Restoring an Abandoned Mazda RX7 EP. 12

We need to get our Mazda RX7 as close to being able to roll as possible. Not only do I want to see this thing outside of the Shop again BUT, I also want the lift back. So we need to give this thing all new wheel bearings and start getting our suspension back into this car. I'd like to get the bodywork finished in the next few days and start putting some focus onto our engine and transmission. The goal of having this thing done in the next two weeks is closing in close!
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[@evnyquil4159]

Wow the attention to detail is phenomenal in every aspect of this build.

[@Eegoor1976]

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Keep up the great build! Patience is going to prevail for sure!

[@patrickgarvin2570]

I sure don't know anyone else with a 2024 rx7, but this guy sure has a nice one... way to go on the hubs. Always a pain, regardless. Go work, my guy. Keep it up 💯🤘👍

[@Smeedia]

Appreciate it Patrick, so far things are going pretty smooth 🥳

[@c.j.cameron1820]

11:45 stock seats with the little NOS bottles under the passenger 😅

[@Smeedia]

Lmao 😂 NOSSSSS

[@zacharydreistadt7702]

If your going to get the seats redone, take them to a reputable shop and also get them heated and cooled. Will make trips in it much more comfortable. Just my 2 cents. Love the content. Also the voice over and regular style is great. More accurate but still personal at the same time. Keep up the great work.

[@Smeedia]

Adding a heated option would be so nice 😅 I’ll look into it. Curious what it would cost to add that 👀

[@zacharydreistadt7702]

@Smeedia my guess 1500 for both seats to be completely redone. You could probably save some money just having them put the elements in only and running the wiring yourself.

[@Sleetui]

Only downside of having seats redone is there tends to be a lot of wrinkles and poor fitment for some reason. I've only seen one good instance for an S2000 where the guy measures everything properly and makes good seats here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYrHeZeCe56FaKcsi=W4T7gIrUCvX88smn

[@zacharydreistadt7702]

@Sleetui that's why I said reputable. I've seen what you're talking about. One shop in my area is like that, but there is another one that actually specializes in automotive upholstery repair. They do excellent work. Finding the right shop is always the key.

[@UltimaBlank]

Some aluminum brightener does a decent job of bringing back that shine on pieces you don't want to or can't coat

[@Smeedia]

I’ll snag some and give it a try 🫡

[@InstantGentlemen]

Dude. That satin black against all the aspen white beauty hits hard. Well done.

[@Smeedia]

Thank you 🙏 looks so clean 🧽

[@hjm552]

Your doing the thing bro,your doing the things and the stuff😂

[@Smeedia]

All the stuff and all the things!!!!

[@danielxiong5842]

Keep em coming!!

[@Smeedia]

Will do 🫡🙌

[@talmonclear7502]

I've really been enjoying those hex lights every time you show off the paint job

[@Smeedia]

They add a nice ascetic 🔥

[@gateaccess818]

god bless! i pray to have a shop of my own with a lift. small garage/jackstand gang makes this sort of work so much more tedious. love to see it! car is coming out amazing!

[@Smeedia]

The lift definitely helps, but a good set of quick jacks can also be a life saver for doing some of this stuff 🙌🫡

[@seven_sixtwo]

Initial D popularized the Panda Trueno, and now you're going to popularize the Panda FD lol. Car is looking more and more amazing by the day, great job so far!

[@Smeedia]

Thank you 🥳 the black and white just looks so got damn good 😍

[@jlumba81]

Could have heated up the wheel bearing with the MiG welder. Weld bead can also be used as a striking point for an air hammer.

[@Smeedia]

I’ll give that a try next time, never thought of using a mig welder to heat it up enough 😅

[@Culinaryreject]

I hear that Mazda is going to try to revamp the rotary engine. Maybe you’ll be able to get more parts support than you think! Maybe 😅

[@Menace_sti]

Get some recaro sportster gt or cs seats for the rx7. And loving the vids man. This is a clean and entertaining rebuild and restoration series

[@Smeedia]

I’ll check em out, as long as they don’t have HUGE bolstering they might fit 🙌

[@Menace_sti]

Yeah they feel oem to me. And super comfortable

[@Nultic]

+1 on freezing and heating bearings. Redoing my Yamah aR6 engine case bearings that was a life saver!

