[D/FW RX-7] Progress on my GSL-SE autocrosser

[Tim Schuh]

My GSL-SE is starting to come back from the dead, finally.  In January 
of 2005 I found myself deciding not to look for a new job after being 
laid off by Verio.  I had six months severance plus 160 hours of 
vacation compensation to burn.  I simply had too much to finish and hand 
off for them to give me my vacation hours instead of paying me.  
Perfectly fine with me, I'd rather have the money anyhow at that point.  
In February I was tuning my Megasquirt fueled GSL-SE in the driveway 
after loading some new software onto it when I noticed that it was 
requiring more and more fuel to keep idling.  To make matters worse as I 
got further up the tach I found that it took full throttle to get to 
8,000RPM with no load on it.  Yikes!  I shut it down when I heard a very 
slight squeal from under the hood.  This engine was toast.

I sourced another 6-port GSL-SE engine from a running track car and 
acquired the necessary parts and tools to get the job done.  Engine 
hoist, engine stand, big jacks, lots of pneumatic tools, the works.  
After all, I had six months to get it done, right?  I get the engine and 
pull the old one out with Kevin Wright's help.  Shortly there after some 
bastard decides to hire me, putting an end to my new aviation activities 
as well as work on the autocross car.  From then it takes another six 
months before the engine is finally in the car and running.  After 
several months and very few testing sessions I noticed that the radiator 
would never quite stay full.  Dammit.  What now?  The upper neck got 
dinged by something (tranny?) and had a hairline crack on one edge.  
Some quality time with a wire brush and some silver solder seem to have 
fixed that at least for now.  It held water and yesterday I put it back 
in the car, filled it and started the car up for the first time in 
several months.  Tightened a few hoses and off we go!  No leaks and up 
to regular operating temperature.  It will be a bit nerve racking the 
first few times it's run on the street/track until I start to get 
comfortable with my repair.  Once the pay increase from my new job 
starts to catch up with the pay deficit from my old job I'll buy a new 
radiator and a fresh set of tires for it.  I'm so excited!

Next up, put a new engine in my FD.  Yup, it failed the week before I 
got notification that I was being laid off in Dec 2004.  Once again, my 
Rotaries shall live!!!


Tim Schuh
President
D/FW RX-7 Club