Williard

iTrader: (18)

So far, i've been progressing slowly but steadily.

I've managed to get the Drivers side fender sanded down and ready for some work, there is a small dent on the top that i will be working out, minimal filler.

I will be working on the Passenger fender next weekend when i have off.

I've redone the protection the power steering harness had. I've also upgraded the rack's ground from what looked like mabye an 18Ga. to a 6.

I have a bit of the engine bay cleaned up from rust. I'll be spraying the subframe with Rust-oleum tonight after i do a final once over. Then i will move on to another section.

As i said, slow probably not thrilling to read.

Still steady progress.

Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

The saga continues..

So i've managed to get the passenger side fender sanded down now. I have a few odd dents but nothing major. I've tapped out most of them, whatever is left after a bit of hammering i will use filler to finish.

I have sprayed the subframe and cleared it. I've gotten a bit more of the wires done, not much.

Not too much time to work on it but i squeeze it in anywhere i can.

She will be ready for summer


Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Well,

I've managed to get the new SS clutch line installed. I've gotten the fenders ready for filler but, i haven't had the time to get that done yet.

I have a new Koyorad from BHR thanks to my wife.(not installed yet)

I'll be working on some wiring tonight and a few other odds and ends.

It's slowly on going. As always not the most exciting but at least it's steady progress.


Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Well, just a short burst of an update.

Drivers side fender is done, ready for basecoat.

Passenger side needs to be wet sanded and double checked before i call it good.

I got some sound dampening mat in as well as a new 10" Low profile active subwoofer from Rockville.
Nothing heart stoping just a little more thump...Funny thing is i listen to mainly country...

So more slow progress but i see progress daily. I realize i haven't added pictures in a bit either.
I'll take a few once i finish the P/S fender

As always it may not be exactly exciting just yet but stay tuned.


Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Just another quick update.

Yes i know i still havent added pics in a while i'll get there..

More progress, i've run the battery wire for the relocation to the trunk. I've used 2 GA. battery wire from NAPA. I routed it from the trunk down the D/S rear seat, through the fuel pump access panel. I have sheilded it with the OEM plastic heavy duty sheilding. It's zip tied alongside the brake lines all the way down.

I will be running the Negative to a grounding block in front of where the washer/2 stroke bottles sit. Everything will connect from there. I have created a new front and rear chassis grounding point for extra assurance.

The rockville amp/sub combo is wired up and ready to test. I have the high input vampire'd into the pre amp signal wire's.

I used the pink/black as my remote. The ground and power are ran, i have enough line to trim and attach what i need to the new terminals.

I purchased some new lugs from a forum member i'll have to post some pics up. My new terminals have come in as well so has the rear caliper rebuild kit from atkins.

I've stripped down and rebuilt a few of the 8's wire sets now. I wont do the entire car simply because its not needed. I just wanted to clean up some of the engine bay's sets.

The dampening Mat has also been laid down. I still need to get the DEI wire sleeving and the DEI Tunnel matting for the tunnel and surrounding area's.

So as i said, slow but steady progress. It may not be exciting to most but it is to me.


Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Hello again,

Its been a while and i swear i have pictures im just busy and dont have time to send them from my phone to email for an hour then upload them here.

Patience, i'll get to it...

Anyway, I tore my engine down.. Yup.. Let that soak in for a minute....

So like i was saying, i tore my engine down and first thing i notice is as soon as i crack the last of the lower bolts to separate the housings... Coolant pissed everywhere..

YES I DRAINED THE BLOCK FIRST

So after i got finished cleaning up my mess i continued to tear the motor down, taking pictures as i went.

Irons look decent, housings had a small crack near the plug hole. Did a bit of research, asked a few knowledgable people and then did some work on the housings.

At the moment im cleaning parts and making sure everything is good before i can re assemble with new seals.

Im not sure if i mentioned this in an earlier post or not and honestly im too lazy to go back and look so, i did do the battery relocation to the trunk. I have a ground bar coming in this week so i can finish that off in the front. I need to move my breaker over about five inches in the trunk then finish bolting the battery box down.

So like always it's just slow steady progress, a bit of a headache with all the cold in PA but oh well.


Travis

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Did some work on the housings? Who did you talk to? Just curious.

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Okay so first picture is the sensor from the oil pan. The back of it refuses to stay on.. I've debated glueing it as it's been suggested but im wondering if i can just leave it off. That way i never have to worry about it popping loose and floating around in there. Down side is i would have to find a way to secure the line in the housing. That way it doesn't have the ability to break free.

Second picture is my rotors. Obviously one is clean, one is not. No damage just a bunch of carbon.

