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403RX7 - Canadian FD Street Build
I'll keep this short and to the point as much as I can... content is king
This is my first RX-7, first rotary car in general. I've owned most cars you can think of, MK4 Supra, TT Soarer, Silvias, 180sx, Talon TSi, SRT-4, 350Z, STI, IS300, FR-S, etc etc list goes on. Finally figured out which car I want to do a real build on so here it is. All of these photos and more can be found on my IG @403RX7 ... I post them there first usually Big thanks to the guys at Vex Performance in Calgary, AB (Canada) - they have put in tons of work on this project and due to my work schedule - take care of most of the big ticket items, wiring and tuning. Special thanks to Jimmy who has helped plan, collect and assemble much of the car to this point. Vex Performance - www.vexperformance.com and@VexPerformance Jimmy B - @JZS_161 I was not planning to do a build thread... but the work these guys have been putting in is worth sharing. There are also some build threads on here that gave me some good information, ideas and links to parts I wouldn't have known about otherwise, so hopefully this can assist someone else. History on RX-7: Purchased: September 2016 from the 2nd Owner 2nd Owner owned it for 9 years, only put 8,000km on it Original Canadian 1993 SSM - FD RX-7 Current KM's - 91,000 (56,000 Miles) Touring Edition Manual Black Leather Interior w/ Bose History on previous owners modifications (all are 9+ years old) - 98% of all the previous modifications are being removed in place of current technology. -Unknown Single Turbo Kit -Haltech E6K -Pettit CC3 Intercooler -OEM Clutch -Misc Electronics -AVS Wheels -Unknown Exhaust -Knightsport Coilovers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- List of Current Modifications for the Build (95% of all these are supplied by Jimmy @ Vex Performance in Calgary, AB) -Will keep this list updated as build progresses Engine Modifications:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...cacae251_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5718/...5d71fc0b_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5693/...8452123c_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/...9d17ea23_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5709/...52b2b60a_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5828/...f21627ce_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5628/...64c5f22b_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/...d858590b_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/...dc471cae_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/...905d31fb_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5594/...c9804fc9_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5631/...043e1eb3_c.jpg Photos to come in following posts detailing the collecting of the parts and the current install progress. |
nice pictures and garage. Based on the pics and the garage, i have a feeling i'm going to really like what you do to the car.
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NIce nice! Looks similar to mine
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Sweet car, sweet garage.
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Looks like you have a real solid plan. How is the motor in the car? Is it original or has it been gone through?
+1 on the beautiful garage. I've got a huge garage cleanup/redo in my future! Dale |
Originally Posted by Johnny Kommavongsa
(Post 12245346)
nice pictures and garage. Based on the pics and the garage, i have a feeling i'm going to really like what you do to the car.
Originally Posted by ZE Power MX6
(Post 12245358)
Sweet car, sweet garage.
Originally Posted by DaleClark
(Post 12245368)
Looks like you have a real solid plan. How is the motor in the car? Is it original or has it been gone through?
+1 on the beautiful garage. I've got a huge garage cleanup/redo in my future! Dale
Originally Posted by gmonsen
(Post 12245384)
Very nice. The seat leather looks very supple. No cracks. Great garage! Like the big screen TV.
Thanks guys, seems like I should have made a build thread for the garage lol. |
So to elaborate on the history of the car - I bought it Sept 2016, and drove it home (1 hour drive)... it remained parked until October 2017 when I finally drove it out of the garage to load it on a tow truck and send it to Vex Performance in Calgary.
The car ran and drove... but it didnt perform the way I wanted it to. So I've owned the car for about 1.5 year now and only driven it for about 2 hours total. It was hard to leave it parked all last summer but I just don't want to drive the car and be unhappy with it, I want to drive it and enjoy it how it should be enjoyed. So the list of parts above are parts I've collected for this last year, and are in the process of being installed. Here are some more photos from before I dropped it off with Jimmy at Vex. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/...68c50446_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4685/...c203e900_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4734/...8ea86812_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4691/...659ed3d9_c.jpg |
Originally Posted by DaleClark
(Post 12245368)
Looks like you have a real solid plan. How is the motor in the car? Is it original or has it been gone through?
+1 on the beautiful garage. I've got a huge garage cleanup/redo in my future! Dale The motor was rebuilt by RX-7 Specialties in Calgary, AB - it is a mild street port, not pinned, with 3mm seals. (Not my ideal build) - but itll do for now. The previous owner did it about 8000km ago. |
First steps were to collect all the documentation and start ordering OEM parts to refresh some needed points.
