Currently getting parts together for build. This is one thing I am excited about. I am about 4 months from rebuild so what is a man to do?
Clean and repair other things. I never got around to addressing the wheel wells. I never finished any of the calipers or suspension. Clean and paint that is. The front was looking good until the oil coolers exploded. The rear always looked bad. I meticulously cleaned the wells and sprayed some additional undercoating for added protection and because it just looks badass. I cleaned up some of the arms also. I will be upgrading the toes and a couple other components, but not until I get her back. Also I will be going over the subframes inch by inch and addressing any corrosion.
I have removed the rear wiper and currently getting prepping her for wrap also. I will update those pics some other time. Here are a couple pics of one wheel well. They don't do it justice at all as the light angle messes with it.

 

In process

 

 

 

Rear is finished minus the subframe corrosion control. Considering doing one more light coat of under coating. Currently masking off the front.

 

Oh.... also I tried a textured finish on my front calipers.. What a nightmare it turned out to be. I feel as if I ruined them lol. China made brushed and low light doesn't work. Prepwork to repaint isnt happening. I will be getting a big brake set in the near future so I will live with these for awhile. Pics will be up when I finish the front under coating.

 

So I ordered later model front spindles/knuckles. I will prep and paint when they get in. Other than the horrendous front caliper paint these wells are finished. Big brake kit and newly finished spindles will be the last thing. I also ordered a nice set of rear calipers which I will rebuild, paint, and replace.

Edit for I missed a piece of tape!!! Can you findnit?

 

So sand paper used.... 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 5000, 7000. Looks like crap, but damn she is smooth. Damn, my arms hurt. Prepping for wrap. The clear was so bad on the hatch it was pretty much flaking.
The spoiler was drilled and test fitted. Will paint the pedestals and mud gaurd to match the wrap. As good as can be expected anyway.
Forgot to add my Apex 3 bar map sensor , 4.44 gear arrived today!! Sent a Bonez DP away to be ceramic coated inside and an exhaust manifold to swaintech once paypal quits holding the guys $. We are getting there.

 

 

A little JDM action. Very nice condition rear calipers arrived which will be rebuilt and painted, spindles and newer style spindles and knuckles arrived. Little dirty, but will clean up nice.

 

More cool things are happening. Still prepping!

 

Will it make a difference? No idea. Will it hold up to the heat? No idea either. Got it back from Swain tech though.

 

Dropped off a whole bunch at Engine armor in Tampa area for coatings.
IC and pipes
DP will be ceramic on inside and wrapped in outside with inferno.
Intake pipes and intake (cx racing). I may keep my redneck engineered, but I will have the other ready.
UIM
Greddy elbow
Thermostat housing
Water pump housing
Considering doing radiator once in also.

 

The car is looking great.

Are you planning on installing the 4.44 R&P yourself or having a shop do it?

I've got a spare FD diff and an RX-8 4.44 diff I bought for about $160 from LKQ. I've called around to a few different places to get a quote on have the R&P swapped and the going rate around me seems to be $350, I'm curious what you're finding out down there in FL.

 

I was going to have the shop that builds the engine do it. I will be getting a quote down here also. It may be awhile. I will let you know what I find out though.

350 seems about accurate from what I remember when I 1st looked into it here in South FL

 

Few more teasers.

 

 

Spoiler back on.

 

Getting a little more exciting!!

 

Stealthy!

 

I think it is awesome. Gives me the little extra volume I wanted also than what the typical aem comes with and displaces some of the weight from the factory rear system. Not that it is much, but it all adds up.

 

Wired the pump and ran the line.

 

I guess the AEM line is satisfactory. I haven't heard of anyone having any issues with it. It kinked 2x while I was running it. It rebounded instantly and had no trace of any weakness.
Sakebombs bracket was more of a pain than I thought until I just got mad and bent it the way I wanted it and never used any spacers. They really have some cool products.

I will thread the elbow and decide which jet to use after it is tested of course. Mount the controller probably under the dash. Put a fail safe gauge in my center speaker pod and consider it done.

After finishing the AI I will finish wiring up the rear speakers and run the fronts back to where the amp will be. I will build the board to hold the amps and a small sub, and that's about it. A few more parts and she will be shipped away for rebuild. I am replacing all the messed up caps, clamps, clips and retainer pins.

 

While the SB pump bracket is better than no pump bracket, they could have put a little more into the design. As-is, I had clearance issues with the pump inlet (or was it the outlet?) and the undertray will not fit after installed. To fix the clearance issues, i cut the pump rubber mounts to get it lower. Did not think about spacers between the bracket and the car Oh well, it works (but forget the undertray). Hopefully they will come out with a better design

As for the controller, i mounted mine on the passenger trans tunnel using the hook side of some velcro tape