driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Starting this to document the build process of my FD.

This car was about to be cut up for donor quarter panels, and kick panels by the previous owner. It popped up on Facebook a week or so ago and when I asked about it, I simply couldn't let that happen... We loaded up and drove up to Chehalis Washington for it and brought it back.

Every step of the way to go pick this car up it fought me... We got stranded several times, ran out of gas once going 100 miles out of the way without cell service. Tons of good people helped out along the trip. Definitely now have a lot of memories with this car already.

'93 FD RX7. Original auto trans car. Hardtop. Straight all around. Perfect candidate for a drift car build, and to use as a demo car for my shop to showcase the quality of paint work we offer.








Had to buy this random trailer out there from a rad dude on Craigslist after u-haul slipped up on our trailer reservation. Sweet converted boat trailer that started falling apart (literally) right into Oregon lol

Build will be slow, but as progress is made I will update this like the old FC build.

vortex`

Good save! Watching with interest.

ComicArtist

Nice man! I miss my FD, it was an auto car too which sucked, part of me regrets getting rid of it because I'll probably never own another FD, but I had to make the financially responsible decision and get rid if it haha. Looking forward to seeing progress on this!

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Yea I'm stoked on it! I was shocked when the guy was offering quarters from it... lol

It happens. Do you know by chance, if the trans mounts on the FD are the same between auto or manual?

I know FC's have different positions on the chassis from the factory for auto and manual trans mounts.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Finalized plans with the last FD to run one of the last remaining authentic BN-Sports Blister kit in the US. Spoke to Ray at BN-Sports USA and he mentioned the kit was still available.. Stoked to start putting the pieces together for this car.

I'll be using the 13b-REW from the FC. Keeping everything essentially the same. Retaining the Turbo by Garrett GTX4088 turbo kit, and planning to utilize the FC Turbo gearbox with custom mounts, and custom drive shaft. Just pulling from the FC and using in this. Wiring and all.

I dont think I'll be cutting anything off this car immediately. The rear trunk will stay as is, and i'll probably just keep the fuel system in the hatch and create a removable firewall to seal it off from the cabin.

Front and rear bashbars, with jack points.


]
Hoping for a finished car by late June.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Rad time unloading it with some friends.

Traded some parts for doors, and a subframe, and other misc things to get it together. Making small progress.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

hung the doors, and scraped off the ugly purple tint. Hung the subframe and connected the rack and arms. Got a few good ideas for it already as far as front steering setup goes.

Maybe a few other people will benefit from what I plan to use for knuckles and tie rods since there isnt much of an aftermarket for these pieces. Pics soon.

ComicArtist

I'm pretty sure the PPF is different on these from auto to manual. FD's don't have a typical FC/S13 style transmission mount, it has a power plant frame going from the transmission to the diff and if I recall correctly from looking up 5 speed swap info, you have to have the driveshaft and PPF out of a manual

Codys4

iTrader: (1)

I can say that unfortunately I was the one that needed that quarter panel. And you stole it from me! Jk. You deserve it if you were willing to drive that far. Im sure the build will turn out awesome. Good Luck!

Also, mind me asking what you ended up getting it for?

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

hahaha shoot sorry man. there were some on ebay last time i looked. this thing is way too clean. i almost have second thoughts about putting it together as a track car but either way it was destined for death so at least it will get a bit of use.

the drive definitely sucked. I got it for about the same price as the VR R2 i bought from JTP. Im into it close to $3k with getting it and bringing it back to vegas.

Trying to sell off most of the stock stuff I wont use and help put those funds towards getting the essentials for it. But it's a side project with daily duties at the shop.

PS there's a guy selling a VR FD in pieces in the classifieds. has a smashed roof, and one side from a tire barrier.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

im planning to make a driveshaft (well measure it and send it off to dans driveline)
along with the trans mounts. I knew about the PPF but i do think youre right and it doesnt have floor mounts into the body now that you mention it. i cant remember i need to look at it and see how to incorporate the PPF in with everything as i forgot the diff needs that to stay bolted up. If i have to make mounts thats not crazy. the ppf weighs what seems to be like 60lbs... would be nice to eliminate it with bolt in mounts to the chassis for trans, and subrame for diff.

