Michigan Rotary Club
New Members Help and Forum => Introduce yourself => : dyckvk April 08, 2013, 03:41:50 PM
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Hello - I recently bought an 85 GSL-SE and am looking forward to getting to know others in the Mid-Michigan area with the same interests. Does the club sponsor any shows or gatherings? Also, any recommendations on a good mechanic in the Lansing area? Thanks.
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Welcome to the Club. We do host a gathering of rotaries for Woodward Dream cruise in Pontiac and we host a bbq cookout at fitzgerald park in Grand Ledge. We have hosted other gatherings but those have fallen to the wayside over the past year.
A quote i saw one time sums up the experience of owning a rotary. It showed a picture of a second generation Rx-7 on jack stands in a garage with the hood up and it said "Mazda Rx-7, turning ordinary men into master mechanics"
I grew up in the lansing area, but the shop i used to use up there closed. We tend to meet up together and help each other out as needed with the cars most of the time.
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Groll - thanks for the note! I'll be very interested in attending the Grand Ledge event and any other mid-Michigan gatherings. My Rx was supposed to be "fully restored," but it in fact has many needs (long story). A friend of mine and I have done some interior work, and I have a garage doing some mechanical maintenance. I love the first gen Rx and the rotary and hope to own one from now on - altho probably not this one. Look forward to meeting others.
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Welcome! post some pics already! 8)
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OK, here goes... It's a classic 20 footer - if I saw this car in the parking lot I'd be the first to run over to check it out. Working with a friend we've replaced the steering wheel and stalks, pedals, sunroof headliner, broken dash vents, rims and tires, cleaned up paint over spray, etc. Have to finish replacing larger headliner, various interior trim pieces and replace seats back to stock. My garage has replaced most bushings, discs and pads all around, plugs, fuel injectors, etc. Having some paintwork done shortly. Some needs remain but it's getting better.
A friend had one in high school in the early '80s and I've loved them ever since. I'm hoping to find an original low mile example to keep. Looking forward to meeting others with the same addiction!
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the car looks sharp.
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Thanks! Hopefully I can show it to you this summer at some point. As I said, it looks incredible from a few feet back, but I'm fairly picky about cars. I drove one for sale in GR last weekend that was very nice, and fast. Checking out another in the thumb perhaps this weekend. They're phenomenal cars and it's been fun to search for parts, etc.
Actually, I have a technical question for someone - I'm looking for a banjo bolt/banjo fitting set for the 84-85 GSL-SE fuel filter. The previous owner stuck in the smaller filter designed for the 12a. Any ideas where I can find one? Alternatively, I have a fuel filter for an '86, but the leads aren't big enough for the fuel lines.
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Welcome. Nice looking car! And garage.
I'm close, in Holt. I have an '85 GSL which I am slowly restoring.
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XLNDRVR - Holt's not that far. We should get together some weekend and compare notes. I was just visiting a friend in Fairfax, VA, and went to a "Cars and Coffee" gathering this morning (Saturday). I wonder if there is something like that locally or an interest in starting one.
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Thanks! Hopefully I can show it to you this summer at some point. As I said, it looks incredible from a few feet back, but I'm fairly picky about cars. I drove one for sale in GR last weekend that was very nice, and fast. Checking out another in the thumb perhaps this weekend. They're phenomenal cars and it's been fun to search for parts, etc.
Actually, I have a technical question for someone - I'm looking for a banjo bolt/banjo fitting set for the 84-85 GSL-SE fuel filter. The previous owner stuck in the smaller filter designed for the 12a. Any ideas where I can find one? Alternatively, I have a fuel filter for an '86, but the leads aren't big enough for the fuel lines.
Welcome. I find Matt Peters 269-948-8311 to be a great source for GSL-SE parts.
OOPS....I just noticed you already had located him in your 1st Gen Specific post.
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gzqwy6 - Yeah, Matt is great and has been my go to guy for almost a year. Incredible selection at very good prices - I think all my interior replacement parts came from him. I did finally find a banjo bolt/fitting set up that we think works at speedwaymotors.com. I'll know by Friday and let you all know how it goes.
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Awesome, look forward to hearing if the banjo bolt setup works well or not.
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Good news - banjo bolts from Speedwaymotors.com worked! For anyone wondering, the part number is 91611077, single 3/8" banjo fitting. $19 for each set (bolt and fitting plus washers), needed two of them. Car seems to be coming together better than expected.
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Hey - anyone have a good source for troubleshooting rotary engine problems? I'm told mine can't find a proper idle which they believe to be a vacuum leak somewhere, but there are many places that could be. Alternatively, there are any number of variances that could effect idle on a rotary, even if no leak. The engine is running much better, just not great. Thanks!
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Itswill is pretty good at troubleshooting the problems. I hit him up with anything that is a little more difficult that i am unable to solve on my own. I know the S4 NA setups fairly well since that is what i have been running for so long. Definitly go through checking all vaccum connections and ensureing there is no leak. Then you can work with adjusting the idle to ensure smooth operation.
I had a low compression in my engine which was a major cuase for my erratic idle in conjunction with a vaccumn leak i found. If i adjusted idle closure to 1k instead of the 750 recommended, the engine smoothed out nicely. The only way to really know is to see under your hood what is going on, but that is just my two cents.
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Thanks. I don't know Itswill but would love to learn more about these cars and an ability to maintain it myself. I drove the car the other day and it's much better than it was. With all the suspension work that's been done it's much more controlled in ride and handling and more like I remember the Rx7 driving. It also sits properly - it had a 1" lean when I got it. The engine starts fine and idles well now, no more sputtering and hunting for a proper rpm. The only remaining issue (hopefully) relates to a slightly damaged pick up coil in that the car has a miss below roughly 3000 rpms, but once you're above that, the engine just takes off and rockets to redline. The coil, rotor and cap will be replaced shortly. With that, hopefully I have lots of fun ahead. The Rx has a fantastic engine and exhaust note. Looking forward to some club events!
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Hello - It's been a while since my last post. The big news is that I've purchased another 1985 Rx7 GSL-SE. This car is exactly what I've been looking for: a low mile, all original car. No rust, runs great, everything works. So, my earlier Rx7 GSL-SE - pictures above - is for sale! There is much good and bad about the car and I'd be happy to discuss all of it with anyone who's interested.
Pictures of the new car are as follows! Thanks for all of your help and suggestions about the earlier car. I look forward to any club gatherings.