mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Ok, I was able to find a pic of her car with the wing:



Also had my youngest son Max out in the garage the other day helping me buff my RX-7:

Jazer

Thanks! Not bad, I didn't think I would like it, since it's so edgy compared to the RX bum.. but it actually looks decent! (We have an Evo so I could spot it from a mile away, lol).

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Ordered a set of front mud guards, side aero flares, and rear aero flares for the RX-8. A BIG thanks to 200.mph for describing the parts accurately and shipping them quickly!! I will be installing what I can today before my Porsche customer arrives for a front of engine service today. Here are some pics from last night just before I got the right front mud guard on:

Parts laid out for install:



RX-8 ready for the new parts:

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

if you still need tips on installing the aero pm keck03. hes a friend of mine that installed them on his

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Got the front mud guards and the side aero flares installed last night after I finished a front of engine service on a customer's 944:

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Took the car out yesterday when I met my wife for lunch:



Got home and snapped a couple pics of the car with my RX-7:







Then I saw a package at the front door and low and behold it was the bra I ordered for the car. Figured that it would be nice to have for a long road trip should I ever decide to take one. Would help to keep the paint from getting chipped up on a long trip:

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Yesterday I installed a set of brand new OEM fog lights and the fog light switch. Ordered the kit and it went together perfectly. I am very pleased with the results.

Started by removing the front bumper:



Once it was out, I removed the left side pocket and then installed the fog lights:





I'm happy with how it turned out:

UHATEIT

I just bought a used 2004 GT last week and need to clean up the headlights. There are also scrapes on the paint. rather than buying a headlight cleaning kit AND rubbing compound I just got he rubbing compound. before I try it on the headlights I wanted to ask what you used and if you feel that rubbing compound on the headlights would be fine and not scratch them in the process.

Your 04 looks great for the year and condition. My entire set of paint is pretty nasty and has dings and dents all over it. I also have CD player issues and it will not play any discs (MP3, Burned, or regular CDs) wheras in your driving pic it looks like yours plays, lucky!

gwilliams6

Hi Mazdaverx7, I also ordered that front mask from Mazda back in 2008 when my RX8 was new, but found out it is NOT breathable which is important. If any moisture gets trapped under there it can cloud your paint and ruin it. So be sure you only leave it on a completely dry car surface. My dealer, one of the biggest Mazda dealerships in the US, agreed that could happen and Mazda would not be liable if that happened. I had Mazda take it back and refund my money.

Nice car looks good, enjoy !

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

UHATEIT, I use a product called PlastX by Meguiar's to restore the headlights:



I start by putting a couple drops of the compound on the headlight:



I work it evenly into the plastic with a circular motion by hand:



Then I buff the compound off with a microfiber cloth:

UHATEIT

That came out great. I have scratches on my paint thats why I grabbed the rubbing compound one so I could use it for both paint scrapes and the headlights. But it appears rubbing compound is not what I need for the headlights I guess. I ave heard good things about the plastix stuff. Can you use that on other things as well?

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Took the car out to a buddy's son's birthday party yesterday and snapped this pic before I left:

Jazer

Great job refreshing the car! It looks better each post

gwilliams6

Front Mazda air dam on your car would complete your look with those sideskirts and rear wing.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Thanks guys! I still need to install the rear aero flares and Mazda does not have an install template advising where to drill the mounting hole. And it appears I have to make a slit in the rear bumper as well to accommodate a mounting point for the rear aero flares.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

pm keck03. hes a friend of mine and im almost positive he installed his.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Filled the gas tank up yesterday and then went and bought the oil for the oil change:



Got the car back home in the garage and changed the oil:





Once I was finished changing the oil I washed the car and put is back in the garage:



Decided to wash my Stone Grey 944 as well. Its in the garage with the RX-8 currently as I have quite a bit to do to it before I drive it:

gwilliams6

You have quite a list of cars. Beside the Porsche 944 in the shots and the RX8, do you still have any of the others,I see two RX7s in the pix. Just curious. I have owned seven rotaries over the decades.
Wish I could have afforded to keep them all. Just have the 2008 40th Anniversary edition RX8 now with slight mods, along with a piston engine 2000 Mazda Protege ES for the wife (still runs great at 145,000 miles).
I have owned ten Mazdas in total over the past 40+ years. RX3 coupe; two RX4s (sedan and coupe w/race mods); all three generations of RX7; my gen 1 RX7 was converted to a track car by Racing Beat with 400+ hp (special purpose-built ,race-ported,turbo-intercooled 13b rotary engine), complete chassis suspension,cooling,tranny,rear end,ignition, exhaust and fuel mods, etc (had to have it insured by Lloyds of London, no kidding); my second gen RX7 Turbo II w/ slight race mods; Third Gen. FD twin-turbo RX7 w/slight mods; Mazda 323; the aforementioned Mazda Protege; and a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT w/ slight mods.

