My NA 20B in FD project...
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From: Nashville
^
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WNC
and the V8s been fun... but time for something different. As seen in pics, I did pick up another roller quite some time back but getting it up to the level I want would take even longer and $$ so I decided to go back to my original 20B idea of replacing the V8.
Of course, the other roller probably will get the V8 since I have it just sitting there and very little would I have to source to put it in there. So yeah, may just become a play car I keep a little rough around the edges, build a cage for it and then just thrash... who knows? i tend to be indecisive when it comes to car projects at times.
Of course, the other roller probably will get the V8 since I have it just sitting there and very little would I have to source to put it in there. So yeah, may just become a play car I keep a little rough around the edges, build a cage for it and then just thrash... who knows? i tend to be indecisive when it comes to car projects at times.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,586
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From: WNC
Ok. Little progress made recently and I'll do a better update soon.. but for now I would like some opinions... on which headlights I should run...
Plz check out my thread...
https://www.rx7club.com/interior-exterior-audio-26/headlights-fd-ks-rrr-1111201/
Plz check out my thread...
https://www.rx7club.com/interior-exterior-audio-26/headlights-fd-ks-rrr-1111201/
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 29
From: WNC
Ok, now for a more detailed update... pics will come later, thankfully most things are pretty easy to see in the bay.
- radiator: local welder/builder was able to help me with the radiator, changing the lower outlet to clear and route to the EWP, many couplers and pipes later, i have the coolant routed, it's not the prettiest and I would like to re-work it in the future, mostly for it to be more aesthetically pleasing to me.
- wiring: PS2000 4' flying lead harness was used, I underestimated the size of the engine bay when I ordered it so the ECU currently will sit in a box in the engine bay along the driver's side frame rail. Fuse block is located where the cruise control actuator would be if it was on the car still. PLX coolant temp and wideband modules routed to the PLX bluetooth module so I can monitor them on my phone as needed.
Once everything was buttoned up, tuner friend came into town to help with a friend FD and put some time on they 20B - he loaded a base map and we started to see if it would fire off. He was only able to be in town for a day and put in a few hours on the 20B. After he left, we had some back and forth, me following his advice in trying to change the tune to get it to fire off. Nothing seemed to work, checked and double checked everything I could. Ended up swapping to an Aeromotive Stealth fuel pump, stabbed the CAS, restabbed the CAS, try map, change, try again, nothing seemed to make a difference. Tuner's life didn't permit him to drop by as often as we both has liked.
After a few days (or maybe weeks??) of me trying to fool with it and try to get it to fire off, I became frustrated and annoyed since nothing I did changed it's behavior. I had to stop messing with it because each time I did, my patience was getting shorter and shorter. It is beyond my knowledge at this point. days turns into weeks... into months... I end up starting a 2nd project ('93 Miata into an Exocet...) and I buy another play car. New car is totaled, deal with insurance, finally that's settled and I get a replacement new car... 20B just sits and after DGRR '18 I start to get the motivation back to return to the project.
A new rotorhead had moved to town from Texas - we had discussed my car and his previous cars - and he offered to help me with it. Over a few weeks I prepped the car to move over to his garage. Finally in the past week, I was able to get the car fully on the ground and out of my garage after 21 months. My brother helped me haul it over and Lee was able to start doing his checks and getting familiar with my setup. Tested compression - a little lower than he would have liked to see, but a little premix and it came up enough for him to proceed. Checked and tested the timing and wiring to ensure it was correct and not a hidden gremlin. And finally! after swapping to a battery that held a charge better and him sitting with his laptop and who knows how many attempts, he finally found the magic combination to get it to fire off and idle!!!
So hearing that was a great relief and very encouraging for me, so if all goes well, I'll get back to taking more pics and updating a little more often.
...and to add to the fun:
- radiator: local welder/builder was able to help me with the radiator, changing the lower outlet to clear and route to the EWP, many couplers and pipes later, i have the coolant routed, it's not the prettiest and I would like to re-work it in the future, mostly for it to be more aesthetically pleasing to me.
- wiring: PS2000 4' flying lead harness was used, I underestimated the size of the engine bay when I ordered it so the ECU currently will sit in a box in the engine bay along the driver's side frame rail. Fuse block is located where the cruise control actuator would be if it was on the car still. PLX coolant temp and wideband modules routed to the PLX bluetooth module so I can monitor them on my phone as needed.
Once everything was buttoned up, tuner friend came into town to help with a friend FD and put some time on they 20B - he loaded a base map and we started to see if it would fire off. He was only able to be in town for a day and put in a few hours on the 20B. After he left, we had some back and forth, me following his advice in trying to change the tune to get it to fire off. Nothing seemed to work, checked and double checked everything I could. Ended up swapping to an Aeromotive Stealth fuel pump, stabbed the CAS, restabbed the CAS, try map, change, try again, nothing seemed to make a difference. Tuner's life didn't permit him to drop by as often as we both has liked.