Im not sure if im using an FC clutch master cylinder and an FD clutch pedal yet or doing a wilwood clutch/brake pedal setup (since its auto and wilwood is the same price as stock fd stuff) and I already planned to run new hardlines under the car to eliminate the ABS setup. Eventually it will get a dogbox and quick change but i dont see that being anywhere soon at all. atleast 2yrs if...

Just really want to use my FC gearbox as i have a brand new OS Giken twin disc setup, and it feels so damn good.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Some pics with all the posts.

Only got to spend an hour or so with it today. Need to buy 2 front eccentric bolts to hang the one control arm into the subframe. Wanted to see how it looked with the nardi (will be buying a new one for it before its finished)



Also going to be searching for the following in the next week or so. Funds kinda tied up with other things this week.



Not too worried about finding these but if anyone has stock ones that would be cool. rather have stock than pay $100 for carbon ones..


And lastly the outer handles, and upper door trim


Ill make a WTB ad for that stuff but if someone happens to have some wrecked doors with those pieces id like to buy em!

ComicArtist

There are bolt hole in the body by the nose of the diff where you can make a pretty simple diff mount, I thought there was some holes in the body by the transmission too but I can't remember. If you look at LS swap kits like Hinson and Granny's, you'll see how they made their diff/transmission mounts and it shouldn't be too hard to replicate. That's what I was going to do with my 1j

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Someone on facebook tagged me in some pics of an 8.8 IRS diff setup. they basically did what i was thinking id have to end up doing to put a diff mount in the car. It had 1.5" tubing from side to side, with ears welded on for the front diff bolts. Still a better setup than the heavy PPF....

simple enough. even for the chassis plating it, and adding bolt holes shouldnt be a huge deal. I need to search and see what to do about this diff. i forgot the auto FD's came with 3.9 diffs, and being torsen, so ill need to plan on getting another diff anyways..

Need to search and see if the FC T2 clutch type lsd would go into the FD casing. If so that would be ideal.

Mocked up the front suspension pieces, and grabbed some fenders locally. Tossing it together with stock stuff so it doesnt look like a bucket sitting around.

Len-Len

iTrader: (9)

[QUOTE=driftfcbuckey;11863198
Need to search and see if the FC T2 clutch type lsd would go into the FD casing. If so that would be ideal.
.[/QUOTE]

Sure can

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...1/#post6538599

Looking forward to this build, mate. I bought my fd as a roller that looked fairly similar to yours. It was fun putting it together and figuring out stuff.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

thank you for posting that! makes me feel a lot better knowing i can just salvage the shimmed t2 diff from the FC and install it in this car. One less expense to worry about immediately!

Wont have too much to update on this for a bit (im guessing) although I went in, and spoke to my paint lady about colors for subframes, engine bay/cage, I'm pretty much set on the color layout for the car.

Wont be too much different from the FC, but will have a lot of minimal pearls as usual

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Thanks to Nick Apex at Garage7 for the fenders, and eccentric bolts for the front LCAs! Starting look more like a car. Hopefully ill have more than 1-2hrs a day to mess with it soon.

Progress pics.




[/img]https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1013621_10153006564041043_5103694799473474760_n.jp g?oh=2e345c8226ff785644cdc1fedefe399d&oe=5559E666[/img]

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

double post.

RXILVER7

iTrader: (2)

Hey you might have said it somewhere and I just missed it but; Why the switch to an FD?

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Well I've always liked them, and to be honest an FD is the pinnacle of the RX7 chassis. Everyone wants one, and theyre hard to come by. With my merging of Gloss-Factory to now RX7-Factory I felt it best to put together a new car to showcase we can build more than just FC's... I'm looking to get out of the customer work all together and just focus on bringing in inventory (cars, parts) and putting cars back together, and offering them to the public as opposed to focusing on track car builds.

I'm excited to see what the future holds. 2015 has been great so far.

Some updates on the build:

As many of you know, i'm parting out the FC to put this together. I'm using most everything I can from the FC. From the front knuckles, to the diff. I'm hoping to use this to learn more about the 3rd gen, and the part compatibility amongst the 2 cars.

