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Index > @ the Pickup Bed (General Topics) > Thread: My '75 REPU
Thread: My \'75 REPU
Blake


1st Gear
Posts: 14
posted February 08, 2003 12:55 PM

My '75 REPU

Hey all,

I recently purchased a '75 Rotary truck for $500 and sold the engine for $200, so I'm into it for $300. My goal is to do a tastefull adaption and not an authentic restoration in the strictest sense, as it will become my daily driver. So, it will get more power and such, but remain true to the spirit of the original. Dan's truck is a good example of this principle.

Here is a summary of it's current condition, which is exactly how I got it. First, a picture:


1975 REPU. California vehicle, but towed to Oregon and parked for a year or two. PO said it runs, but roughly. He swapped in a rebuilt carb but that didn't help, and he was unmotivated enough to just let it sit in front of his house until I bought it. The body has quite a lot of surface rust, but nothing cancerous. Wheel wells and other hot spots are solid. The only serious rust appears to have been on the tailgate, which has some bondo on it. Also, the body is very straight. Yellow paint has faded and I will be repainting her shortly. I am tempted to go with an antique white, but might just go the easy route with the original color despite my distaste for yellow in general. The front bumper was removed for the attachement of the tow bar, but it is complete and sitting in the bed, along with many other parts. The interior is very rough. Carpet is torn and there are mushrooms growing on the passenger side. The seat is in horrible shape with a dense piece of foam over it and a nasty looking seat cover hiding the mess. Dash pad is cracked, of course. RX-7 GS steering wheel replaces the original wheel, which suits me fine. Door panels are rough but intact. The engine bay is complete, but much of that will be changed. I have an '87 NA motor I am rebuilding that will find a home there. Streetported, FD rotor housings, oil mods, and so forth. I will control the fuel with a Megasquirt DIY-EFI system. I also have a turbo setup that I might slap on there, but I am waiting for a decent ignition option other than the 12AT distributor -- that, and I am tempted to build an "ultimate 6-port" NA motor just to see what the potential is. More to come. Let me know what you think....
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Blake Qualley

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Blake


1st Gear
Posts: 14
posted February 08, 2003 02:13 PM

One more thing....

Forgot to mention that it came with 235/60R14 tires on ARE rims. Not a bad tire/wheel combo, though performance tires are hard to find in any comparable size.
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Blake Qualley

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nwaco


Redlining
Posts: 407
posted February 08, 2003 06:07 PM

Welcome....

Great to see another new member, Excellent plan to power up the beast,But...I think you better get that carpet and seat out of there and get that thing dried out. Any time mushrooms grow, there is an excellent environment for bad rust. You might want to check the floor pan really well. High humidity and moisture are what shrooms and rust love.

I know you said there wasn't any bad rust but, I'd still get it stripped and dried out. It wont hurt to take a peek anyway.


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Blake


1st Gear
Posts: 14
posted February 08, 2003 07:05 PM

Don't worry...

This project is very much on the front burner, so it won't languish in this present condition! I just have to finish my GRM Challenge car and tire/tool trailer, then I will be devoting all my free time to the truck. I hope to complete the body work and paint it inside and out before the end of the month. Then, I can concentrate on the mechanical stuff and get it back on the road ASAP. I am in a bit of a hurry, as I want this truck to replace both my obscenely practical daily driver '88 Toyota Corolla and heavy hauler '70 Ford F250. Once the REPU is done, I can sell both ugly stepchildren and start enjoying rotary daily driving again. The peripheral port 13B 1st gen project car is sooo far from practical that it doesn't count :) It was, however, quite fun to fire her up the other day for the first time in several months! But, I digress....

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted February 09, 2003 10:03 AM

Right On, Blake!

Welcome to the oldschool world... Amazing you found a REPU with any carpet left in it at all--that is, if it's the original... did it come with an intact lower valance panel? Which transmission did it come with, and will you be keeping it? BTW, I'm always interested in 4port cores for potential parts... There must be a prettier (darker?) shade of a more modern yellow that would appeal more--or perhaps, green or blue would be the obvious choices that would allow for a tasteful combo with any remaining original yolk yellow, unless you're stripping/painting completely, inside and out... Congrat's on the score!

       
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Blake


1st Gear
Posts: 14
posted February 09, 2003 10:55 AM

I believe the lower valence panel is there (in the truck bed, with the bumper), but I didn't take a good look at it. The original tranny was 4-speed, correct? Was there a 5th gear gate on the 4-speed? I ask because I can move the shifter to where 5th would be in a 5-speed, which makes me think it's not a 4-speed tranny. It is an NA rib-case tranny....

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted February 09, 2003 11:11 AM

Take a look...

The 5-speed was apparently an option in '76 and '77, if not '75... ribcase would appear to be correct, but could possibly have come from rx4 or cosmo as well. Apparently minor gearing variations were the only difference.

       
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Draggin_2600i


Redlining
Posts: 235
posted February 09, 2003 06:32 PM

Good Luck on your Project.. I also have a 75.. But mine has not fared so well.. I have floor panels that have been rusted through and the truck has been in a couple of fender benders, and the final problem, The previous Owner (gasp) put a four Banger in there.. I ripped it out already and I am going the same route as Dan.. I have an 89 T2 engine and tranny.. Just figuring out all the kinks... Oh yeah and rewiring everything cuz the original wires had been chopped up..

Well if you don't have the lower valance for the front then you might wanna look in the exterior forum, cuz there might be a group buy for a Fiberglass reproduction of the valance.. As always, the more there are the better the price will be..

Hope you get her running soon..


       
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Blake


1st Gear
Posts: 14
posted February 09, 2003 08:05 PM

quote:
I have an 89 T2 engine and tranny.. Just figuring out all the kinks... Oh yeah and rewiring everything cuz the original wires had been chopped up.

If you need a TII wiring harness, let me know. I've got a complete set ('87) that I would part with for $100 plus shipping. It includes the fues box and all the under dash stuff, as well as the engine/ECU harnesses.

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Draggin_2600i


Redlining
Posts: 235
posted February 09, 2003 08:38 PM

Thanx Blake, I am probably gonna run a Haltech instead, but if I need connectors and stuff I just might have to take you up on that..

       
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