fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

I figured since I'm really bored at work lately. I'll try to utilize my time to make a build thread. I always wanted a FC when I was a kid. Something about the fastback style and dual exhaust got me...:/ Had no clue about the rotary engine. Just knew it didn't have pistons. So here's my journey from day 1.


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Saw this thing sitting in a driveway as I was rolling by. Stopped and talked to the lady who was not ready to get rid of it. But after sweet talking her, I got the car for $500 and a dump run. She didn't run at first. But I got some help from a local rotary guy and determined it was the fuel pump. Once we replaced that, it fired right up. That motor lasted for about 1 month before it finally ate thru the coolant seal groove and spent all the water thru the motor. I could only drive it 5 miles before it was completely dry of water. Which brings me to my first engine swap.

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Picked up this street ported n/a that was a load of fun. I started my first season with this motor. Just enough power to get a good idea of what drifting was all about. Also picked up a t2 hood and welded the rear end and installed dtss eliminators and found some crown vics.






After my first season I knew I wanted more power. So I looked around and found this.


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I thought it was a actual t2 motor. But since it was a grease ball, I decided to replace all the external gaskets and seals. That when I pulled the lim off and saw 6 ports!! The guy before me built a s4 6 port and modified the lim to fit. Since it was a Craigslist buy, I just ran with what I had.
After cleaning and painting some ugly parts. It didn't look to bad...

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Also got some goodies. Megan tracks, pros port gauges and a NRG wheel.















After getting everything installed. I daily drove it for about 3 months waiting for the next season to start. At 7 psi, I couldn't wait. It felt awesome to have boost.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

First event with new turbo engine was the last event also. Ran good for for a bit. But blew a rear apex seal and that was that. I was using a Rtek 1.5 ecu at the time. And I found a broken rear injector clip. So I think it was a combo of both. Idk. I sat out all of 2011 with no motor and no money. Bummed. Sold my wheels and some other misc. parts just to live. But finally got things going and started gathering parts for a new motor.

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Picked up a blown t2 short block.^^

I learned a lot about the rotary since the day I picked it up the car. I felt my knowledge was good enough to tackle the job of building my motor myself...,So I did.

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I went with Rotary Aviation classic seals.


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I wasn't planning on getting too crazy. Since it was my first build. I also decided to go with 9.4:1 rotors. I read and found that it is relatively easy to make hp and tq with a higher comp ratio on low boost. And with a good tune I can turn it up and make some sweet power. Also using Rotary Aviation soft seals, fd corner seals and race springs, s5 housings, and street ported s4 irons. I checked everything to spec. Cleaned the living crap out of everything. Good enough to eat off of. And slapped it together.

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Got a fmic an set that up.

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And put poly bushing under the whole car.

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Got some steering angle from Anercrombie Motorsports here in southern Oregon.











Decided to hack up the stock front bumber for more air flow and super hella style.



Got the hook up on some Starion wheels. 16x8 -10.



So now I was ready for the season.

Idk why only half the pics are showing. Maybe a MOD can help me out lol

paganizondadude

iTrader: (1)

Rad. Rotaries are cool. Ill be seeing you at Parc next year.

slowgxl

Nice build dude....how are the Megan's? Thinking about pick up a set for my 7.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Thanks dude. Honestly, I really am impressed with the Tracks. They have a 12-10k spring rate so there alittle stiff. The damping works good and I wouldn't mind daily driving on them. Just turn them down to soft.

Soon as I get to work I'll add some more brotary stuff.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

So the day came for me to start the fresh engine. Primed oil and cranked her. Fired first try an ran smooth. I didn't put boost on it for 500 miles. But after that 500 I sunk my foot into the pedal in 2nd gear and she ripped the 215s no problem. I was ready to abuse her. And the time was at the first event of the 2012 Drift evolution series. A 2 day event in 90*+ weather. It was going to be a great test for my new engine.

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It was a great event. I managed to take 3rd in the event after missing all of 2011. I had 3 omt's in one battle. So I had lots of seat time and learned alot. The feeling was overwhelming knowing that I built something and it performed as well as it did.
Next event was at our previous venue at the local fairgrounds. It was literally 108* at one point. I was alittle worried for my motor. Another grueling test. But again, it performed amazing and I was able to take 1st!! My first win in my rotary powered machine. I was stoked!! I did a nice victory run and finished off the tires I had on after the last battle.







1 month later was the next event. Not so much a event as to just a open drift. No judged drifting. Just smokey fun! Heres a couple vids from that day.


http://vimeo.com/49128239

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Now it brings us to last weekend. The car needed a few fixes. I killed another rear diff mount. So I put in a new one and put a new TPS in as well.

It was our annual Halloween drift/pumpkin smashing event. Again, no judged drifting. Just a whole mess of fun. I posted these videos in the actions shots thread. But I'll put them in here too.

http://vimeo.com/52063038


The event was a blast. Even though the tire machine broke. I managed to get some tires mounted and drove as much as i could. I somehow took 3rd in the pumpkin smash contest. I got a free t shirt outta that lol. I have lots of footage that im going thru and gonna put together a little video. So i might be parking it for the yr and concentrating on pro-am. Thunder hill raceway isnt far at all and i think that the series i wanna compete in. So i will be putting in a cage and adding some more power. Heres a little list of stuff i need.

Cage
Seat
ECU(standalone)
gt35 turbo
injectors
fire suppression( if needed)
tune
and some other small things. Ill try keep this thread updated as much as possible.

rx-711

iTrader: (2)

Sick video love the angle

MtxWrl

nice build and awesome videos.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Thanks dudes. I think I'm going to drive one last time this yr at the last drift evolution event. So tear down will start after that. Hope the weather holds!!