After a few days (or maybe weeks??) of me trying to fool with it and try to get it to fire off, I became frustrated and annoyed since nothing I did changed it's behavior. I had to stop messing with it because each time I did, my patience was getting shorter and shorter. It is beyond my knowledge at this point. days turns into weeks... into months... I end up starting a 2nd project ('93 Miata into an Exocet...) and I buy another play car. New car is totaled, deal with insurance, finally that's settled and I get a replacement new car... 20B just sits and after DGRR '18 I start to get the motivation back to return to the project.
A new rotorhead had moved to town from Texas - we had discussed my car and his previous cars - and he offered to help me with it. Over a few weeks I prepped the car to move over to his garage. Finally in the past week, I was able to get the car fully on the ground and out of my garage after 21 months. My brother helped me haul it over and Lee was able to start doing his checks and getting familiar with my setup. Tested compression - a little lower than he would have liked to see, but a little premix and it came up enough for him to proceed. Checked and tested the timing and wiring to ensure it was correct and not a hidden gremlin. And finally! after swapping to a battery that held a charge better and him sitting with his laptop and who knows how many attempts, he finally found the magic combination to get it to fire off and idle!!!
So hearing that was a great relief and very encouraging for me, so if all goes well, I'll get back to taking more pics and updating a little more often.
...and to add to the fun:
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 29
From: WNC
the first run did surprise me, after so many failed attempts and it sounds "so close" and BAM! just as I was turning off the key, it was running... my first thought was "wait, is it running?!?!?"
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,586
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From: WNC
so... after I got her back home about 6 months ago some wiring issues popped up, wires weren't crimped well enough and started to come out. Ended up re-doing the harness and switching to an Elite 2000 - and about a month ago finally got it running again and tonight I got an exhaust on it so it won't upset the neighbors so much! Just need to sort out a few inputs (wideband and OMP) and soon the alignment and the fun task of finishing it. break in and prep for paint/body
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,586
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From: WNC
so, i've continued to learn the Haltech ESP software and trying to eliminate check engine lights without just disabling functions - mainly had issues with O2 input from PLX to elite 2k and OMP. after much head scratching later and reading and learning! they both came down to me using the AVI1 and AVI6 - both shielded wires and this being my first experience - rookie mistake and the shield wiring touching the signal wiring so no voltage reading at the haltech. Fixed both those - and see voltage. but was getting DTC for OMP - "P1680 - Stepper Motor - Flow Low". searched the forum about OMP wiring. Found a thread I had asked about some wiring in, member had posted and following his process I now have that resolved - I had 2 wires switched originally. So now OMP is working, O2 input to ECU, settings seem pretty damn good at idle RPM so when I change my target AFR (using VE) the O2 reports back the target! (I'm quite proud of myself - again because this is my first time hands on with the fuel mapping and ECU setup)
I have driven the car up the driveway a handful of times. I've been working to smooth out the coolant temp correction map and cranking maps. And today I ran out of gas for the first time! hahahaha.
I have driven the car up the driveway a handful of times. I've been working to smooth out the coolant temp correction map and cranking maps. And today I ran out of gas for the first time! hahahaha.
Yea you'll find yourself spending a ton of time playing with the corrections to get everything as stock as possible. Unfortunately for me and my NA 20b setup, I've been forever plagued with internal coolant leaks from my PP's (not knowing these were the culprits for months), and were causing me too many problems with my tune consistency and hot cranking issues. Unfortunately, I don't have my old shop any more so my car has been down for the past two years. Hopefully next month, I can put up my steel building I bought and put in a lift. ***** about to get real when this happens. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WNC
I'm down waiting on new toe links - and I imported the coolant, cranking, and prime pulse maps from the "stock" FD maps provided by Haltech - I need to take some fuel out because she was loading up and flooding out when I was loading/unloading for alignment. And I have no doubt it will be a long process of back and forth to try to get it as smooth as I can to crank and warm up happily - and I know i'll get frustrated some days! but I look forward to it and the learning process.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WNC
got the new toe links... got the alignment... played with the tune a little today and did a first drive around my neighborhood! next goal is to get the state safety inspection and tag within the next 2 wks. I did also throw the seat back in and steering wheel - i'll get the rest of the interior back in soon and pics and more videos... but was nice to drive it today!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WNC
did a few more laps around the neighborhood to try to clean up a "move under it's own power enough to move until proper tune" mapping... needs some more work under load pulling up hills - this is a fun learning experience!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: WNC
got the tag yesterday and drove the car to the gas station today! I'm continue to work on the Target AFR table on my Elite 2K - She doesn't do well getting up a hill which there are plenty around here but I promise, more pics to come soon! work just has me slammed right now, trying to meet deadlines so when I can slip away to work on the car, i don't take the time for pictures.