Barn Find Rx7

[myatt1972]

This car gets better and better, I can't believe how good "dusty" (I like that Dave) is underneath
Wonderful car and wonderful story, everyone loves a barn find

[RamoNZ]

This car is proper awesome - well done pal.

I am extremely jealous of how clean it is underneath!

[gaz1977]

Well Dusty has had a oil and filter change. And now starts on the button.

Shame about the hole in the bottom of the rad. I need a cunning plan..

[codge]

Hole in the core? Is it like zip fasteners falling out of then radiator. Only way to describe it.....the honeycomb gives way, they all do it.

Take the rad out and off to a good radiator specialist. They will drop a new core straight into your top/bottom tanks and side plates.
They should then spray it black and it should be good as a new rad for years and years.

Likely cost £100/£120.

That's all for street use......you can get uprated alloy rads and other exotica, but I know 'nowt about them.

[gaz1977]

It's a tiny hole on the forward facing side of the bottom tank. It only leeks once its hot . I think the cores ok.

I will come up with something and take some pics.

I don't want to start spending too much on the car until I get it to an mot to see what else is wrong with it and what I might have to spend to get it on the road.

Thanks for the info

Gaz

[ian65]

2 best cheap options are:

1. Clean the paint off around thehole..... the top and bottom of the radiator are brass and if you get it back to bare metal, you can clean it with flux and either youself ( or a friendly plumber) can solder the hole.... if it's too big to cover with solder, then cut a patch out of a bit of copper pipe , hammer it flat and solder that over the hole....

or if you want cheap and easy...
clean the paint away from around the hole and then cover it with Araldite...

I've used both methods on RX7 rads over the years and both work fine....

[gaz1977]

Hi all,

First of all the radiator...

I cleaned up the bottom of rad back to bare metal and went for the Araldite approach. The advantage of this is it clear, so when i fired it up i was able to watch and see if anything was happening under the glue.

It looks like the rad has a crack in it so i think i need a new one...

Can anyone recommend a rad supplier?


Second question. Neither my fuel gauge or my temp gauge work. Could this be related? could it have something to do with the disconnected wire i am pointing at in the pic?



Many Thanks in Advance

Gaz

[RamoNZ]

I do believe that is the temp sensor, which is located underneath the oil pressure sensor directly below your finger.

Regarding rads, you can't believe everything you see listed on ebay as being a stock part, but they advertise an RX7 rad by Nissens on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX-7-Ra ... 4d057e0322

Worth giving them a call before ordering though, if you do have luck, then let us all know in case anyone else is interested.

[codge]

Yeh, I think that is the temp sensor.
The connection to the top of the rad is a coolant level sensor.

The fuel gauge problem will almost certainly be at the sensor in the tank. Check the connections there, otherwise It might mean dropping the tank to get the level sensor out.

Rad .....ebay link looks interesting but also it's still possible to get a scrap one cheap and have it rebuilt.
Similar price both ways.

But with a simple gas blow lamp and the rad out you could indeed solder a copper patch onto the bottom tank, as said. Just need to clean thoroughly back to bright copper and use some flux prior to the solder.

[gaz1977]

Hi chaps

Thanks for the rad advice. I will keep you informed.


The wire I am pointing at in the pic (black wire with a female spade connecter ) does not seem to have any where to go. Am I right in thinking the temp sensor has a single yellow wire coming from it?

On a more worrying note Its got its MOT tomorrow morning so that could be interesting....

I will post up some pics of the failure sheet...

Gaz