The New Garage Queen

  • Thread starter Troux
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Dammit, as if school wasn't keeping me busy enough, the guys at our SAE chapter are trying to pull me in to help out before our formula car goes out for competition. I'm in charge of designing a button-operated shifter, but looks like it'll have to wait until next year.

Just two more weeks until I'm done with school. Yaaay!
 
Dammit, as if school wasn't keeping me busy enough, the guys at our SAE chapter are trying to pull me in to help out before our formula car goes out for competition. I'm in charge of designing a button-operated shifter, but looks like it'll have to wait until next year.

Just two more weeks until I'm done with school. Yaaay!

You suck! I am only 2 weeks INTO my 3rd trimester. We dont get done till June 13th
 
Troux, do you have any plans, suspension-wise? Wheels/tires?

Because if you're ever thinking of getting rid of your wheels, I'd be happy to take them off your hands!
 
Yep. Almost more excited about that than the motor. I have no hope of traction on 14 year old tires, ESPECIALLY OEM 225s, so I'm getting 285 R-compounds mounted on some sexy 18x10s. Suspension is gonna be rough-riding custom 2-way adjustable coilovers based on Koni shocks. Also getting aftermarket trailing arms and toe links, and I've already got the super stiff sway bars installed. The front bar is heavier than the OEM front and rear bar combined! As for strut bars, I've got the rear covered with the ultra-thick harness bar, and the stock front strut bar SHOULD fit, but there's another one I've got my eye on that I'd really like to try to fit. Also, I plan on upgrading all of my suspension bushings sometime in the future, but that'll be one of the last things I plan on.
 
The spoiler text was directed at you, but meh. I'll just post it.

If you're planning on getting rid of the OEM wheels, lemme know. I'd be very interested in taking them off your hands.
 
Don't know how I missed that before, but yes, I am, unfortunately I think wheels will be the very last touch for the car, so it'll likely be July/August before I can sell them. However, shipping to Canada would be INSANE.
 
Ooh. Didn't notice the whole 'Florida' thing. I know it's about $180 from California, so yeah I'd imagine it would be considerably more.
:indiff:
 
It would be, save for the fact that I can't fit four wheels in my car.

Pfftt. Why bother carrying them in the car when you could have them ON the car?
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I bought my Supra wheels and threw them in the back of my old Integra hatchback. Those are 0.5 and 1.5" wider and about an inch taller.
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He most likely doesn't want to drive around a timebomb.

Doh! Now that's just not nice. A properly set up rotary is not really a time bomb. The problem is upkeep, being careful with your mods, and getting the proper tune for the mods you have. Leave a 3d gen totally stock and you'll probably go every bit as long as a non turbo rotary as long as you're up on the maintenance. Start messing with it and that's when it gets tricky.
I've thought about switching out the rotary, but I don't think it's for me. It would make sense, being from the northeast where there's not much support for the rotary, but I just don't think I can bring myself to do it. I'm going to finish the car or sell it and get a Vette.
Congratulations on your new 7 dude. It's way clean.
 
Doh! Now that's just not nice. A properly set up rotary is not really a time bomb. The problem is upkeep, being careful with your mods, and getting the proper tune for the mods you have. Leave a 3d gen totally stock and you'll probably go every bit as long as a non turbo rotary as long as you're up on the maintenance. Start messing with it and that's when it gets tricky.
Lots of people say these sorts of things all the time, and still big dollar shops sell motors that blow in 30K. It's not like the rotary is some big mystery that works fine when the planets align. They are just prone to failure, and there's good reason the 4-stroke piston engine prevails. Anyways, I can't say as much as history and numbers can, so let's try to keep that beaten dead horse to another thread, such as one of the 3958248923 threads on RX7Club about it.

Not many updates. Got scammed by Dynotested.com on the first subframe kit, and have since started a thread that's putting their business under. I'm waiting for a new Hinson LS2-based kit that is going to be out in 2 months AT BEST. Flaky companies are kicking this project's ass. :( The basic mounting kit from Hinson is a good deal and a solid product. The rest of his parts (that I've seen) are either overpriced, half-assed, or both.

Since the last update, I've got the Stg 4 clutch + flywheel balanced and ready for install. Shifter installed, with new (different) shifter handle on the way. Waiting on sleek headlight kit development (again, flaky company), and should be getting exhaust system back from ceramic coating this week. I am working on laying several coats of paint on the pulleys and intake manifold, and will hopefully be getting the engine covers shipped off for paint this week, as well. Gas pedal is MOSTLY mounted, new trailing arms and toe links are in, also. Made a couple changes to the wiring harness, including a couple new relays and a fuse block I need to find a spot for...and it's just about ready to start getting wrapped back up! Also looking into swapping out my brand new oil pan (money out the window seems to be the theme of my build...) for a more hardcore road race pan.

The way Hinson has been going, I don't see this car running by August. On the plus side, money is good and my budget is increasing every day. :)
 
another wrecked RX7 with an owner that dosen't want to learn how to take care of the rotary. sad to see especially since there's less than 14000 FD3s' sold in the states.

oh well
 
another wrecked RX7 with an owner that dosen't want to learn how to take care of the rotary. sad to see especially since there's less than 14000 FD3s' sold in the states.

oh well

Read the thread or go home. Its been discussed to death in here and the LS series engine ultimately weighs less, sounds better, and get betters better mileage. Oh, and it can make a ton of power AND torque.

