Project thread - Pirate Hooka

B.Martin · January 09, 2012, 09:40:40 AM

Awesome!!!! I always wondered what happened to her, looks like she\'s taken some transformations since i had her. The Speedline alloys and the racing beat strut brace were all she had when she came/left me, what happened to the speelines any idea? They were worth a few bob!

Really glad she is getting some attention she was totally mint when i found her, save for a few stone chips on the front bumper, i see she is still missing a door strip (which i might, however very unlikely have in my mums garage! She looks really good mate, i\'ll keep an eye on this for sentimental value... She was my first ever RX-7 :InLove

Where did you find her from, what mileage is she on now?

Here is a pic of how she was when i found her...

nic3s · January 09, 2012, 09:42:10 PM

Hey bud, thought you might happen to look at this at some point!

I bought the car from a guy called Alex who used it as a runabout whilst his drift car was being built up. To be honest I think it\'s been somewhat neglected slightly over the last few years as some rust has started to appear in places but maybe I\'m jsut picky. The chap that MOT\'d it for me say it\'s pretty much mint underneath which is a rarity for these. She seems to go well or did when I last drove her

She\'s dhowing 153k miles on the clock now. I read that she has a rebuild at 135 odd k? Do you happen to have any other paper history as none came with the car.

I\'m really liking her though so hopefully she\'ll be look decent by summer time for Le Mans. She came with the 2 front speedlines but the previous owner has the rears as he\'s too lazy to sort out the wheels

nic3s · January 09, 2012, 09:43:15 PM

And she\'s still missing the door strip which I found a replacement one of but it doesn\'t want to adhere to the door as per my other thread haha

B.Martin · January 09, 2012, 09:49:47 PM

I got the car with no paperwork, the owner before me passed away and the guy that sold it me was his son. I called WGT up and they confirmed the engine rebuild for me, I can\'t remember what mileage was though sorry. When she left me she was totally mint save for the door strip, I had an issue with the coolant once if you search through my threads I think you\'ll find it. Other than that I think she\'s been the most reliable car I\'ve owned I think, I made no mods at all as she drank my bank dry as a daily lol. I did put a new battery on her actually when I first got her, as I say really glad to see her in the hands of someone who cares. I did always wonder what had happened to her.

nic3s · April 10, 2012, 02:07:11 PM

Riiight, update time.

The car is now my main car and is a proper hoot! I\'m serisouly loving every drive even with the million teething problems and issues that need sorting.

I recently cahnged wheels about 4 times and ended up running some Enkei RPF1\'s which are one of my all time favourite wheels. She just didn\'t look aggressive enough and I didn\'t given them a chance with 50mm spacers and over fenders I have waiting to go on at home.

So I chopped those in this weekend for some Diamond Racing banded steels. 15x8j et0ish fr and 15x10 et god knows on the rear! I\'ve only been running the fronts on the rear for now as to get the rears to fit I need to do some serious archwork and fit the 50mm overs, but I love the look of them already. I think I\'ve finally settled on some wheels for her;

With all 4 fitted and the 50mm rears and 35mm front wings fitted I think she should finally have the aggression desired. If not I have 50mm spacers although I think these will be far too big to fit so maybe up for sale.

I haven\'t done much else but the long list of jobs is now fronted by;

fix/replace blowing exhaust
full alignment and camber set up
cut rear arches and spray and fit new wings
replaced sunroof which is about to collapse

...and then general tidying of teh car and fitting the multitude of parts in my cupboard.

If anyone has a sunroof, let me know!!!

Skifledanabit · April 10, 2012, 02:18:13 PM

Looking good, let me know if you do decide to sell the 50mm spacers. I have a feeling I may need them in the coming months.

B.Martin · April 10, 2012, 03:04:38 PM

Looking damn good dude, those diamond racing wheels really suit it

nic3s · May 10, 2012, 07:38:13 PM

Right, I have finally finished my previous live in project of 3 years (my house) and moved up to London. This means lots of delicious dedicated time to the Pirate.

Since the last update I have bought the following;

Lots of sapphire blue metallic in cans
Lots of clear coat lacquer
Lots of flat bright red in cans
Lots of gloss black in cans
New rear Brembo disks
Lots of oil!!

The new wide wings, sunroof and bumpers in blue, Diamond racing steels in gloss black, rear half cage I have in the cupboard finished in bright red. if it looks half as good as the pornographic image in my head I\'ll be happy.

Then i need to source a welded diff and give her a service but I have an MOT to deal with first which I can see a few things being required for. What exactly I don\'t know. Rear disk will be done very soon as I have warped the first pair getting excited in the bed in period

I blame the car

I\'m also struggling with the ride height. My sister had to pull me off (hehe) my parents drive as I beached her in the dirt. 15\'s + slammed coilovers = scary face. Espcially in Greenwich which is speedbump central.

Hopefully there will be regular updates to this thread now.

Any ideas what to do with the rear aches when I fit the 50mm rear wings? Is my only option to get them cut and welded up so the 15x10 et-20 rear wheels actually fit?

Timmyc · May 10, 2012, 11:07:24 PM

car looks awesome, love those banded steelies!

nic3s · June 01, 2012, 01:23:54 PM

Right a little progress has been made;

Started painting the odd bit;

Old tow hook I had laying about but in gold, paitned this red to match the rear cage (not yet painted)

15x10 rears sanded and ready for paint;

Both after paint awaiting laquer;

Finish on the wheels came out a little wierd due to my hand sanding but from a distance it looks cool which is all tha matter with the hooka.

New sunroof has been sanded, rust removed and proofed, and now primed awaiting paint and laquer;

Also bought a rivet tool to fit the rear quarters.

I\'m slightly concerned as its MOT time next month, but I\'m just going to throw what ever cash at her it takes to get it through. Just hope the rust isn\'t too bad underneath where I can\'t see easily.