Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

I've had my RX7 for about 3 years, finally get into the forum game a bit more, figured I'd post her up in the build thread. The single turbo swap was done 3 years ago, its a work in progress, constantly workin on stuff.

1993 Rx7 (currently runs e85):
Motor:
Heavy Street port
Motor is dowell pinned with 2 additional pins.
Custom Oil catch can
Dual oil coolers
Single turbo Precision 67; 22.5 LB of boost
Turbonetics wastegate
Top mount intercooler
MSD ignition
Custom fuel rail
1600cc Primary injectors
2200cc Secondary injectors
Two Aeromotive 1000 fuel pumps ran through 3/8 inch line all the way down
Microtech computer
Currently only street tuned by Kilo Racing
We suspect its making between 550-600, more in the 570s range
Car runs E85 ONLY, not a big deal with a good amount of E85 stations around me.

Suspension:
Eibach lowering springs in the rear
Front Tein coilovers
Custom reinforced PP Frame.
Custom A-arms in the works currently
XXR 526, Front : 17X9 +25 + 5mm spacer / Rear: 17X10 +35


Interior:
Grip Royal steering wheel
Dual pillar gauge pod
Razo type340R
Bride Cuga reclineable seats- Just arrived about to be installed
Bride restitched rear seats




With the motor pulled out:










Reinforced Powerplant Frame

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Engine bay pictures:





New Bride Cugas' to be installed by the end of next month, seats are sitting in my bedroom.



Rear seats:

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

I saw and heard this car at Kilo a few weeks ago. Kilo was moving it out so you could pick it up. Really nice work. Car also sounds great and the E85 makes it less smokey

Congrats.

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for some feedback guys!...

Kilo is probably going to kill me because I keep telling him I'm going to bring it back for a dyno tune...only to start another little side project! Just stripped the interior out last night for the new seats front and back.

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Pulled the rear interior out last night to switch out the bins for back seats, and to move my Battery, and relocate it to the trunk, build a new cover for it and (hopefully) have it done by next weekend.

muibubbles

iTrader: (36)

damnnn those back seats look nice!

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

The car has been sitting for about 9 months after some wonderful Electrical problems... I've been busy with school and haven't really had a chance to fiddle with the car. Finally got around to fiddling with it about a month ago and I couldnt get it running

Pretty sure a rat ate through my Microtech wiring harness ! Odd as that sounds, they ate through the heat shielding of my Mercedes so I thought it made sense. Either way , the car is now off to Kilo Racing for some love and care !

The car is currently at Kilo Racing now, this time he's really doing some great stuff. on the list...



New V-mount setup
Battery relocation to the engine bay
Dyno Tuning ! (How wonderful its finally here)
Cleaning up the engine bay, fixing the wiring nightmare


And for when the car comes back I finally went ahead and got a new pair of wheels for it ! Pictures to come ...

And Plastidip ! Ordered the DYC spray gun and 3 gallons of their Navy Blue plastidip. Figured it could be a good time for a cheap color change.

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

So, I got these real Volk TE37's off a buddy of mine for a real good deal with some nice rubber on em'. They're powder coated too, good condition I'm pretty happy to finally have a pair of wheels I really like !

18x9.5 +22 all the way around, mounted on 275/35/18 all the way around, they came off an EvoX. But, they fit great ! Chris Tran was running an 18x9.5+22 set up on his FD on this forum, with a 225/35/18 for a stanced look. I mounted up a 245/35/18 for a bit more meat up front, they should still fit great and clear without rubbing. My car isn't really all that low !

The rears are staying just how they are, the tires are a nitto 555r so no need to really change them out. Tested fitted on a friends FD also located in the Orlando area, the rears fit great ! Still have to do some test fitting from the front, but they should fit without much of a problem .

Got a set of Tein rear coilovers to throw on to make these wheels fit really well. Also, anyone selling just a front set of coil overs ? Kind of awkward only having rears... but I got them off a friend at too good a price.

tt7hvn

iTrader: (5)

Jealous of those volks. I have a black RX and I think white would look killer on it. I can't convince my wife to do it though, she wants purple ones...ugh. still though, purple TEs would still look pretty sweet on a black car.


and it is her car soooo, I guess I'm SOL on the wheel color choosing argument.

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

Looking good. Not a big fan of the plastidip though. Saw it on several cars at DGRR. To each his own.

No bumping my car out of line at Kilo's. I think he likes mine and wants to keep it

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Hey gotta keep the wife happy ! Happy wife, happy life ...

and David I'm sure Kilo woulnd't mind keeping your 3 rotor, that thing is a beast! And the reason I'm going with plastidip is my paint is startin to really lookin like crap... one of the neighborhood kids ran their fu**ing bike into my car. Passenger door isn't dented but the paint is ruined; along with the front and rear bumpers needing to be painted and the rear quarters... so! Until I can afford a new paintjob I'm sanding down my door and going to plastidip the car.