happy to have another sports car and rotary guy among us! Cheers

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

I still have every car on that list and then some, lol. I love working on and driving cars. Its more than a hobby. I've had 34 RX-7's and two RX-8's in the last 17 years. Multiple Corvettes and Porsche 944's as well. Here are a few pics of what I currently own:

MY Guards Red 85.2 944:



Has the full Porsche script cloth interior:



My 85 RX-7 that I swapped a GSL-SE engine into. IT was pretty much a full mechanical restoration:

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Here's my 94 Corvette:

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

This....this was my first car... My grandfather gave it to me when I was 16 years old. He had promised to buy me a new car of my choice as a graduation gift. We had looked at a lot of cars and in the price range was a 97 Probe GT.. dark green, 5spd, black interior..That was the car he was going to get me. Unfortunately, he got sick with cancer and allowed to instead, pick a car that he owned to have as my first car. I chose this car over a 57 Bel Air, a 64 F85, a 61 LeSabre, an S10 and a couple unmentionables. I chose this car because the last thing that he showed me how to do on a car was shift a 3spd manual trans with a column shifter. I can remember it like it was yesterday..blocking the right rear tire and him in the passenger seat and me in the driver's seat and him showing me how to work the trans. I promised him at his request that I would not install a V8, cut the floor for a 4spd or generally hot rod the car. Before I left for the army, I sold the car to an older gentleman who wanted to restore it. Fast forward six years and I run into the guy at the grocery store. He offers to sell me the car back and when I see it, I can hardly believe how nice it looked. a deal was struck and I bought the car back in 2007. Here are a couple pics of the Falcon:

gwilliams6

RIWWP and ASH8 correct me f I am wrong, but I think Mazdaverx7 may be the record holder for most RXs owned among our RX8 club membership !! Quite impressive. How where you able to afford to keep all of them ? You are the MAN.

Maybe Jay Leno is the only one with more cars who also owns RXs. Jay owns an original Cosmos that he had a newer 13B engine installed in, and he owns an RX8 among his huge car collection. But of course he is rich and can afford all his cars and motorcycles, plus full-time mechanics to keep them running. I assume you do all your own mechanical work.

I grew up in Cleveland and still have family there. Next time I am in Ohio I would love to stop by and see you and all your cars ! Cheers.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

I started buying cheap and run down RX-7's when I was 17. I would tinker with them and learn all I could. I would eventually sell them to buy new 7's. I kept the ones I really loved. Once I had enough money saved I would buy nicer examples and even different cars and I would work on those and learn them inside and out. Made me a more well rounded enthusiast. After getting married and selling....not by choice of course... half of my 14 cars, I concentrated on restorations knowing my wife would not enjoy me buying several cars per year. I eventually built a customer base and began working on customer's RX-7's. I then co-founded Ohio Rotaries ? Index page and began hosting rotary meets at my place. My love for various 80's cars never subsided through the years and I have also expended to restoring Porsche 944's. I have a few customers currently and one being towed in today. I take on customers so that I can help keep these wonderful cars on the road and I can help the communites of these cars. The money I make working on cars enables me to put money into my cars and helps me save for the workshop I so desperately need to build. As far as the cars that I currently own...well those are the ones that I love and enjoy and the ones that speak to me. Each one is unique in it's own way and I enjoy each one for different reasons. I sold my nicest 944 and sought out an RX-8 for a couple different reaaons. The first being that I missed my old 05 RX-8 a lot. There was a void in me after selling that car. And two because I could put a couplease of my kids in the car. Having four kids is not outstanding when I own nearly all two seaters. So the wife was sold on the idea of four seats and safety seeing g as the 8 has side curtain air bags and air bags in the front seats. Now if it's her her and I, she will only ride in the 8. She loves the car and asked me to buy her one. An automatic one of course but hey, it's a start in the right direction.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Gwilliams6, any time you're in the area you are welcome to stop by!

gwilliams6

Thanks, I will pm you when I am coming back to Ohio and I would be happy to meet another longtime rotary advocate and sports car guru. Cheers !