Michigan Rotary Club
Generation Specific => 3rd Generation Specific => 3rd Generation Build Thread => : ~Groll69~ August 16, 2019, 06:22:43 AM
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Dreams do come through. As many of you know, I have been wanting to purchase an FD. Well a divorce had to happen and I needed to find myself and an amazing woman that fully supported my dreams too first in order to make things a reality.
The Woodward dream cruise has been a huge part of this group. Last year in 2018, at the dream cruise, while in the middle of my divorce, Bruce Wallace offered me a chance to purchase his beautiful 93 Rx7 touring model in a year or two when he was ready to sell it. So the following Sept I looked at my finances and realized I had enough to get me close to purchasing it. I met up with Bruce at the Blarney Stone on Woodward and we struck a deal on the price of the car.
Since striking the deal, I was then in serious need of a good parking space. In the mean time I had started dating Carianne. After a bit we decided to purchase a house together and not just any location would do. 7s were in my blood and the place we found has the address of 777 and has 7 acres with a pond. My dreams were coming true.
Summer roles around and the money I had set aside to purchase my dream was short because of needing things for the house and down payment. I was also planning a huge house warming party which included a surprise birthday engagement and full wedding. Since funds were short, I had to secure some financing to make my dreams happen. I got that and called Bruce to finalize the sale on the same day as the party 7/13.
Bruce had paid for storage of the car and wanted to get more summer fun out of it before I was able to take full possession of Kamiko.
Just over 4 weeks later He was ready to let it go. We both held to our gentleman's agreement that we struck. Personally I didn't mind waiting. I have waited about 20 years from when I first wanted an FD till now when I was able to realize my dream. I am happy that Bruce was able to let it go right before Woodward Dream Cruise. He has been a great member of the forum for years. I had always loved seeing his car when he brought it out for Dream Cruise.
Since getting the car, I have named her Kamiko. Kamiko means little goddess in Japanese. So now I can only say let's cruise. Life is to short not to enjoy.
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About time! Seriously, so happy for you man, everything has been really been coming through this year for you. Last night was a perfect night to cruise too. Can't wait to see more of it this weekend!
Also, nice picture of it in the garage, i bet that feels good huh?
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Man seems like everyone in the club is getting an fd, maybe I should put off buying a house and pick one up instead lol.
Cant wait to see it at the dream cruise
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You should
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Kamiko is officially put away for the winter. She is sleeping soundly under her soft cover. I have also gotten Bella put away too so now i can begin taking her apart and getting ready for painting the engine bay. Thanks to Itswill for helping me get things moved around in my new barn to park 3 of my rx 7s side by side.
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I tried to begin working on Kamiko yesterday. As I feared, I broke two hoses and found a coupling that was cracked and partially melted. It also wasn't a very tight connection. I still have not gotten to the turbos themselves yet. I believe i have an oil leak at one of the feed lines to the turbo.
Anyone know a good hose kit to buy to replace all of the hoses with? I might as well replace all of them.
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Itswill came over to help me try to find an oil leak near the turbos. All the vacuum lines are in need of replacement. I'm doing those too. We broke a couple of selonoids and check valve. We got the rats nest out. I spent the next evening replacing the small vacuum lines in it.
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We took Kamiko out cruising for the weekend on woodward. The verdict is the clutch is definitely going out on it. So no spirited type driving. I put an Exedy Stage one 10802HD clutch on order. We will try to get the transmission fixed too with it's 5th gear grind. I think the sychro is shot for it. I know it has been a common type issue for the cars in general.
The good part is i have managed to get the engine bay clean after replacing the vacuum lines and it looks immaculate. Practically brand new. Definitely the best that i have ever seen one.
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Thanks to Marcus and Will for helping me get the engine and transmission pulled out of Kamiko. I now have a list of parts to search up and put on order. I will be doing even more cleaning on her. Time to clean the new oil and the old oil that i couldn't get to.
The planned parts are:
Rear main seal
Oil pan brace
Air pump block off plate
Complete exhaust w down pipe
Transmission rear seal
Shifter seal
5th/reverse syncro
5th syncro ring
Reverse syncro ring
Two NTN bearings for the transmission
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Are you planning to get rid of the air pump entirely? If so, I can show you what I did, and what parts I had to get. It was a PITA while the engine was in the car, but being out of the car it should be fine.
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At the moment, im not planning to get rid of it.
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After spending nearly the past year apart. I finally have Kamiko back and running. I rebuilt half the transmission, replaced the original clutch, resealed all oil surfaces, fixed a differential seal leak, replaced 60+ vaccum lines, had the doors repainted, installed a completely new exhaust and some other minor things fixed.
I have taken her on two shakedown cruises which is as many cruises i had done last year before pulling her apart. She runs great. I'm loving it. I need to finish the wet sanding of the doors and she will be done for the time being.