Troux, bummer to hear about the delays - I'm quite excited to see this project finished, for several reasons. Maybe one is just to piss of the ro-tards some more, I dunno :lol:
 
Read the thread or go home. Its been discussed to death in here and the LS series engine ultimately weighs less, sounds better, and get betters better mileage. Oh, and it can make a ton of power AND torque.

and its about as cool as a 2JZ camaro.
 
That combination is let down by the Camaro.

Not THIS Camaro:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=487658

As for the company that scammed us (LOTS of people getting hit by them), basically I was among 25-30 that pre-ordered this new mounting kit in October, with the kit guaranteed to arrive by Thanksgiving, at the latest. The guy took payment (shouldn't have even been charged until parts shipped) and cut off all communication with excuses every couple weeks. Nobody could get a hold of the guy. Finally in late December, one part (of the 5-part kit) arrives for only about 5 of the customers. It was the engine cradle, and it flat out didn't fit. They made a new welding jig and a few custom alterations to the original design, and the subframes I got neither fit onto the motor not onto the car. They were completely unusable. So everyone goes back to being super pissed, since parts were coming over a month later than promised and they were WRONG, and the whole time, no communication, impossible to get a hold of the business. I was supposed to get a refund, which ended up taking over 3 months, and at the last second they made up a "policy" which resulted in my refund check being $350 less than what I actually paid, and it's now more than SIX MONTHS past the absolute latest we were promised our kits, and everyone else is still waiting on parts. He's taken $1200+ from about 30 people (and took parts from others), disappears from the face of the earth, gives everyone the run-around when they talk to him, and still nobody has gotten all of their parts yet. They are pretty much banned from doing business on V8RX7forum.com, too.

Anyways, there's a little more drama and shadiness to it, but a lot to type. To be honest it sounds like one of those stories of a good guy who screwed his life up big time with a drug habit. Stay in school and such, kids. That thread I mentioned is a sticky in their shop forum (which prompted the shop owners to be removed as mods, hahah) on V8RX7forum.com.

On the good side of things, I found a great deal on a racing seat. Wee!
 
wow. wasn't expecting to see that.

the resale value is now in the gutter and i dont see the motive or reason for this swap other than for attention. I do like the interior(door panels are crap)
 
They're a show-car shop. They've been building top-notch cars like that for years, but they pretty much always stick to old school. I believe that car was a hit at SEMA. It has nothing to do with resale, but trust me, they could sell that car for a ton if they wanted to. Probably for more than they have in it. The GTO seats are an awesome touch. One of the coolest features are the turn signals. Here's a vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1MNc9qeKrM

Whether you like the idea or not (I would never do it, myself), it's one of the most well-assembled show cars out there.

Anyways, done threadjacking my own thread... I got my headers back from the ceramic coater today. May take some pics if I get everything mounted up.
 
Haven't really been taking pictures, but I've been buying some less-necessary items while I'm STILL waiting for subframe development. Headlights are in, and going off to be painted, along with fuel rail covers, sometime this week. Front lip ordered, as well as GT-style mirrors. Side skirts to follow. I got a good offer for my mint condition seats, as well as found a good mounting option for a set of Sparcos, so I jumped on that, however I can't decide between two different seats (Rev and Pro 2000), and it's been hell trying to find someone local (shop or owner) that has them to let me test-fit my butt in.

Finally got the gas pedal mounted. What a pain in the ass. >:| It is, however, going to be AWESOME for driving. The heel/toe positioning is perfect, right where I wanted it. I installed adjustable toe links and trailing arms, as well as upgraded to steel braided brake lines, and custom made some new brake lines for my new master cylinder, which just needs a bench bleed before installation. Got new differential mount bushings pressed in and re-mounted. Also finished the oil pan, and pretty much finalized the motor mechanically. I've also decided to run the engine harness under the heads (instead of over) to hide things a little better. It's looking quite clean, so far. I've done a lot of touching up on the engine harness, but I've also realized a couple more headaches. First, I won't be able to completely finish taping it up until the motor is in the car. Secondly, I may have to extend the harness, which means about 100 solders. Yuck. Being a perfectionist sucks.

Completely rewired the fuel pump, just a little more installing with the new relay. Also got a new starter relay to help with cranking power. I've actually spent the past few weeks going back and forth between the garage and my wiring diagrams, and have managed to pull out an unbelievable amount of wires that I won't be needing. When it's finally done, I'll take a picture of the giant nest I have on the floor. Among this project, I've gotten much further on organizing the wiring, which is going to be an extremely clean install, and so far everything is fitting very nicely into place. During this process, I've decided to do the battery relocation, as well. I will most likely be relocating the fuse box to the cabin, also. It's going to be a ton of work, but there should only be 8 wires to extend, since I've eliminated so much from the front harness. When it's finally done, the only wiring going through the front of the car will be the headlights and fan relays.

I've definitely gotten more comfortable with reading wiring diagrams, understanding circuits and relays, and soldering. I'm having fun, but unfortunately I know the slow subframe development is going to bring this project to a halt at the end of this month, since It'll be 4-6 weeks AFTER even ordering.
 
Also forgot to mention I got the PCM pre-tuned for speed density (MAF-less), and painted the throttle body, pulleys, and intake manifold. The motor is going to look gooood.
 
all in all this is sounding like quite the perfectionists build, which, with a car combination like this should really be the way it is. I can't wait for more pictures and keep up the awesome work!! 👍
 
Yeah, being anal is costing me a lot of extra time and money, but I know I'll be proud of it in the end. I'll try to snap a couple pictures this week, but like I said, it's hard to show how much work I've been doing lately in pictures. :P
 
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