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Guess ill do alittle update...

Picking up where i left off. I made it to the last event of the year. It was a rain soaked open drift. Had too small of tires and fought for traction all day. But still had a good time and some good tandems. I gathered all my footage from the year and made alittle video.


So sometime later that winter i had to change a clutch on my jeep wrangler and the 7 had to go outside in the cold. Well, the parts for the jeep were lost in transit and it spent about a week in my garage. In the mean time the temps outside were freezing. And i completely forgot i had pure water in my radiator and motor... The middle iron expanded and cracked at the top of the iron.



Stupid mistake on my part cost me big time. Took out the rear iron and rotor and all seals except my RA apex seals. 5 of the 6 i reused. One was bent and didnt have any chance of sliding in the new rotor groove. So i got a new seal from RRS. Sourced a new rotor, middle and rear irons, and all new rotor seals.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

I figured i would upgrade my fuel system while i had a little extra money. Found a great deal on a used E6k and also picked up a FPR and 1600cc injectors. And stacked the engine.




Still using 9.4:1 rotors. I really like the powerband it gives me. And still running RA classic 2mm seals.

Relocated the battery to the passanger bin area and finished the wiring on the E6k. The harness came a little hacked but i figured it out and cleaned it up. And dropped the motor in.



I also got in on a tuning session down in San Jose with Steve Kan. I paid my deposit 2 months prior to finishing the car on the day i left... Cause i love to procrastinate.

I got the car started the day before i left to Cali with the stock map. But it ran real rough and actually filled my turbo with fuel. So i figured it was something in my tune and just left it alone. Loaded it up and off i went.




I loaded it on backwards to keep the weight on the axles of my trailer. Well, it didnt make it up the first time and smashed my exhaust. Bending my DP and pinching the piping halfway down the exhaust. I could tell this was gonna be a good trip..

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Got to Cali 8 hours later and arrived Tec 3 motorsports. Really cool shop and cool guys. They helped me out alot.
I got the exhaust fixed at a shop around the corner from Tec 3. Bent the DP back to shape and replaced the pinch piping before my time with Steve. There was 6 other FDs from area. So i had 3 guys before me. Including a 3 rotor Porsche that Steve tuned. It was rad.
We couldn't get it to start for the longest time. Being that the engine was fresh with 0 miles. We had to pour some ATF down the lim and it fired up enough for Steve to see that the new 2 bar map i bought wasnt working. And filled the shop with thick white smoke..it sucked. Turned out the wiring for the 2 bar was incorrect. I swapped two wires and it fired right up. Thanks to Steve for figuring that out lol. Steve then went to work and got it ready for dyno. We strapped it down and started making some pulls.
Steve told me that my 2 bar map was reading incorrect still and that i should swap out for a 3 bar. Luckily the guys at Tec 3 had a extra and i put it in. Everything was then good to go.
Car put down 240hp and 216tq around 5500rpm before the stock s5 turbo fell off. It would see 8-10 lbs and then would fall to 5-6 around 5500. But im still more than happy with the numbers. Considering it went from the bench to the dyno and about 15-20 pulls. It never got hot and ran ~240hp consistently. Im gonna upgrade turbos after i break this motor in. But for now im just gonna enjoy driving again. Heres a vid of a few pulls.


Im now ready to shred tires and have some fun. Next event i will be ready to go. Thanks to Steve Kan for being patient with me and my car. I recommend Steve to anyone who needs a tune. Real nice guy. Till next time guys!!

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Made a bumper bar yesterday with some spare 1 3/4 tubing my buddy had lying around. Nothing fancy or special. But i needed something to help protect my IC.





I wanted to make sure it didnt block any airflow. So i hid it behind the bumper strip.






How she sits now.



Gonna put in a tilt wheel steering column when i get some spare time again. Id like to be able to adjust my wheel to a more comfortable position. Then gonna head up to PARC and try that track out on the 11th of Aug for a nice shakedown. Should get some vids and pics.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Made it up to Parc in Canby, Oregon. Car ran amazing. I managed to get some things done before i left that i think helped alot. Suspension felt tight and the steering angle was more than enough. And i needed it! The track was super narrow with some serious tight turns. It was quite the challenge to keep the rpms high in the hairpins. But i got alittle better every lap. And the tires seemed to wear faster and faster lol.
The new motor setup was also a huge upgrade to the previous stock setup. 240hp feels pretty good. Ill be happy till i can afford a new turbo. Cause of course i want more power. Overall, i was super stoked on the cars performance and cant wait to get back behind the wheel and slay more tires. Here's a few pics till i can upload video.

AngelsAndBombs

Dope 7 dude. Where you at Drift Evo this year? I didn't drive, just went for pit crew for a friend/party. It was way nuts!

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Thanks man! Ya, i was at the last Drift Evo but i was still waiting on a tune so i too was just a crew member. I was helping teach my buddy in the bright orange hardbody pickup the basics of sliding. Who did you go with? I might have met you..ha.

AngelsAndBombs

Oh dope.
I was there with some friends, my homie was driving this Miata.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

O, ok. You guys were pitted right across from us. We were under the overhang thing. Hope to see you at the next one in your 7. Get some tandem in.

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Here's some vid from my Parc trip.

paganizondadude

iTrader: (1)

You better be at PARC for labor day!

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

I already have others plan that weekend. Otherwise i would have waited and gone to that since its a 2 day event.

paganizondadude

iTrader: (1)

Damnit i wanted to check this thing out so bad!

FrankieK

Im stoked to see more of your build man! Your killing it in the videos

fcrotory

iTrader: (20)

Thanks dude! Ya, its finally to a point where i feel really comfortable behind the wheel. Learning more and more every time i get on the track. So much fun.