Matt Bellamys "REX7" Project

[matthewbellamy]

Hello Everyone :Typing:WaveBye

You may have seen me about here and there (usually in the classifieds section of the forum buying everyones unwanted items lol) So i thought i would introduce myself formally and update you on the project!

I have owned my RX7 for just over a month now and purchased it in Caerphilly. Belonged to a chap called Dale who could no longer afford to run the car. I have always wanted an RX7 ever since i was a teenager, i had the posters,magazines,model cars you name it and it feels a tremendous honour to be driving one today and living the dream.

Now i have to be honest my RX7 isnt as great or tidy as some of yours on here but i see it as my project that i find myself and my best mates working on it every weekend to sort out the visual/performance of the car. The state of the paintwork has some scratches, a dent on the passenger door with a small scratch to the bare metal so not completely perfect as i like.. 18" Devil Alloy Wheels (BBS style) (Soon to be Laceys)



I came across my first problem which was a boosting issue, for some reason when you accelerated it felt like something was holding you back, the turbos kicked in (you could hear it) but it was a slow generation of boost..this had to be the first thing to get sorted out..

So i took a recomendation from a member on here. RX Dave who advised me to go and see Pip at WGT (boost solenoid failure) as he was quite skilled in his profession so i booked it with Pip and invited me down to put it on their new dyno which is different to normal dynos as this is connected to the rear hubs rather than just a rolling road! So the day came and i met Pip who put Rex7 on the dyno as it was the only true way he could find a reason for the problem..After the run he noticed that both my turbos were fine and my boost was fine however the graph was absolutely everywhere and had to stop the dyno halfway before anything bad could happen...

Pip advised that it could be my HT leads and sparkplugs and not the boost solenoid as the car was boosting fine, turbos kicking in at the right RPM etc. So he removed the plugs and advised they were fouled (tips were green/white and were burnt on the top) so advised to get new HT leads and plugs, i went ahead with these and got the red Magnecor Competition leads and NGK sparkplugs, he also advised a service may be due aswell..So i went along with the purchase and also bought myself some mineral oil and a HKS oil filter. My good friend Richard helped me with all this work and Pip was absolutely spot on with the diagnosis it was the fouled HT leads/plugs causing the problem.



Rex7 now runs fine and normal (as far as i can tell) and definitly notice the power increase as an RX should!

With this i have also bought/installed front and rear brake pads as the ones on before were worn down to the bare metal and hadnt been changed for a long time!!

I have cleaned the interior vinyl on the doorcards,dashboard,console,cluster and refereshed the tired looking matt black surrounds and painted them with BMW black metallic which look stunning. The unmarked rear leather seats in the back have been fed with AutoGlym leather care and now look rich and dark as they were when the car was made.

I have also purchased a HKS Silent Hi-Power backbox which i have just given a clean/polish and looking like new.

On Monday i will be purchasing a Knightsports de-cat pipe as with a 1992 i can legally run my car with a decat and will pass MOT requirements to my amazement!!
Also on Monday a pair of RE-Amemiya sleek lights with HID kit and a new set of alloy wheels (Rota Grids 17") so my next plan are some new tyres for the Rotas (Toyo TR1\'s) and depending on fitment as they are ET45 wheels i may put 10mm spacers on each wheel.. Then a remap at WGT for all the mods!

My plans for the future are many and expensive and i will be updating this thread with pictures for you of my upcoming projects, For now here are some pictures as she stands now Thank you for listening!

[Lacey]

Looking goooood!!

[Mir]

See you tomorrow mate!!

[RX7heaven]

Looking good, keep up the nice work so far.

[RobMatthews]

That rear wing will be doing more worse than good on there will be wobbling around all over the place, the reversing lights, and ariel should be put back on the corsa they were nicked from

but apart from that looks good :-)

[matthewbellamy]

Thanks RX7heaven

Robmatthews: The rear wing has to go its so high although it gets alot of looks but is for sale in the classifieds
Aerial is going and to be smoothed over and relocated to where the rear windscreen washer is now which i never use. The whole rear bumper of the car will be replaced by an RE-Amemiya item very soon so watch this space

[matthewbellamy]

Quick update on this: Finally got the RE-Amemiya lights fitted (courtesy of Mir) needed re-wiring completely to get them work but after 4 hours they finally work and are in!. Today i managed to complete the finishing touches to the bonnet adding some aluminium mesh to the intakes to still alow air to pass through and being as is going to rain tomorrow aleviate the amount of rain going into the engine bay as i was worried it would get the air filters damp and all kind of problems.. So here is a sneek pic of how she stands at the momet.. i know she isnt clean lol and the bonne tis a different colour lol
 

[Mir]

Looks beautiful mate. I love the way you guys fitted the lights-sat nicely on the car. Your car is getting there..Best of luck.

Mir

[matthewbellamy]

Thanks Mir yes they sit lovely and look amazing at night when the HID\'s are on,  idecided not to connect the angel eyes as they arent to my taste so had one as the main beam and the other as the full beam/flasher (sidelights of course sit on the front bumper as always) Up next are: Spoiler removal and RE-Amemiya electric mirrors

[Lacey]

Nicely done! Looking wicked already

[Ed_RX7]

nice........RE-A lights with angel eyes?...are you sure they are original REA?

Also looking at the lenses i dont think so....look good though!

[matthewbellamy]

hi Ed, no they arent real RE-Amemiya im afraid but are replicas, angel eyes are disconnected as not my thing and look 100000% illegal lol.

[trotter]

looking good matey, glad to see you\'re thoroughly enjoying rotary ownership after a shaky start

Just my opinion, but i wouldnt bother with branded oil filters. They shouldnt be on long enough to make a difference!! £6 from Halfrauds hasn\'t seen me wrong.

graeme

[mart]

Hi Matt,nice to meet you down at pip\'s  :yes (white FD) interesting to follow your build thread and see what route you go down.Shame i couldnt have twisted your arm for a set of my 90mm Hella light sets at least you would have mega effective lights and all legal !!! I must agree with the comment on the top branded oil filters though way too expensive, mazdas own work out around £6. Loving the developments mate if i can help in any way you have my number on the card give us a call i do have a few bits lying around new and old. Keep up the good work mate,  will i see you and the motor at rotorstok ?

[matthewbellamy]

Hey Graeme yerh definitely was a shaky start, its till otperfect as needs a remap once i put on all the other mods i have left to install but after itshould defintely pick up and be 100%. wll keep the oil filter in mind and settle for halfrauds in the future
 
Mart - once again thank you for reccomending mazda or oem filters i will keep this in mind in the near future when it needs another oil change Unfortunately i will not be attending Rotorstock with my car the way it is at the moment , im not going to show anybody up as its not tidy at all as of yet and dont want to let everybody elses FD\'s down . What stuff do you have in stock mart? Please email me at matthew_bellamy@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks