Car: 1990 Mazda RX-7 GXL

Thanks to silverrotor I now have an FD alternator on my S5 FC. The installation took some work, but after several test fits, a little grinding, and a slightly longer alternator belt it is in and running great.

I've had the new alternator in for a couple of days now, and the car runs considerably better now. I can also hit the brakes, turn on the headlights, and turn on the A/C blower without experiencing a major loss of voltage.

I've also recently completed an updated Cold Air Intake (CAI) heat shield based loosely on the old design from atomica. I modified the design to be constructed from a single piece of sheet metal with only a few brackets that needed to be pop riveted in place. Also, the inside is lined with an insulating material, and all holes are sealed with aluminum tape.

The cold air comes from down near the brake duct on the passenger side, and the washer fluid bottle was relocated to sit beside the coolant overflow reservoir. A large hole was created above the original location of the washer fluid bottle (with the bare metal edges sealed with a primer and covered by a split silicone hose). Also, part of the plastic brake ducting was modified to ensure that ambient air could reach the bottom of the box.

Here is an up to date list of all of my modifications:

Performance Modifications
True CAI
Port Matched Intake Manifolds
Pineapple Racing Sleeve Inserts (with fully operational 6PI and VDI systems)
Bonez High Flow Cat
GTUs Differential (4.3 gears and viscous L.S.D.)
16 lb 16x7 wheels
215/50-16 BF Goodrich KDW Tires (Yes, I know these are not the stock size.)

Tokico Illuminas (5 way adjustable)
Racing Beat Springs
Corksport Front and Rear Strut Tower Bars
Racing Beat Engine Torque Brace

SS Brake Lines
Brembo & Bradi Rotors
Bonez Brake Pads
ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid

I just wanted to drop in a post noting that my car is running great, and I'm quite happy with it. It is tons of fun to drive and not too slow for a nonturbo. Total I probably have about $6k in the car including its purchase price, performance mods, and repairs (including various new interior parts). I enjoy having a car with 161k miles on it that I can get in a drive any where, any time, and beat on it pretty hard when I feel like it.

My next modifications will be in the areas of fuel control. Eventually I may install a nitrous system as well (50 to 100 HP range?), because it is a cost effective way to get a significant boost in speed. Otherwise my original goals for the car have been met. I wanted an extremely fun car to drive that is also extremely reliable. Some day I'll make it to a 1/4 mile or dyno, but for now I'll just enjoy the drive and plan on doing the road course at the Rotary Revolution again next year.

I hope my post helps to inspire some N/A owners out there to not let their cars become rusting piles of junk like a lot of the FCs I've seen end up looking like.

 

How did you like your torque brace? I'm thinking of getting one of those, seems like a good mod

-Andrew

 

The engine torque brace is great. It makes the engine "feel" more responsive, and quick shifts are easier. It is not as easy to install as some sites state (like fc3s.org), but it is well worth the $60 or so cost. If I was modifying another FC, it would probably be one of the first few mods I'd do. Overall it makes the car feel much better to drive.

 

great job with the alternator install....now i get to see the inside of that air box

 

yeah get some piping into that box, it truly is a cold air box, but also a no air box

 

Trust me, I have a 3x6 inch passageway clear all the way into it. It is NOT a "no air box." Maybe I'll take a better picture later on.

 

Wow, I love your setup! I also have a cold air box and I love it. You seem to have nicely done modifications on your car.

Check http://1300cc.com for a nitrous set up too .

Good luck! More pics needed :|.

 

Here are some exterior pictures.

 

The interior photos are from a couple thousand mile ago.

 

Very nice car. So clean, love the blue (I have blue too!).

 

Jager, thanks for the compliments and the link about the nitrous installations. Here are a couple more pictures showing the inside of the CAI and the washer bottle relocation.

 

Is the cold air box connected right behind the headlight cover? Did you remove anything to help flow?

 

The box is really only two sided. The rim toward the front and ouside of the engine bay is just sheet metal cut to the right shape. The body forms the remaining sides of the box, and yes it sits directly behind the headlight where the original air filter was.

I removed the original brackets for the old air box and made new ones to attach to the sides of the heat shield. The mounting is strong enough that I can grab the box and rock the entire car. I also traced out all my templates onto paper.

I removed the washer bottle and the silencer canister from the area above the brake duct. I also removed the plastic above the brake duct. The brake duct is still in its original location. The only thing else I could do is better seal the area under the box out to the air inlet in the front bumper. I may work on that eventually, because I wanted to take off the front bumper to inspect some parts of the radiator and the air ducting for the cooling system.

Also note that the box has a roughly 3x6 inch hole in the bottom going down to where the washer bottle was (Thank you RotoZip!). I'm sure the flow is not optimal, but I can put my hand and arm through the brake duct area in the front bumper and reach up into the CAI box. It can't be all that bad. :-)

I suppose I could get fancy and try to make a frequency "tuned" tube coming out of the bottom of the box, but I just don't have time for that yet. Maybe in a few months.

 

hey, when it comes to working at a job to where, the most you make is barely 500, it takes time to do stuff like that. I just recently bought fuel filter, and I still haven't been able to put it on, along with my updated AC compressor. As far an inspiration goes, I'm very inspired to fix my car up and not do over the top mods to my car, like my friend did to his.

Edit: my next mod is getting rid of my factory airbox and buying the Apexi intake. Then soon, make a true CAI.

 

Damn! That interior looks amazing! were the seats reapolstered?

 

Vinspeed sells a cold air box for $60 shipped, you'll have to search. Don't buy an intake WITHOUT buying a cold air box (or building the tubing) for it, otherwise it would be pointless .

 

Hey, I understand. I'm not trying to pick on anyone in particular. I just think it is a shame that most FCs I've seen in person are in crappy shape, because they really can be great cars.

I've been working on my car for a few years now. Trust me, it did not look that good when I got it. Best of luck with your car.

 

Yes, I replaced the leather on the passenger seat myself with a new factory set of leather covers. I also replaced the driver's side back seat cover and installed a driver's bottom seat from a lower mileage car. It was a lot of work, but it paid off. I also have leather e-brake & shifter boots from redlinegoods.com. Thanks for the compliment.