Third is the sweet blanket i made at work.
Yes i can make blankets, dont be mad. It's an awesome blanket and you know it.

Anyway, once i get some things organized i'll take some more pictures and upload them. As always it's slow progress, at least this is a bit more exciting...Right?


Travis

logalinipoo

How the heck did you break that?

Williard

iTrader: (18)

literally I touched it and it fell off Logan...


Travis

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

Williard

iTrader: (18)

So yea, i can elaborate a bit more now.

Everything went well breaking down the pan, didn't think there would be any issue's.

I pick it up and literally the back cover falls off. So i figure it snaps on and somehow i popped it off not realizing it...Nope....

So as i said in an earlier post, im debating glueing it, im debating leaving it be. Mainly im just hoping that a buddy of mine has one laying in his garage. Still waiting to find out if he does.




Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

So since im stuck at work till 0700, i may give a quick update.

I would have pictures to add but basically, my phone would/still wont, stop turning off an on by itself. I researched, everything said reset back to factory and it'll update with new software. I did so, lost almost everything and it just does it less now...

Anyway, I have two irons to finish cleaning and i still need to go back over the housings to get it all finished and spotless. Everyone i've ever seen talk about this it's always clean clean clean. The area i will be assembling the motor will be completely clean and it'll be surrounded by hanging plastic to keep dust minimal.

So far so good i guess, i haven't had any parts that i cant reuse. Turns out it's another Mazda Reman with a bad coolant seal. Upside is, it seems they replaced almost everything during the rebuild so + for me.

I still have some work to do in the engine bay finishing it up. I want to have my engine back in before i decide where to mount my grounding bar. I have all the rust completely removed and repainted in the engine bay. I also still have to put down the thermal matting for the tunnel and passenger carpet.

I still need to flush the transmission and Diff, replace my fuel pump with an upgraded version. Replace the fuel line going to the fuel pump so i can have a snap on connection again. That way i know it's solid and secure. Tail lights need to go back in, headlights need to go back in. I still have to re assemble my Rad/fans/condensor and install it. I also have to go to Rhineharts to pick up a few parts yet, undertray, trunk seal etc...

At least now i can go up to the garage when i get off of work at night and not freeze my *** off right? PA weather is getting better .

The only wiring i have left to do is gauges but #1 i dont have any yet and #2 aside from running everything through the firewall before the engine install it will all be done post engine install. Also the earlier mentioned grounding bar and an AEM Water/Meth kit.

Im sure i'll run into issue's yet but as far as im concerned it's solid steady progress and it's moving along nicely.

Hopefully you enjoyed this "quick update", if not well then you probably should've stopped reading this a little bit ago. Dont you think?

Im curious, if you felt that strongly about it, why are you still reading this now? Unless you are interested and in that case, comments, questions are welcome.

Just an addition i remembered, in the post above i was talking about the oil pan sensor plug. I ended up using my soldering iron and a flat tip to reshape the cap. Basically i sealed it so it can't come apart anymore. A little light sanding and it's all good as new. It's already in the new pan.


Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

More progress..

I've continued to clean the parts that make up the "longblock", inspecting and repairing whatever is necessary as i go.
The battery box is bolted down, the breaker has been moved and is now solid.

I have to connect the rear chassis ground to the terminal yet and the power for the amp/sub to the positive terminal.

In a few short weeks a lot of boxes containing almost everything needed to complete my build will arrive.. The suspense is thrilling yet bone crushing. Know what i mean?

The housings are cleaned as well as the irons are good to go now.

Directly i will be going through every nut, bolt and washer that came off this car. I want it all clean and make sure it's all ok.

I think im going to go for a lotek gauge pod and hopefully blockhead still makes the double vent pods.
I plan on watching oil temp, oil press, water temp, AFR and boost.

Eventually i'll add an EGT gauge and possibly a volt gauge.

I'll be "porting" if you will the LIM, i plan on cleaning up the slag exterior and interior.

For me this is exciting, for others it's probably boring. If it's boring you can stop reading now. Seriously you dont need to finish, nah it's ok keep on reading.

As always any suggestions and comments are welcome.


Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Hello again,

Im in for another long night so why not put up another update right?

OK here we go... So i've gotten all of the wiring in the trunk complete. The battery box is done all of the grounding in the trunk is done. The sub and amp combo is wired completely. Im leaving the "inserts" out basically the carpet side pieces until i get new shocks installed x amount of time from now.

I wired directly into the pre amp signals from the stock amp. I also used the Pink/Black signal(trigger) wire from the same harness as my signal for the new amp.

