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^ Yes, the gains were large. I'd suspect part of the gains we attributable to fixing the ignition issue but Addicted is confident the vast majority has to do with the EGT tuning as they did some testing after the ignition was fixed and before doing EGT tuning.
^ A lot of truth spoken here. I always say the best thing I can offer others is what not to do versus mechanical expertise. I have a ton of what not to do expertise - wish I didn't.
Thanks for the compliments. The car rocks and is a blast to drive. In fact, heading out in a few minutes for a drive. Enjoy Sevenstock and post up some pics and thoughts when you return. The event is on my bucket list for someday.
Great find on the relay issue David. It all makes since. Relays are like circuit breakers that don't trip so a 20amp relay will only be able to pass 20amps of current. I noticed a while back that my old Haltech fuse block had a coupe hot fuses. So hot that the internal prong on the fuse came out of the plastic. That's a sign of too much resistance. Now I know I need to upgrade my higher current sections of my electrical. Also never realized EGT tuning was that effective. Congrats and car, is looking great.
Great find on the relay issue David. It all makes since. Relays are like circuit breakers that don't trip so a 20amp relay will only be able to pass 20amps of current. I noticed a while back that my old Haltech fuse block had a coupe hot fuses. So hot that the internal prong on the fuse came out of the plastic. That's a sign of too much resistance. Now I know I need to upgrade my higher current sections of my electrical. Also never realized EGT tuning was that effective. Congrats and car, is looking great.
Glad it helps Trey. My fuses were hot as well and we kept blowing the 15 amp fuse. Claudio explained the 3 rotor is just too much for the stock box.
Originally Posted by Gen2n3
David,
Any time, my pleasure!
Perhaps something could be arranged before the craziness that we call Thanksgiving travel begins?
Cheers,
George
Maybe George. DBA work is pretty intense but we shall see.
Hi David,
I am not sure if you can help with any info.. or hook me up to someone who can.. I am running a 20B FD in the UK and I have been having a TPS issue for a while. I have Microtech LTX12 ECU. not sure if you are still running microtech or swapped it out? Are you also running stock Cosmo TPS sensor? If so have you ever noticed an issue with it wondering. i.e as the car warms up you have to compensate the TPS and then when it is cold again it goes back out of calibration the other way. I am not 100% sure it is TPS. but I gather they are a bit naff? Could possibly be something in the linkage or dampner causing it to physically move the TPS as it warms or worse it could be something in the ECU itself? If you can shed any light on it or give me a contact that is good for both Microtech and 20B/Cosmo that would be great! Hopefully I will get mine running as nice as you some time soon! Great job!
David, enthused and surprised that there was something that significant to be improved with your FD creation.
Your car is a magical being that propels itself effortlessly and should rightfully be displayed for others to admire and gain motivation to build their own dreams. Many Cheers!!
David, enthused and surprised that there was something that significant to be improved with your FD creation.
Your car is a magical being that propels itself effortlessly and should rightfully be displayed for others to admire and gain motivation to build their own dreams. Many Cheers!!
David will always be thinking/planning of ways to improve this car.
David now that both you and Gordon have your cars running tip top I think it's time we all go back to VIR for another private track day . This time go all out for 2 days of spirited driving. The south course is a great proving ground for both car and driver. We should be able to get at 20 participants if we can get most of the track rat east coast forum guys to make it. Find some others willing to shoot video, take pics etc..... No need for a dyno we will use a stop watch down the front straight LOL......
That steering wheel reminds me of a black widow and I'm betting this car has an equal bite.
Hi David,
I am not sure if you can help with any info.. or hook me up to someone who can.. I am running a 20B FD in the UK and I have been having a TPS issue for a while. I have Microtech LTX12 ECU. not sure if you are still running microtech or swapped it out? Are you also running stock Cosmo TPS sensor? If so have you ever noticed an issue with it wondering. i.e as the car warms up you have to compensate the TPS and then when it is cold again it goes back out of calibration the other way. I am not 100% sure it is TPS. but I gather they are a bit naff? Could possibly be something in the linkage or dampner causing it to physically move the TPS as it warms or worse it could be something in the ECU itself? If you can shed any light on it or give me a contact that is good for both Microtech and 20B/Cosmo that would be great! Hopefully I will get mine running as nice as you some time soon! Great job!
Hey Leeroy! Have followed your build and not sure I can add much to your Microtech/TPS issue. I no longer run a Microtech - swapped it out for a Haltech a few years ago and haven't looked back. When I had the Microtech on the car, we too had TPS problems with calibration. The car would periodically go out of calibration and we'd have to recalibrate it. Swapped out the TPS but I don't recall if this was from a Cosmo or an FD. In any event, no issues with the Haltech.
