RX-7 FD: Project Kraken

[bstallion]

I call this car, The Kraken.
Maybe it has something to do with my logo “Unleashed” and Clash of the Titans “Release the Kraken”. I gave it the name 11 years ago.



The Origin Story:
I originally got this car back in 2013. This was supposed to be a car built for Autocross while I figured out what I wanted to build another RX-7 for. It wasn’t running upon purchase. I got it to run and conveniently had parts I could transfer from my other RX-7 to it. That was things like intake, exhaust, Intercooler, radiator, power fc and what not. The car was going to need a lot more work however. Sometime in 2014 I decided to trade it for an S14 with an sr20. The RX-7 was a running car and mostly complete. I really shouldn’t kept the car.











So.. it’s not often you say, “I shouldn’t have sold that one” or “I wish I could still have that one” and get a chance to get it back.

I’ve seen it pop up here and there on Craigslist, when that was still a thing. Though when I saw it, I was always short the funds for it and didn’t have anything worthy of trading for a Legendary RX-7.













More recently the then current owner tracked me on Facebook about the car. After a short conversation, I offered my current daily driver for it, a C5 Corvette. I did think that after all this time it would be running and less of a project, but it’s still an RX-7! After some time and a few more conversations, we talked up a trade. We decided on a day to meet up so he can check out the C5, I already knew I wanted the FD. Everything checked out and we traded, got my old car back. When I saw the date when I first got this car, it was 10 years to the day of getting it back.















Double Origin Story Over..

Goals:
Being it has a rebuild title, and given the shape it was in, this would be perfect for a stripped down race car. It would be, but I’d like to make it a nice comfortable daily driver with AC, heat, and power steering. The stock LS1/T56 is perfect for what I want. I have my crazier Twin Turbo build in progress also if I want to get a little wild.

Conveniently, I already had a Samberg swap kit and Ronin 8.8 kit. These kits were for my other RX-7 but I’ll transfer them over to get this car done. 10 years later and nothing changed.

I’d like to take my time with the other car and make it perfect, so I don’t mind donating to this one. Plus I know Ronin has updated swap kits that I would rather use on that one.

This has been the journey so far..

Strip and Clean:
The build it up, I need to strip it down. The first thing I did was pull the interior out to see what I will be working with.










Another Rotary Acquired:
One day I was browsing Facebook Marketplace and saw a 13b-rew and transmission for sale. I kind of wanted it, so I asked when was a good time to buy it. I picked it up on my way home. At the time I was thinking of getting the engine in the car rebuilt. It really makes more sense just to do the swap however.








All Interior Removed:
I continued on stripping the interior. I took everything out.














Engine and Transmission Pulled:
I decided that I will swap this car. Either way I was going to pull the engine and transmission, but since they are out, something else can go in. I have a good start on parts to go F-Body LS1/T56.
















Got My LS1:
Since I decided I would swap this car, I was searching around for an LS1. An F-Body LS1/T56 was the best choice being that my parts were specifically for that set up. I found a package that wasn’t too far away and picked it up the next day. This was coming out of a swapped 70s Camaro. The engine had about 30k on it and didn’t come with any accessories, no big deal. From here I know what other parts to get, or most of.












Wash:
I stripped and cleaned the interior already. Now, I rolled the car out to pressure wash it. I degreased the engine bay the best I could. The more gunk I can get off now means the less trouble it will be to sand later. 












Removed Front Suspension and Subframe:
I won’t need the stock subframe and want to replace the coilovers and bushings, so no point in any of that saying in. 






Removed Rear Subframe:
Same for the rear, only I do want the subframe back in, it just needs to be able to hold an 8.8.






New Parts:
Parts I currently had for the Swap/Build:
Samberg Engine/Transmission Swap Kit
Ronin 8.8 Swap Kit
Wiring Specialties Swap Harness
JTR Longtube Headers
Feed Style Front Fenders
Feed Style Rear Fenders
LS1/T56
Explorer 8.8
Alternator/Bracket
MGW Shifter
Mishimoto Radiator and Fans

New parts that I Ordered:
Feed Style Side Skirts
American Flag Steering Wheel
A/C Conversion Kit
A/C Compressor
RE-Amemiya Headlights
Improved Racing Sway Bar End Links
Bushing Kit
Aluminum Door Handles
V-Band/Clamps
Sikky Master Cylinder Kit
Sikky Fuel Line Kit
Sikky Power Steering Kit
ABS Delete Kit
Clutch Kit/Flywheel
Milspec Bulkhead Connector
Zeal Coilovers
Lizard Skin
T56 Mount
Power Steering Pump/Pulley

