RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

I wanted to wait till I got some major accomplishments done before I started a thread. Ive had the car for a long time and havent done much but looked at it every time I came home from work. Lots of overtime. After having to pay for my motor replacement due to "I autocross" on Mazda records. That took a nice piece chomp out of my bank account.

Plans are getting this car to our new road course and weekend warrior. Turbo motor and road course going to make this a difficult car to drive but not out to win events, just have a blast.

Pretty much its just this...

1992 Mazda RX7 FD3S RHD

So on to some :bacon: Who reads anyways...

This is when I picked up the car and brought it home.


I told my friend this is the only time he'll get to drive my car...off the trailer.


This has been the only time its been washed in over a year. High school softball team doing a brest cancer fund raiser. Donated a $20 spot. The dad helping out was washing the window just starring into the car. "Hey I think theres something wrong with your car, theres no steering wheel!?" "Other side sir..." "Oh look at that!" Made my day.


Home at last.


Quick degressing but still dirty as hell. Lot of whats in here has been removed.


This is how it ended up tonight. Im pretty much taking pictures and putting every nut and bolt into plastic bags. All the foam wrapping around the wiring is flaking off and I had to put on a dust mask. Who knows what kind of japanese swine flu it might have...


Thats it for now. Motor is sitting in a garbage bag in the garage and theres nothing exciting there. Still trying to figure out what rods and pistons to buy. AFR heads or port my stock heads, I could work a few weekends for AFR heads. Looking out for a good deal on an LS6 intake manifold and a 8.8 IRS. Cobra guys think they are worth their weight in gold. It will be coming along very slow.

Everything is out now... Dry ice best at removing sound deading? Need to scrub off the adhesive, but got sick.



The mess of interior, most of which is not going back into the car. I wanted to sell the 2+2 seats but I dont think anyone would want them since they have some rips just outside the stitching.


I found this between the carpet and the fuse box drivers side. Score I guess.


I was worried when I was pulling this out. Found a nice wiring diagram on here for where each connector goes


The dog; had to come say hello/thought he was going for a ride.


Removing carpet is like digging for treasure. Never know what kind of loot you'll come up with. Only 1 yen


Taking a nap on the couch and the dogs start going ape ****. Barking and pawing at me, "wake up! intruder! intruder!". Nope, just FedEx.


Here is the Cobra 8.8 Diff with rear cover already modded.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Well finally had a chance to push the car into the garage. Been a long time since this car has been inside. For a car from 1992 and japan all the suspension bolts came loose without any problems...with help from an impact gun.

Pulled the car in with a come along. Its a decent incline from driveway to garage. Its funny, people need help I will come and help. When I need help, no ones around.



So this is where the rear suspension was...no rust :yay: Looks cleaner then my RX8 looks up there.






Ive never taken an FD a part so I dont know every bolt.


Yes its a bit messy on work benches. Because, race car garage...Those are Cusco coilovers if anyones wondering.

Whatcha know about pictures? :bacon: :bacon: :bacon: Every day is something new and fun. Get more excited as the days go on and more and more work happens.

Turbo dad thought I should need a turbo oil feed line.


Instead of hacking the brackets off, quick drill job! cleaned up some surface rust with paint.


FU hubs! Well the passenger side (LEFT) came off easy ease. Driver side wasnt so friendly; electric impact wasnt working so went air.



Bunch of suspension parts in the pile.


Wanted to make sure I kept right and left side seperated for install. I know you can visually look at what goes where. I wanted to stamp L and R.


Here is everything piled in front of the car. I would have ran off and pressure washed everything but I have a joint bday party to attend, hooray being 27! Thats tomorrows task. Everything must be clean, dont want to be like that rx7lee guy.




I didnt know if the car had a set of 99 spec brakes on it or not...honestly I havent measured the pistons yet. LOL



Updates! So my bushing adventure has been very slow. I need to go get a bushing press kit cause all the sockets I have are either to big or to small. So they been on hold. Mainly because I been working so much havent had time to visit the shop.