[@Smeedia]

Try to get every advantage I can when it comes to bearings 😅🔥

[@lilmike1780]

Let’s gooooo……. Not to bad for a Subaru guy, just kidding man…. This thing is gonna look amazing

[@Smeedia]

lol trying my best 😅

[@Mobstoper]

Love the fresh look. Time well spent

[@Smeedia]

Will be worth it in the end 🙌

[@jkskinny3618]

dude this is my favorite series

[@Smeedia]

I’ve been enjoying building to this extent 🔥🙌 been my favorite so far 🥳

[@Thechaoscrusadors]

I am loving the voiceover videos!! I found it harder than it seemed. You are doing amazing!!

[@Smeedia]

Still getting used to the voiceover stuff 😅 works pretty well for this type of video though 🎉

[@boosTiMon]

👌🏽

[@kevind_53]

What a productive video 🚗💥💨🔥

[@Smeedia]

Need to do moreeeee 😅🔥

[@kevind_53]

@@Smeedia you got this💪

[@scottphillips364]

So rad! It’s coming together nicely! Fun to watch you do what you do..

[@Smeedia]

Thanks Scott 🥳 pretty hyped with how it’s coming along 🙌

[@FanatikBuilds]

Coming along great Tanner, and I’ll echo the other comments on the new video style! Keep grinding dude! 👌👏

[@Smeedia]

I’m enjoying it, makes the videos feel a bit more cohesive 🥳

[@Daniel-vf5oc]

Bruh been waiting for this drop!! Quit getting so big I gotta watch commercials 😅. Mad dope 😤

[@Smeedia]

🫶🫶🫶

[@maxberry1149]

for the wheel bearing race that you cut off you can get a pretty cheap bearing race tool from harbor freight. it essentially digs in and holds the race while you press the hub out of it. would prevent any possible damage to the hub. hope that helps!

[@Smeedia]

I’ll look into that, I’ve always cut the races off. But if they have a race remover I’m all down for that 😅

[@JamesBond-ip6pl]

I think the little details like getting your suspension powder coated will make a big difference in the end.

[@Smeedia]

All the little details add up and make a build Imo 🔥

[@JamesBond-ip6pl]

@@Smeedia You can always change the seat covers to revamp the look once you decide on how you want the interior to look. It’s a lot easier than changing seats

[@omialmanza1900]

😃👌 lovin you're shop setup T, Outstanding work. Paused the video here and there and noticed the clean quality 👌. This FD's definitely in good hands.

[@Smeedia]

Thanks buddy! All the small details add up 🙌🥳

[@tommanning7337]

DUDE!!!!! Everything is looking sooo good! I’m so looking forward to see it finished and running, I can’t believe how far you’ve come since the small garage and the STI, man I’ve been around that long I guess I’m a Smeedia OG HAHAHAHA so hey, what’s going on with the 2JZ STI???? are ya gonna put an update soon??? 😎👍🏻👍🏻

[@Smeedia]

I’m not even starting on that until I get through the RX7, with how small the shop is. It becomes such a mess trying to build two cars at once. lol once the Mazdas done ima start on Blu

[@da9pauly]

Dude it’s looking so great!!!

[@Smeedia]

Piece by piece 🥳

[@josephmatuszak3855]

Electrical tape is good for masking sandblasting. It seems to absorb the impact of the blaster easily and protect machined surfaces. (just remember to use a good adhesive remover after unmasking with it, because it like to leave a residue.) As to what I use for painting a lot of suspension parts, I like to use VHT Automotive enamel or Caliper Paint, and then I bake it on at 200F for 30-60 mins depending on the mass.

[@Smeedia]

I’ve been using the high temp tape for the blast cabinet. Since it’s getting powder coated. Figured I might as well just use it 😅

[@zachattach850]

Idc how much battery my phone has left when you post, I watch.

[@Smeedia]

My mans 🫶🫶

[@darthmikey9180]

I like the new format

[@Smeedia]

I’m digging it 🥳

[@ZackNakazora1]

Car is gonna be clean enough to eat off of. Ive been wanting to copy this level of resto-mod with my 06 wrx Tr.. Also aspen white

[@Somber.Killer]

Take it to Tanner 😂

[@Smeedia]

Bring it over 👀👀👀

[@ZackNakazora1]

@@Somber.Killer I would but then he'd likely keep it 😭 also I'm south east and he's north west. (I was in Bremerton for 7 years though. I kiss how easily accessible nature was.. And Canada)

[@kgthegreatone943]

So hyped

[@Smeedia]

🙌🙌🙌

[@ericmoss8344]

Did I miss it... or did you not put extended wheel studs in all your hubs? Noticed the old studs still in around the 6:20 minute mark while installing fresh hubs. Great job and love following along.