Originally Posted by Snook
David, enthused and surprised that there was something that significant to be improved with your FD creation.
Your car is a magical being that propels itself effortlessly and should rightfully be displayed for others to admire and gain motivation to build their own dreams. Many Cheers!!
Me too Yanni. Car seemed to drive well when we had it for DGRR. The plugs fouling though where a sign something wasn't quite right. Addicted did a good job of tracing down the issue related to the relay/fuse box and as that is something provided by Haltech, you'd think it would work right out of the box. I guess they don't have a setup for the 3 rotor and the extra power requirements were the issue.
As to your other statement, I'll have some of what you are smoking!
P.S. - Any news on the school front? Call me sometime.
Originally Posted by Fritz Flynn
David will always be thinking/planning of ways to improve this car.
David now that both you and Gordon have your cars running tip top I think it's time we all go back to VIR for another private track day . This time go all out for 2 days of spirited driving. The south course is a great proving ground for both car and driver. We should be able to get at 20 participants if we can get most of the track rat east coast forum guys to make it. Find some others willing to shoot video, take pics etc..... No need for a dyno we will use a stop watch down the front straight LOL......
That steering wheel reminds me of a black widow and I'm betting this car has an equal bite.
PS Cool video!
Thanks Fritz. It seems to be a constant thing with looking at what to do next. I guess it is a matter of priority, work on the big things and then do those little things that get pushed aside. Car is in pretty good shape right now. Engine is a smooth as its ever been. Need to pull the clutch to inspect as I have some oil (very small amounts) around it and this causes the clutch every now and then to shudder. My guess is the rear main seal but I am going to take it to a local shop to put it up on a lift to inspect.
As for another meet at VIR, I would love to do this. Car is much different than it was last time we attempted a get together so I am very interested to get it out on the track to see how it does. Would love to have you drive it and give me your opinion. I've tried to straddle the space of a daily driver and then weekend track car so we shall see how I've done.
Spring would work for me or anytime with some advance notice. I am in a doctoral program now so that limits my time but with enough advanced planning, I can work around that.
Originally Posted by gmonsen
David... Tuning for equalized EGT's sounds like a good idea, David. I'd have to stick them in the headers fairly close to the exhaust ports, I suspect. So, what he did was basically to alter the AFR's by rotor until the EGT's were equalized? It's interesting, because a long time ago people tuned largely by EGT's and then everyone moved over to almost completely tuning just by AFR's. What are your EGT's running?
Fritz... I am completely on board with a couple of days at VIR with our cars. Early spring, perhaps? Like the rest of my chuckling about the process and results, this will only be how many years after we thought we could do it? Still a great idea, I think. Are you up for it, David?
Hey Gordon. We installed an Innovate TC-4 EGT box and linked it to the Haltech so we are getting EGT readings off of each runner. I'll snap a pic of where the EGTs are located when I have a spare minute. So, yes, what Addicted did was alter the AFRs by rotor until they were equalized. As I recall, the center rotor was the one most off and I think it had too much fuel going in but I may have that wrong. Zach at Addicted was very confident we'd pick up some good HP gains and he was right. I need to ask him what the EGTs were/are as he showed me a pic of them but I don't have it.
As for getting together, yep, how many years ago was that? Maybe this time the cars will run?
Originally Posted by Snook
I would come as a groupie / fan boy. I'd bring some sort of car too likely.
Too funny, coming from the guy with a Viper. Bring it, would be a blast.
Thanks for the reply David. If I had my time again I would not run the Microtech knowing what I know now but I am where I am am and largely it is working out okay against all the odds! Just time consuming tweaking this and that and a little better. mainly it suffers at idle and injector transition. the latter I have nearly got sorted though. Car will probably be tucked up for winter now and I will work on the last few bits I have get it "complete"! I am in some ways glad you say you had TPS issues now I know I am not alone on this. I am actually wondering if it is an issue in the ECU itself as the Input voltage and TPS resistance stay pretty constant while I have the variation showing in the TPS screen. I will try and get hold of microtech (some chance) and see if they can offer any solutions/support. Failing that I will try an alternative TPS or make a more simple on/off switch set-up.
Engine and cooling is up to par for trackdays but brakes and suspension are not ready for the task. Damn it. It may be ready for summer of 2018. Damn sounds like fun. Well its motorcycle tracdays for now just to get my fix. PBIR
Me too Yanni. Car seemed to drive well when we had it for DGRR. The plugs fouling though where a sign something wasn't quite right. Addicted did a good job of tracing down the issue related to the relay/fuse box and as that is something provided by Haltech, you'd think it would work right out of the box. I guess they don't have a setup for the 3 rotor and the extra power requirements were the issue.
