March 17, 2025, 04:20:47 PM

Author Topic: Project Sleep-R - Bedlined 79 RX7 Turbo 5.3 fun  (Read 96652 times)

Offline Geoturbo

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #285 on: April 17, 2016, 12:27:06 PM »
That #7 moment really bites! If I recall correctly the timing was a bit aggresive IMO for 93 octane but then again Im always conservative with timing.

 E-85 will be a good move, Its bailed me out at a time or two. Plus it smells better..haha...

Thats quite a list, it will definitley get you closer to where you want to be.

I have the same fan and cooler it works great. Let us known how the progress goes.

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #286 on: April 28, 2016, 10:22:04 AM »
I got the new engine tore down. I could have swore the guy said it was a 5.3. Its a 4.8. Apparently  he had it listed as a 4.8. But its got the beefier rods but still the 24x sensor.
The top end, as posted before, was absolutely filthy. The bottom end doesn't look too bad but there is a bit of wear on the bearings, the ringlands have alot of carbon on them, the piston tops had a TON of carbon on them... the engine spins very freely though (even with pistons/rings in). I'm guessing with the mileage and carbon that they were quite worn.

So some decisions I'm currently struggling with  -- Rebuild the 4.8 the right way, or clean the carbon off the pistons/rings and slap it back together and boost it ? Its a $300 engine, and I plan on building a forged iron 5.7 with the original 5.3 over next winter.. 








Machine Work:
Block Clean and Check: 85
Hone: 100
Install Cam Bearings: 80
Polish Crank: 50
Wash and Check Rods: 40

Cheaper EngineTech Mains, rods, rings: $100
Misc pry 50 or so.

$500 rebuild or so. Bleh.
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #287 on: April 28, 2016, 04:01:19 PM »
Gonna soak everything in pine-sol and hot water and slap it all back together, screw it! lol
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #288 on: May 13, 2016, 09:42:17 AM »
Lolz. So change of plans again. The 4.8 was a pile of shit. I traded the heads off it +$120 for some new ARP Head studs and then sold it for the same $300 I bought it for.
I then traded those ARP Head Studs + $200 for a full set of cleaned up Gen 3 5.3L Rods and Pistons and some 243 Heads. Rotating Assembly is in. Heads are at the machine shop getting milled .30 and cleaned up.



Gapped the rings a bit looser than I wanted. Hadn't actually ever filed rings before. Didnt realize how fast that ring filer takes off material :lol: Shoutout to The Shop Inc for letting me borrow one.
2nd Ring gapped at .032 (loose is fast right)
Top Compression ring gapped at .028.

All my rod bearings looked good. Using a torque angle gauge is a pain in the damn ass. Took forever to clean out the damn oil pan. Protip: Dont ever melt a piston  :(
« Last Edit: May 13, 2016, 09:49:09 AM by Burntz »
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #289 on: May 24, 2016, 09:20:08 AM »
Both heads on, ATI Balancer and Timing Pointer on, and ready to drop back in the car.





2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Geoturbo

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #290 on: May 24, 2016, 10:56:29 AM »
She is looking like a jewel!  :drive:

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #291 on: May 24, 2016, 05:46:55 PM »
fingers crossed for no problems. Hope to have the engine in, manifold on, wires hooked up etc etc, and maybe the trans in tonight. Its "americruise" weekend this coming weekend. The tour doesn't come through any more, and its mostly stupid kids in shit cars and diesel trucks out cruising... but I'd still like to get the car out if possible. Will give me alot more motivation to keep on if I hear it run again.
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #292 on: May 27, 2016, 12:18:02 PM »
Well I got her started up yesterday.




Need a few things:
New exhaust manifold gaskets - o reillys
new vband for the downpipe which broke - ordered
AN8 to th350 fittings for the trans cooler ports - ordered
a belt to fit the new alternator setup - 710K6 according to ICT Billets site.
and some other things.

Just curious, does anyone know if milling those head .03 would necessitate different length pushrods?
« Last Edit: May 27, 2016, 12:29:58 PM by Burntz »
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #293 on: June 02, 2016, 09:20:56 AM »
Got alot accomplished last night.