Something else came today though. I had to drive to my friends business to pick it up though.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Still a lot of work to do but I am working 12hrs a day so I can keep the funds up to finish. Im sure things will start speeding up when the motor is sitting in the car :yay:

After I went for a nice trip in a B17 I came back and bought some dry ice. Im leaving the firewall because it will be covered up by the dash. There are a few spots I need to go back and apply heat since freezing them even for 30 mins didnt do anything. Wire wheel rest and acetone. Seam sealer is next to remove.




So today I got around to finishing something I started a long time ago! I dont have time to visit the shop our press is being kept at so I had to use something else. It worked and gave me a work out. Anyways heres the pictures. Friday maybe ill get off early and go bead blast everything and fresh paint this weekend/install bushings!!!

My poor pands press.


This was the last one to get out. Sadly I did have a socket that fit inside just right. Cut a small piece out and knocked it out with a punch.


How I felt after...


Now it was time for a cold one....forever alone...
BTW since the 4th of July is coming up. Right at the padding of my thumb you can make out a scar. I almost lost my thumb last year to an explosive. Careful! Matt actually saw me when I sold him my wheels and I was still in a cast.


Everything all pressed out :yay:


All the dead bushings/pillow *****


Cleaning up a control arm to test out paint I had UPS bring me a nice package!

DSS Pro Axle 8.8 Kit



Gave this a try on one control arm. Looks cool. Needs some clear enamel and will be great.






Now I can mate motor to transmission.


Heres a few pictures. Im still trying to figure out where im going to be placing the turbo at. I need to install my steering shaft again because not sure if room is limited on that side due to being RHD. Figure out where I will place an alternator. Need to order my Shine FEED front bumper now so I can start planning where intercooler/radiator setup will be going. Placement of oil cooler and accusump tank. Big step but longer step as I try to figure out the best location for everything to keep it clean and easy to do maintance.

Time to get some v bands and stainless

Disclaimer; I know the block is all dirty and vally cover is off. Engine is just in for mockup. Turbo looks like hell but just needs a rebuild; which will be later. Lots of cleaning will be done dont worry.

This isnt where the turbo will be placed. Just tossed it in there for a visual.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Heres a couple pictures of my steering rack. Added two grease zerks. Are they in the right location, seemed like a good spot for them.






This is where the turbo will be located. It will be moved a tad down and more aft. The compressor outlet will be pointing to the passenger headlight. 4 inch tube as a down pipe mock up. So lots of room between the DP and frame for the passenger hot side to route. Slowly coming.



Heres a 4 inch pipe between subframe and frame. You could give birth between here.



Waiting on my stuff from Verocious and Fbody accessories. Sikky just shipped my shifter too for the T56 Magnum. Excited to see it.

Again not to much going on. Been waiting on lots of goodies to come in the mail. These both came today but one will allow me to get some big progress started.

First off;

SIKKY shifter for T56 Magnum for a FD. I saw the blog on MotoIQ so I shot them off an email. Justin over at Sikky is a great guy. Communication was top notch and sent me out of fantastic product! Shame it will be covered up. Its glory will be showboated here in the thread at least.

My shift hole is virgin and the transmission is oh about 3 to 5 degree pointed up. Note; the brace is not installed and will be once I get the rear subframe back installed. Still waiting on a part to weld to the subframe from Samberg. Shifting into 1, 3, 6 not close to touching.





Verocious stuff came as well. We have 2 2.5 Vbands that have male/female machined into them. 4" flex pipe. 3 2.5 UJ bends to feed into the turbo and 1 3.5 UJ bend for downpipe. Tomorrow running to local steel shop pick up some turbo flange plate and solid bar for turbo brace. Fire up the plasma cutter/chop saw/welders and get my *** in gear.