As to your other statement, I'll have some of what you are smoking!
P.S. - Any news on the school front? Call me sometime.
Too funny, coming from the guy with a Viper. Bring it, would be a blast.
That's an understatement to say that your car ran well at DGGR!!
I'm glad addicted is proving to be an impressive shop, the owners were super professional and I wish them the best!
I really wasn't smoking anything haha. Your car build is more than just a car, it's what life is all about! Shows perseverance, drive, creativity and the yearning to come out as a winner in the end! That's how I see it any way, very special indeed.
I was accepted to Cass for this year but didn't end up going. I'm studying again now and shooting for end of Jan application date to Imperial for this upcoming year. Will be at the library a lot the next couple of months. I read that you entered the doctoral program already?!
As far as the Viper, it would be fitting with the perceived unreliability of the rotary engine haha. I would bet my car would not make it to the end of the event but if this classic and historical event is really happening, I will certainly have to bring it and give it a try!!
Watched the video. David congrats the car sounds great. Sounds like she is all sorted out. Is your build complete because it sure appears so but then again most of us rx7 owners know that the build is never done.
Yes, pretty much done now. Like all FD owners, I will always have a list of stuff to tinker around with or improve. My current list:
- Fix the PLX oil temp sensor. Reading is off. Think it's an incorrect ground but just haven't had the time to verify
- Fix my headlight brakets. Had a new pair made and for some reason, they rotate "off", keeping the headlights slightly up when shut, resulting in the covers being up around 1/2". Had adjusted them and they worked perfect but they are now off again. Hmm...
-Figure out a solution for my Hose Candy "T" vacuum connection. One side pops off, resulting in a crappy idle. Installed the Hose Candy stuff to dress up the engine bay but the T connection they provide doesn't seem to snap into place like their regular connections. I know I can always go back to a standard T connection but I'd like to keep the upgraded look so we shall see what to do.
- Repair an out of round front rim. I have Forgeline 3-piece wheels and love them but one of them is out of round. Not sure how that happened. Appears to be the inside barrel of the rim so I am taking them to my wheel/tire specialist friend and they have a place that can true them up. If not, I will replace the one barrel and should be good to go.
- Inspect the clutch. I periodically get a clutch shudder that goes away but this needs to be fixed. My wife's Miata does the same thing as an aside. I took a quick look at the car and see some oil in the area, a very small amount. But if this is dripping on the flywheel or carbon discs, would make the shudder happen. My guess is a rear seal. Am having the tire shop (they are mechanics as well) check this out for me and will go from there.
- Bought a set of plasma reverse glow gauges from the UK and am going to install those to see if I like the look. My current issue with my setup (Black Cat custom gauge faces with red LED lights) is I can't get the light totally even. So I bought the reverse glow gauge faces to test out. Will post up pics if they don't look hideous.
- Install new coilover caps on the car. Two got stripped a month or so ago and Addicted ordered new parts from Japan. They are going to install them when they get in which should be anytime.
Think that is it but we are down to the little stuff now so that is good. Car is a blast to drive and I get it out several times a week.
Like i said its always something but well worth it. The driving experience of driving an fd is unexplainable. Fd finicial disaster but who cares. Enjoy that car David. Those are little things that will keep you entertained. Its the fd way of saying dont forget about me and show me love. Damn sounds like i am talking about my wife. Well same difference. Both high maintanance and i love them both
Good to hear from you Tim. Hope all is well. I have some good updates to post but just haven't had the time. Working on my doctorate degree in entrepreneurship has taken up all of my forum posting time. In fact, writing this from Germany at the end of a 2.5 week trip for my degree and then some sightseeing.
So, I note I said 1.5 years ago that I would post up an update "soon." Well, here is the update.
The car is doing well. Been driving and enjoying it. Like with most of us, I am always finding something to tweak or improve, but I am at a point where there is not much I have in the plans on which to work. Since my last post, I did earn my doctoral degree in entrepreneurship, so that is out of the way. Cranked out the 4-year program out of SKEMA in France in 2 years, and now I am taking that knowledge to Morroco, where my wife and I will be moving to head up the entrepreneurship program at the Africa Business School in Marrakesh. Of course, this is on hold until the COVID-19 issue sorts out, so I still have some time to enjoy the car. Crazy times.
The current state of the car is good. Here are some recent pics I took after getting the car ready for this year's canceled DGRR:
Since I last posted, I've worked on the following:
ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
1) Had a TPS tip-in problem resolved at Addicted Performance in TN.