New Serp belt on. 710K6 works perfect with that bracket and No PS
Got the radiator and new Derale Fan in, was kind of a pain in the ass.
- there is literally like 2 mm of clearance between the fan and the intercooler
Got the new downpipe vband on
Got the ARP harmonic balancer bolt in and torqued
Got the new converter filled, on trans, and the transmission installed in the car, as well as the driveshaft.

To do list:
- Install remote trans cooler
- Bolt down flexible trans dipstick
- Fill transmission fluid
- Get new Lokar Speedo cable put together and in.
- Put new exhaust manifold gaskets in.
- Clock top IC pipe so that the BOV doesn't hit the Alternator Bracket.
- Wire up radiator fan (easy)
- Fill and burp the radiator.
- Maybe go on a quick ish test ride and look for any gremlins.

One thats done, its on to:
- New fuel cell and e85.
- Install VIAIR onboard air system
- Install EBC. Plumb Lines
- Go get it tuned at The Shop Inc.

then I can start on fabbing and wiring up the traction control system.
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #294 on: June 06, 2016, 10:22:18 AM »

To do list:
- Install remote trans cooler
- Fill transmission fluid
- Get new Lokar Speedo cable put together and in.
- Wire up radiator fan (easy)
- Maybe go on a quick ish test ride and look for any gremlins.

One thats done, its on to:
- New fuel cell and e85.
- Install VIAIR onboard air system
- Install EBC. Plumb Lines
- Go get it tuned at The Shop Inc.

then I can start on fabbing and wiring up the traction control system.

So, with the trans cooler... there really isn't a single good flat spot to mount it underneath the car... Very frustrating. Is it possible to mount it inside of the vehicle? Or would this be illegal?
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #295 on: June 08, 2016, 09:45:18 AM »
Found a spot to route the trans cooler in the clear back. Worked out pretty well.

Current engine bay status:



I got the car ready to drive. Had it running, I think my starter is pretty much shot though, wouldn't turn it over even with a jump box on it after a few starts. Oh joy.

Found pretty quickly that my feed line on the turbo wasn't tight, and one trans line fitting wasn't either. Easy fixes.

Noticed my fan wasn't turning on above 180 as specified. Checked settings, High Current Output 2 was listed in the Fan Control Box, but High Current Output 1 was the output that turned the fan on in the I/O test box. When I tried to change it to Output 1, it said there was an I/O conflict...
Figured out I had to go into the programmable output menu and disable whatever stock programmed output they had for #1, and then specifiy it under Fan Control like I was trying to do. The weird thing is, I'm pretty sure MS3 ran my previous fan fine, so I'm not sure wtf happened. Odd.

Tonight I need to command fixed timing and adjust my ignition offset to match physical engine timing with a timing light before I can try to do anything else. I want to get some ride time in it before I switch to E85 and get it on the dyno.

Edit

Ordered:

Speedmaster PCE393.1028 - Speedmaster High Torque Gear Reduction Starters - 3 HP
http://www.jegs.com/i/Speedmaster/74...ductId=1558362

We'll see how it does for being "pro-comp".

I have their head studs and they work great. It was only $98 too, compared to $160 ish for a stock one at O' Reillys or a complete OEM knock off on Rock Auto for $68.
« Last Edit: June 08, 2016, 12:15:43 PM by Burntz »
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #296 on: June 10, 2016, 09:23:55 AM »
So, somehow I had my fan mounted the wrong way, it was blowing air out the front  :yay:
- I got that fixed. Now moves alot of air, in the correct way. The car used to get hot while idling, in traffic, etc. Just sitting in my garage idling it now holds about 200* with the fan on. woot.

Checked physical timing, seems to be fine.
Found my auxiliary power wire coming from the back was not quite crimped well in a spot and was cutting out intermittently. Got that fixed.
Took it on a short drive and its got a nasty stumble/hesitation between 1-2k rpms, otherwise it seems to drive really well.
Verified that the trans cooler and fan are working well. The Derale cooler is quite nice.

