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Summoning up my next inner fabrication circle of hell while waiting for my engine harness...
that or channeling my inner Howard Coleman, not sure which.
Also while I had the A-Spec manifold out, I was marveling at just how short it is. If there is anything to the pulse proximity hearsay, I'm golden. Either way, I appreciate how compact and low it keeps the turbo/manifold center of gravity. And it's not featherweight even for it's size!
A-Spec Shorty - Front port
. A-Spec Shorty Manifold - TO4 flange
. A-Spec Shorty - Rear port
Now to find a TIG fabricator in Dallas...
Last edited by Carlos Iglesias; Apr 25, 2021 at 06:10 PM.
Reason: ADD
Wow, your question uncovered a surprise: the flanges are indeed 3/4" thick. Actually, the TO4 flange is actually 4/5" thick. Nice to remember how impressed I was with Sean's (A-Spec) kits... even if the turbo technology is a little long of tooth.
I knew it looked HD, lol. I’m also in DFW, would appreciate you sharing a TIG source if you find one. I have a coworker in NV that I sent the critical stuff to (stainless fab business), but some stuff isn’t that critical other than back-purging and such.
Well, looks what followed me home... another turbo Mazda(speed) joins the Spic Racing stable.
It's at 80% of my mechanical standards, so some minor work to bring up to full health. The major change I'm scheduling this PRONTO this week is swapping the 4.10 for a 3.6 differ... 4k rpm at 80 mph in 6th gear has me looking for another gear every single time.
I'm hearing teasing rumors of my interior ECU harness being in the final stage... Chris Ludwig, you glorious tease!!
I had one of those for a while. Between the gearing and the slow to respond turbo with a narrow power band, I got tired of it real quick. FM has some fixes to that - and that gearing change is a must.
How do you even fit in there? I'm not exactly tall and my hair (back when I had hair...) would rub the top.
If it was any steeper it’d be ineffective on a Renesis NA engine is likely why.
Because it won’t be saving any fuel if the slightest rise or headwind forces cruise control to tip in so much throttle that the ecu engages open loop fueling mode.
Another factor is the RX8 OE tire diameter was likely taller than what might typically be found on an RX7; 25.8” - 26.0” OD. EDit: sorry, you said RX8, but not unusual to use a shorter tire OD which exacerbates the situation.
If it’s the S1 version though, there is an alternate 0.795 6th gear pair for about $275 from Revolution (OE is 0.843 I think?), also a close ratio conversion for 1st and 2nd gear pairs with a replacement countershaft since 2nd gear is integral to it, but it’s over $2000
3.014 1st (3.760 OE), 2.062 2nd (2.269 OE)
which if paired with a shorter 0.862 6th gear pair option that’s also available makes for really decent track gearing.
.
Interesting comments on the RX8 overlap with the Mazdaspeed Miata (MSM) 6-speed gearing choices. I've noticed RX8 trannys commonly brought up in Miata upgrade threads. In that world, the stronger 6-speed is the go to upgrade to the less reliable 5-speed, though I like the gearing better with the later (at least with the 4.10)
gracer7-rx7 I got the car on a First-Right-of-Refuse agreement with my son. Since I wasn't going to buy it twice... I got it for a relative song as they say. That said and since my son has done quite a few FM upgrades, I think it's quite fun. Can't argue with the narrow powerband, however, thought I do find the turbo fairly responsive. Maybe that's just the FM exhaust/intake umph. So now I just gotta make it mine and that includes getting that damn 4.10 gear outta the "pumpkin". And yes, I barely fit in it... but I DO fit. Vain Cuban Hairbrush™ (VCH) was the very first interior "upgrade" to address the periscoping cranium issues.. well, that and the big Randolf (aviator) shades. ;-)
Thanks to the gentle readers indulging this tangent. Thankfully with the email I just got from Chris Ludwig, we will in short order return to Rotary Beast progress. This summer is promising to be finally thread content prolific. 'just sayin!
Last edited by Carlos Iglesias; Jun 16, 2021 at 04:27 AM.
