Road to Rotary: Japan to France in an RX7

[randomshenans]

Normally I'd say anyone with no income putting serious money into something like this was perhaps a bit crazy, but given the response you've already had from pretty major brands and the fact you're already experienced with youtube etc I reckon you've got a good chance of making this work, and maybe even using it as a springboard for future trips / projects. I'll certainly be watching and I imagine a lot of other people will be too.

I mean, it is a bit crazy really. Most would go so far as to say it's stupid in fact. But I think you need a bit of crazy to do something that you'll remember and worst case scenario would be having to sell the car in france and I'd have pretty much most my money back (aside from probably travel costs) but with a ton of memories... so really? What's the risk? Why not! It's not often you have the time to do these things, so I figure it's my time to do the things I would love to and see who is up for sharing in that journey.

 

[aVdub]

I guess you've been fully updated with the issue's of short journeys and flooding (we were told in the 90's to keep the engines running when moving pre-delivery RX7's)

Do they make a 4x4 RX7 with a lift kit, or as I would call it for that journey - a Toyota Amazon V8

Good luck

 

[Cleisthenes]

Sounds incredible.

I picture you to be what Acme will be like in 15 years

 

[sigma]

Sounds incredible.

I picture you to be what Acme will be like in 15 years

Acme would do it properly and do a DIY engine rebuild on the side of the road.

 

[grudas]

Acme would do it properly and do a DIY engine rebuild on the side of the road.

@Akagi doesn't do anything properly, never mind an engine rebuild.

 

[randomshenans]

Acme would do it properly and do a DIY engine rebuild on the side of the road.

lol you're such a troll

@sigma you up for a Ring trip? Been talking with Tom etc. about one at some point.

@Akagi doesn't do anything properly, never mind an engine rebuild.

I normally wing most things, but this I am actually trying to do properly. Well, as properly as I can.

Honda Acty search is now on. Should have some auctions to look at next week and see what they look like.

The acty will actually be shipped ROLO to me as soon as it's bought and I'll register it in France, do some work to it, probably respray it white again, not off white, and it'll get shipped back with the RX7 later.

Just spoke to HKS and punted the idea of them providing the GTIII-4R full turbo kit, intercooler and HKS F-CON V Pro ECU so I can have various maps on it for varying qualities of fuel etc.

I mean, casually asking for like nearly $10k worth of parts and they replied saying let them just have a chat internally and see what they can do let's see!

 

[Akagi]

@Akagi doesn't do anything properly, never mind an engine rebuild.

r00d!

 

[sx_turbo]

lol you're such a troll

@sigma you up for a Ring trip? Been talking with Tom etc. about one at some point.


I normally wing most things, but this I am actually trying to do properly. Well, as properly as I can.

Honda Acty search is now on. Should have some auctions to look at next week and see what they look like.

The acty will actually be shipped ROLO to me as soon as it's bought and I'll register it in France, do some work to it, probably respray it white again, not off white, and it'll get shipped back with the RX7 later.

Just spoke to HKS and punted the idea of them providing the GTIII-4R full turbo kit, intercooler and HKS F-CON V Pro ECU so I can have various maps on it for varying qualities of fuel etc.

I mean, casually asking for like nearly $10k worth of parts and they replied saying let them just have a chat internally and see what they can do let's see!

Wow, at least it's not a no, surely they must get requests like this all the time, I'm surprised how many sponsors seem up for it tbh.

 

[adam cool dude]

I mean, it is a bit crazy really. Most would go so far as to say it's stupid in fact. But I think you need a bit of crazy to do something that you'll remember and worst case scenario would be having to sell the car in france and I'd have pretty much most my money back (aside from probably travel costs) but with a ton of memories... so really? What's the risk? Why not! It's not often you have the time to do these things, so I figure it's my time to do the things I would love to and see who is up for sharing in that journey.

I handed my 3 month notice without a job lined up back in 2021 where I basically told my superiors to go do one. Everyone thought I was mad as I was on a well paying job but was one of the best moves of my life!

 

[randomshenans]

I handed my 3 month notice without a job lined up back in 2021 where I basically told my superiors to go do one. Everyone thought I was mad as I was on a well paying job but was one of the best moves of my life!

Sometimes doing that thing that everyone thinks you're mad for is actually right, but we've just been told all our lives these things are mad, so we're scared to even try!

Wow, at least it's not a no, surely they must get requests like this all the time, I'm surprised how many sponsors seem up for it tbh.

Yea, to be fair I had no expectations coming into this but the response so far has been really positive!

Lets see where else it goes!

I've got my eyes on a Honda Acty - 1994 with 40,000km on it, 4wd and with A/C which I think the people driving it will appreciate! lets see if I can get that under budget!
I might have some suspension lined up for that, too from a sponsor
Auction is tomorrow! Will share it if I win.

 

[randomshenans]

This is it... now let's see!

 

[Axeboy]

350000yen maybe?

 

[D-Ranged]

Sounds like an awesome idea! Although, i hope you get a proper compression test on it before you do so!

I have an FD myself, but it is twin turbo, LS3. /awaits hate

 

[randomshenans]

350000yen maybe

Yea, that's actually my max budget on it. So I'm going in with that as a top end bid. Well top rank are for me.