I went to Mazda and had them print me out the cataloge, then I laminated them and began highlighting everything I was planning on ordering. One of those points was the crusty old fender liners with some small holes in them... had to go. Gave me a chance to check out under the car and identify what the previous owners had done. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/...8aced27b_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4404/...79d5fcfe_c.jpg https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...d08ee364_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4438/...59af04a2_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4368/...37ee1e30_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4424/...b169473d_c.jpg The new fender liner: (one of) https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4362/...ecf141bc_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4438/...9de06653_c.jpg Install of new liners https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4369/...3ee6027e_c.jpg Installed https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/...9f6a1441_c.jpg Some of the new hardware - all new bolts and clips. Worth every dollar. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/...f03af453_c.jpg |
Previous owner ruined the OEM shifter.
Picked up a RE-Amemiya shifter for now. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5662/...8076fd05_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4400/...700b86cf_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4362/...9ac71a4f_c.jpg Cleaning it up before install https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4371/...24bf402a_c.jpg |
Picked up a WorksBell hub
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4429/...e07b1620_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4331/...f2eb6d27_c.jpg Here is everything mounted up Nardi Orido Style Wheel - 1 of <500 Had this for 7 years... probably will never sell it. Dressupbolts. Titanium Hardware (need to change it to rounded flush mounts) https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4359/...16d41a83_c.jpg |
Let me introduce you to the previous owner's welding jobs on the car...
Downpipe + Wastegate Recirculation junction: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4370/...098e72cb_c.jpg Turbo & Downpipe https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4379/...8ca02e77_c.jpg Downpipe + O2 Bung https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4368/...7611f2dd_c.jpg Downpipe and Wastegate Area - ... notice the wrapping is 90% missing. About 2feet of it was just hanging there. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4379/...8b41e323_c.jpg The old downpipe-back exhaust https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4636/...ac8dd4e7_c.jpg ------------------------------------------------ and.... now onto the new items GLEASEMAN FD Manifold with Dual EGT Bungs GLEASEMAN 4" Downpipe GLEASEMAN Inconel Turbo Hardware GLEASEMAN EGBP Sensor Bung and he machined turbo to VBAND to match the downpipe. This is the Borg Warner S369XE Turbo ... Vex Performance sent it over to Glease to get fitted up. (Some of these photos are his - with permission to post given by John) https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4367/...0ddd5e90_c.jpg This engine is John's not mine - he uses it for mockup - this is the S369 at his place - being test fit. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4492/...8bd00510_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4483/...d0962bee_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4731/...fd3dac92_b.jpg When we received it at Vex - typical unreal quality from Glease https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4738/...a3336265_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4528/...e338244f_c.jpg Here is the man himself - with my turbo kit and one of those 4" downpipes is mine as well. Keep up the good work John! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4493/...9d430e87_c.jpg |
Some photos of parts collected
Rywire Milspec 13b Harness + Grounding Kit https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4415/...202163fd_b.jpg Radium Engineering Fuel Surge Tank (Triple Pump - but we're running dual Walbro's) https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4382/...2ac2e983_c.jpg Some of the interior audio components.... sub will be quick-release and removable for any track days
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4645/...5a0326d1_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4644/...772e33a6_c.jpg 13b1 Aluminum door handles https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4752/...3bc2cbe3_c.jpg Door Speaker Pods https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4722/...73c6ed29_c.jpg Here are the old ones..... look at the speaker mounting from the previous owner... laughable. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4722/...862b0bb0_c.jpg How they look now.... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4714/...129c7c63_c.jpg OS Giken TS2B Twin Plate Clutch + Flywheel Combo https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4697/...3f6787b6_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4661/...9f1d66dd_c.jpg |
Then it was time to ship the car to Vex Performance in Calgary, AB for the professional touch..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4736/...4fdf3cb8_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4592/...91a48ea3_c.jpg Where they began the tear down.... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4586/...fd1c08a4_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4685/...c4f6036d_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4581/...84eab452_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4570/...f95fe16b_c.jpg The old turbo kit... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4581/...a616359d_c.jpg The old engine harness.... all cut up and completely trashed. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4517/...89f63c4d_c.jpg Another full box of misc wiring... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4601/...7bee3e74_c.jpg |
Motor out..... plan was to re-seal everything on exterior of motor, check for leaks and not open the casing up. Previous owner rebuilt it 8-10,000km ago so we are going to just run it like it is and keep our fingers crossed for now. Motor build is mild street port, 3mm seals. No studs.
