So it's been a while since I posted in here but allow me to introduce myself. I am a long time member and owned my first rotary engine when I bought a 2004 RX8. I thought it was the best car in the world until I found out more about the FD's and well less than a year later I sold the 8 and got into a 7. After a year of owning the FD and modding and loving the car to death, I had to sell it but I promised myself I'd be driving another one once I graduated college. Here is what it ended up looking like and I'm sure some of you guys have seen or remember it.




Fast forward two years later and I graduted college and 4 months after graduating I bought my new FD and this is where my build thread comes from. I am building this car for both reliability and a fun weekend car.

So far this is the list of my parts list for my build, the goal of my setup is to be pushing a reliable 400-430rwhp on low boost (14psi) and pump gas (91 in Cali). Once I feel that the car is performing the way I want to, and if I want to add some more power, then I will upgrade my fueling and try to push a little more power out of the car, possibly 450-475rwhp on pump gas or whatever is still safe.

My goal to keeping the engine safe is eliminating as much heat as I can to keep temperatures in line.

2 Rotor Streetported 3mm Engine
Unorthodox Pulley Set
Ceramic Coated A-Spec 500R T4 Turbo
Ceramic Coated A-Spec Stainless Manifold
Ceramic Coated Upper and Lower Intake Manifolds
Greddy Type-RS BOV
Tial 44mm Wastegate
RE-A Dual-Tip Cat-Back Exhaust System
Ceramic Coated A-Spec Down Pipe
Ceramic Coated A-Spec Mid Pipe
RX-7Store V-Mount Intercooler Kit + Modified KOYO Radiator
Coolingmist Trunk mount water/meth injection kit
Apexi PowerFC and Commander
Greddy Throttlebody Elbow
FDNewbie Import Dual Oil Coolers w/ Black Setrab Cores
Supra TT fuel pump
550cc primary, 1300cc secondary injectors.
HKS Twin Power
Exedy Clutch/flywheel
Innovate LC-1 Wideband with XD-16 Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge
AEM Digital Tru Boost Gauge/Boost Controller
AEM Digital Fuel Pressure Gauge
AEM Digital Oil Pressure Gauge
AEM Digital Oil Temperature Gauge

The plan is to have my order in for everything by the end of next week giving me two weeks for parts to come in. Projected to start the engine bay area (seeing all parts are in) when I get back from vacation in January and having the car running flawless no later than February 2010. Then plans for widebody/wheels/suspension will be the second phase.

I will keep this thread updated with pictures and information on how the build is going once started.

Any suggestions/comments/critisism is welcome.

P.S. A lot of thanks goes to Howard for his very informative thread in the Single Turbo section on how to make the rotary reliable and all the precautions to take. Extremely helpful. Another thanks goes to Rich for answering my badgering questions through PM's. A very knowledgable man (not like nobody knew that) and a great person in the community.

 

Good setup. I'm trying to do something similar but with less power (I only want to make 350 maybe in the future). Do you think you can get a fan on that vmount IC just in case you get stuck in traffic or anything like that? Everything else looks great. I can't think of anything else you could possibly need. I'm getting that gold thermal stuff on my IC endtanks.

 

Great! Well welcome back! Love the old car and looking forward to the new build. Definitely post plenty of pictures, we all love build threads!

 

Good looking fd, rare that I like shiny wheels but they look nice.

 

On a twisty mountain road with the engine in the proper rev range, 350-400 rwhp is plenty with these cars, more than a few roadracers have proven this....500 hp is just a bragging rights number, it might get you faster down a straight highway or dragstrip and that's about it

 

It's good to have a goal to help keep you motivated, but you never know if you're going to get stuck waiting for parts or if you will have an extended debugging period

 

haha i remember when i started my single project i said the same thing, three years and a two motors past the time it got finished. Good luck though and do things right the first time, dont skimp you pay for it in the end.

 

Well some toys came in for my build.

Ceramic coated upper and low intake manifolds
Turbo blanket
Center speaker gauge pod
A-pillar 3 gauge pod

Going into the shop to order my AEM tru-boost, fuel pressure, oil pressure and oil temp gauges. I may switch and use the AEM wideband too.

Since you guys want pictures, I took some with my camera phone.

 

Just ordered my AEM fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temp and tru-boost gauges.

I'll likely decide to stay with AEM for my wideband and pickup their UEGO gauge.

Parts should be in sometime next week.

 

Glad to see the build is coming along, which shop is doing it for you?

Also, where did you source that A-Pillar triple pod? Looks like it replaces the oem piece (vs mounting on top of it). I've been looking around for a dual 60mm pod with that kind of design.

 

I got the A-pillar triple pod from Summit. It doesn't replace the a-pillar sadly, or I don't think it does, it's a shell that basically just fits ontop of the a-pillar. I will likely just use 3mm tape to help secure it, but its already pretty snug just sitting on top of the a-pillar.

Here is the link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-22675/

 

I don't understand why you would control such a nice turbo with a dumber-than-dirt open loop EBC. you can't get much worse than the AEM Tru Boost. It's just a very simple solenoid driver with no way of compensating for boost fluctuations.

If you are going to use an external boost controller at least get one with feedback like a Greddy unit.

 

Great looking project. Where did you get that centre speaker pod? I'm asking cause I noticed some differences in the finish/texture of centre pods (some smooth, some cracked leather looking).

 

I have heard nothing but good things about the gauge/controller so I went with it. I know there is better boost controllers, but for now, I will see how this does. If I feel like it isn't doing what I want it to do and I'm having problems, then I'll pickup something else.

I actually got the center speaker pod from the classified area so I have no idea where the original owner of this purchase it. Sorry.

 

Hey, saw your post in my thread and checked your thread out. Turns out we're even building the same year chassis. Mine is a 94, touring w/moonroof, 5 speed, and Montego Blue. What's your chassis? Looking like a solid build by your list. GOOD LUCK!

 

We have identical cars, same year, touring with moonroof, 5 speed and Montego blue too.

 

Most people don't know enough about boost control systems to distinguish between the capabilities of the boost controller itself and the capability of the tuner who is using it. Depending on your wastegate sizing you may find the boost tapering up top, as is tacitly shown in AEM's Youtube training video for the Tru-Boost:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iZBlFkasGE at time 5:20

This is because the Tru-Boost has no "gain" control, something that is found in most other EBC's. It only lets you set the base solenoid duty cycle and pressure at which the wastegate begins to open (solenoid duty falls to target value).

It's your car though. Best of luck to you.

 

I remember seeing that car, very nice...good luck on your build!

 

All parts are ordered for the FD. All gauges should be in by tomorrow.

Getting closer and closer

 

UPDATE:

I got in three of my five gauges this week. AEM UEGO Wideband, AEM Oil Temp and AEM Oil Pressure. Waiting on the AEM Tru-boost and AEM Fuel Pressure to come in Tuesday.

 

were'nt you trying to sell this thing? A couple months ago?

 

Yes, but he changed his mind because of his unconditional love for the FD thus decided to keep her and rebuild her.

 

REALLY good looking car, I don't think that's montego blue, unless it's been repainted, it just doesn't look right. can't wait to see how this progresses.

 

Amazing how many people just look at pictures haha. I'm guessing you saw pictures of my OLD FD, which is Mercedes Bahama Blue. That one was my old FD that I had to sell. The one I'm building for is my new FD and is montego blue

The other two gauges have come in today and I am picking them up together. All parts are in!

 

nope, I read that, but as everyone else was commenting on that one I felt the need to say something, was I correct in my guess that it is not MB?

what color is your new one since you did not provide pictures of it yet?