Tune in this is going to be a fun one...

Well I have been away for almost 8 years... Came across a beat up FD on Craigslist that was in need of some serious love and affection (Was not looking but this thing was rough and honestly had I not I am not sure another would of). The good thing... It was mostly all there, it has a clean title and for the most part the body was straight. The ugly... The interior was crap, lots of things are broken, had fender damage, someone painted this thing beat me up blue, motor's shot, wiring it horrific trust me I could go on but Ill spare you the details... At the end of the day though it is what it is, one of the most beautiful cars that has ever been produced.
The plan... Well I wont share that with you just yet, but there is one (kinda) and I will check in with regular updates to what is going on. Will this be a restoration, aaaaaaagggghhhh not sure I would call it a restoration per say, but it will be restored. I've always been a big advocate of form and function and I can say there probably will not be another like it by the time I am done. Think street beast with show class, mixed with luxury minimalist and a splash of 21st technology... Yeah let that swirl around in the noddle for a minute... Wait for it... Yup it's going to be that cool...

Why talk big before I even have a plan... Because now I will have you guys to hold me accountable. So check in regularly and hold me too it...

I know I know... They will come...

Chris

 

Oh come on Chris you know we are an impatient bunch

 

Tuned in.
Curiosity kills

 

Alright... Lets talk Interior for a second... Tan... No thanks Pulled everything out to give myself a blank slate... The Original carpet was disgusting and the padding was even worse under-neath, it all had to go. Word of advice for anyone who wants to replace their carpet themselves... Keep the original to give yourself reference cuts for the new one. Sure it is molded to shape, but it is all one piece with no holes for anything. I dyno-matted the whole front half in preparation for the new padding and carpet. It just came in today so I was able to get a mock fitting and trimmed up so it is laying in their. Now I get to go back through this weekend and make sure everything sits and fits nice. Also got in a few other goodies this week. Brembo GT BBK and RE Amemiya DG5 Coilovers.

I know what your thinking... Great you put a freaking carpet in why did I just read this damn thing... Here's a teaser of whats to come... Think Alcantara, Carbon Fiber and custom fiberglass ... At least that is the plan...

What am I going to do with the BBK and Coilovers... Quick spoiler alert... If you are waiting for drivetrain/ motor pics and specifics sorry but that is going to be a while, I am still on the fence on what direction to go. My plan for this first 6 months is all around Suspension, Brakes, Exterior, Interior, and Electronics.

Stay tuned for more goodies as they come in.

Chris

 

I can only imagine removing a full interior, the amount of **** that can break. Looki g forward to this build bud

 

Dynamat and padding turned out looking good. Any thoughts of Lizard Skin for the underside?

 

Actually never looked into it. I had an extra kit of Dynomat from a previous project so didn't even look into alternatives. After looking into it a bit seems like a good first step. Seems some people still dynomat on top of it. As far as installation I would probably say more prep less application time with the Lizardskin. The Dynomat can sometime be a little tedious when trying to cut and piece together to fill weird angles or spots.

Chris

 

Welcome back Chris! Its been a while

 

Thanks!!! Glad to be back!!! Updates coming soon. More parts ordered, lost weekend due to Halloween Party. More parts to be ordered soon, trying to find the balance between quality vs budget... If I keep buying everything I want this car is going to get really expensive reallyquick... lol

Updates on parts...
Blacktie Headlights
Manual Rack
Evo R Fender Mirrors
Shine Replica Feed Kit Including
Bumper
Carbon Lip
Fenders
Full Carbon Hood
Carbon Sides
Rear Fenders
Carbon Street Diffuser
Evo-R Carbon Interior Panels
SuperPro Bushing Kit

Also super excited about sending my interior back east to get wrapped.

Still to order
Rear Brake Kit
Sway Bars
Widefoot bracket mounts
Electronics (Gauges, Dash, Controllers, ECU
Simplified Wiring Harness

It has begun...

Chris

 

Sounds like a good mix of parts to get you started. Cant wait to see it all come together here soon...