The turbo drain gasket is leaking somehow  , gonna fix that tonight and recheck trans fluid and coolant.  :cheers:
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #297 on: June 13, 2016, 11:56:11 AM »
This weekend was a busy one. Scott Clark and I decided Friday to make an appointment to tune my car Sunday.
So of course, I had some things to finish up in a short amount of time.

I cut my new speedometer cable to length and got that installed. I thought this would fix the last of my trans leaks, but turns out the governor delete plate is seeping a small bit. Just need to pop it off and silicone all the way around it according to the guy who built my trans.
The thermoswitch for the trans cooler fan out back is seeping some too. Not really sure wtf to do about that because they specifically say in the instructions to hand tighten it, and to not use tools. Maybe I'll try cleaning it real good and putting a bit of RTV on the base of it.
I got the turbo drain gasket replaced last minute which solved that issue.
I also need to get the catch can on tonight, it has quick connect fittings for the sight tube, one is broke and those fittings are hard to find!

We loaded the RX7 up and headed to the 402 Dyno outside of Omaha, NE. Scott Clark and Jered Klug were awesome. They both came in to meet up to tune the car on a Sunday.
The only issue we ran into was the wide-band reading on the laptop, on the gauge in the car, and the dyno's wide-band were all reading differently
I didn't have the terminator plug needed to program the LC1 in the car, so we had to cut the end off the cable and wire the red/black wires together to "terminate" that end.
Once we got the LC1 reprogrammed and free air calibrated again, everything read exactly the same.

Scott started with idle tuning, moved onto startup tuning, accel enrichment, etc etc. The car idles rock solid at 850 with a closed loop idle. It no longer lean spikes or hesitates with a hard stab of the throttle and it comes back to idle after a hard throttle hit perfectly now.
He moved into load and driveability testing, and finally into some WOT tuning. We were only making pulls to 5200/5400 RPM's to save the converter and my tires. Rubber was flying everywhere  The tune is also setup for closed loop WOT as well! It can adjust WOT fueling based on a number of factors, we added 3% extra fuel to Cylinder #7 since that cylinder is know to have problems and set it up to be able to individually pull spark per cylinder, up to 5* if necessary. The end result was a fantastically tuned, safe car that I'm totally happy with. The car also stayed pretty rock solid at 200-205* Coolant temp the entire time, even on some back to back pulls! I just need to get it switched to e85 so we can add more timing

Because of not making full pulls, coupled with Jereds dyno (brand new Mustang) reading numbers much lower than even Chad's dyno (Mustang), any numbers I got don't really mean much. I will say that it made over 400whp at only 5400 rpm on the ultimate heartbreaker dyno IE: he said a car that made 500hp on chads dyno read 60 hp less on his!

Next up: Wiring in my launch control and boost control.

I also hope to have the traction control on, wired up and functional by No Prep in a month.

Just need to change the oil and plugs out tonight and I should be out cruising around.
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0

Offline forcefed86

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #298 on: June 13, 2016, 12:33:57 PM »
Great news! When you going to the track?   :drive:

Offline Burntz

Re: Project Sleep-R (SA/355/th350/8.8)
« Reply #299 on: June 13, 2016, 12:43:13 PM »
Hopefully in a week or two! Need to get some launches in and get my rear suspension set up.

The PTC stall that I ordered, that I already sent back once because it wasn't foot braking high enough, now stalls EVEN LOWER. My old old one footbraked to 3200. The PTC did to 2400, and now it starts spinning them at 2k.  >:( >:( >:( >:(

Won't be able to launch for shit at 2k rpms...
2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel - Cross country work machine. Deleted and tuned. 50mpg+
1999 Chevy Corvette - LG 1-3/4" Longtubes & H Pipe. Forgeline GA3's, H/C/I soon. Road course car.
1979 Mazda Rx7 - 5.3L / TH350 / 8.8" / Turbo. Ms3-Pro, E85.
PB Currently 5.97 @ 118  - 1/8 mi

Build thread ->http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=7441.0