2) Re-worked the twin fuel pump setup and wiring.
3) Added in two Radium fuel pulse dampers to help smooth out fuel pressure to the rails.
4) Replaced my spark plug wires - MSD - with 6 custom wires using R-100 RACING 10mm cable, 90° boots both ends. 3 out of 6 (ouch) of my wires had continuity issues. Says something about MSD quality.
5) Replaced the clutch flywheel and carbon triple-disk.
6) Added in two Radium fuel pulse dampers to help smooth out fuel pressure to the rails.
7) Flushed out the coolant system and replaced the coolant with fresh Engine Ice. I have had great luck with Engine Ice - see some of my posts several years ago where we tested the product versus normal coolant in the summer heat of FL.
8) Recharged the AC - blowing nice and cold.
BRAKES & TIRES
1) Replaced the two front rotors for my Outlaw Brakes setup - the slotted rotors no longer had slots and stopping felt spongey and non-responsive. As it turns out, Coleman Racing makes the rotors so I ordered directly from them. Nice improvement in braking stopping power!
2) Replaced my BF Goodrich G-Force Rivals with the newer G-Force Rivals S 1.5s.
EXHAUST
1) Replaced my Greddy single-can muffler with a custom-designed twin-tipped unit made from a BORLA XR-1 muffler and ACUMSTE Y-Pipe carbon fiber dual exhaust tip. The result is an upgraded OEM look.
INTERIOR
1) Installed a full set of SpeedHut gauges, with the tachometer in red with black numbers and all other gauges in black with red lettering. Also, had the needles display in blue when the lights are on. Took a bit of work to put this all together to an OEM level of satisfaction. Added in two additional inverters to better increase the brightness of the gauges and had SpeedHut rewire the tachometer so the odometer is always backlighted, like the FD OEM unit. Lastly, I wired all of the SpeedHut stuff into one 10-pin connector so the cluster is easy to remove.
2) Replaced my radio head unit with a Pioneer MVH1400NEX 6.2 inch Apple Car Play system. I absolutely love this unit. Looks great - OEM - sounds very good, and has great iPhone compatibility. I was even able to add in a Mazda logo as the startup splash screen. I also finally got rid of my old Bazooka tube subwoofer and replaced it with a slim-line KICKER 11HS8 8" 150W Hideaway unit. Takes up way less space and sounds good, although I had to add in a bunch of sound cushioning as I have the unit affixed to my pass-thru panel and it shook the crap out of it.
3) Replaced my passenger bin relocated Odyssey battery with an Anti-Gravity Lithium-Ion ATX-30 HD (not the regular ATX30) unit and an ATX30 LC Fab Battery Tray tie-down. The battery weighs an incredibly light 7.81 lbs. and has 970 CCAs. I love this thing!
4) Installed Garage Alpha carbon fiber door sills in a honeycomb weave.
5) Installed Grage Alpha JDM hand steps because who doesn't need more bling?
6) Replaced my Redline Goods leather bits with a new leather console cover with red stitching, a perforated **** boot with a red stripe and stitching, and an e-brake handle with the same.
7) Pulled the dash to fix one of the heater flapper doors. Turned out that a rod had slipped out of its plastic connecter, but the only way to get to it was to pull everything out. While I was in there, I replaced all of the HVAC door foam, as the material just crumbled when touched. It should now be good to go for another 25 years. If you haven't done this, I highly recommend you undertake the project, as the old foam is surely blowing out of your HVAC system into your interior air.
8) Cleaned out the heater core as new ones are NLA. The original unit is brass and mine was in good shape, so hopefully, it will continue to last and not leak.
9) While the dash was out, I worked on the aftermarket wiring, re-doing suspect solder joints, and then, sleeving it all together. It's surprising how many wires were individually run thru the dash area.
10) Replaced my rearview mirror as it was starting to dull and go black around the edges.
11) Replaced my Sparco EVO sets with Tillet T5 carbon fiber race seats with custom Dinamica suede-covered, red diamond stitching seat pads, and red Mazda logo headrests. These seats are awesome. They are very comfortable to get in and out of and weigh only 12.1 lbs. each.
EXTERIOR
1) Went to town on the exterior with a complement of The Chemical Guys products. Washed, clay bar, and cut and buffed the paint. Finished it off with two coats of ceramic coating.
11-01-17, 08:41 AM
. This time go all out for 2 days of spirited driving. The south course is a great proving ground for both car and driver. We should be able to get at 20 participants if we can get most of the track rat east coast forum guys to make it. Find some others willing to shoot video, take pics etc..... No need for a dyno we will use a stop watch down the front straight LOL...... 
No way in HELL I'm missing this one.