[@dirty2jz283]

Skipping Taco Tuesday but not Mazda Mondays smh

[@Smeedia]

Waiting on my bumpers and racks to finally ship for that Taco 😢 been over a month since ordering them

[@barstri2328]

I run a bead of weld on bearing race and they pop right off

[@Smeedia]

Going to try this next time 😅

[@terrytekify]

I may have missed this point a whole while ago before the car was even disassembled but is there a reason for the brake booster delete? Wouldn't it make the car significantly harder to brake or no? I get maybe it's deleted for the brake feel, but wouldn't that mean now you'd have to slam the pedal just to gently brake the car?

[@Smeedia]

Not really, it’ll have a much firmer brake pedal feel but should have to slam on it 🙏

[@grundy6921]

How are you liking your Eastwood gun? I’m thinking about trying to powder coat my AMS manifold myself.

[@Smeedia]

Tbh for a small house hold gun live it. Been using it for a year or so now 🔥

[@RichardCrannium]

Pumping out the videos like crazy

[@Smeedia]

Feel like I’m falling behind with how long I’m taking 😅

[@reaper352c5]

are you planning on using a rotary engine? do you have a different engine swap in mind?

[@Smeedia]

Using the rotary 🫡

[@reaper352c5]

@@Smeedia I hope you don't have the coolant seals problem that rotary's have.

[@Smeedia]

@@reaper352c5I rebuilt that engine recently so it already has fresh seals in it 🙌

[@georgejuricb2974]

Houndstooth inserts?

[@Smeedia]

Those do actually look pretty good 😅

[@fidelj3025]

Get that T51R mod on the turbo!

[@Smeedia]

Thing would SING with a T51R mod 🔥

[@fidelj3025]

@@Smeedia itll sing like a 1920s opera singer!

[@LanceUngerBBYFOZ]

Happy birthday for the other day Tanner didn't even reply to me 😢😂 I'm loving the rx7 content 🔥

[@Smeedia]

I didn’t see it 😅 but thanks buddy 🎉 I can’t wait to see this thing outside the shop 😍

[@tw1st3dw1ll7]

Any updates on the 2JZ?

[@Smeedia]

Chillen until I finish the FD, I don’t want to be jumping between projects and easier to focus on one at a time 🙏

[@alexandernichols3774]

At this moment in time, how many hours are you in to in this part of the RX7?

[@Smeedia]

I don’t even know anymore 😂😅 too damn many lol

[@alexandernichols3774]

@@Smeedia ah dang 🥲

[@johnlexus1]

Now im buying a Mazda 3

[@pwnzama9403]

T51 R dooo it

[@Smeedia]

Would sound SO good on this thing 🔥

[@jacobstephens8447]

Algorithm comment cuz tired. Yay rx7

[@Smeedia]

🫶🥳

[@Nick_Spencer]

142k!!!

[@Nick_Spencer]

Also I believe old Megan racing parts used to be pink in certain applications.

[@Smeedia]

@@Nick_Spencerwouldn’t suprisr me, those arms are prob 10+ years old 😅

[@Nick_Spencer]

@@Smeedia remember the h braces for the GD? those were pink for forever then turned to white. now there is just bright pink bay knockoffs lol

[@kjones7270]

Mmm yummy 😊

[@Smeedia]

😋😋

[@willlam3723]

Factory RX7 recaro.

[@Smeedia]

They’re so hot damn expensive 😅

[@Quillasious]

commwnt for algorithm because wjy the heck not

[@Smeedia]

🫶🫶🫶

[@Thechaoscrusadors]

🎉🎉🎉

[@Smeedia]

🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@jared5279]

ayo

[@Smeedia]

Ayooooooo!

[@syndoxxx1665]

2j content.....

[@Smeedia]

After the FD, having two projects going at the same time gets suuuuper messy and I’ve been pushing the RX7 out for a year 😅