Mines an Rx7 on a budget....! If that exists

needspartsnow

iTrader: (10)

Am I losing my mind, or was this car once RHD converted to LHD??

you know, it looks like plastidip is progressing to be very nice. When I first saw it, I wasn't a fan. It looked cheap and unsmooth. Only dull, flat colors. Now, I've been looking at dipyourcar.com and I see they have all kinds of options for colors and finishes, and when applied with a proper sprayer can be super smooth. Look at their youtube channel, the combinations of certain pearl or flake with glossifier shot over a matte base coat color is ridiculous. But to me, the most exciting factor is, you can change color any time you please for only around $200.

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

I actually ordered the dipyourcar.com kit ! its 300ish dollars, with a paint-gun made for plastidip (not sure exactly why you need a specific gun?). I ordered their Navy Blue color. This is it on a Audi, thinking it will look pretty good with the white volks.

But I'm not too sure about the RHD to LHD drive thing... The car looks like it was originally painted innocent blue, which to my knowledge was only a JDM color. Not really too sure, never checked; but I haven't noticed any excessive welds anywhere near the pillars or near the firewall... that and a good ol' Florida title

needspartsnow

iTrader: (10)

The sprayer in the kit is an hvlp gun. you can go to home depot and get a wagner hvlp gun for $55 or you can go to a paint store and get an hvlp gun for $600. I have never dipped a car, but I'd imagine there is a quality difference in the finish between guns. It looks like the sprayer in the kit works great though. I was just saying once you have a sprayer, you can change color any time $200. I guess 200 might be a bit high for what you're doing. If you just want a basic flat color, a color change would only be like $110. Any plans on adding glossifier? Cant wait to see your results!



Its looks like in the second pic down the steering wheel is on the right side and everything in the engine bay is flipped the opposite way..like your coil packs on the right side....then later on in the pics, everything is on the left side. Haha idk maybe I'm going crazy...or I can see pictures in the 4th dimension

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Ya I think the gun they ship with the kit is helpful. And the price for dipping a whole Rex i think is about 3 gallons...55$ a gallon its not a bad deal for a whole removable color change .


and sorry thats probably the picture itself it may have gotten flipped somehow !

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

New wheels lookin pretty good mounted. Might have some issues with the 245s up front once the car is lowered, but I think a 235 would be the perfect happy place.

Boost Lee

iTrader: (3)

Did those CUGA's get installed? Do they fit?

cr-rex

iTrader: (114)

where did you get your rear seats done?

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

Really digging the white wheels and blue car color combo

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

I've been traveling for a while, haven't had time to update this post. So, the car went back to Kilo's shop for a battery relocation and then never left mainly because... It's now getting a Gato turbo manifold, Gato V-mount, and possibly a Gato intake (depending on pricing). I'm an all at once kind of guy, figured this would be the fastest way to finish my car. I'm thinking I'll also be changing the turbo for a faster spooling possibly smaller more efficient turbo.
Any thoughts on a Precision 6262? Small turbo, capable of about low to mid 600's at the wheel being realistic.

The CUGA's did not get installed yes, but after some checking, yes they do in fact fit*. Asterisk, because the seats do rub the inner door panels very slightly. Wouldn't bug everyone, bugs me, so I'm gonna go ahead and order BubbleTech Door panels, I'm sure then the seats will fit just about perfectly. Very roomy seats btw. Nice for bigger people, even though I myself am quite tiny

The seats I actually found online while I was searching Ebay UK. Got kind of lucky with them I guess. I still need the rest of the rear seat plastics to get the seats to mount in though, so If anyone has any extra rear seat parts :X ... I'd love to buy them off ya

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

^ Saw your car while I was at Kilo's last week. Good decision on moving forward with all the fabrication work. My car was holding up your progress as Gato has been doing the work himself the past several months. Should now go quicker for you but Gato still hasn't hired anyone else I don't believe.

As for the turbo, I'd highly recommend one of the Borg Warner EFR turbos. Some great options out there and they are highly customizable. Call Mike Franke at SE Power Systems (813-623-1551, ext. 124) and he can go over the options with you. He also carries other turbo brands but I think either the 7670 or the 8374 would be a great match for you.

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the advice David I really appreciate it. I think I'll be giving Mike Franke a call this week as I am looking for a new turbo... What do you think about a Gato intake Manifold? Should pick up throttle response a tad I think.

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

^ Mike is a great guy and he will help you out. I need to call him with an update on my car as he is going to come to Orlando for my dyno session. That was supposed to already have happened but if you've seen the car, you know we have a few months to go.

I'd ask Kilo about the Goto manifolds. They look really nice but he would know better about the throttle response. I would think they would help.

Rmagic

iTrader: (1)

Nice build

Michael Lewo

iTrader: (1)

Sooo I went ahead and ordered a Turbo from a Great guy I met off of Facebook... Turbo just came in and shes look great ! GTX4202 ball bearing goodness It's a nifty lookin snail. I've also got a slew of parts waiting to on the car...

I ordered Bubblestech Door Panels for the interior of the car along with some other goodies..

Kevlar Exhaust guard so my bumper doesn't get the **** burned out of it

And we got a set of Shineauto Rear mudflaps for the rear of the car. Hopefully she'll be done with fabrication in the next 6 months. I'm a patient guy though.