What did you do to your FB today?
 

Okay, first of all I'll admit that this is a blatant steal from Bimmerforums.com However, I think that it is an excellent idea. Reading through their thread, I found that reading about what other owners are doing to their car every day (anything from cussing at it because it won't start, to rebuilding something major, or just thrashing it) is extremely motivating. I can't read that thread for five minutes without running out to the car to try something new.

This thread will probably contain a combination of technical information, and plain schenanegans, so I'll let the ModGods decide which section it belongs in.

To start this off, this is not what I did today, but rather over the weekend. I started out by cleaning and rearranging the garage so I'd have room to work.

Then, I moved my Baby in out of the cold (well, actually into a different kind of cold, because my garage isn't heated). :)

Next, I pulled the existing cooling system (radiator and surround removed as one piece).

Then I pulled both front struts for a little refresh.




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Here's a shot of the radiator that's going in. It looks like a very nice unit. Orion84GSL got the same thing, but a 2 row instead of 3 row. I'll have to see where we ordered them from, or maybe Chris will chime in.

And here's another shot just because I kind of like it. The old girl looks like a real warhorse from this angle. The fluid is coolant from the work earlier.

All of this is so I can get back to Autocrossing in the Spring in top shape. I'll be moving up in class, so I've got a few mods to perform.

Thanks to Respeed I'll be installing some roll center correction blocks, a triangulated strut bar, and some cool stickers for a few more horsepower. :)

I'll keep this updated as I go along.

So, what did you do to your FB today?

I don't know how well it will work for me to post in a thread like this, but I can say I prepped a waterpump for my FB today. Got it cleaned, ground some casting flash down (so the alt can sit lower; don't ask), masked then primed, then painted. I couldn't get all the surface rust off and I didn't want to try, so I used primer. It's one of those cast iron FB waterpumps. The type that works forever. It just needs a thermostat and aluminum or steel upper water outlet thing. I forgot what you call them.

I am in the process of rebuilding my engine. However it seems less like rebuilding and more like a never ending task of cleaning...30 years of grime really builds up.

BTW, theres a thread like this in the SE section but I like a 1st gen version better.

I recently acquired an 85 nikki and intake from pullapart for a project. I'll be cleaning
and modding it similiar to a sterling or SR carb, thats all I can say for now.

prepping my cars out out of winter hibernation lol

I spent about two hours sanding one of the lips for my BBS wheels. Just 30 more hours to go. Those are champion cooling rads available on eBay. Just search for it. Well made, inexpensive, larger and direct bolt in option.

I'll be finishing up an SR carb. tonight and probably pulling my motor out of my racecar for a fresh engine rebuild and swapping out to one of my spare transmissions. I'm also trying to finish making my new single piece camber plates/strut bar mounts and prepping the car for a new paint job in the next few weeks... Flat Black and Orange. I'll throw some pics up later.

i actually drove mine....

I peaked into the garage as I headed out for the day and said to myself she's coming along and looking rather purty

lol

Didnt work on today, but I did some stuff sunday.

I had a coolant leak between the water pump housing and the front plate, so I pulled it all off. I went ahead a replaced the pump while all tore apart. I then replaced the coolant level sensor since the wire broke off and it was leaking. Also sand blasted the housing and painted it and the pump.

Painted the fan, cleaned the aluminum spacer up real nice, painted the center of the alternator to match.
Still need to run some new air intake ducting, build a heat shield for the filter, and build a new coolant catch can and relocate it.

http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/r...-52-40_180.jpg
http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/r...-52-46_317.jpg

I told it to be patient as I pulled the -Z out of the garage to go to work. Parts are coming; we can make you whole.

I searched Cl for a rolling chassis to drop my engine into :)

Took apart and cleaned my ignition switch. Polished all the contacts, and broke the wires to teh key buzzer switch in the process. What a lame design. Thanks Mazda.

Put it all back together, and now my voltage gauge seems to read a bit higher... Starts stroner, we'll see if it keeps doing the intermittent non-starting thing anymore.

I drove mine to work in the snow.

I am working on getting parts together( Dzus fasteners and rivets) to attach the wide body kit to my EProd FB.

Ended up only getting this done to mine... One of my sponsors sent me some gold heat reflective tape so I covered my carb hat.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...oldCarbHat.jpg

Worked on a TII manifold to 4port 13b adapter. A few finishing touches, and injector holes bored for the primaries, and it will be done.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...n/IMG_2089.jpg


Isaac

I like this thread!

Today I picked up and installed new gaskets for the BAC/Air Supply Valve from Mazda. In the process I cleaned and lubed the BAC. I'm hoping to solve a low idle speed issue when letting off the gas.

Looking good! Today I picked up another package from Respeed (strut tower mounts and a mirror mounted wind deflector). And I gazed upon her as I left for work. :)

Took advantage of the unseasonably warm winter day and took the T2 FB for a good long drive. Then came home and installed a FC oil cooler on my 12a FB, and made up some new brackets to hold my e-fan to a new stock style tall rad.
I previously had a ebay aluminum short rad and FB style oil cooler in there. The rad was leaking and the oil cooler was pretty crappy. Good excuse to change things up!

