This is my first proper write up, so go easy on me. As you can probably tell I don’t usually post a lot on here.

Growing up between the years 2004 and 2011 I learnt a lot about cars. Being around a wide range of engines from old school rotaries (R100, RX2, RX3, RX4 & RX7) to old school V8’s. I remember sitting there quietly in a school class room at the age of 15 whilst my friends discuss engines and cars around me I absorbed all the information. I made up my mind from an early stage that rotaries are my favorite engine because they are unique and different from anything else. I connected with this because I feel I am unique and different from anything else

Since the young age of 15 I always wanted a Mazda RX-7 FD, especially a 2002 model (series 8). In early 2011 (when I was turning 21, I am now 23 turning 24) I had enough money to fulfill my boyhood dream. I didn't think it will lead to this.

I have always been obsessed with Batman and every time I look at a RX-7 FD I see a Batmobile, those sleek lines of the body, that low front end and that fierce *** end, I felt I was destined to be Batman.

My obsession with both the FD and Batman led me to want a Black FD. So the search begun and I all I got were dead ends. Here in Sydney there are a lot of dealers that directly import cars from Japan and a lot of them said the colour I wanted was very hard to find etc.

I left my number with a lot of the dealers hoping they would call me back when a Black FD will be available. After hoping and wishing for over 3 weeks I finally get a phone call and on offer was a black RX-7 FD 2002 model with 38,000km on the clock, the dealer wanted $24,000 AUD, I would be the first owner of this car in Australia, it was fresh out of Japan.

I quickly jumped on it and that moment in November 2011 I was a proud owner of a Black 2002 Mazda RX-7 FD.









The car was pretty much stock all it had was a cat back exhaust and some dark *** tints. As you can see my License Plate reads DRKNYT (Dark Knight). I previously had these plates on my old 1996 Honda Civic CXi Hatch when I was 17-18 years of age knowing that one day they will go onto a RX7.

I always wanted to build this car it was just a matter of when.

That when would come on the 29th of November 2013; yes 2 years after buying the car.

 

I drove the car around for 2 years. In that two years I started to get a lot more interested into the upgrades for these cars.

I would stay up night after night reading about specs, upgrades, what to do and what not to do when finally, after 2 years of driving it stock, I got bored of the power and wanted more, but what?

Everyone high and low was telling me to do something that they thought was best for this car, ignoring everyone I decided to plan what I wanted.

Currently the car is almost finished being built, just need to tune the engine and its good to go. I will lead up to all of this shortly.

On November 29th 2013 and with 50,000km on the clock (yes that's right I only put 12,000km on the clock within 2 years) I decided to start the build.

Within these the 2 years the Solenoid gave way meaning only one of my turbos was coming on boost and the paint had scratches and blemishes, not to mention a few dings here and there due to parking it on the street and having idiots hit me and drive off.

None the less the build began with sanding back all the paint and getting it ready for a fresh coat of Dark Jet Black paint. Just before the sanding back happened the engine was pulled out and ready for a rebuild.











The car was finished being painted within a few days.

 

Now that the paint has been finished it was time to start on the engine. I didn’t want something as crazy as a bridge port but I still wanted a nice idle. I had my good mates over at JC Racing in Botany, Sydney to give my engine a Street port with 2mm JCR Unbreakable apex seals.

I also decided to get rid of the sequential turbo and go with a single turbo. I shopped around a little and finally chose a Precision Turbo 6466.

I wanted the engine and engine bay to be painted as black as possible but seeing it was too much black I broke it up with silver.







The turbo will have a Precision Turbo External Waste Gate.

With the engine finished I now had to upgrade the radiator.



I had a look around and saw a lot of FD’s with a V Mount Intercooler but they did not appeal to me so I installed a Front Mount Intercooler. The FMIC was anodized in black.

The bar had to be cut to snugly fit the FMIC.





Now that the FMIC has been fitted it was time to upgrade the clutch. Installed a EXEDY Sports Tuff Heavy Duty Cushion Button Kit.

Whilst the engine was out refreshed the oil in the gearbox and diff.

All that was left now was to put the engine back in, connect an exhaust off the turbo, connect all the braided lines to engine & components and get all the piping for the FMIC.

 

Before the engine went back in I decided to get an SP bonnet and get rid of the original one. The SP bonnet with its 3 vents will provide sufficient cooling. This meant I needed to track down someone in Sydney that can source parts for FD’s.



My search led to me a near local named Marcus Mazda. He supplied me with a lot of goodies including the SP bonnet, 2 new head light covers, 2 new door handles, Mazda rear sticker, RX-7 rear sticker, an original emergency flare that clicks in the brackets of the passenger footwell, a fuel tank sensor lid as my connection pin was faulted and a front strut brace.







I also upgraded the stock fuel pump to Walbro fuel pumps.

Thinking of what else needed to be done I pulled out the seats to get them re trimmed in black leather and re padded.





Seats Re-trimmed.

