NBU Turbo Optima Celebration Restoration

[Naushad]

Originally Posted by optiman

Yes, thanks for the advice! Maybe a controlled impact on the shaft while hanging the buggy from the wheel will do.
Will try that as soon I finish working with my other hobby

[keithrc]

Originally Posted by optiman

Yes, thanks for the advice! Maybe a controlled impact on the shaft while hanging the buggy from the wheel will do.
Will try that as soon I finish working with my other hobby

Is that an RX-7?

Shame about the poorly built TO, I thought I saw a couple screws in the wrong places, I wonder if they even read the instructions during the build.


Keith

[optiman]

Hi Keith,

That is my brother's road racing Mazda RX7 wide body with VG30DET engine swap(Nissan 3.0L turbo engine) that I am working on it; bigger injectors and fuel rails.

The OT will need several new parts. I have not yet checked if the threads on the rails are badly damaged or unrepairable, but might need new rails. I also cheched the rails and front plates and they are in fact straight, the bottom front plate and of course the brace are the only parts damaged due to the impact.

[optiman]

Update,

I just finished restoring the Turbo Optima, still missing one rear stabilizer link, the front bumper brace which is beyond repair and the gear cover which I decided to go another route...

Since I was unwilling to pay $20+ for a gear cover I decided to hunt down
a Kyosho Racing clutch. I was lucky to get one NIB complete with lexan cover in the UK. Bad news is that it was sealed but some rust had developed in the pilot shaft and bell.

This racing clutch will go to Goldie and the stock gear cover will go to the Turbo Optima. I also used the opportunity to replace the Le Mans 240SB with the NIB Le Mans 480Gold that bought about a month ago.

[optiman]

Clutch Installation...

After some sanding to remove the rust everything was ready for installation.

[optiman]

Decal applied

[optiman]

The Turbo Optima, restored and build up to spec. Still needs the one rear stabilizer link and the front brace, but still looks great!!

[optiman]

Goldie and Turbo, posing for the camera before the operation

[Naushad]

Your turbo optimas look the business for sure!

Well done!

[optiman]

Thanks man!!
I feel very happy and fortunate to get them, specially the celebration. I never imagined I would score a new celebration edition due the rarity, never the less with all the option house parts it has. Sheer good luck!

[HKS_TRD]

Looking good

Whats the part number on that clutch, I wouldn't mind the lexan gear cover my gold celebration too so the gold motor plate is more exposed

[optiman]

Thanks!

The part number is W5044 and is called a limiting clutch.
You can find on ebay several parts, look for; limiting clutch, kyosho vintage clutch, etc.
I bought mine here http://www.bandhmodels.com/

[optiman]

Originally Posted by HKS_TRD

Looking good

Whats the part number on that clutch, I wouldn't mind the lexan gear cover my gold celebration too so the gold motor plate is more exposed

PM sent, check you message box.

Small update;

Since finding a new or in good used condition front brace for the Turbo Optima is still on the works I decided to "repair" the broken one. After some CA gluing and holding it in place in a vise to straighten it up while the glue cures this is how it looks like now. I also used my magic wand Sharpie to hide the white looking vapor the CA leaves. Not perfect, but better than the empty space of the missing brace.

PS: My next thread will be of a special project I am starting today, pretty sure it will be of most interest to some of us vintage collectors... not going to say a word more...

[Naushad]

If you intend to run that it wouldn't hold. Get a pargu replacement.

[HKS_TRD]

Just checked my inbox, thanks!

You could get Pargu to anodise the brace gold too while you are at it