Bought Project Cassiopeia in late 2022 off Facebook Marketplace for $900. I had to upgrade my AAA policy just to tow this non-running, desert-baked roller over 200 miles back from Inyokern. It had sat abandoned on a dessert lot for 10–15 years, covered in sand, sun deteriorated inside, and refusing to idle. I needed a focused hands-on project to work through a rough patch of depression, and bringing a neglected 13B back to life felt like the right outlet.
Over two years of driveway wrenching, I restored the interior to a clean OEM black setup, custom-built a fused headlight relay harness, upgraded to Tokico Blues with Racing Beat springs, scored a set of Kei Modia wheels,rebuilt the entire fuel system, cooling system, vacuum system, brake system and suspension. After pulling her straight and laying down a fresh coat of gloss black paint, a new wing and bronze tint. Cassiopeia is sitting at about 90 percent complete.
What I wish I knew: Just how hard it could be to source new parts like a windshield. That took 3 years to find! A lot of parts had to be purchased used by scalpers and then I had to refurbish them once I got them. If you can, search eBay Japan and you'll be surprised at what parts you can get factory new for just a little more than what the scalpers are asking.
Next up: Sourcing parts for an overhaul and potentially modern engine management.
Modia KS-05 Keiichi Tsuchiya · 16 x 7 +32 · R 16 x 8 +35Kumho Solus · 205/55 R16 · R 215/55 R16Tokico/Racing Beat Tokico Blue dampers racing beat lowering springsKSP wing WingOem WindshieldMazda [ ] Fuel tank cleaned and coated [ ] New fuel hanger [ ] New fuel pump [ ] New fuel sock [ ] New fuel lines [ ] New fuel filter [ ] New fuel filter bracket [ ] Flow tested and cleaned injectors [ ] New radiator [ ] New radiator hoses [ ] New heater core hoses [ ] New coolant reservoir [ ] New silicone vacuum hoses [ ] New energy poly bushings all around [ ] Shop parts max camber rear links [ ] OMP delete [ ] FPD delete to mitigate fire hazard [ ] Tokico dampers [ ] Racing Beat springs [ ] New brake lines [ ] New brake rotors [ ] New tires [ ] Keiichi Tsuchiya Modia wheels [ ] New brake pads [ ] New brake hardware [ ] (Triple flushed brake lines with dot 3) [ ] New brake master cylinder [ ] New clutch master cylinder [ ] New clutch slave cylinder [ ] New clutch hydro line [ ] New shifter bushings [ ] New shifter return spring [ ] Replaced hood release cable [ ] Restored complete interior [ ] Near mint seats [ ] Replaced tail lights [ ] New light bulbs for the entire car [ ] Cleaned and greased light sockets [ ] Replaced side trim [ ] Replaced rear hatch [ ] New hatch dampers [ ] New hatch weather seal [ ] New hatch glass seal [ ] New window trim [ ] New door gaskets [ ] New door handles both driver and passenger [ ] New sunroof gasket [ ] Fabricated sunroof weather seal [ ] Rebuilt sunroof [ ] Polished 3rd brake light [ ] Polished side light lenses [ ] Polished flash to pass lenses [ ] New windshield [ ] New windshield gaskets [ ] New windshield side trim [ ] Aluminum hood [ ] New TPS [ ] New AFM [ ] New variable resistor [ ] New AGM battery with tie down [ ] Headlight switch relay mod [ ] New Banzai Racing 2.1 kw starter [ ] New Banzai Racing starter relay [ ] New pulleys and belts [ ] New windshield spray nozzles [ ] OMP steering wheel with RE Amemiya Horn [ ] Boss steering wheel hub [ ] NRG quick release (to give more clearance for the turn signals) [ ] New hood prop up clip [ ] Replaced bumpers front and rear [ ] New spark plugs [ ] New spark plug wires [ ] Body dents and deep scratches restored [ ] Fresh new paint job [ ] Tinted windows(still waiting for the windshield tint to arrive) [ ] New racing beat full exhaust. [ ] Successfully created a history on the car when it had none. I got the car verified and it's fully registered now. That cost me 800 dollars and months of back and forth with the DMV.Oem Unused seatsRacing Beat Full non turbo exhaust with presilencerEnergy suspension Complete poly bushing kitShop Parts Max FCTACL
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