Tofuman FC3S

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaand... We're back!

So what's been going on in the mean time? Well, I've checked into rx7club.com every now and then, but didn't really post anything. I've been buisy with a lot of other stuff, and kind of just... let the FC wait. This is where it was sitting for a while:



We have continued on with the racing efforts of my friend Hend, and kept working on the Opel Astra trackday/time attack car. We had some great times with that little thing, and I drove it around the track (Zandvoort) aswell.

Here are some pics at the Time Attack event in Assen, Hend finished third in Semi-Pro class.





There was also a 1600 turbo engine build, which if I recall correctly put down 185 FWHP, which was a nice result considering the tight budget it was build on. The engine was tested in another Astra (street spec) on the track, and performed great, it got a fair bit of attention, and was sold even before it found it's way in the Astra track car. This is also the time when Hend decided to get his **** together and focus on one thing, meaning the Astra was sold, so was the Opel Corsa project, aswell as the BMW E30 drift project, making way for a Miata. He decided to compete in the MAX-5 Cup. It's a fun little racing league with identical Miatas visiting a nice array of tracks including Spa Francochamps last year.



I wasn't involved in building the car, since I didn't realy have the time, and I had invested so much time in Hend's other projects ending in nothing, that I decided to sit this one out. The car turned out great, and really is a gorgous little thing (probably because I wasn't involved ).





This first season was ofcoarse a learning year, so he didn't enter expecting competing for the title. In the end it turned out he did very well, finishing multiple races on the podium, and also winning one race. One has to wonder whether the title might have been possible had he driven every race. Whether we'll be driving the next season of the MAX-5 Cup is uncertain at the moment because funding it all with little to no sponsor backing is very difficult. Lets hope it all works out.

In the first pic you can see where I dumped the car, and left it standing for a while. I had the calipers off the car, because one of the the front pistons was seized. I eventually rebuild them, and here is the result:



I brushed the disks clean, they seemed fine, got some racing pads for the front, and installed some Goodridge brakelines. Ofcoarse I also replaced the fluid, was about time! I had also replaced the anti-freeze, after which I apperantly didn't burb the system right, 'cause during the test drive the brakes felt great, but the engine got a little hot. Nothing to serious, and no damage was done.

I also got me a set of Cusco Zero-2 coilovers. They are used but in very good condition. Probably gonna dyno them just to be sure before I reinstall them in the FC when the time is right. Why the time isn't right at the moment will be clarified in my next post...



The other cars in the picture are the 944 of my mate Coleman. It's his baby, and he's done some little mods to it. He's kind of a purist, so nothing to crazy. We like to go the Nordschleife 1 or 2 times a year (like to go more often actualy, but it's quite a drive), and although I've only actualy lapped the one weekend, I've been there a couple of times for DTM and Le Mans series races. It's a awesome place to be, and the whole region is obsessed with motorsports. Never driven the FC there, but I hope to give that a try in the future. The Nordschleife is one of the main reasons I want to keep my FC roadlegal. Here are some pics of Coleman last summer:

Tofuman FC3S

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You can also see the '70 Mustang that has been around since I was a kid. It used to belong to my father who restored it, and now belongs to my uncle. I try to keep it running, but it doesn't get alot of street time. There's also the '64 of a friend which I was working on the time that pic got taken. Those two live across the street from each other:



A rare sight indeed over here in The Netherlands.

During the time the FC was in non-use, I drove around in this little thing:





It's a '77 TA22 and I had a killer time the following winter in the snow. It was a impulsive buy, picking it up for a couple hundred bucks, knowing it was no good. There was no chance of it ever passing MOT due to rust, the engine was ghey, gearbox fucked, all in all just a POS. But what a gorgous POS she was. So, I had a blast in the winter snow, but eventualy had to get rid of it after the no-MOT tickets started piling up.

One day I checked in with the FC to find some kids had walked all over the hood. Aargh!



So it was time to get the car away from there, so I decided to drive it for a couple of weeks. While setting up the Miata I put in on scales.



This was without me, with a quarter tank and the steel hood. Down from 1300KG. The rear is way to light, so that's something I'm working on.

While screwing around I also had a slight wall tap resulting in this LoL!





One of the reasons my FC project was put on hold, is because I was jobless for two periods of 3 months in 2011, meaning my savings were deflating quickly. I have a job now, but actualy don't own a daily drive at all. I have always had atleast a couple of cars, and riding the bus gets very depressing. Upside is I have time for my FC, and very soon hope to have some money for it. Currently I am renting this little 60 square meter shack with my mate Coleman, where I'm just about starting with some exciting plans for the FC. In my next post I'll do a little update on that, plus I'll post some current pics.

I'll leave you with the last two pics I took before I started work on the car. Rocking the NA alloy hood LoL! The stock IC won't come back!





Riz.

Furb

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You've been busy dude! A shame that some kids never learn... But i bet it will come out even better in the end

Tofuman FC3S

iTrader: (1)

You don't know the halve of it buddy, check my next post!