Not a real serious update but some stuff. Been waiting on a few key parts and working a lot to keep the cash flowing in and well back out of my wallet ATI balancer and Treadstone FMIC are in bound. Improved Racing oil pan suppose to be here Thursday I can then get it mounted and bolt my steering rack up to make sure I have room between it and down pipe. Stuff is slowing coming in and morphing into something.

Im still looking for a complete LS6 intake/tb!!! Whose got one for me thats upgraded to a FAST :yay:

I got some solid 8.8 diff bushings from Mike Forte.


Figured I should replace these in my diff while im at it too.


Since I have a pre 94 I needed the "W" brackets for my 8.8 cradle. I noticed one day I didnt have them sent with me. Justin is the most stand up guy ever! He sent them out no problems. Good ol snot mig welds. Son of a trucker isnt going anywhere. I was going to box the back section in but eh, doesnt really need it. Ignore my drippy paint. Everything is going out for powdercoating when I finish all mock up.



Am I rusty with a tig. Had some pretty welds but ground everything down. I know, pics or it didnt happen



All new bushings, pillow *****, boots and dust covers. I havent reinstalled all my suspension because I was waiting on missing and my fault samberg part. Soon as I change bearing and seal on the 8.8 I can get axles in and everything goes on.

PS; big University of Washington Huskies fan so I like this color combo

Radiator came as well. Its 27x19x3 dual pass. I dont have a front bumper so im not sure where my under tray is suppose to be. It might be like an inch to tall :/ Since my aluminum welding is garbage. I might have to cut it and have turbo dad weld it back up.



Thats kind of it for now. Sorry nothing to make you go pow pow pow! Ive been slacking on being super detailed as I go. I will be more into that when I start the carnage of the turbo plumbing.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Presents been coming in every day for me this week its been nice

ATI balancer.


I had to slot the holes in my cobra cradle due to them not lining up correctly. Carbide bit makes quick work. Sorry no pictures of that. Will when I unbolt the diff this weekend to install the bearings and seals.


Last I said "**** it". Home late and ran out of time so didnt get to drilling out the spot welds.


I played around with radiator placement in relation to bottom of the swaybar and where the hood comes down on the stops. If I relocate the filler cap I might get this radiator to stand up with a slight angle and clear the ground.

Improved racing stuff will finally all be here tomorrow and Treadstone intercooler next friday. Should be done ordering parts for awhile till I catch a deal on a LS6 intake.

More slow updates. I feel super bummed its taking this long! I have to work hard to play hard though. These are pictures from here and there since last post. Im waiting on a good day my friend isnt busy with work so we can rob his bumper off his shell so I can get cracking on mounting radiator and fmic.

Speaking of turbo stuff before I end up dumping pictures. Ive finally set on my plan. Truck manifolds pointed so they direct upwards slightly. They will hook down and into the turbo, though im still fishing ideas on wastegate placement. Might end up just dumping WG to atmo. Due to where I would like to mount this turbo; to give a nice clean downpipe run; I might have to use a scavange pump for the oil return line. One more thing to worry about failing though. Turbo dad just told me one afternoon, "if your going to use a pump might as well rear mount it". That idea has been crossing my mind. Once I get the front bumper its going to be elbows and ******** all over this hot side plumbing.

Now for pictures...

Front suspension finally bolted back on the car. Looks pretty spiffy this color scheme. The wheel wells were cleaned and I plan on 3M rubber coating AFTER everything is done. Might be doing some cutting and or grinding. Rather not make a bigger mess. Thinking ahead.


Steering rack bolted up. Still need to swap my Fbody water pump and ATI balancer. Engine looks mighty ugly.


New axle bearings and seals in the 8.8


Well I ran into a slight mishap and not sure exactly how this happened. I sealed diff cover and ran all the bolts down with a speed wrench. I doubt there was any more then 5 to 10 lbs of torque annnnnnd 7 of 10 stripped on me. ****. All threads and holes were clean prior to installing. Who knows what happened. I gave up that night and went to bed. Helicoiled everything and installed studs.