I’m sure this is the majority of what I’ll need to get the car swapped. I know it will need a driveshaft still. I tried to order one from Grannas Racing but it got canceled because I didn’t know how long I would need it. I figured enough people would have had an F-Body T56 going to an 8.8 using a Samberg/Ronin combo and it could be done. I’ll wait on that and find out whatever else I may be missing. Not necessary for the swap, but I do want a Samberg Rollbar. I should’ve ordered a few back when, just to have one now and some extra.











































































Front Suspension Bushings:
I pushed the old bushings out. I bought a press and rented a tool to make it happen. The rear components I can get powder coated. The fronts have the ball joints build in, so I painted them. I dropped the rear control arms, trailing arms, and brake calipers off to be powder coated.













Door Handle:
If I car has a common issue, I usually end up finding out. Broken plastic door handle. I’ve changed these out to metal ones a few times. I think all the FDs I’ve even own have all been changed to metal.





Started Sanding:
Now that most of the car is stripped, I wanted to start on some body work before it’s time to go back together.




















Hatch Removed:
I took the hatch off to be able to sand in where it meets the car. I did the same for the doors.





Fuel Tank Removed:
The fuel tank could have stayed in play for the pump swap and fuel line kit installation. It seemed like not much effort to drop the tank and also clean it while it’s off.





Engine Bay to Metal:
Just continuing at getting primer over paint over primer off to have a good base to start with. I know sand/media blasting would have been good here, but I don’t have access to all that. I’m working out of a garage in a subdivision. Sanding did good, and wire wheels worked. The paint stripper worked decent, but not as good as I wanted. What it didn’t take off, it did make easier to sand off, I give it that.



https://youtu.be/JVXW79svIyI?si=Ot1vHHCspSwFbKnQ


Not exactly in order, but my plan on what to continue doing.

To Do List:
Epoxy Prime Engine Bay and Door Jams
Weld Patch (Floor Board)
Coat Under the Car (Rustoleum)
Install Sikky Fuel Kit
Install Heat Shield (Transmission Tunnel)
Test Fit Engine/Transmission
Weld Inner Transmission Brackets to Tunnel
Remove Sound Deadener
Lizard Skin Interior
Clean Fuel Tank
Install Walbro Fuel Pump Kit
Reinstall Fuel Tank
Install 8.8 Conversion Axles
Install Rear Fenders (Feed Style)
Install Front Fenders (Feed Style)
2K Prime Car
Paint Car
Put Doors and Hatch On
Install Flywheel/Clutch
Install Slave Cylinder and Remote Bleeder
Attach Transmission to Engine
Install Master Cylinder
Reinstall Engine Subframe
Install Coilovers
Reinstall Brakes
Install Engine/Transmission
Connect Master Cylinder
Attach Accessories
Install Radiator/Fans
Run Wiring Harness

[Gunnytron]

10 years to the day, that's crazy. Looks like you are making some serious progress already.

[digitalsolo]

Love all the pictures/description, thanks for sharing.   You've got a penchant for big projects!

[FC3S Murray]

   Nice to see a build thread be so detailed and riddled with pictures!


It feels like it's 2010 and I am sitting down with an ice cold beer perusing forums in front of my desktop computer!


Nice progress so far & happy to read you got your baby back!

[kinger]

Sick build so far! 

I actually have a Drive shaft if you still need one.  Only difference is it has the viper splines on the T56 end.  Other wise its a samberg subframe to 8.8 rear end. 

[Venom13132]

Nice progress!  I am doing feed body kit right now as well.  I need to update my thread.

[bstallion]

10 years to the day, that's crazy. Looks like you are making some serious progress already.

Perhaps this time, I don't let it go again.

Love all the pictures/description, thanks for sharing.   You've got a penchant for big projects!

I hope that doesn't change.

  Nice to see a build thread be so detailed and riddled with pictures!

It feels like it's 2010 and I am sitting down with an ice cold beer perusing forums in front of my desktop computer!

Nice progress so far & happy to read you got your baby back!

That used to be me until like 2am on the weekends.

Sick build so far! 

I actually have a Drive shaft if you still need one.  Only difference is it has the viper splines on the T56 end.  Other wise its a samberg subframe to 8.8 rear end. 

PM'd, I may be interested in the driveshaft.

Nice progress!  I am doing feed body kit right now as well.  I need to update my thread.

I've been following your build on Instagram, I see you also have the RE headlights.