I have an FD myself, but it is twin turbo, LS3. /awaits hate

Boooo!

Sounds like an awesome idea! Although, i hope you get a proper compression test on it before you do so!

It's going to have a full rebuild before the trip back, so it'll be pretty damn fresh with mostly new components for the journey back.

I've been invited to show case the car at an event in the US next November... tempting to ship it to NY and then drive it to California and it would have basically gone round the world

 

[sx_turbo]

This is it... now let's see!

Looks amazing

 

[dlockers]

Mentioned you to like 3 colleagues today. Where can we meet up?

 

[randomshenans]

Looks amazing

|Didn't get it. It went for a chunk (5k ex. fees) which pushes it into pretty big money for one. I get it, it's mint. Bit you know... I have a 3.5k budget inc fees for one. I don't mind respraying it while it's back home for a bit.

Next week we see what's on the auctions again

 

[sx_turbo]

|Didn't get it. It went for a chunk (5k ex. fees) which pushes it into pretty big money for one. I get it, it's mint. Bit you know... I have a 3.5k budget inc fees for one. I don't mind respraying it while it's back home for a bit.

Next week we see what's on the auctions again

Unlike it townhouse buying some things are just meant to be

 

[randomshenans]

Some updated pics of the beast and her lazy eye! That's on the list of things to fix...

She's so super clean. Odds and ends to do to her, which is this list up next:

- Engine oil & oil element replacement
- WAKOS PRO-S10W-40 engine oil Pro Stage
- Filter assembly AY100-KE001

- Transmission oil replacement
- WAKOS RG90 gear oil RG90

- Differential oil replacement
- WAKOS RG6140LSD gear oil 140

- LLC (Long Life Coolant) replacement
- LLC-G Coolant Green

- Brake fluid and clutch fluid replacement
- BF-4 Brake fluid DOT-4

- Battery replacement
- PANA-75D23L Panasonic battery SB

- Spark plug replacement
- N3X5-18-110 spark plug set

- Wiper blade replacement
- AY001-Z500R01 wiper blade
- AY001-Z450R01 wiper blade

- Wiper arm painting

- Air cleaner replacement
- N3A1-13-Z40 air cleaner

- Fuel filter replacement
- N3A1-13-480 fuel filter

- Radiator cap replacement
- KF01-15-205 radiator cap
- N3A1-15-205A radiator cap

- Compression test

- Shift lever wobble bushing replacement
- 0398-17-462A spring seat
- M501-17-515 bushing

- Rear lower arm left and right pillow ball replacement
- FD01-26-220 pillow ball
- 99574-3800 snap ring
- FD01-26-250 seal rubber

- Rear upper arm left and right pillow ball replacement
- FD01-26-230 pillow ball
- FD01-26-250 seal rubber
- 99574-3800 snap ring

- Toe control arm left and right pillow ball replacement
- FD01-28-42Y pillow ball bushing
- FD01-26-230 pillow ball

- Left headlight opening/closing motor replacement
- FD01-51-SBXB retractable motor LH

- Driver's seat door pocket replacement
- F100-68-4MZC00 door pocket

- Wheel lock nut socket creation (McGard)

- ECM (Engine Control Module) replacement
- APEX Power FC
- FC Commander

- Installation of height adjustable suspension kit (supplied parts)

- Four-wheel alignment adjustment


That's what's next. Just got the invoice for this bad boy, which comes in at just over 20k EUR so far not including the work above.

Kei truck hunt is still on this week. Missed out on some of the previous ones, but it's fine as it gives me time to pay for this lot

I reckon HKS will sort me out an IC, the coilovers and I'm pushing for the ECU at the moment. This is mainly for the switchable maps and I think this is really a must have, so if they won't gift it as a part of it, I'd see if they'll do some deal because switchable maps is a must for me. They're super hesitant on the turbo kit, just because they don't want it to go wrong and if they can't trust it to be a good advert for their product, they don't want the risk, which I totally understand. I mean, any help would be mega for me.

Still have plenty of people to chat with as well... full time job all this

I'm off to Japan July 13th - 21st to see the beauty, meet up with Top Rank, HKS and some other guys. Super excited for that as I've never been, so should be fun.

Also got this back from Mazda director of PR today, so see where that goes!

Progress is progress!

 

[sx_turbo]

Surprised hks are hesitant over their turbo kit, think they would have more faith in their products lol. There shouldn't be much go wrong with a turbo and manifold.

Nice you've already got an Apexi PFC and commander.

If HKS don't play ball, you could continue to use it. Speak to re:worx they done a lot of work on the Apexi PFC and it may be possible to have switchable maps on it using the commander, I've seen mention of it on the internet on forums but nothing concrete. There is a bit of software and adaptor made by FC datalogit from new Zealand that enables you to read the ECU, I believe it also gives you more options than the genuine Apexi software, and timers around the world use this over the Apexi software that is a nightmare to get Apexi to hand it out (I also used the Apexi unit with commander in my old car, and used the FC datalogit kit) and you could have a couple of maps saved on the laptop that you could switch too relatively easily (obviously not as easily as with a dedicated switch)