Tofuman FC3S

iTrader: (1)

So, here’s where I’m working on the car. It’s just a 60 m2 shack really, but it will have to do. The FC was rusting here and there, so I decided to tackle the problem now, before it’s to late. The floor panel along the rocker had been “repaired” before to get the car through MOT, but as expected the rust didn’t give up, and continued eating my floor. So I started stripping the car at the places that needed my attention, but as always is the case; things quicly got out of hand. Right now I’m looking a a restoration project with a bunch of mods being performed at the same time.



I also found little places that need attention. Like on the roof along the sunroof, and under the tailgate rubbers.



I also wanted to check out damage from the previous owner on the front, which I already knew about when I bought the car. So I removed all bodypanels from the fron along with the radiator and such. Damage didn’t look so bad, but I’m probably gonna make a tube-frame in fron of the shocktowers so I can mount the radiator and IC as I want. Also it should help get the weight down in the front of the car, and even better infront of the wheels. The cage that I have planned ties into the front struts, so that will take care of the structural integrity of the front.



I also quickly decided I was gonna rebuild the engine, since I know compression isn’t what I used to be, having done almost 120K kilometers. I was also expecting some shaft play on the turbo, so I figured if I have to rebuild the turbo aswell, I might aswell build a hybrid. Well, first impression of the turbo seems that it’s just fine, no shaft play a all, so I might just keep it stock, except for porting the wastegate ofcoarse.



So my plans this far:
- Rust repair, making sure I have a strong base
- Have a cage welded in
- Paint underside, engine bay and interior all white
- Rebuild complete suspension, make evreything adjustable
- Rebuild engine (large street port)
- Build hybrid turbo (Not sure yet)
- Reposition engine further back/lower (Not sure yet)





In the last pic you can see the “repaired” area. I will take a pic of the rust tommorrow.

Riz.

PS: Sorry for the crappy pics, but my iPhone is missing it’s backplate, so the camera lens is fucked. :-)

Furb

iTrader: (2)

WOW.. some serious **** dude!
But its better to do it right the first time round then regret afterwards you didnt

If you are going to port the engine, the stock turbo will be way too small. Then i would suggest a bnr stage4 as a minimum (biggest you an fit on stock manifold)
i have it, and i love it!
Great bang for the buck and a ported motor will spool even better or go with a clipped turbine and shift the powerband upwards for more peak power

sub9lulu

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good work

Tofuman FC3S

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Tofuman FC3S

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Definiatly!

I have removed the turbo, and now I'm sure it's fried! The radial play is crazy... So, I will rebuild it as a hybrid myself, effecitivly turn it into a BNR-4.

Thanks! I'll update after the weekend. Not alot going on last few weeks, due to personal trouble, and uncertainty about whether I could go on with the project.

Riz.

Tofuman FC3S

iTrader: (1)

So, time for a little update.

After I pretty much only had the shortblock left in the engine bay, I started working on removing the front. The reason for doing this is to make the front lighter by replacing it with a alloy tube frame, and getting rid of some (slight) damage done by the previous owner.

After making the measurment and markings I started cutting the chassis beams and inner fender





I supported the front on some wheels I had laying around.



Then I cut the upper beams, resulting in this:







This is the portion I cut of. Guesstimate on the weight: 45KGs... :-)



Angain: Sorry for the lousy pic quality. Hard to believe these are iPhone 4 pics, but low lighting combined with a very dirty lens result in terrible pics.

Next up: Removing engine, subframes/suspension and everything else bolted on.

Riz.

Tofuman FC3S

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So, the time had commenth: Removing the engine. Thanks to my buddy Hend for helping me out with this one, bring his hoist.





LoL! Easiest engine pull ever! I advise everyone to cut cut the front of their cars in case of an engine pull. Makes life so easy...





Here is the engine on the stand. Still debating wether to disasseble it and keep it oiled till the rebuild, or just leave it assebled, squirting some oil in the plugholes, turning it around very now and then. Anyone have any imput on this?



Also removed the subframes fron and rear. And after that removed everything that is screwed or bolted to the car.



Now I just need to remove the windshield, and let the sandblasting begin!





Riz.

EPD

iTrader: (8)

Keep the engine together until you rebuild. Assembled you wont lose any pieces and it is much more compact taking up less precious garage space. Also you will be able to remember how it goes back together easier if you disassemble and reassemble the motor with less time between the two. I stored a motor for 3 years with oil in the rotor housings with no problems.

Looks like you are going all out! good luck with your build!

Tofuman FC3S

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Yeah, I was thinking the same. Hopefully it won't be three years in my case, but it might take a year. I guess I'll keep turning it over now and then. Any specific tips on that?

Yup, all the way! No way back now, that was the exact feeling I had after cutting the front. ;-)

Riz.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

storing the rotary is pretty much like any other engine. you want to drain all the coolant you can, iron and aluminum = electrolysis.

second you want to keep water out of the working chambers, as the seals and rotors are iron. in practice the metering oil actually leaves enough of a film so there isn't a worry, but it doesn't hurt to put more oil in there, i actually like a spray, but i'm not sure it matters much. putting tape/plastic over the ports can't hurt either. actually if you put the whole engine in a bag is probably best.

turning the engine over once in a while is a good idea too.