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-   -   My GSL-SE Project (https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/my-gsl-se-project-838278/)

B6T 05-07-09 07:17 PM

My GSL-SE Project
 
I've owned this car since 2005. It was dropped off at a shop I used to work at as a no-start and I made the owner an offer that he couldn't refuse. I replaced the starter and she fired right up. It was 100% original... no modifications of any kind, original paint, minimal rust. I'm in Ontario, Canada, and if you've ever seen some of our cars, especially one's of this "vintage"... you know that the salt sure does a number on them. Obviously this one has NEVER been winter driven. I've never so much as had a bolt stick or round off. It is a great basis for a project.

I'm planning on getting the new engine (LS1 V8, of course) running perfectly in normally aspirated form on the standalone, then turbocharging it over this upcoming winter.

Fresh paint:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...a/P1010056.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...a/P1010057.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...a/P1010059.jpg

Modifications at this point were a full Racing Beat exhaust (whose sound I love regardless of how restrictive it is), Mazdatrix stainless brake lines, slotted/drilled rotors, and PBR brake pads.


Replacing suspension bushings with Energy Suspension Urethane bushings (black):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/P1010050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/P1010052.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/P1010055.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/P1010058.jpg

B6T 05-07-09 07:17 PM

Tear down:
Intact:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2193.jpg

Putting my lovely girlfriend to work: :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2194.jpg

Useless stuff gone:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2196.jpg

Getting ready to pull the engine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2202.jpg

Taking the interior apart:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2197.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2198.jpg

OEM ECU removed, trying to figure out where to mount things:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2203.jpg

Aforementioned things mounted:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2213.jpg

B6T 05-07-09 07:18 PM

Engine:
Designed a flywheel in Solidworks:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...a/Flywheel.jpg

Machining said flywheel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2204.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2205.jpg

Flywheel done (also shown is an ACT street clutch):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2260.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2211.jpg

S5 13B - Rebuilt and Street Ported
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2206.jpg

Machining trigger wheel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/S6300421.jpg

Figuring out the hard way how the OEM crank pulley is made:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/S6300422.jpg

Continuing to machine the wheel (original design changed... see next few pics)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/S6300421.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/S6300425.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2259.jpg

This is it for now...

84stock 05-07-09 09:05 PM

did you drive it with the respeed bushings before the other updates? If so, what did you notice?

B6T 05-07-09 09:48 PM

I didn't get the bushing from Respeed... I made a list of the part numbers from the Energy Suspension website and ordered them from a local shop.

There was a huge difference... the car feels a lot tighter now. The biggest difference was that before changing the bushings (which is a job I'll never do again), you could feel body settle back down on the rear end after taking a corner hard, and now that's gone.

openshot 05-07-09 11:27 PM

looking good. are the bumpers on it my old ones i sold you?

B6T 05-08-09 12:29 PM

The front one is... the rear wasn't used since the one I had was in better condition.

Jeff20B 05-08-09 01:15 PM

That flywheel is hardcore. Very awesome. Looks like everything is in the right place. :) From where did you aquire the starter ring gear? Did you make the friction plate yourself?

B6T 05-09-09 07:19 AM

I pressed the starter ring gear off the old flywheel. I supported the gear on three blocks and pressed the centre of the flywheel down using a hydraulic press. It popped right off. To install it on the new flywheel, I heated it using an Oxy-acetylene torch and it slid right on.

I made the friction plate too. :D

Methanol+Boost 05-09-09 08:07 AM

Crank trigger.......:bigthumb: High dollar horsepower....Are you fabbing a similar trigger as the electomotive universal?

B6T 05-09-09 08:58 AM

I'm using an Electromotive TEC 3 ECU so I have to run a 60-2 toothed wheel and a mag sensor. I've designed and machined the pieces for a mag sensor bracket. After my friend is finished welding it together, I'll post pics of the setup.