 

Got some goodies in today... Also got some pictures of what the interior will look like when done. Not going to lie I'm pretty excited about the way this is come together!!!

Chris

 

I love the look of those dash/interior wraps. Such a classy look... beats the hell out of CF in my opinion.

 

Wow clean interior. Where do you go to do the interior? Im local and was looking for recommendation.

 

Shipping it back east to Austin over at ESH Upholstering ... I reached out to a few places in the bay and none of them wanted to do the dash or door panels. They were only interested in covering the plastics and the seats. It's a bit pricey but everyone on the forum has had nothing but good things to say about pieces they have done and I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. He did say there would not be doing full interior much longer so if you are interested and serious I would reach out to him soon. I got the Black Alcantara with Charcoal Stitching. The pictures make it look more grey because it is right underneath big lights, but it is for sure black.

Chris

 

Weekend Update...

Well in a bizarre twist of fate I bought back the original carbon doors I had on my FD 8 years ago... They have now made it back home to me...

Also Picked up a VIS Carbon Hatch with Lexan Window
Also Picked up a Sakebomb Garage Electric Waterpump Kit, Defi BF Gauge's and Exedy Carbon Twin Disc Clutch
On the way are some black chrome Lug Nuts so I can hopefully get my wheels on next weekend and Cusco Carbon Strut Bars
Also worth noting made a last minute change to my wheels Instead of the all Black Rays 57 Extreme I went with the Gunmetal Getter Style

Got the Doors and Hatch on today between the three pieces I dropped about 80lbs

Tomorrow I am going to mount the headlights and start sanding the body lots of things in limbo but it's coming together... Ill get some picture up tomorrow as well.

Chris

 

Nice going Chris. Post some part pics up for us!

 

Didn't have much time on Sunday to do much. Ended up spending most of my day on my other hobby whichever i have been neglecting. Pictures to enjoy!!!

Carbon Doors on
Carbon Hatch on
Clutch came in
First of the Defi Gauages showed up
Sakebomb Garage EWP

Updates on interior soon!
Shine pieces are probably still 4-5 weeks out.

Chris

 

Man oh man you've for your work cut out for you bud

Loving the exedy clutch and all the CF parts

 

Watch me shine! lol These short days are not helping at all...

 

Very nice.

 

Been super busy but managed to get a few things done in the last week. De-Construction absolutely sucks!! Just keep finding things I want to replace... Really looking forward to starting to put everything back together though. Got a few more goodies in and managed to start knocking the ugly off of it. Got the rear quarter panels sanded down and re-primered I'll do the rest of the car in anticipation of all the new body kit. Really looking forward to the four day weekend. Maybe get some more done.
Parts that showed up this week.
Lug Nuts (Black Chrome)
Fromt and Rear Strut Bars
Ignition Coils
Fuel Rails
Injectors

Parts On the way.
Haltech Elite 2500
IQ3 Dash
Seats

To Do List:
Finish Sanding and foundation primer
Finish Pulling Witing Harness
Buuld wiring harness schematic

The plan is to have a bulk majority of this stuff done in anticipation of body panels and interior showing up which should be right around end of December early January then the re-construction starts!!!

Chris

 

HOLLLDDDDD up wait a minute, back that ish up. I see 6 coils, and some funny looking rails.

and btw, you are now my favorite build thread because of your use of icons that bring it back to the old days.

 

 

Good stuff.

I like the seats, where did you get them?

 

I actually found them local, which is awesome! They are brand new and we're custom built in a collaboration between Duell AG which makes performance parts and Status seats. Alcantara Suede with Yellow Stitching with diamond patterns. Very clean and classy. Full Carbon Back and what is cool it it's a matching mismatch so the Drivers is a standard fixed back racing bucket and the passenger is a full adjustable recliner. I thought about Spirit R recaros but I wasn't super stoked on the passenger fixed position and it's hard to find some in great condition.. I knew I wanted something with Carbon backs in Suede so I am super stoked these popped up local at a vendor. I feel like seats should be a statement Pieces so it's cool I found seats with the same Suede my interior will be in but with yellow stitching vs Charcoal to stand out.

Chris