First off, the car looks amazing. Great job with it.
Now I have a few questions for ya. First, does the wiper blades look cheap powdercoated gloss black in person? I was thinking of doing this also, but instead of a gloss maybe a matte....or even chrome blue!
Anyway, it's good to see you've utilized the stock air pump with your setup. Not too many people are doing that anymore. Was it tough to get it to fit right? I thought the A-spec kit was designed to work with the air pump, but I'm not sure. I'm contemplating using the stock air pump on my new car, or an electronic pump.

-Dan

 

You are definately safe to say that. I have gotten into arguements via PM with supporters of his when I have posted about my experience with him. However they have absolutely no way to argue my points and it always ends in them just realizing that he should have told me about things that he just didn't.

How does someone rebuild an engine and not notice that the engine mounts are NON-EXISTANT...the engine was floating in there. How did he not notice the water pump leaking, or that there was a massive oil leak. One of which leaked onto the turbos themselves and actually created mini flames in the engine bay when they leaked onto hot turbos. I asked about the underpannel on the phone, he said it was there, flew all the way out there...and it wasn't...etc...etc...

I put myself in a tough position by trusting him...but he was providing me information that he didn't actually know, or he was lying. Either way it he was misleading and it cost me. If he wasn't vouching for the car I would have gotten an inspection by Mazda (cause I have never bought a car without a mechanic's inspection...NEVER), so that cost me... But like I said, lesson learned. I have moved on, and the car is definately better because of it!

Good news is that his build has held up. So I would say that he did know what he was doing when it comes to engine internals.

 

My wheels and intercooler are the only components actually coated 'Gloss Black,' the wipers and UIM are actuall what they called 'Gas Black.' It was like an in between semi-gloss and gloss. Basically the wiper blades look like brand new OE wiper blades, except with a much more durable finish...and I think they charged like $7 to do them. I had a lot of local friends interested in how they came out, because it seems that a lot of OE manufacturers blades get crappy looking in a hurry.

My friends 05 S2000 has wiper blades that are already fading...


The airpump fit with a little work, but it wasn't too difficult. Sean at A-spec continues to update his manifolds as fitment issues come back, so I assume it will only get better. I have pictures in a thread by Go-Racer on the second page of how my airpump fits. His 500R and my 35/40 t4 fit the same in terms of size...mine was the second kit made and his was the first. Read through that thread and you will get some usefull info. I will link it if I remember.

 

Yeah, I actually just got done looking at that thread. Thanks for the info....and btw, what wheels are those?

 

Your engine bay looks great. Nicely done!

 

Motoform Circ...

They were mostly for american cars...previous owner bought them. I coated them and they look like 100x better in black. It really shows off the dish to the wheel. I actually like them now...before I was unsure.

 

OMG, an engine without engine mounts....that is a first

 

I've been using the Griot's hand polishes and waxes for a while now. I just broke down and got the orbital buffer and the machine polishes (1 for my oxidized 89 TII, 3, 4). Needless to say, "I'm having fun in my garage" the past couple of days. I think I can pick my nose in the reflection on my black FD Good stuff for sure.

Tim

 

[B]car look hectic

 

The mounts were there...the rubber was just deteriorated so much that it was in two pieces. So the top was just floating over the bottom. They weren't attached to eachother. I would think someone would catch that if rebuilding an engine...but that is just me

 

Wow. Story sounds vaguely familiar. I paid 17.5 for mine (+ another 1200 for out-of-state tax). Despite being in wonderful condition, and fairly well modded, I still believe that price is a little hefty. 2 months into ownership, the motor went boom. Lesson well learned for another fd owner. Now I'm on the course to reconstruction. Can't wait to be able to say "my project is done........ for now"

congrats my friend