Methanol+Boost 05-09-09 09:15 AM

I wish i could fab stuff, lol. im too set on just buying stuff.

Jeff20B 05-09-09 11:28 AM

One thing you might consider is adding three set screws to help hold the ring gear in place. It's what RB and several other aluminum flywheel makers do.

trochoid 05-09-09 11:39 AM

Excellent job on the flywheel. If you could offer those for around 250, you would have some business.

Rotarx7 05-09-09 02:51 PM

mad props on the flywheel. wish i had the machines and skillzzz

B6T 05-09-09 05:33 PM

Thanks for the comments guys.

I could never sell these for $250. Material alone was $100, and there would be three different setups on CNC just to machine the aluminum flywheel. If I did a production run of 50, maybe it would be possible....


Originally Posted by Jeff20B (Post 9194622)
One thing you might consider is adding three set screws to help hold the ring gear in place. It's what RB and several other aluminum flywheel makers do.

I was going to do that, but I feel pretty confident the shrink fit will hold. If not, I'll just have to push start it until the engine comes back out in the winter for turbocharging :D

I started cleaning the engine bay today. It was oil sprayed about 25 years ago, so it's more 'scraping' then 'cleaning'.

trochoid 05-09-09 05:46 PM

Try spraying some paint thinner or mineral spirits on the rust proofing to soften it. Once most of it's scraped off, a scotch pad and either solvent will clean up the remnants left.

Iirc, Racing Beats aluminum flywheel goes for around 400, so even 300 would be a bargain.

Jeff20B 05-10-09 12:16 AM

How much does your flywheel weigh? I have a no-name aluminum that weighs 9 pounds just by itself. I think the RB NA flywheels are similar.

Rxomeo 05-10-09 11:23 AM

Wow thats some incredible work. If i had a place like that i would be making custom rotors for my junk.

B6T 05-10-09 11:46 AM

^ There's an OEM rotor in my desk drawer :)

The bare flywheel without the friction disk weighs 6.5 lbs. With the disk, its about 7.5lbs. Its probably too light! :lol:

B6T 06-22-09 11:38 PM

Update...

Oil Pan sand-blasted and re-painted:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2264.jpg

Flywheel bolted up:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2261.jpg

Clutch installed:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2262.jpg

Engine ready to go in:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2265.jpg

No engine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2266.jpg

Didn't take pictures for a while...

Gauges mounted (Boost, AFR, Fuel Pressure, EGT) and CD player installed:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2308.jpg

Engine installed:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2305.jpg

Wiring Began:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2307.jpg

More wiring:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2306.jpg

More wiring:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2310.jpg

More wiring:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2314.jpg

Random:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2313.jpg


Right now my focus is on wiring. All the sensors are installed and wired. Tomorrow I will finish wiring the secondary injectors. Then I can remove the wiring from the car and finish it on the bench where I will pin the wires and insert them into their spot in the plug. I'll run the coil and injector power wires, wire up all the relays, run the coil switched grounds, and prepare the ECU to connect to the car. After that is done, I have to fabricate a coil mount, finish the crank trigger, install the rad fan, and finish minor mechanical work (fill with oil, install intake manifold, install OEM oil and coolant temp sensors into the rear iron).

Hope you guys like it!

Paradox 06-23-09 03:51 AM

another SE with cloth seats!! wowowowow! hehehe

LongDuck 06-23-09 04:51 PM

No rear counterweight required?

I think RB uses an auto trans rear counterweight to keep everything balanced. Nice work.

B6T 06-23-09 10:15 PM

^Thanks!
The counterweight is there, I guess you just can't see it in the pictures.

B6T 06-29-09 10:08 PM

Just a small update today.

I started putting terminals on the wires. The crimps weren't the best, so I soldered each wire for additional insurance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2317.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2317.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...t/IMG_2322.jpg

All the sensors wires are pinned. I just need to pin the injector and coil wires, and small stuff like tach, CEL, and the GPOs


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