Well guys, It's been a WHILE since my last update. Being that i'm so close being able to drive the car again I thought it was time to update my build thread.
Modifying the firewall for clearance. I plan on running a fast intake setup in the future.
[smg id=5502 type=preview align=center caption="2012 01 29 15 38 45 282"]
I cut the firewall lip off. As you can see the engine bay is rough.
[smg id=5503 type=preview align=center caption="2012 01 29 15 40 12 696"]
I don't plan on having any form of air conditioning or heat in the car. So I decided to weld the openings shut to give it a cleaner look.
[smg id=5504 type=preview align=center caption="2012 02 09 17 03 18 644"]
My messy harness I pulled out of the car. Time for a rewire.
[smg id=5505 type=preview align=center caption="2012 03 03 19 43 56 614"]
Work station for wiring.
[smg id=5506 type=preview align=center caption="2012 03 11 15 04 54 684"]
Working on chassis harness.
[smg id=5507 type=preview align=center caption="2012 03 16 12 44 35 48"]
I remade the radiator brackets and undertray. So i threw the hood and bumper on to test fitment. It was nice to see it on the car since it's been apart for so long
[smg id=5508 type=preview align=center caption="2012 06 10 17 26 41 512"]
Checking clearance between hood. There is clearance... a little.
[smg id=5509 type=preview align=center caption="2012 06 10 17 27 05 967"]
About this time I needed to decide whether to rebuild the LS1 to a high comp. 383 with E85 like I wanted or do something else. I reviewed all options and decided that my power goals could be attained cheaper and easier by buying an LS2. So I got online and searched for a heads/cam LS2. I found one in California like I wanted and for a good price. I purchased a LS2 with stage 2.5 5.3 heads, a custom ground cam by patg. The short block only had 5,000 miles on it. It was in a first gen Camaro and they swapped it up to a LSX 454. I also wanted the availability to upgrade to square port heads in the future. I felt the 3.9" bore limited me on head choices for the future.
[smg id=5510 type=preview align=center caption="2012 06 11 17 48 20 179"]
I then ordered a competition roll bar from kirk racing. I welded in the base plates and got it installed.
[smg id=5511 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 04 17 54 37 156"]
[smg id=5512 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 04 17 54 54 630"]
20 years of grime on the suspension and brakes.
[smg id=5513 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 07 14 01 37 860"]
[smg id=5514 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 07 14 01 46 875"]
After dis-assembly of the suspension it was time to scuff and paint the bay.
[smg id=5515 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 07 16 49 13 122"]
Scuffing finished time to clean.
[smg id=5516 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 08 17 24 14 39"]
Painted! Major improvement. It was painted with POR-15 and top coated with their blackcote.
[smg id=5517 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 08 20 41 27 439"]
I was very pleased with the flow I was able to maintain after cutting the lip off.
[smg id=5518 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 08 20 41 52 223"]
After a day or so of waiting for the POR-15 to dry. I then masked off the wheel wells and used SEM undercoat to protect.
[smg id=5519 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 15 19 29 05 22"]
[smg id=5520 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 15 19 29 27 346"]
We painted the control arms with POR-15 and installed new tein flexs
[smg id=5521 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 18 19 15 54 721"]
Ugly underside
[smg id=5522 type=preview align=center caption="2012 07 31 19 59 27 235"]
Pressure washed, wax/grease removed, and undercoated beauty.
[smg id=5523 type=preview align=center caption="2012 08 05 01 49 43 241"]
[smg id=5524 type=preview align=center caption="2012 08 05 01 49 51 62"]
It was then time to make the interior match. I decided to go with Lizard skins ceramic heat insulation. For the short amount of time I got to drive the car the transmission made the interior the car very hot. This made me decide on a thermal coating instead of paint.
[smg id=5525 type=preview align=center caption="2012 08 18 18 51 05 407"]
I was VERY pleased with the results. It's very durable and looks amazing. I must credit halfspec for the idea.
[smg id=5526 type=preview align=center caption="2012 08 18 18 51 14 502"]
I purchased Sparco Evo seats and installed. Things are coming together.
[smg id=5527 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 03 19 29 12 55"]
[smg id=5528 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 03 19 29 30 972"]
I purchased the samberg 8.8 cradle and painted with POR-15
[smg id=5529 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 16 14 28 34 788"]
I was not so happy with the results this time around with POR-15. I had cleaned with soap and water. Then scuffed the surface. I then used their metal ready and washed again. Then finally before paint i used their wax and grease remover marine clean. POR-15 seems to be more susceptible to fish eyes then most paints. After this I lost faith in using their prep products. When I painted the engine bay I used PPG DX330 wax and grease remover and had no issue at all. I will still use POR-15 and still recommend it, but you MUST clean clean clean. I ended up using the sem undercoat to cover it.
[smg id=5530 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 16 14 29 07 621"]
Time to make the hatch jam look good. Scuffed with PPG DX101 and a scotchbrite. Then cleaned. It SUCKS to mask off the hatch jam.
