LS1 RX-7 rebuild/build 4l80e, Ronin 8.8 and turbo

[stbrn19]

Alright, got a bit done over the last week.  First a note, I changed some thing around on my TIG torch and started having issues with my already questionable welding getting super shitty
After toying around with some things when I switched to a gas lens my gas flow was not sufficient and well yeah my welds could have been better.  Took me a long time to figure out wtf was causing it since idk what i'm doing at this point.  O well.


Finished my down pipe, it terminates and has a vband near the starter:



Had a ebay wastegate laying around from a previous thought and decieded because I was limited to a 3" downpipe due to space constraints, I would plum it to the exhaust and use it as a cut out.  It's only a 50 mm wastegate but I'm sure it will help (and its easy to test on the dyno)  so a getto ebay boost activated cutout




At the transmission pan I transisioned from 3" to 3.5" and am going to use the exhaust piping that I threw together on my other car.  Also this is where I transisioned from Stainless and Tig to mild and flux




A few pictures of it all on the car:





 


Waiting for the radiator to make the journey from Howes, should be here Tuesday.

[Ruler_Mark]

I also am running a 4l80e in my trubo ls fd, i would advise to cut an access hole to get to the trans plug. The clearances there are quite tight.

[stbrn19]

Yup I beat mine with a bfh to gain the needed clearance around the plug. I had this combo in my other rx7 before I decided to mix and match the builds. How's your car? Get your trans all fixed up?

[Ruler_Mark]

trans is back at the builder for the last time hopefully. otherwise i am going to cut my losses and go back to t56 and get one from tick

[stbrn19]

Sucks. I've had issues with mine too. Had out getting gone through over a slow 2-3 shift previously to putting it in this rx7. Hopefully both ours will work this go round.

[stbrn19]

Been working away on some little stuff, got my down pipe wrapped in some dei titanium wrap like my hotside, stuff makes me happy looking at it. 
Also put the blanket back on the turbo hotside, have to get some saftey wire to finsih that up.

[stbrn19]

Ok made some progress.
Got my radiator from Howe's, looks nice and I was really ready to get the radiator/intercooler mounting and placement finalized.

Welded mounting tabs on each side:

I added two triangular supports to each side to make it stronger.
On the car testing the fitment:




New fans:


Intercooler moved to accommodate the radiator being in a new position compared the the hinson setup




Started looking into the front harness:  Still have a bunch to do but I'm going to thin it out and reroute it when I get back in town.



I also need to add a isolator to the radiator mounts, what did any of you guys end up using to make yours?

[Ruler_Mark]

Poly 1/2in round bushings from advanced, they are made by energy look like this but the inner raised part is no where near that tall looking:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/energy-suspension-radius-strut-arm-bushing-set-4.7107r/22908772-P?searchTerm=bushing+energy

[stbrn19]

Right on ordered some of these http://www.aftermarketsuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9.9533Going to give them a shot. Thanks for pointing me in that direction man.

[stbrn19]

Been going back and forth between taking out the solid axle or being lazy and leaving it since It was already installed.  Stopped being lazy, solid axle came out, Ronin 8.8 kit is in the process of going in.  Had a few bumps along the way (broke an ear off my diff housing while installing solid bushings );    ).  Had a friend weld the ear back on, All appears to be well.  When it happened I was pissed, and almost dropped the diff on my leg.  Heres some shitty shot of it were I left it tonight.






Need to do a bit more to get the rear end stuff buttoned up.  More coming soon.

[stbrn19]

Did some more work on the front harness, this is the weight reduction thus far:

Relocating the fuse boxes to the rear bins, tidying up trying to clean up the engine bay

[stbrn19]

Got everything re routed out of the engine bay, have to take pictures the next time I'm working on it.
Here is one from the middle of the work before I left it:



Have my headlight relay, TNS and horn relay tucked under the drivers headlight.  Not sure if I want to leave them there or relocate them to the bin as well.  With all that I have done so far I think i may regret stopping short of having everything out of the way and easily accessible down the road.  I hate the idea of having to screw around trying to get to a relay if need be and its hidden tucked under some shit.  IDK next time i'm out there I'll pay around with it some more.

[Covert5150]

inb4 starts a new project.

[stbrn19]

Some more progress.  Sealed up the big holes where the solid axle subframe used to go:



Had to redo some of the cold side piping due to the new radiator/fans setup
A comparison to one of my first attempts at welding next to the most recent go at it:


On the car:



Engine bay shot, still needs some love but it is slowly getting there:

[Ruler_Mark]

I run my coldside inter cooler piping in the same spot, you will hit the 99 combo lights and braket on the bumper for the combo lights on an 99 bumper