Plan for this next winter is redo with OEM 2mm seals, fully studded. Or billet 2 rotor.... we'll see ;) https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4575/...3d777478_c.jpg Turbo mock up.... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/...d51d7e95_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4532/...bc0659ef_c.jpg Blank canvas in the back bin area.... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4581/...d48883e8_c.jpg Jimmy @ Vex starting to mock things up... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4536/...f95b0f2b_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4687/...3c486832_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4565/...ca09e676_c.jpg Fuel system coming together.... relay/fuse box mocked up, wiring started... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/...78451a2f_c.jpg |
Continuing on with rear seat area and fuel system...
Damn these guys do good work.. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/...b6ede189_c.jpg Some custom rear bin plates for mounting water/meth and battery box... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4515/...39d2d15a_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4683/...baefd851_c.jpg Will be drilled out and bolted down, not welded. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4546/...683316df_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4543/...7d3548cc_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4592/...66cecdda_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4693/...ced31e41_c.jpg All the plates and mounts removed for painting and wrapping.... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4624/...d42aa3f1_c.jpg Back to the fuel system for a second.... some bulkhead fittings.. PTFE lines front to back... no cut corners. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4686/...4f87b7a1_c.jpg |
They redid the crusty old OMP lines....
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4651/...d10ab69c_c.jpg And here is the new lines and new routing.... You can also see the FFE rail and ID1050x's for primary's.. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4649/...aeb5e1c7_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4629/...36a2051c_c.jpg Sakebomb Garage Ignition system installed... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4624/...a3250d14_c.jpg Sending intake manifold, intercooler pipes and misc parts to be ceramic coated.. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4701/...b8c2e6b9_c.jpg OS Giken clutch & Flywheel being installed https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4618/...5105b6ef_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4760/...5c2cd3b5_c.jpg |
Radium FPR and FlexFuel sensor...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4534/...911f9721_c.jpg Removing rear wiper assembly... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4641/...65b3b8d3_c.jpg Annnnd getting closer to present day... motor going back in the car... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/...c1a36224_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/...977ca84e_c.jpg Turbo installed to check fitment... https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/...5c4cc2b3_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4657/...556e9281_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4704/...bd651b45_c.jpg The guys at Vex go above and beyond.. they sandblast and paint all these small parts on their own accord .... it just goes to show that they truly care about the full package of the build, not just installing fancy parts. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4627/...381b2c14_c.jpg So here's a quick recap.... check the amount of wiring they have removed so far! Lots to go but the before/after shots are coming along nicely https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4675/...112049e9_c.jpg |
Video of how the car sounded when I bought it... idled rough and never went past 4500-5000rpm under load due to some sort of hesitation/fuel cut type of issue. https://flic. kr/p/XD2UU3 (delete the space) |
Wow! This is looking amazing! Lots of great parts and looks to be a killer shop doing the work.
I met John Glease at DGRR last year, real sharp guy, class act, and loves making amazing parts. He's a real asset to our community. Keep those updates coming! Dale |
Originally Posted by DaleClark
(Post 12245999)
Wow! This is looking amazing! Lots of great parts and looks to be a killer shop doing the work.
I met John Glease at DGRR last year, real sharp guy, class act, and loves making amazing parts. He's a real asset to our community. Keep those updates coming! Dale Thanks Dale, hopefully have some more updates ASAP once things get back from coating |
Some quality work going on here, great build so far :cool:.
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just a question but why did you decide to mount the WG of the turbine housing?
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Originally Posted by Ceylon
(Post 12246118)
Some quality work going on here, great build so far :cool:.
Thanks dude
Originally Posted by Johnny Kommavongsa
(Post 12246125)
just a question but why did you decide to mount the WG of the turbine housing?
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Awesome build! Excited to see the rest of the progress
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subscribed! I like where this is going.
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Originally Posted by Mikelivi91
(Post 12246224)
Awesome build! Excited to see the rest of the progress
Originally Posted by Brody8877
(Post 12246446)
subscribed! I like where this is going.
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Wow Awesome build! Cant wait for more updates!
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Epic build going on here!
My buddy has his Subaru at Vex right now and I have heard good things from him also. Nice to have a decent rotary shop in the area! Looking forward to seeing how the build progresses and I very much hope I can see the car in person this summer. Perhaps we can actually get a rotary meet to happen for 7's day in Alberta :icon_tup: |
Some more progress..
custom Thermal Zero heat blanket for turbo. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/785/4...8b1c297d_b.jpg Custom tweeter pods for A pillar... (wrap job not final) https://farm1.staticflickr.com/808/4...929ad353_k.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/4...9db65521_k.jpg The fuel system nearing completion... walbro 400 lift pump with twin walbro 400's in tank (with room for a 3rd if required down the road. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/4...4146f7b4_k.jpg Battery box and howerton engineering tank back from coating - still needs carpet and finishing touches done https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/3...k.jpg[/img |
Car is back on the hoist finally, hoping to hit the dyno by end of June - will be hopefully taking the car to Street Machine Weekend in Lethbridge, took vacation off just to go so fingers crossed.
