IRPerformance

iTrader: (41)

You should be able to get the spool closer to 3000 with a nice boost controller and the gain set properly.

TomU

iTrader: (11)

That's an FD smile right there

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

yea this was on only the wastegate spring, which cracks open and hurts response a little.

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

Humm will keep thst in mind.

Yea.

Installed coilovers and wheels from my blk fd today.

Coils were nicely pkged and quality is looks and feels top notch.

Did a few test runs today and it drives great. Still needs an alignment though.

Narfle

iTrader: (16)

Looks great. What's the fitment and tire size? Rolled fenders?

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

Thxs. Stock fenders

17x9 +45 erapped around 255/40

There is a 10 or 15 mm spacer n the rear.

She wants the rpf1 in sbc finish. Cant decide if i want to stay wirh 17s or 18s. I originally went with 17s for the extra cushion but i don't think she cares.

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

nice!!!

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

Made an intake with some parts that Jacob gave me. Pretty sweet that i didnt have to cut or weld anything up.


Making a duct template using Jacob old template.


Mocked up


Need to order some .063 aluminum and make the actually duct now.

Gilgamesh

The "Cartmill's DIY VMIC" looks pretty good in there.

Plenty of room left for the turbo intake, and you get to run a "normal" battery.

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

the cartmill VMIC has been great for me so far. I've done 5+ miles of constant 3rd and 4th gear pulls to test, a dyno tuning on the dyno for 2+ hours, a dynojet power runs day, and daily driving.
the intercooler is not good enough by itself (there are very few internal cooling fins compared to the higher dollar IC cores) but it works well enough with the ducting and cold air intake helping out.

my IATs got to 140*F at the end of the third 4th gear pull at the dyno day, and the three runs were done back-to-back in an 80*F shop.

^this was also done at 11psi on my car (johnny is currently running about 10-11psi as well, and making maybe 30whp more).
I don't think this IC setup will do well enough at high boost / high power, when the CFM is cranked up. the cheap IC could be re-made using a better core fairly easily though, and maybe + $300?

that being said, I don't think any other setup would out-perform this setup (intake and coolant temps) without being at least double the cost:
the cost for my setup is ~$750, including:
$160 "vmic style" FD radiator (ebay)
$300 CX racing cold air intake (aluminum cheap copy of the M2 CF intake, cxracing.com)
$90 K&N intakes for M2 intake (amazon, K&N #RD-0720)
^this cold-air-intake could be done much differently/cheaper, as johnny did above
$150 SMIC generic ebay (~$75 used on rx7club, johnny actually gave me his spare one for free)
$80 of a 2.75" piping and couplers from amazon (that I used about 1/2 of)



so, 750$ if you did it exactly as I did it with the pre-made intake for the stock twins, and maybe $450 if you did it as johnny did. that's pretty damn inexpensive, and it's very effective for the cost.

ducting can be made of anything stiff and bendable. I got my .090 aluminum sheet for free, but it would be about $75 to buy enough to make these ducts.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

Oops

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

Love these vids

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

thxs. yea I was pretty excited about how well the intake fit in there. I relocated the battery on my blk car but didn't want to go through the hassle on this car.

True dat.

Although I just copied Jacob's setup, it's pretty cool to make your own stuff.

ha thxs. It's been a long time coming on this car. We have spent lots of time and money on this car and i couldn't wait for her to drive it.

The wife is looking forward to ripping this thing through the dragon and doing a track day at the corvette track or road atlanta.

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

let's try to do a track day in june

NCM

(RA costs too damn much with travel and lodging)

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

Took both FDs out to dinner.



FD got washed and polished. Sealant is going on next.


Once i get the car back i need to
- add a catch can
- figure out how to wire up the fans. Jacob sent me some pics and instructions about this
- lower it a little more and corner balance it
- get an alignment

evo_koa

iTrader: (2)

doesn't the intake bother airflow to the intercooler?

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

probably, but so little that you probably wouldn't be able to measure a difference in intercooler performance.

would you rather take hot air from the engine bay?

Rocketeerbandit

iTrader: (3)

She better park next to me. MB for lyf

evo_koa

iTrader: (2)

No I wouldn't. The filter could have been just under the shield and next to the intercooler.

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

not sure, will be monitoring IATs.

ha, you just want us to park next to you so it makes your car look better.

I have to find 5 or maybe 6 open spots.
- REPU
- VR FD
- MB FD
- SA
- RX8

and maybe the black one.

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

The car made it to DGRR and back. Prob put about 700 miles on the car.

Pic as she was crossing the dam after the dam dam pics.


Water and intake temps were solid and car handled well.

We did have to tow it out of the gap because we rub through on the body harness. Got it back to the cabin, Ihor found the issue and I fixed it the next morning.

And wife’s other cars


Still need to button up and few things and get it tuned.

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

It's starting to get hot and humid in TN, so AC needed to be installed. Many thxs to my broski Jacob Cartmill for the tips and parts.

Few ac lines needed to modified.








wrapped in hose for insulation


then wrapped in heat sleeving


Pressurized to make sure there wasnt leaks


Added pag oil then refrigerant


Temps got down to 42 degrees or so.

Still needs some fine tuning but really happy with the initial results.

I just pretty much copied what Jacob did and it worked out pretty good. Wasn't sure how all this was going to play out with the custom V mount.

jj_calvin

iTrader: (3)

Both of your build threads have been pure win Johnny! So much insight and enjoyable reading, especially for a new FD owner like myself! Cheers!

PS - You need to teach us that trick you used to convince your wife you needed two FDs in the family!

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

We actually have 3. Here is the 3rd which is for sale


Ha she actually the reason I got into rotaries. She grew up around them. I had a LS powered S13.4 when we started dating.

And thank you for the kind words.


Thanks, no 2nd gen. Had a shell but sold it. I thought about getting one but it will be another learning curve and another car that will need attention.

Yea, 1st gen are small and light and I actually enjoy driving them. They are a lot cheaper to work on to. If i didn't have the 3rd gens, i would prob get a nice 85 GSL-SE.


The MB has 99 spec lip on it now and it looks like the clutch needs to be bled. Will be changing master, slave and line.

Ac is blowing a cool 40 degrees.

Also need to install oil temp sensor, gauge and flyrx7 gauge pod.

Johnny Kommavongsa

iTrader: (13)

Glad i found this busted up coil prior to the dyno.

Rewired the fuel pump by powering the fuel pump relay with 12v and finally got it on the dyno.

Made 302 with 10 lbs of boost. Very conservative tune and boost pressure. I will probably crank it up in the future.



Only issue we had was getting the car strapped down on the dyno because of the rear diffuser.