Whilst all this was happening I had placed an order (early February 2014) from a contact in Japan for a set of Work Meister S1 3 Piece Wheels with a matte black centre and a gloss black lip with silver studs. I had confirmation that they were finished being made and were on the way to me.



Wheels arrived!



Wheel specs are: F 18x9+31 R 18x10+35.

When the wheels arrived I went and picked out some tyres, with the power I knew I would be pulling at the rear wheels I wanted something that would stick, so I went with a nice semi slick tyre from Nankang. Now I know everyone turns the other way when they hear the brand name Nankang but this new NS-2R semi slick tyre has been getting great reviews for both road and track use, they also hold up well in the wet. A friend of mine has put these on his F430 and uses it on the track every weekend and he swears by them.

Tyre Specs are: F 235/40/18 R 265/35/18







At this stage everything was coming along nicely.

 

With everything purchased it was time to fit everything together.

The engine went back into the car.



Manifold painted black and new throttle body purchased and installed.

Alternator painted black



Stainless steel exhaust with a dump tip.







All the piping off the FMIC fitted and installed.







As much black as possible lol.



The car as of last week ready for a run in tune, painted the piping with a gloss black giving it that classy look



Will be posting videos shortly of first start up, dyno times etc...

 

WOW... you are a very well financed 24 year old.

 

ill take that as a compliment? i guess i have just been working really hard and saving alot, plus the job i have at the moment is really good pay. hard work does pay off!

stay in school kids.

 

Awesome car and great progress! (nice avatar too!)

I'm more than a little jealous that you are able to import the LAST of the FDs legally there. Here in 'Murica, the EPA/Politicians fear we will kill ourselves/others/the earth if we don't buy what is normally available here. Apparently a non-US spec is terribly unsafe and the exhaust emissions border on eco-terrorism, lol.

BACK on topic:

Keep up the good work, and hope to see more pictures.

Vince

 

Nice build.

dannng minium wage is $16.87 an hour here.

 

thanks alot bro! yea laws in some countries are so so stupid! the way i see it is that they should let us drive and have our fun! all these laws in 'Murica i was reading about how certian types of cars are illegal is stupid, but in saying that the laws here in Sydney are very strict also, we can get huge fines for having big wheels on our cars or even just having a BOV venting to atmosphere is like the biggest crime lol and yet drug dealers and killers roam the street

will be putting up pics and vids soon hopefully!

Thanks alot bro @ Mps_hell

 

Here is a link to a video of DRKNYT revving a little here and there with some sound from the rear of the exhaust.

Not fully tuned just yet, still tinkering

Running a Haltech ECU.

Not running a BOV.

http://vid1353.photobucket.com/album...psdced603e.mp4

Sorry in advance for the low quality (its not THAT bad), the original video was really good, must of lost quality during upload.

 

Couldn't agree more bro. Love your build!

Thought about joining the Aus FD forum?

 

Very nice build man. Very excited to see it all tuned up. What kind of numbers are you expecting?

 

thanks alot bro! i havent looked into joining the aus FD forum as of yet, will def look into it tho!

 

Thanks brother!, the run in tune is set and ready to go, ill post up another vid of a few revs and spools tomorrow.

depending on the psi, im looking at around 415-420 rwhp at 18psi. it will be 12psi when i drive it around normally tho.

Hopfully down a 1/4 mile will get anywhere between mid to high 10's with everything at 100% shifting etc.

 

FDRX7.com if you are interested.

My build is very similar to yours... mind me asking how long it took from building the engine to where it's currently at?

 

approx 5 months bro

 

Run In tune is all done.

Below is a video giving it a few revs with spools and idle.

http://vid1353.photobucket.com/album...psf265746b.mp4

Will now put the wheels on, suspension etc and drive it around to clock 1,000km on the new engine then time for the full tune.

More pics and videos to come

 

Nice setup! Is there a reason your not running a BOV?

 

thanks bro!

i just don't like the sound of venting to atmosphere.

all my other cars that had BOVs leaked.

plus after doing extensive study on forums about the arguments if BOV are needed or not i have made up my mind they are not needed.

one less defect i have to worry about if the boys in blue pull me over, even the filter off my turbo will be enclosed so if i do get pulled over the only thing that i will have to worry about is my external waste gate.

but ultimately i just don't like the sound of BOV i get sick of them too quick.

 

Nice work & the FD is looking great .

Is it weird the part I like best is the floor mats? Been after a set of those ones for years .

 

thanks bro, ill help you get some!

On facebook add: https://m.facebook.com/marcus.mazda?...com.au%2F&_rdr

his profile pic is of a white SP II, add him say DRKNYT sent ya.

He has a sh*t load of floor mats just like those in my car plus alot of other goodies.

Let me know how you go!

 

This is why I get mod plated.

P.s aus fd forums is full of trolls and other unsavory types

 

i prob will get it all engineered when i go E85 and start tracking it alot more for now ill just creep lol

thanks for the heads up bro

 

Love the black work meisters. Pics of them installed?