Tires came in, NT555R's for the rear. Keeping same wheels for this year. |
Originally Posted by 403rx7
(Post 12277953)
Car is back on the hoist finally, hoping to hit the dyno by end of June - will be hopefully taking the car to Street Machine Weekend in Lethbridge, took vacation off just to go so fingers crossed.
Tires came in, NT555R's for the rear. Keeping same wheels for this year. if you do hit up Street Machine Weekend let me know - I won't be attending but if you are interested I would be keen to meet you en route so we can have a look over each others cars :icon_tup: |
Originally Posted by FEED AFFLUX v5
(Post 12281595)
Thanks for the updates - keep 'em coming!
if you do hit up Street Machine Weekend let me know - I won't be attending but if you are interested I would be keen to meet you en route so we can have a look over each others cars :icon_tup: Some more progress updates... getting closer to dyno time... https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/...113403b6_k.jpg Exhaust built... GleaseMan 4" downpipe to a 4" custom exhaust to a Apexi N1-Evolution-R muffler https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1743/...57bd0217_k.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1743/...2058a84a_k.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/...4073fc2b_k.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/883/4...4722a270_z.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1750/...fc48553f_k.jpg NT555R's in for the rear https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/...6e2c536b_h.jpg Exhaust, Wastegate Dump, Turbo, Manifold all wrapped in Thermal Zero https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1735/...878fa344_k.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/...b81795db_k.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/891/4...489a0cb6_k.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/879/4...1096a4d1_k.jpg |
Idler to ensure full belt contact on water pump pulley..
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1726/...7614dfa8_k.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/...8a6b7f7c_k.jpg |
Very nice, that looks great!
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What RPM is that idler spinning at? I hope the bearing is rated for it.
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Originally Posted by TwinCharged RX7
(Post 12311073)
What RPM is that idler spinning at? I hope the bearing is rated for it.
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Water pump pulley's are not a common problem. As long as you don't over tension the belt. Many people don't run an older and do just fine. A tiny 15-20k rpm idler sounds like a bigger failure risk.
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Originally Posted by TwinCharged RX7
(Post 12311243)
Water pump pulley's are not a common problem. As long as you don't over tension the belt. Many people don't run an older and do just fine. A tiny 15-20k rpm idler sounds like a bigger failure risk.
Eventually I'll be moving to an all electric setup regardless. |
What brand is the idler pulley ? keep on updating bud :icon_tup: |
Originally Posted by 7krayziboi
(Post 12311361)
What brand is the idler pulley ? keep on updating bud :icon_tup: Pulled it outta the garage after parking it for 2 months, started up not bad, still got some fine tuning to do. Shakes the entire house lol flic.kr/p/2cs56xu (idle video) Here was the results, low boost for now... eventually go for race gas or E85 (we dont have it at the pump up here so not an easy option) https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1931/...e1914c44_c.jpg |
Update on this build?
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Originally Posted by 7_rocket
(Post 12407165)
Update on this build?
Picked up a set of Volk TE37 SAGA's is 18x9 and 18x10, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Did a bunch of powdercoating of parts in the engine bay and wiper arms to clean things up, still more to go. Car ran excellent all last year on Shell 91 and any combination of ~E20 to E80. Never got the tank fully drained to run E85 since the dyno session. The flexfuel tuning was spot on, car adjusted flawlessly. I work in the oil industry so with the price of oil down in the dumps, I'll be shelving plans on T56/8.8 for now, would still like to do Recaro Pole Position leathers in the future and go 99 spec front. Time will tell. Update pics from the last few months of last year and this winter: https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0b2639141f.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...9a356eaa96.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...33a8136d4a.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5fec8bda9c.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...19bb2555bb.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e1d16e07e3.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...1a0fc60c21.jpg |
Going through your build last night, it's very very close to my build but I haven't updated it in forever. You put a lot of money in this build. Did you update your fuel pump?
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Originally Posted by 7_rocket
(Post 12407317)
Going through your build last night, it's very very close to my build but I haven't updated it in forever. You put a lot of money in this build. Did you update your fuel pump?
1 is a lift pump running @ high flow/low pressure into surge tank 2 are pumping into engine @ high pressure/lower flow from surge tank |
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