I'm using the FC front drop knuckles, and front coilovers, with the FD stock upper perch to eliminate the double wishbone front knuckle setup. Before this is set in stone, i plan to get the wheels im going to be using, and take the car to an alignment shop to toss it on the rack for a day and use both the stock FD knuckles and the FC kit, and see how similar the geometry is. As of now its been a direct swap for the most part.

So far:
I need to machine the lower half of the spindle to fully seat the FD ball-joints into the knuckle. Before doing this, im still unsure of my options as i havent figured out if the FD balljoints are replaceable or if theyre like the FC S4 balljoints and non replaceable. (didnt look at them and a 5min search will sort this)

the stock tie rod end is bolted up loosely, although it doesnt fully seat much like the balljoint, i'm still not to the point of having moved to the steering rack, and decide if i will use the FD rack, or modify it and the tierods, to include widening the front control arms. I'm assuming i could add inner rack spacers for the meantime, and pillage the SuperNOW tie rod endlink kit from the FC and it be a thread on affair. But ill find that out once i get to that portion of the build.

if i can replace the balljoint, ill do that as preventative maintenance but im assuming ill just need to machine the spindle and be done with it.



I know what some people are thinking.. "that wont work" or "why downgrade to FC brakes" but I've never liked the type of people who say "that's impossible" or "that's a waste of time" I'm looking forward to using this car to learn from it. If this is all a waste of time, then so be it. Knowledge doesn't come without a price.
However, I am hoping this works, and this build inspires other people to be different and go against the grain. Whether it be lack of support for the 3rd gen chassis in the drifting world, or just other guys like me, wanting to have a unique setup... i'm hoping this build thread benefits other owners. Afterall.... This car was destined for death.

Pulled the oem gastank, and diff out of the car to take the purple cars diff, and the FD to Dan's Driveline and have them re-inspect their handy-work, and install the shimmed FC diff into the FD casing.



I'm looking at cutting off the mounts on my FC rear coils, and cutting off the mounts from the oem rear struts, so I can use the coilovers for this car.

more to come as time permits.

BlueWarrior

Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Sounds like your on the path to a righteous machine.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Only had an hour or 2 to mess with it today. started pulling all the sound deadening out carefully. Previous builds we used to just whack away at the floor with hammers to break off the sheeting. This time I used a screwdriver only. Kind of a pain in the *** but i'll enjoy it more when it's painted and smooth.


This week i'll pull the dash, and keep prepping the inside for the cage.


Decided on cutting the rear floor pan out like the FC also, and will be getting rid of all the random brackets inside the car.

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Dura flex had some crazy blow out sale on replica bn kits.

Ordered 2 kits just to have in the mean time 'till the legit stuff comes in. Would be cool to switch it up from Blister to regular style BN whenever....

This car has had my bank account close to zero countless times already....

Bruce's FD is a worthy reason for liking normal style BN kits on FD's. The best in the US.




Need to find 50mm overs for the rear and modify front's like the FC. Don't really like the origin style fenders with the bubble flares. Looking for full fitting wide fenders that retain OEM styling just wide. Anyone know of some?

driftfcbuckey

iTrader: (8)

Some pieces of the first kit came in the other day.


Modified the brackets for my towbar, and installed on the FD so I decided it would probably be smart to weigh it before cutting it up. So I took the car to get weighed right down the street at the scrap yard. lol (scales need to happen before its done to corner balance)


Current weight as it sat pictured was 1320lbs. So I started getting all the misc brackets popped off, and looking at the rear floor pan to remove as clean as possible, and get ideas for the fuel cell cage to go in.


Got everything off on the inside aside from the stuff under the dash. Will probably do that later this upcoming week.

Mounted up the few pieces of the kit. Surprisingly for rep BN this all fit pretty good, much like the FC kits I get from these guys.



Can already see it on the ground with wheels, and paint.



Next up was to trim the rear kit for the rear lights to go in. I wont be using these oem lights, but some similar. (for my 8 way strobe light setup lol)



Pretty decent fitment. The passenger side is a little off from their molds being weird, but nothing a pass of filler, and an hour cant rectify when it gets to the paint stage.


Fun times, and making solid progress. Should have something cool to update regarding our DMAX bits (fenders, hood) in a few days.

bern_supra

iTrader: (1)

That's gonna be annother sick build !!