It's probably not a big deal to some peeps here who have experience or background in metal form or engineering etc, but to me it's a "battle" just to cut a straight line, to measure and drill holes correctly and then to join the pieces together with weld.
I'm a chef by trade and a FT Dj, talent agent, so this stuff is an achievement "for me". And I couldn't weld 3months ago.

Made new sway bar retainer brackets as the ones i had
Didn't have the placement quite right for me. Will post pics installed tomoz when paint is dry.


Also some oil cooler "bottom stabizer" brackets.

 

Those welds do not look too bad I guess for just picking it up a few months ago.

 

Haha yeh well don't look at my alloy welds then. Lolz

 

So, very happy with the new sway bar brackets and position. They're stronger than the previous ones too.

Had to make a new CAS mount, which I then strengthened with a piece of box alloy cos of the cut out. Not pretty but functional.

Turns out my end links now reach lower control arm without a spacer. Bonus.

Tomorrow I'll strengthen the hood support bar which I weakened by removing all the panel below for better air flow.

Will pay deposit in lpg tank fri so it can be built.

 

Added support brace to hood support. Better bolts and washers for the endlinks Put it back together. CAS. Oil cooler support brace

That CAS is rock solid, try wiggle it n the whole engine moves!

 

AC mounted. Just need to secure the bottom.

Had to grind some clearance off the xtreme oil block to clear the slave cylinder. Lucky there was plenty of meat to take off.

Topped up the gearbox with redline shockproof

Getting her ready for a tow to mates house for final fitting of turbo manifold n dump pipe, wastegate and exhaust. He'll probably finish off any wiring that I haven't had time for.

Off to Thailand with the gf for a month next Wednesday.

 

Loom tidy up. Battery location, maybe.

 

You do good work for a chef/DJ.
Thailand for a month? Nice.

 

Yeh thanks. I try. My gf is Thai, so i got my own personal guide. Hehe Dropping the car at buddy's shop tomoz, he gonna do a few things I'm not comfortable or competent with plus I think he's mad keen to see this going so he gonna help with finishing it. He got engineering background so I'd say it may nearly be finished when I get back. I'm just about outta steam on this project!!

 

Bye Lucy. Good luck n see u in a month x

 

Looks awesome! Where did you snag those monstrous oil coolers from? They look pretty sweet

 

They're Ebay china ones. I just researched the largest possible fitment into those spaces. It's a tight fit

 

Nothing much to report peeps. Got back from thailand may1, and only saw 1 rx8 for the whole month I was there.! Not many around.

Xhaust manifold is pretty much done, just needs to be tidied. LPG tank is about to leave china, destination brisbane.

Will have a major working bee with a buddy to hopefully have it ready for the LPG install. So maybe 4-6weeks it should be running.

 

Finally the new alloy oil pan is complete, well the outer shell anyway. Will trial fit in a couple days, then return it for the baffle and oil pick up plus sensor.

I asked for it to be heavy duty and wow that flange is thick!! Should help with pinning the engine tho I already have extra doweling etc.

 

Nice oil pan!

 

make sure your pan clears the front oil pressure regulator.

 

Trial fit oil pan for oil pic up mods and level sensor and bung placement.

Built an alloy ECU box for passenger foot well under glove compartment.

Not putting ecu in nose now. Too risky.

 

Your not worried about engine movement?

 

this thing's built like a tank.

 

When you run more power your not going to use rubber mounts, you'll use stiffer ones.
I know it's something you renny guys wouldn't understand.

 

Haha, going solid mount as I'm worried for clearances in a few places.

 

Gettin serious bout wiring

N time to tidy the manifold.

Nearly there!,

 

As you should be. I hope you got it all figured out as it looks very very close.

 

whoever did that manifold should be stripped of their fabricator license ...

 

Oh really?

Maybe you could share your wealth of experience in manifold fabrication by elaborating as to what may be wrong with this particular Mild Steel "steampipe/butt weld" manifold??

I assume u have built a few??