Not to be a downer but I had assumed that after all this time the engine bay would be a thousand times cleaner than it looks. That oil cooler kit looks like it was thrown together as an afterthought, and you've got hoses and wires running wild through that bay.

For comparison, ere is a link to the oil cooler kit I made for my car: http://cabaynes.com/files/Oil/Oil-02.jpg

Wish I could have had a hand in putting that engine bay back together, my OCD would never have allowed it to look like that! Still looking forward to seeing it all back together, I'm sure it will get cleaned up a bit. I'm also sure that with that motor working properly, you'll enjoy it no matter how it looks

Charlie

 

you should really read the thread as his car has not been at Gotham for 3 years.




David, i can't wait hear this beast ripping down the road. as i am sure you will, please post vids once its ripping up the asphalt!!!!!

 

- car is not finished yet
- do you have a 20B in your car? David has no room left at all
- the only location for a clean install on the oil cooler adapter was there, its a tight fit
- do not see a difference in the oil cooler mounting at all ( looking at the link you posted)
- we suggested Raychem DR-25 on all wires but that was out of question

 

I'm not knocking Gotham at all, and I even said, "I'm sure it will get cleaned up a bit" in my post. Just the way the fittings/hoses have been run underneath the coolers, they are extremely low in my opinion and looks to put them in a very vulnerable position. The difference between Dave's coolers and the one in the pic I posted is that my fittings are on the top side, and my hoses will be run a bit further up the car, away from the ground.

The other things I would have done to the car would have been fuse box relocations to the rear to get a lot of mess out of the engine bay, but then again it's not my car.

I've got a lot of respect for Gotham, I've been friends with Steve for a couple years now, and I think you guys all do great work. Just my OCD kicks in when I see an unfinished engine bay, makes me want to get in there and tidy it all up

 

Guys, chill out. George does fantastic work and the engine bay will look great. He's very meticulous with what he does. The pics I posted were of work in progress. George still had to install dual oil pressure sensors so the lines were not all completed.

Last I heard (feel fee to correct me George), we're putting an oil pressure sensor on the the front two housings (they share one oil filter) and a sensor at the OEM location. We're removing my stand alone PLX AFR gauge and tying this into my PLX computer monitor gauge that can display multiple sensor readings so I'll get AFR readings thru this. We'll then use the extra gauge pod to install a dual oil pressure gauge. I think George said this would be an HKS? Finally, Gotham is putting a fuel pressure gauge in the engine bay. In this way, George will know at all times what's going on with the engine.

Haven't heard if Don completed the intercooler piping fabrication or the ecutout mod yet. Hopefully so - I'd like to here this baby fire up!

 

Wow. I read this whole thread today for the first time and I am speechless. I can't even imagine your roller coaster ride with this. Good luck man, good luck.

 

You really are a glutton for punishment aren't you? Thanks for the read and hopefully you wont' have to read too much more.

 

I don't think so... we will need a day by day report, mile for mile experience, every bit of exhilaration felt, mood effects, heart-skipping, systolic and diastolic readings, underware changes, speed infractions, goosebump count, orgasms experienced, etc... for at least the length of time it took to complete this project.

 

Agreed. It better be damn good after all this time. I have been thinking seriously about writing a book covering the do's and don'ts of a conversion, dealing with shops and mechanics, etc. Thought I could take the experiences and save someone else the heartache. But wait, don't order yet, I'll throw in a genuine Mazda flying M sticker if you place your order in the next five minutes!

 

Update? .........w...a...i...t....i...n...g (patiently)

 

Yes, the car was started on Saturday for the first time in a while. Sounds very evil if I do say so myself. Gotham still had several items though to button up on the car.

In a few days I should have a major update for all of you

 

Ooh ooh! Promise?

 

i think i missed the 5 minutes so i could get the sticker

 

Yes. Absolutely. Sure. Maybe?

 

any new news?

 

Some news: The car now officially lives. I'll post much much more soon but I am in Dallas at Gotham driving the car to put in the 1,000 miles on it for the break in period. The plan is to dyno the car tomorrow morning but, because of snow forecasted for Dallas this afternoon and evening, I may have to delay a day on the plan. Saturday is looking like the target date now.

Will update much more soon.

 

 

Quickie Update #2: 400 break-in miles on the engine and another 400 or so to go. Will have this done tomorrow and back to Gotham for final tuning and then hitting the dyno on Saturday. Had to stop driving today because of the snow and ice in Dallas. On slip around an exit convinced me to call it a day.

Making progress!

 

Great! Where's the video and pics? I know you got some.

 

I think you now need a new thread title.


Everything that Pettit did has since vanished in your engine bay.


Lets rename the thread........"The Gotham Fd 20b Special"

 

Snow in Dallas and it was warm enough in Manhattan for me to walk around with my jacket open today. Your car may be the the final straw in the greenhouse problem

 

Lets see and hear this beast!

Any budget estimates so far?

 

Double Post, Sorry!

 

The car sounds awsome with the e-cut out open.

This is the actual picture of his e-cut out

 

Small Update:

Am heading out in a few minutes to put the rest of the miles on the car. The snow has ended and supposedly everything to the south is clear of ice so we're (my father-in-law flew out to drive the car) headed to Austin and back for the final break in miles. He was the one driving when we did a little fish tail on an interstate on ramp.

Me: "Slow down, you are going too fast."
Him: "It's under control."
Me: "Careful."
Car: "Wee, fishtailing is fun!"
My Pants: "Oops, sorry about that"
Me: "Slow down, you are going too fast."
Him: "Okay, okay."
Me: "Thank you Jesus!" as I crawl out of the car and kiss the frozen tundra.

Okay, that's a little Hollywood embelishment but you get the point. Rear wheel cars, ice, and crazy fathers-in law don't mix.

I am taking pics and I will do some vidoes tomorrow, particulary of the dyno pulls. I should be able to post these up Saturday, time permitting.

More to come.