Small Update:
A few weeks ago I got the Ronin 8.8 Cradle welded in, and the additional reinforcing/gussets that they sent out at no charge.
I dropped the subframe off at a power coater and currently waiting on it.


















This past weekend as a side quest from working on my other build, I got some v-band clamps welded to the JTR Longtube Headers.
I'd like to not only wrap them, but also have them ceramic coated. I think I should wait until I look into getting the rest of the exhaust done before any coating.

[FC3S Murray]

I ceramic coated & wrapped my JTR headers too way back in the day. It made a world of difference for heat mitigation and keep my under hood temps reasonably low.

Plus, increased thermal efficiency is always a nice perk

[bstallion]

I ceramic coated & wrapped my JTR headers too way back in the day. It made a world of difference for heat mitigation and keep my under hood temps reasonably low.

Plus, increased thermal efficiency is always a nice perk

That blue FC looks so cool.
If I can budget the money, I'd love to get the longtubes coated.

Been a while I got to mess with the FD.
Between working on the Trans Am LS Swap/Turbo build and fixing a friends car (everyone loves free labor), I haven't had a change to work on what I really wanted.

Had some rust on the passenger floor board. I believed some sound deadener needed to be removed to see the extend of the rust damage.
I planned to removed the deadener anyhow to apply some Lizard Skin later.
So, the deadener has been removed and the floor has been repaired.

While doing the floor repair and sound deadener removal to prepare for Lizard Skin, I picked up a roll bar and a whole other set of fenders that have already been fitted to another car.


Somewhat fixing another car (learned what not to do for paint though):











Trans Am:





FD:



















I know Roll Bar is a little cock-eyed here (teehee)

[digitalsolo]

Good progress on the FD!

LOL at the fender, that was pretty good.

[Venom13132]

nice work so far!   Keep it up!

[bstallion]

nice work so far!   Keep it up!

Good progress on the FD!

LOL at the fender, that was pretty good.

You guys are always so positive and motivating, that's awesome.


Small little update...
Sadly, I rolled the dice on a T56 for another project and the transmission ended up needing a rebuild...
So I'm using the T56 I planned for this car since the other car is further along.
Before taking the engine and transmission out, I put the transmission brace on the mark the holes to drill for it and marked the tunnels to trim for the shifter.

Bad T56:





Getting Engine and Transmission Out:

















I'll try and find a local transmission shop that can rebuild my bad T56 and use it for this car.
In the mean time, I can prime and paint the engine bay before the engine goes back in for good.

Also, the next things I want to do are drill holes for the rear fenders, prime and paint the whole car, mount the roll bar in place, lizard skin the interior, and get the suspension back together.

One thing at a time will get this car back on the road.

[Venom13132]

Lot of good progress.  Seeing the piles of parts, that's where I am at right now.   My car is out for paint so everything is just waiting to go back in the car.

[bstallion]

Lot of good progress.  Seeing the piles of parts, that's where I am at right now.   My car is out for paint so everything is just waiting to go back in the car.

I'm excited to start getting it back together.


This update is going to be picture heavy...
Been a few months since I worked on the FD. I started cleaning the under side to prep it for paint or a coating a while back.  I have most of the suspension parts at a powder coaters so that also held me up. In the meantime, I borrowed the front and rear subframes with control arms from my other FD to get this one moved. Most of the panels went back on as well to keep everything together.












I transported it to our WFO location to better clean it and have access to the lift to paint it.

















I removed the rear subframe again to better clean under the whole car.













I used a rustoleum primer followed by a black paint. The bare metal sat a while, so we used a chem prime to treat the surface rust.









After letting it sit a few days, we took some wire wheels to the engine bay, door jams, and hatch.














The whole car was sanded again and prepped for a couple coats of epoxy primer. My friend did the spray on the primer coats.








Later we taped off holes and threads so some Lizard Skin can be sprayed.











With just some epoxy primer and ceramic coating of Lizard Skin, it already looks like a completely different car.
Next up I ended up bringing an LS Swapped RX-8 I just got over so we can give it a look over since it was a project by someone else.
After a quick look of the RX-8 we got the RX-7 masked off so the engine bay can be painted.
I wanted to go Black Metallic for the bay.









The paint looks so much better in person. As weather allows, we need to get the rest of the body panels epoxy coated and then done in 2K urethane before finally being able to paint.
The sound deadener Lizard Skin still needs to be sprayed as well.

[digitalsolo]

That's a huge amount of work.  I still have PTSD from my last paint/body project.