Hello my people!
 

I just got my first FD!! After owning many (6!) 1st gens, I finally can afford the big brother. It seems like I have wanted one for 10 years, but I guess that can't be true! .. Yummy. Let me introduce myself..


My name is Richard Schroeck. I was sales manager at Racing Beat awhile back (3-5 years ago) and left that position to work with Matt and JC from Under Pressure in its many iterations ever since then. (UPRD is out of business, Brianna and the old owners mismanaged it into the ground)..... we are now simply "Under Pressure" and are going strong in our Westminster location.. Out with the Bad and in with the New

I got a 93 Montego Blue Touring w/ 79k miles on it, and a good maintenance history, including a receipt for a motor rebuild from Rotary Power at 60k. Only mods are a K&N Drop in and an APR(?) front pipe. I scored!

Anyways, how could I work at Under Pressure and not want to mod my car the first batch I want to do for reliability and the future mods, and then learn to drive FR again. So I figure

oil cooler
radiator
fuel pump
turbo timer
BOV (ok not for reliability but the ladies dig the sound)

Am I thinking right on this? Anything obvious I am overlooking?Which Radiator? Mezeire water pump? As I stated I have had many 1st gens, one with well over 100,000, so I am familiar with the standard upkeep of a rotary, but not the FD3S specifics. Eventually I plan to build a single turbo kit and go standalone, but I don't have the budget for that yet. I figure when/if this motor has problems, I'll go all out dowelpin, port, pinned rotors, etc etc THEN build the kit. Any opinions or advice I would gladly appreciate.

Oh, and on the way home last night, I tried to put the window up and broke the &^#@@!!!!$! drivers side window switch.( I know I am not the only one to do this..... right?) Looking at it I could tell it had been glued once. I ordered a new one (OUCH 150ish bux, wish *I* had glue) and it comes in wednesday, but I need to get the window up badly. Any suggestions on hotwiring it?

Other then that this car is badass. It's not as fast as my Neon - yet...(http://people.we.mediaone.net/turboneon/smallone.jpg)
But I'd rather push the Seven than drive the Neon anyday

Thanks for any and all advice/input/heckling you can offer me, and I look forward to being an active member in the community.

Richard Schroeck

Re: Hello my people!
 

Well, personally, I wouldn't worry about a second oil cooler, upgraded fuel pump, or the turbo timer.

Sure, a second oil cooler would be good, but they are pretty pricey. Unless you will be racing the car, I don't think you'll really need it.

The upgraded fuel pump, for a stock car, I would imagine that it's just overkill.

Turbo timers are ok, but not really needed. Just don't kill the car after driving it hard. If you are driving hard, for the last 5-10 minutes of driving before you park, just stay off boost.

For the radiator, Fluidyne is suppose to have a stock fit and offer better performance of the the stock radiator:

http://www.absoluteradiator.com

Make sure you add at least a Boost Gauge if you don't have one. Also, check this site for some more information about upgrades:

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/stages.html

Good luck!

I would get a boost gauge.

The radiator is a good idea. And fill it up with mostly water, some antifreeze (10-15%) and water wetter (or just all evans coolant, if you want to go that route).

I really wouldn't worry about the BOV. The stock one can be unplugged from the airbox and is really quite loud, if it's the sound you're after.

Silicone hoses is a good idea as well.

I agree with mahjik about the fuel pump. Unless you've got a few performance mods under your belt, the stock pump will be more than enough.

Welcome aboard! :)

There's a few critical reliability mods you should look at first on the FD, like an AST. Do all fluids/replace thermostat and filters.

See this thread.

Bookmark here and here and here.

Lots of good and invaluable reading. :)
And that's one helluva Neon..