Rear sealed cover with right stuff and slammed my DSS axles in. Filled up the diff with lube and Ford posi additive which smells like a sorority girls *****.



Rocking out alone in the garage and no one to help. I had to use a creeper to bring the rear subframe into position then muscle some floor jacks under the cradle.


All bolted up First time this car has seen suspension in a long time. I forgot to install the coilovers BEFORE I raised the subframe into the car but easy to get those coilovers in tomorrow



Thats pretty much it for now. I put my fenders back on temp and ziptied the pile of **** front bumper I have. To small, need something bigger, but im limited on room.

Polak Graphics

Very detailed. Nice!

cant wait for some video of it in action.

monchie

Are you almost done with the build? lol

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Nice dude, this is the type of build I would love to be a part of. Sucks you don't have more help. Keep us updated man, this is awesome.

Sifu

iTrader: (34)

Nice build going on so far!

I am planning to start on a RHD FD also but still trying to decide on a motor setup. But I have until next summer before I pull the trigger haha.

Keep us updated

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

It will be awhile before I'm finished. Work 68-70 hrs a week and gf time

Interesting in hearing about your FD sifu.

Sifu

iTrader: (34)

I haven't picked one up yet. But a friend of mine has one and it looks like it won't be getting touched. So I am taking my time to decide on picking it up during summer and work on it slowly.

I need to stop dumping money into the 8 haha.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

PM me some pictures of your buddies car. I love my FD a lot, I cannot wait to have it on the road. Bonus is im ground building this car. Every nut and bolt has been removed, cleaned and or replaced. Only thing interior returning to the car is a dash and flat carbon panels over the doors.

I have a MS kit for my 8 just sitting ready to go to paint. Cant justify spending 1,200-1,500 when I could buy more FD parts. :p

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

The FD has landed. ****, that only took 7 months. Tomorrow some house keeping.

The Reverend

iTrader: (1)

Sweet good luck Rawr!

Matrx8

iTrader: (2)

Holy crap man, that's an insane amount of work for 1 guy. Bravo sir, bravo.

fyrstormer

Looks like a hell of a project. I got sad when I saw the V8, though.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Matt. The brides will def look good in this car.

Not so much a lot of work. Just a lot of fun feels better when the cars complete and you've done it all. Takes built not bought, to another level.

Sad about a V8; that's okay. I want torque boosted V8s sound **** too.

Corso

Dude, that's insane! Good for you.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

I know its super dirty Soon ill get a hair up my *** and clean stuff, but im in destruction stage so it will all become dirty again anyways...

Heres my practice brace. I will redo this when I get a new stainless turbo flange. This flange was the one from the GN the turbo used to be mated on...before the car fire. My tig welding skills suck pretty hard. Just need to practice more. I will end up having to use a pump cause theres not really enough angle for oil drain back to the pan.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Coming home to new stuff is always nice. Shine Auto FEED bumper

Chapsy

pretty cool build! I'm kinda bummed about the V8 too (soul of the car, yadda yadda) but it looks like it's coming together pretty nicely.

Quick question about the control arms:

were they sprayed or powder coated? Wouldn't cleaning the parts and maybe coating them with some sort of black anit-rust paint work better?
I'm only wondering because it looks like they're already chipping, kind of a waste to have that nice color get f'ed up so easily y'know?

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. Its just a car to me and I want torque :P

Parts were all fully cleaned before paint. Also arms are aluminum so they cant rust. Im not worried about the chipping, I can just touch things up. After the first day on the track they are going to see a beating. Isnt a show car

Jims5543

iTrader: (1)

I was sad to see a V8 as well, shame you are across the country, I would take you for a ride in my Turbo Rotary and ask you if you felt it lacked torque or fun factor. The only words I hear muttered from the passenger seat in that car is holy ****.


Fantastic build nonetheless, I will be following it.

RawrX8

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Id enjoy a ride if you ever made it out to sevenstock one year. I should be down there the year the car is complete.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Is it finished yet??