Pete. (l33t FS) said:
BoxheadTim (Forum Supporter) said:
So far it looks like the only parts that are (mostly) unavailable are good quality rear brake drums. Switching to later RX7 disc brakes would require different wheels at Mazda changed the PCD.
Nope. There were 4x110 discs, solid 9 inchers, from '81-85. The rearend housing is different for disk rears because they incorporate the caliper mounting.
Thanks, that's very good info. I didn't realise that it was only the GSL-SE that got 4x114.3.
The good news is, calipers have been NLA for quite a while now, so you're going to have to fabricate to mount up calipers that ARE available! So you may as well keep the housing you've got. Or.... just don't worry about it. The drums are just fine and IMO better than the disks, especially the '79-80 non-servo (and also non-self adjusting) drums.
My understanding - which I will have to verify - is that it likely has the early 79-80 drum brake axle.
Everything related to the engine is going to be NLA. Premix a little two stroke oil in the fuel, don't take it over 6000 for extended periods of time (the water pump will stall and it will run hot, without underdrive pulleys, and the iron 3mm apex seals will wreck the rotors and rotor housings from all the bouncing they do) and don't take it over 8000 *ever*.
That sounds like I might want to start collecting parts for a 13B for actual track/Auto-X use. Which might be a good plan anyways as I'll have to see how good the 12A is after only covering about 3000 miles in 27 years. It does start easily hot or cold, so that's what I, err, call a good starting point.
What's the over/under on number of months until this one is headed out the door? 
In reply to z31maniac :
Are you trying to get in line early? 
I dunno.
Some vehicles here arrive and leave quickly, but OTOH 3/5s of the motorcycles I own have been hanging around my garage for between 10 and 20 years.
In reply to Greg Voth :
Those are good looking wheels, but I suspect they're a little on the large side as the originals on the car are 13x6.
I was looking at VTO or Revolution for some 15x6s with the right PCD as it turns out that 195/50/15 is an exact matching size for the 205/60/13 these cars came on originally.
In reply to BoxheadTim (Forum Supporter) :
A back up car or two. Rusty wreck or whatever. When you have time you can slowly pull parts until nothing but the Shell is left to haul off. Cheapest surest way to know you'll have the parts you need.
Tim is there a reason why you wish to change wheel sizes?
BoxheadTim (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to z31maniac :
Are you trying to get in line early?
I dunno.
Some vehicles here arrive and leave quickly, but OTOH 3/5s of the motorcycles I own have been hanging around my garage for between 10 and 20 years.
Just a little friendly ribbing.
Motorcycles, man miss those. Haven't ridden since I wrecked at Hallett back in 2007. Probably never will again unless we move to an area with better roads.Riding on the street is so much more dangerous and I'm no longer within 45 minutes of a ton of good roads.
In reply to Tom1200 :
Mostly slightly better (cheaper?) tire availability, although I was surprised that you can get some performance tires in 205/60R13. But the selection in 195/50R15 is a lot better.
I was thinking about getting a set of OEM size tires - you can still get Radial T/As in that size - and a second set of wheels with some 200TW tires, and those very likely would have to be 14" or 15" wheels unless I want to run RA1s or R888Rs.
In reply to BoxheadTim (Forum Supporter) :
13s are indeed slim pickin's for streetable performance rubber. The Radial T/A looks awesome and I am stoked that they are selling it in 13" in the US again but a performance tire it is not.
If you are near Summit Point, I can get you in contact with someone who has a whoooole lot of 13-by-wide steel wheels in 4x110.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
I'm about 30 miles from Summit Point. Still takes me an hour to get there, but that's a different story.
Re the T/As - that's what it currently wears, and those are the original tires. So it's kinda neat to have them on as normal weekend blast rubber and then swap for 14s or 15s with somewhat better rubber this side of the purple crack for track and auto-x.
Yes, once you try purple crack there ain't no goin back...............I know this.
You can get Toyos in 13s for about the same price as Radial TAs. 13 wheels and tires are much lighter.
Well, said purple crack isn't exactly street legal, and I was hoping that I would be able to run it on the street occasionally as well. I've street driven R888 and while not my favourite, it's doable. OTOH it's nice to just have a set of regular street tires.
Federal 595 comes in 185 and 205 13 sizes. I have 185 on my Bugeye.
In reply to Apexcarver :
I always keep forgetting about Federal as they don't seem to be sold by TireRack.
It's crushing me that I can't find my Maxton Rollerskate info.
In reply to Woody :
I hope it'll show up sooner or later.
In other news, I just got my truck back from some extended maintenance work and trip prep. Plus I checked my trailer over on the weekend and regreased the wheel bearings, so all that's left to do is put the new CAS into the glovebox, hitch up the trailer, put some air in the trailer tires and get ready for a civilised but early start tomorrow. Next stop, Danville IL.
Woody said:
It's crushing me that I can't find my Maxton Rollerskate info.
It's probably with the letter from the DeLorean people...
Well, everything's ready to go other than the driver.
Need... More... Caffeine...
Well, I just drove my first Rollerskate.
I still can't wipe the grin off my face 
.
Awesome glad to hear you love it.
Transaction is going to be completed this morning and then it's the long slog back.
The car was pretty much as described, it clearly needs recommissioning and investigating some of its, err, quirks. As expected it's got some electrical oddities with a couple of the gauges, the clutch appears to have a bit of a mystery leak or still has air in the line after the PO's attempt of rebuilding the slave cylinder and bleeding it. Oh, and the battery needs a mount.
It also badly needs new tires - the ones on the car are the originals and aren't exactly round anymore from standing around for a long time.
Oh, and I forgot to mention - this car has floor mounted pedals, which my iffy foot really appreciates.
You can get the federals on Amazon 
Still trying to make up my mind between them and the Radial T/As - the original tires are Radial T/As so it would be neat to put another set on.