Btw, theres a thread like this on the Impreza forum I'm on, it's a great idea!

re istalled all the exterior lights, except license plate lights and door hardware (handles, locks etc) and the exterior mirror of course after spending a bunch of time purtying each piece up

I put an throwout bearing in the trans and cleanedup all the treads and put new bolts in to reattach the trans to the motor. I plan on putting the motor/trans back in the car tonight.

i wanna drive it to work, but i think i'll have to settle for giving the rear of the car a squeeze

Nothing yet, but I'm about to drive it :)

The biggest plan is to replace it as a daily driver with a 2001 Miata. Having two, two seat sports car is just as practical as having one four seat car, right guys?

Wiped the coolant off the crossmember (seen in photo above) because it bugged me.

Showed my best pal what was in process around 1am, standing around in the garage, drinking a beer, staring at my car up in the air. Life is good. :)

This morning, I started making a list of what I intend to accomplish. Got a buddy stopping by tonight, so we might get something knocked off that list.

This thread is going to be a great motivator to me. lol...

as the owner of 2 two seat convertibles, i endorse that statement!

And as the owner of two 7s and a Mazdaspeed Miata, I further endorse his endorsement.

As for the fb, technically I didn't to anything to it but I've got almost a page full or goodies prices out and ready to order.

I finished making an exhaust for the fb so I can run and tune the car without the neighbors calling the police on me...header duel pipes all the way back to a prima flow...they didn't say it had to be quiet...just QUIETER! LOL

I bought paint! S3 Chateau Silver.....

I feel like this thread will only make me get more ideas on how to spend money... I bought window tint and have a huge list in mind, door panels are also coming next :biggrin:

door panels....hmmmmm....need those too.

Thanks for the reminder...I gotta go by my upholstery guys shop and see how he is coming on my drivers side seat rebuild and my door panels...the door panels were great except the tops (like 90% of them I see out there) where the sun had cooked them, so he is gonna try to fix the top and save the lower so it has at least a "stock" appearance....and you would mention window tint...I just got finished scraping off old window tint on all my windows...it had turned purple and was starting to bubble from time...bad thing is I can remember putting the same tint on way back in the 80s....

I pulled the front swaybar/tension rod/tension rod mount assembly this evening, mostly just so I could stop in and say I did something. :) But I'm actually heading right back out there for some honest work (if the wife doesn't waylay me).

Why do I get a good feeling whenever I stop by this thread? It's like walking into a bar full of your buddies, all discussing your favorite topic. Only, without the beer, or anyone actually being there. lol.

Oh, and I finally recognize that sound I keep hearing in here! It's the sound of creaking joints all us old farts getting our asses off the couch and doing something for a change! :)





.

Sounds good. I have 3 Se's, a 2 seater truck, and a 2 seater rock crawler with racing seats, does that count? lol

You gonna put some on that spoiler?

I thought about it, while I sat on a plane all day.

Okay, I went back out and pulled the header panel, the right front fender, and I removed the efans from the radiator and test fitted them on the new one.

Off to bed now....

I installed my new Braille battery. Battery weight went from almost 40 lbs to 17 lbs.!!!!!WoooHooooo!!
http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/...batterypic.jpg

uhmm..... bled my new clutch master cylinder and slave.... drove it around for a while.... and parked it back into its spot next to the FC and RX2.....

Finally got around to stripping my interior on my fb, pulled the storage bins and carpet/sound proofing, tomorrow's the storage bin framing and the door panels and interior trim, even found a brand new clutch master cylinder left by a previous owner under the carpet next to the taillight!

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0057.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0058.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0059.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0060.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0061.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0062.jpg

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...i/IMAG0063.jpg

Score! Didn't do it today, but earlier this week I dropped off some materials and some cash to a local gal. I'm getting a new shifter boot, ebrake boot, center console lid and the vinyl stamped 'wheel well' covers redone in brown/black to match my rx8 seats. Also placed an order for one of these bad boys... Minus the black in the lettering.

I went and looked at it sit in the garage waiting to be built lol. Decided i'll be going with no blowoff valve this build lol.

I ported some rotor housings and filled some ACV ports with quicksteel. Fun times were had by me.

evicting mice......

Spent some time working on the Megasquirt for my T2 FB. Reminds me why I didn't pursue a career in IT.... ugh lol

A writeup for this has officially been demanded! :)


I'm adding this to my list of things to do, to make up for the increased front end weight of the 3 row rad (more fluid weight, even though aluminum), triangulated strut brace, and new air dam.

Err, where'd you get bins on an SA! I don't remember you having bins back there
when we met at B3R but maybe I missed those.

Hmmm, braille battery huh? I wonder ........

Been thinking about reinstalling the AC and putting a hogged out nikki on just for
fun. We'll see.

I hope I see some of you guys at DGRR (1st timer here) or the Mitty.

I got discouraged today....went to see the guy that is going to reupholster my drivers side LE seat...the "matching" fabric we picked out doesnt match, and its the closest he can find. Now i am looking at having to change the look of my seats to accomodate this hiccup...bad thing is my Passenger seat is perfect...and now i cant use the factory cover cause i cant match it...guess i am gonna have to get a set of covers from RacingBeat and use them...I'm BUMMED......