Reason: ADD
We are also building an FD track car and for the water injection location I opted for the stock OMP injector location on the housing. I fitted some 1000cc E100 compatible injectors with a wide spray angle. Itll be a long way till the car is ready but in my head it will work just fine =) only spray when no apex is passing so then normally not alot of water would make it onto the housing surface. It will just run pump fuel and 100% water. efr83 iwg turbo on a cast short manifold.
Rub20, I think it's a very cool idea. My one question is what ECU are you using and can it phase the water injector pulse timing to ensure the water is sprayed into the expanding inlet chamber (vice the opening/closing seals).
Never let the Perfect be the enemy of the Good
- some pansy *** French dude.
Well this 'merican says '**** the Good'! I'm all in
... and the dash is out!
Soundproofing Removal (cont'd)
Start with a dozen cans of liquid frost...
... add a chipping hammer and tools (preferably non-scratching)...
and at least a fifth of your favorite adult beverage!!
Now spray to freeze, pound to separate the soundproofing and body, and carrrrrreeeeeffffullly chip to pull the largest slabs possible at a time. Next sip a little liquid patience, rinse and repeat! Finally, hope you run out of chips before you run out of spray... or even worse, you run out of liver!
Last edited by Carlos Iglesias; Sep 25, 2021 at 03:24 PM.
TwinCharged RX7 Looks like you have a little work ahead. I'm just going to spray paint it CYM and move on to the other 37 project in-work. That said, good luck on the project and please post pics when done to continue to motivate us to keep moving forward!
got pins?
So after almost two years and bamboozled by the original, and highly recommended harness maker, our very own Chris Ludwig of LMS-EFI stepped up and completed my 'Raychem Medusa'. And I'm very excited! I'm pleased with the Chris's expertise, customer-focus, and ultimately the fine craftsmanship of his harness. so now the real work continues ensuring the ECU 'brain' is correctly patched and programed in via this DR-25 sheathed nervous systems. Fingers crossed!
@Carlos Iglesias that is a beautiful harness. I like how it even has the firewall disconnect!
Peter couldn't agree more. The firewall Autosport disconnect were a hard requirement for me, especially given how many connectors ware in the cabin. We also did include some cool elements like passing the NTK wideband into the cabin through it; this precluded another firewall passthrough to get the connector to the Motec Lambda-to-Can (LTC). Similarly we passed a few other non-ecu connections through the Autosports to reduce the separate passthroughs. Even at that, we didn't max out the available pins. Those were all Chris's design recommendations... I'm thankful for them.
That said, the worst part of the upgrade is that it's feeding my already voracious urge to tear out the car's entire wiring systems and replace it all with a PDM. The car's current state make my almost 20 year old and very amateurish electrical 'hacks' even more awkward to live relative to the harness's craftsmanship.
Arrggggg... <Insert James T. Kirk dramatization) MUST..... RESSSSSSIIIIIISSSSTTTT.....PROJJECT... CREEP.... NOOOOOO....PDM... until new project is tuned and dyno'ed... for ow!!!!!
Last edited by Carlos Iglesias; Sep 30, 2021 at 08:12 PM.
Reason: ADD
I know your car has been down quite some time, a lot of that time just with life in the way of things. And, of course, the car falls prey to "while you're in there" .
Do you think at this point you can see the finish line? Like a few months and you can turn the key?
Mr Clark and I go WAY BACK... no "ouch" possible between us! I appreciate his friendship, candor and honesty very much. I need it; I remain guilty as charged. So to your question Dale...
The car has a brand-new engine, fuel system, and ECU. I'm completing a rehab of the dash, and the electrical system. Barring no (major) post-startup setback, AND Shane getting me on his schedule, AND a subsequent successful tune, I think completion before the end of the years is do-able. The short answer to your question is "yes"!!
BTW Mr Hahn, Bravo on the new signature line... full marks!
Last edited by Carlos Iglesias; Oct 1, 2021 at 08:10 PM.
Reason: ADD
