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Pele · 06-06-2011, 08:54 AM

So two years ago I needed a daily driver pretty bad one time. I had blown the timing belt on my Honda Passport (Isuzu Rodeo) because the valve cover gaskets were leaking oil onto the belt... It's a pretty crammed engine bay, so it'd take me a while to do it and I didn't really feel like doing it in winter...

Buddy of mine knew someone with an FC sitting in their front yard. They needed to get rid of it because the cops were starting to complain about it. I offered $250 to haul it off and backed my flatbed up to their yard that evening. (Flatbed or a trailer is MANDATORY for dealing with RX-7s like I do.)

The guy had bought it back in the Fall of 1985, it's one of the first FCs in the states. (Coolant reservoir is next to the leading coil, not in front of the radiator support like most FCs.) He taught his son and then his grand son to drive in it. Grandson wrecked up the front end a bit. Original owner planned on fixing it up again, but never got to it and it sat for a few years. It's an Arctic Silver GXL 2+2.

After hauling it home, I changed the oil and coolant, then charged the battery. Popped a bit of oil in the combustion chambers and spun it by hand a few times. Turned the key and she fired right up. A set of tires was all I needed and bam, Daily driver for under $300.

It's gotten a few more points of bodywork that need done since I've owned it... My flatbed overhangs my driveway a bit and I clipped it in the huge east coast snow storm of 2010... Then I nailed a white tailed deer at 75 MPH... Still, I'd trust the car to get me anywhere without a problem... And I used it to replace a vehicle with a Honda badge on it!

I've since picked up another rust bucked GXL with the original 1986 Mazda dealer authorized "Finish Line" ground effects package and plexiglass sunroof. Those are going on the car after I pull out a lot of the dents.

It's also my test car for when I rebuild wiper and headlight switches... Since Icemark died, I've been doing these repairs. It's a common FC problem, burning up headlight switches and having failed wiper switches.

06-06-2011, 08:54 AM	#2
Pele The Newbie Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	So two years ago I needed a daily driver pretty bad one time. I had blown the timing belt on my Honda Passport (Isuzu Rodeo) because the valve cover gaskets were leaking oil onto the belt... It's a pretty crammed engine bay, so it'd take me a while to do it and I didn't really feel like doing it in winter... Buddy of mine knew someone with an FC sitting in their front yard. They needed to get rid of it because the cops were starting to complain about it. I offered $250 to haul it off and backed my flatbed up to their yard that evening. (Flatbed or a trailer is MANDATORY for dealing with RX-7s like I do.) The guy had bought it back in the Fall of 1985, it's one of the first FCs in the states. (Coolant reservoir is next to the leading coil, not in front of the radiator support like most FCs.) He taught his son and then his grand son to drive in it. Grandson wrecked up the front end a bit. Original owner planned on fixing it up again, but never got to it and it sat for a few years. It's an Arctic Silver GXL 2+2. After hauling it home, I changed the oil and coolant, then charged the battery. Popped a bit of oil in the combustion chambers and spun it by hand a few times. Turned the key and she fired right up. A set of tires was all I needed and bam, Daily driver for under $300. It's gotten a few more points of bodywork that need done since I've owned it... My flatbed overhangs my driveway a bit and I clipped it in the huge east coast snow storm of 2010... Then I nailed a white tailed deer at 75 MPH... Still, I'd trust the car to get me anywhere without a problem... And I used it to replace a vehicle with a Honda badge on it! I've since picked up another rust bucked GXL with the original 1986 Mazda dealer authorized "Finish Line" ground effects package and plexiglass sunroof. Those are going on the car after I pull out a lot of the dents. It's also my test car for when I rebuild wiper and headlight switches... Since Icemark died, I've been doing these repairs. It's a common FC problem, burning up headlight switches and having failed wiper switches.