I have still been cleaning "longblock" parts just because im OCD really. I have started painting a few of the parts that came off. Both fuel rails have been done as well as the engine hooks. I've painted them a medium/dark shade of blue. I've got to take some more pictures because the ones i have suck.

Im not painting the engine as originally anticipated. It's really just a hassle that i dont want/need/care to deal with.

I ran down to Rhineharts auto parts in Elizabethtown today. Picked up a new P/S door insert with the amp and sub/speaker. I really only needed the AMP but its not broken down and i just didn't feel like doing it. I had to get a new tweeter for the rear and a new center console trim piece for the front console. I needed a trunk seal but it seems all of them are torn in the exact same spot mine is.. It's strange really, upper right hand side just above the tail light.

I needed an AC condenser seeing as mine had a big date with a big rock a while back... He didn't have any good ones pulled so i have to take another run down there in a week or so.
I purchased a Lotek gauge pod with glowshift digital gauges from a member. Im still waiting for it to get here, hopefully tomorrow or Sat.

I had an issue with where i left the coil harness from the BHR kit laying when i installed it. It rubbed on the hoist hook and stripped through the shielding on one of the coil plugs. I had to doctor the kit, not big deal and already done. But i installed/glued a thin piece of rubber on the hook to prevent this from happening again.

Saturday more than likely i'll be installing most of my interior. I can get the rear seats and deck back in. Put all the rear speakers and tweeters back in. I plan on installing the center console trim and putting in the center console. Im going to leave the shifter area clear yet and the radio stuff can't go back in until the pod gets here. If it gets here by Sat obviously i'll be installing that as well.

Im still hoping for an end of May finish to the project so everyone who actually reads this, keep your fingers crossed.. Yes all four of you!

Once im finished cleaning and painting whatever else i have to finish i'll line it all up and take a nice photo, i know i haven't added any in a while.

Welp, i guess that's all for now. Im sure i'll think of something and add it later on tonight.

Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Just another quick update.

Rear deck is in, center console trim is in. I've started transplanting the Lotek pod to my dash section due to differences in the panel.

I've made the decision that before i build my engine i will have another to put in it's place for the time being. That way i can take my time and build this engine correctly the first time.

Soon she will live again.



Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Just some smoked spicy jerky and some smoked ham.

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Lotek pod transplant complete to my panel. I redid all the wiring as well, this was this end result.

Williard

iTrader: (18)

I cut off the old barrel and grinded everything smooth. I bent everything to shape and used a high tack, high temp silicone adhesive to mount the new barrel. 24 hours later it's solid as a rock.

Legot

iTrader: (1)

That's neat, you know this car has a built in ect sensor, right? :P

Williard

iTrader: (18)

I have a few more pictures on my cell that i need to upload yet but i'll get to that later.

Everything is slowly coming together. Im done in the trunk now except for getting a new battery in there. Im not putting up the side carpet things until i get my new susp. purchased and installed.

I wont have time to stop at NAPA until monday but im getting a few fuse taps in order to power my gauges. They are installed and wires are run through the firewall where the main bundle goes. I grounded out to a bolt beneath the stereo and ran power to the fuse kick panel. I dont have any pics of that but i will take some before i close it up.

I purchased a compression tester that finally got here SWEET!

I purchased oil pan plugs and a turbo check valve from Scott at RX8performance.com They have arrived .

The silicone hoses that came with the gauges are from Racing Beat and seem to be in decent shape so they will be getting used.

Still a bunch of work and a few parts i need to get yet. As far as i can tell though i am still on track for my deadline of being able to drive it in June.

Thats really all i can think of at the moment.

Travis

Williard

iTrader: (18)

The engine coolant temp sensor on the RX8 is accurate as any pyrometer will be, the gauge on the other hand is useless. By the time the needle moves, some damage has already occured.

I also didn't want to splice into any factory harnesses that i didn't have to. Easier to cut in a new barrel and run my own.

Travis

I have edited my original statement to be clear.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

The OE sensor is good and accurate.

It's the ECU manipulated gauge that is the problem.

Legot

iTrader: (1)

The sensor is actually extremely accurate, the gauge is just terrible! I wish there was a way to reprogram the dial response, it's physically capable of being useful.

Williard

iTrader: (18)

I should have been more accurate in my statement.

The gauge is useless and I didn't want to tap into any factory wires that I didn't have to.

At least with this new gauge it'll be spot on and easy to read(digital)

Travis

logalinipoo

It could be done adequately with a cobb. And just tweaking the response of the temp sensor. A just set it so when it walks over 210 the car thinks its dramatically overheated and your needle redlines.