Rawr! 1992 RHD FD 5.3 Turbo build

[RawrX8]

The scorpion.

[RawrX8]

Now I can mate motor to transmission.

[BrownBoy]

Oooooh, beefy!!

I like the colour choice of your suspension components, is the car going to stay black when all is said and done?

[RawrX8]

Yes to black. Once you go; can't go back right?

I'll update after dinner. Motors/trans in car. Need to bolt the transmission brace in. I spent most of a couple hours playing where turbo will mount and downpipe plumbing. Don't worry I won't be turning my car into a dala horse.

[RawrX8]

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 another rx7lee build or dala horse.

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

[digitalsolo]

Why does everyone jam the turbo where the least clearance is?   

Looks like good progress.

[RawrX8]

Why does everyone jam the turbo where the least clearance is?   

Coooome on! Just threw this in there. It will most likely sit "passenger" side right by crank pulley kinked at a 45 degree. Still deciding how high I will stick it. Got my work cut out for me! Excited!

[willcoop]

Great progress! I am excited to see this thing driving around Everett. The last couple of days I have been seeing FDs every time I go somewhere.

[RawrX8]

Right now juggling using truck headers or build my own. One nice aspect with a rhd FD is all the room to run the downpipe along the skirt of the block. No starter in the way

[Sho Amo]

I have always favored putting the inlet towards the bumper. Just seems right to me.

Looks like everyone is using c6 manifolds these days, and there are some for sale in the classifieds.

[RawrX8]

Looking at it today. The "passenger side has a nice big space to route the down pipe through. C6 manifolds will point right in the path. I had a few different ideas. Before anything major waiting on turbo dad to look over my thought process and help improve it.

Try to figure it out myself but having his crazy outside the box thinking and 30 something years of turbo experience helps.

Steering rack is depowered and welded up. Needs grease zerks threaded in and greased up. One thing almost done off the list of infinity.

[Shavel]

You know, where the turbo sits now, you could just build a gear system and run the turbine off the crank.  No exhaust manifolds needed!

[RawrX8]

That's silly. You know you couldn't build boost without a gear system that runs Big Ben under the hood.

Steering rack is all painted and cleaned Ill try and remember to take some pictures before it all gets assembled. Turbo dad sat with me for awhile as we discussed turbo stuff. Key points were; best location, making it clean and what could we do for cool points. Result is building my own headers. It will be the first time for me so I'm excited. The rough idea would give enough room to allow even a 3.5 DP to easily pass along block and subframe. Some of the rhd perks are showing

Now it's time to order up some more parts. 

[RawrX8]

Been very slow. Lots of working restocking the bank account.

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.

[RawrX8]

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 ass in gear.





Note cause someone might catch it; fuel cans get moved before any welding Just the placed there for storage cause limited room in the garage.