.
Pics tomorrow I promise.

Haha, the arm press.


Someone call a vet, cause these pythons are SICKKK

http://i35.tinypic.com/2mhfri9.jpg

Yeah he acquired my old setup. Good to see it live on in another 7.

Here is where it stands as of last night. I "may' Start it up today. I have a few things to complete on the battery relocation and it will be ready to power up again.
http://i33.tinypic.com/14tautk.jpg
http://i35.tinypic.com/xbmuzc.jpg
http://i35.tinypic.com/16kpcpj.jpg
http://i34.tinypic.com/15xv9lw.jpg
the rear wheel wells undercoated
http://i34.tinypic.com/eu3o9d.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/2ccpkw3.jpg
http://i35.tinypic.com/jze0io.jpg
http://i34.tinypic.com/1zdht4.jpg
The rear axle housing assembly and watts linkage, new poly bushings installed
http://i35.tinypic.com/dg6sfp.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/2utoxon.jpg

Forgot a good shot of the wrapped headers. Later tonight I guess.

I love new and new looking parts :D

Keep it up dave! Let me know on how the relocation went. Did you pick up a kit from summit?

Front looks great, now get the rest of it painted :) That color rocks, I like it.

I have a Aluminum battery box from Jegs that I don't use. If you didn't want to mount it in the bins;)

I grab all the stuff I need for the battery from the local NAPA/Advanced. A quick list off the top of my head is as follows:

10' 2 gauge battery cable( for the main POS and NEG cables)
10' of 8 gauge battery cable.( for powering up the fuse block)
2-4 8 gauge ring terminals
2-4 2 gauge ring terminals
2 Battery post terminals
1 rubber grommet for the hole I am drilling thru the body for the cable
I fabricate my own battery hold down once I figure out exactly where it is going.
5-10 cable "hlod down " clamps to secure the cable to the underside of the car or wherever you run it
1 main fuse( about 100A) that is installed at the battery POS in case the power wire should short to the chassis it will disconnect the battery. In theory:D I get theses from the car stereo store.

It may be less hassle to just grab a kit, but I am probably around the 30-50 dollar range in parts depending on the quality of cable you use. Plus I have done a few of them so I have a good idea of what I will run into.


Yeah Tim, The rest of the car is super fugly compared to the enginebay! I am working on it!!

Update:

I have the rear axle and diff installed into the car. Replaced the rear axle bearings as well. I just got done laying down the color and clear onto the front and rear calipers, and resprayed the hood latch.( uneven coverage)

Due to the non-stop rain I cannot get back out and finish the wiring and fill the diff. Add oil , and start the car. Maybe tomorrow as it is supposed to be sunny.

Wiring is done, calipers are painted and installed. Watts installed. Small progress today. Filling all cases with oil tomorrow. And firing it up...hopefully:D
http://i35.tinypic.com/4kts0i.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/1j3ehk.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/v46xw4.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/iycsn6.jpg

It's alive!! :D Started rite up after filling the bowls with fuel and a good backfire that echoed thru the hood at 7:30 AM:D Runs nice and smooth. Which means I did not screw up any wiring when I "simplified".

Bleeding the brakes today and possibly test driving with the new gearing and bushings.,

Congrats man - thats awesome!

Wow! under 2 months, maybe I need to figure out where you buy your water....

I can barely get a set of engine rotors polished in 2 months

I get my water from the local crack springs!:D

2 months has only gotten me finished with the enginebay and all parts included. And the rear axle conversion. I still have the door jambs, doors, rear hatch jamb, underside of the hood and the entire exterior to paint. So probably another month at least.

it is inspiring to hear it run again though.

So you still think you'll be making it to the OGTA meet for October?

If you do the November one I'll come down with you.

Sounds like your really making progress. I'm in the middle of stripping the undercoat off my gas tank before I redo it. What a mess! Lots of small rust spots too! Hopefully none of them go thru.

Dave inspires us all :)

It is looking real good there! I am still super jealous you got the 4.77! Gotta tell me what that is like. I am looking for one to, would love to wipe the smile off my brother's face when my FB beats his power hardtop miata!

Any new pictures of the engine bay?

Nothing new done to the enginebay. I did spray the air cleaner base black today. The clear is just dry enough to touch. It will get mounted tomorrow. I need to get a can of gas as iI didn't think the gauge was working.....It is:D Ran out when I tried to move the car back up the driveway for a test.

Also the rear brake distribution block on the axle is leaking. As well I think the Master cylinder may be bad. It has a wierd feel about halfway thru the stroke. ( Kinda expected this as it is off a junker car of who knows how long) I may just grab a reman from the zone tomorrow.

Glad I can help inspire keeping the 7 alive!

You planning on going to the blue ridge cruise/meet Stu?

Yeah, I am aimin for it! :D

Well I fixed my brake issues today. 1 fitting was just a little loose, and the new hose from the body to axle just needed a crush washer on it and it sealed up fine. Bled the entire system again and it seems to work well. I have a slight rubbing noise from the left rear disc when I go around left turns. ( I think it may be the dust shield. It looks a tad bent at the top edge.

The e-fan keeps the car chillin. The new gearing seems a bit quicker. Hard to tell. It's been too long since I drove it enough. I guess Stu or Tim and I will need to "compare":D

I reaasembled the bodywork today as well. I really need to drive it:D Then I will tear back into it for the rest of the paintwork/ bodywork.

A word of CAUTION: Please be carefull if you are ever working in the storage bin areas, The edges of the metal are EXTREMELY sharp!! I silced a big chunk out of my hand that just flaps back and forth. Since I am 1 of the 50 Million uninsured, It was going to cost me 600.00 at the local urgent care for stitches:( I am forced to work with butterfly bandages and super glue:D Anyways, BE CAREFULL.!!!

So whats the news this week?

Well, I have just been driving it and looking for the "little" things to come up. Such as the driveshaft flange bolts failed to get torqued upon final inspection. I had a vibration apear from nowhere.... Fixed that. The brakes feel awsome and work great! Stopping power was greatly increased:D

Hacked up the exhaust today as it was hangiing sooo low and scraping when I farted. The flange at the front where it meets the header was welded on crooked. Not pretty but I need to replace that section at some point anyhow.

I will say that I LOVE the sound of the exhaust and how I can talk to my wife next to me. The only Rx we have that we can do that in:D

Also the car has alot more snap to it I think( butt dyno) First gear is almost a wasted gear with the 4.77 in the back. I need to run with the local crew at the Blue ridge parkway run and see. I believe the speedo is 3-4 MPH off because of the change in gear as well. I am very happy with the results of the gear swap and the LSD install. I loove traction!!!Even left 2 black marks just cause I could:D

so you like the gearing then?