[smg id=5531 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 16 16 12 28 141"]
Sealed in DP epoxy.
[smg id=5532 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 16 17 45 47 520"]
PAINT!!!!!!
[smg id=5533 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 16 18 38 30 186"]
I made my headliner black with SEM colorcoat. Its good stuff I can recommend it.
[smg id=5534 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 19 17 10 30 620"]
Axles came in. Don't make fun of me I couldn't get it out of that one spindle. So i assembled it together.
[smg id=5535 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 20 19 44 16 710"]
I found a new use for my lift. Applying Innocent blue mica to my roll bar.
[smg id=5536 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 23 12 47 30 802"]
[smg id=5537 type=preview align=center caption="2012 09 23 12 47 39 182"]
8.8 installed.
[smg id=5538 type=preview align=center caption="2012 10 13 13 36 35 712"]
Chassis is looking good.
[smg id=5539 type=preview align=center caption="2012 10 13 19 46 10 998"]
I loaded it up to take it to my electrical class to install the chassis harness.
[smg id=5540 type=preview align=center caption="2012 10 18 17 46 37 364"]
I put the motor on the stand to install accessories, improved racing trap door baffle, and to prepare for install.
[smg id=5541 type=preview align=center caption="2012 10 19 17 38 47 970"]
It's in!! It was a very proud moment for me. It's been too long since I've had anything in that bay.
[smg id=5542 type=preview align=center caption="2012 11 02 20 24 51 895"]
The good stuff.
[smg id=5543 type=preview align=center caption="2012 11 03 14 23 19 306"]
Car parts!
[smg id=5544 type=preview align=center caption="2012 11 15 13 53 32 532"]
Re-wrapped headers. I'm getting better, but its still a pain to do it.
[smg id=5545 type=preview align=center caption="2012 11 19 19 34 00 599"]
About this time I had decided to re-paint the car. So I re-jamed part of the hatch and did the door jams.
[smg id=5547 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 12 21 37 54 248"]
After doing the jams it was time to put the interior back in.
[smg id=5548 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 17 17 37 06 93"]
Interior in except gauge cluster.
[smg id=5549 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 17 20 37 44 294"]
Then I decided it was time to see some life from the car. PLEASE excuse my excitement it was a big moment for me and my friends. I've spent a lot of time working on this car to make it to this point.
First start LS2 RX7I ended up stripping the paint down. The matco job the car came with was unacceptable. I ended up using 8" 80 grit discs on my buffer to cut through
5 layers of paint! It took a while and I was covered in dust for days, but i finally came together like this.
[smg id=5550 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 18 19 35 41 968"]
High build primer.
[smg id=5551 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 20 22 55 22 97"]
On Dec. 24th a local body shop offered their paint booth to me to use. I took it up and got to painting. I opted to use the black epoxy primer for sealer this time around. There is no particular difference in quality between the colors just coverage.
[smg id=5552 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 24 16 45 49 266"]
Base coat. Looking good.
[smg id=5553 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 24 16 46 14 245"]
[smg id=5554 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 24 17 55 09 15"]
Clear coat!
[smg id=5555 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 24 18 37 12 476"]
[smg id=5556 type=preview align=center caption="2012 12 24 19 48 02 378"]
Color sanded and buffed. Ready for reassembly. OMNOM
[smg id=5557 type=preview align=center caption="2013 01 17 18 45 02 87"]
Coming together
[smg id=5558 type=preview align=center caption="2013 01 19 16 57 48 387"]
As it sits today. I've still got a few things to do to. I need to get my speed hut gauges ordered and installed. I have a couple of spots to buff still. Its in dire need of a tune.
[smg id=5559 type=preview align=center caption="2013 02 09 15 16 00 960"]
I do have a couple of issues that i'm hoping someone here may give me some insight on.
The first is i have a mystery oil leak. It appears that it is come from somewhere underneath the steering rack. It is NOT coming from around of the seam of the pan. I'm lost as to where it may be coming from.
[smg id=5560 type=preview align=center caption="2013 01 11 17 21 13 283"]
[smg id=5561 type=preview align=center caption="2013 01 11 17 21 42 151"]
[smg id=5562 type=preview align=center caption="2013 01 11 17 21 28 565"]
The other issue I'm having is after i got my new window put in I attempted to install the rear view mirror but it appears to be broken and i'm not able to source a replacement bracket.
[smg id=5563 type=preview align=center caption="2013 02 07 17 09 53 619"]
[smg id=5564 type=preview align=center caption="2013 02 07 17 10 11 482"]
[smg id=5565 type=preview align=center caption="2013 02 07 17 10 02 113"]
This video is from today. I'm trying to wrangle the idle in so i'm able to get it tuned.
LS2 RX7 IdleThanks for viewing. I'm super excited to get to drive this thing to work and get to the track and have some fun. I also appreciate any input on the oil issue or mirror. I must also thank everyone that's helped me get to this point. Namely Josh, Logan, and everyone else that has helped.
