Update 3/13/2020
Well, this past week has been extremely fruitful. My filters and buttons from Japan came in and everything came back in from powder. Sad news - the JP3 Fan Relay Relocation bracket does not work with the HKS RS intakes. The JP3 Brake Booster Simplification was a cake to install even with the UIM on the car. It really cleaned up the firewall. I also got the intakes on - they were a bit of a chore to get on. I initially tried replacing all of the couplers with same-type black ones, but had to use one of the more flexible ones they provided for the rear. It’s almost a requirement that the top intake has enough flex to get it where it needs to be. I struggled with the placement of the top intake because I forgot I had a picture of how it should be - the instructions from HKS aren’t really a good indication of how things should sit. With the intakes on the car can finally get back over to the paint shop and fixed. The next update will probably be my last for awhile as the car is really where I intended it to be for now.

Here is the stuff that came in
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Here is the JP3 Brake Booster Simplification Install
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Here is the intake install
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Looks good!

The extra nipple on the RS intake for the air pump is glued in place. It can be pulled out with a little heat and some pliers/twisting and a freeze plug can be hammered into the hole. I found an auto parts store in town that had a big selection of freeze plugs, just dug through until I found ones that fit the hole nicely.

Also the couplers for the HKS intake are a little interesting, I think the original couplers are metric sized, not standard size. On my car for the secondary intake I used a reducer, the HKS pipe is bigger on purpose.

Dale

Could you pop some K&N's on the HKS RS intake, if you wanted to? Always wondered.

So fresh!

Dang really!? I had no idea - I ordered a vacuum cap the size of it (25mm).

Agree on the couplers. I even took the dimension (Since I had the instructions) and ordered the same sizes. They were still a super tight fit.

It's a really tight fit as is. I'm not sure I could get cone style K&N's to fit, I think you'd have to shorten the HKS piping a bit.

:cool:

You can run K&N filters on the RS intakes, I've been doing it for years.

K&N part number RU-3700 is a perfect fit. About $50 for one.


They don't look as nice as the HKS filters, though :).

Dale

Update 3/21/2020
Well we had a year-long sprint to get to where we are, but here we are. I’ve seen crazier transformations in a year’s time, but I think we did pretty good on this one. There are still some things I need to knock out. There is an exhaust leak that I think is still coming from the DP to Cat flanges. I also need to get an alignment and do a full paint correction, but all of those things wouldn’t warrant a build thread update.

The End of Phase 1
Everything up until now has marked what I had in mind the first phase of the car. It’s scope creeped a bit here and there, but I’m glad I did it. Looking back I wish I held out and waited to find the RGRs in 17x9 like I have now. I still can’t seem to sell the RGRs I originally purchased in 18’s or the RE-71 tires for them. Below is a list of the current modifications the car has.

Exterior:
99-Spec Underbelly Air Dam
99-Spec Air Guides
99-Spec Brake Ducts
99-Spec Combo Lights
99-Spec Front Bumper Cover
99 Spec Front Lip
99-Spec Reinforcement Bar
99-Spec Flying M Emblems
99-Spec Tail Lights
99-Spec Undertray
99-Spec Vanity Half-Plate
Aluminum Door Striker Covers
GReddy Hood Dampers
Halfspec Engineering S2000 Antenna Adapter
Mazda 626 Fuel Cap
MazdaSpeed A-Spec Type II Spoiler
R-Magic Oil Cooler Guides
S2000 Antenna
Shine Auto Feed Style Side Skirt Extensions

Suspension/Drivetrain:
Ohlin Road & Track DFV Coilovers

Engine:
APEXi Power FC w/ OLED Commander
Banzai Racing Billet Aluminum Filler Neck
Banzai Racing Starter Relay
Cusco Type OS Strut Bar
Efini Y-Pipe and Crossover Tube
Full Function Engineering Idler Pulley
Garage Alpha TurboJeff Battery Tray
GReddy Compression Tube
GReddy Intercooler Piping
HKS Downpipe
HKS Racing Suction Intakes
JP3 Motorsports Alternator Terminal Boot
JP3 Motorsports Battery Fuse Block Boot
JP3 Motorsports Brake Booster Vacuum Simplification Kit
LRB Speed Radiator Cooling Panel
LRB Speed Block-Off Plates
Nippondenso Supra TT Fuel Pump
Optima YellowTop D51R Battery
Racing Beat Dual Tip Cat-back

Interior:
13b1 Aluminum Interior Door Pull Cups
Aluminum Power FC ECU Mount
Bubbletech Coin Holder
Bubbletech Hand Grip
Bubbletech Map Lid
Bubbletech Rear Privacy Cover Brackets
Bubbletech Trans Tunnel Support
Defi Racer 52mm Boost Gauge
Draklore 52mm Steering Column Pod
Garage Alpha GT Floor Mats w/ RX-7 Emblem
H3R Fire Extinguisher
JDM Console Armrest
Levy Motor Corp Aluminum Gas Pedal
Levy Motor Corp Aluminum Dead Pedal
Mazda Miata Flying-M/Nardi Steering Wheel
MazdaSpeed Leather Shift Knob
Power FC Cigarette Lighter Commander Mount
Polk Audio DB 522 (5 ¼ Front)
Polk Audio DB 572 (5x7 Rear)
Sakebomb Garage Fire Extinguisher Mount

Wheels/Tires:
BBS Lug Nuts
BBS RGR 17x9 +42 F | 17x9 +32 R
Nitto 555G2 255/40/17

Phase 2 for the Car
I have a lot of engine stuff planned for the car. I was originally planning on going GReddy V with a Haltech, but have since toned it down. I really want to keep the car in its original configuration as it would be from the factory. That means an upgraded SMIC (I’m thinking GReddy) and a Koyo N-Flow Radiator. I’ll also be upgrading the injectors, fuel pump (maybe), rails, and coils just for peace of mind. The original injectors and especially the fuel pulsation dampener scare me. I also plan to overhaul a lot of the minor things that bug me - like the rear trim being cracked and a complete rebuild and powder of the brake calipers. My vision for the interior has always included a pair of RZ seats. I plan to source a set eventually, I know a few people who have extra sets - maybe if I bug them enough they’ll let them go :). However, all of this won’t happen until after a house. That’s the next big purchase for me and I’m diverting all my attention to locking that in. Below is a list of the tentative plans I have for a phase 2.

Phase 2 List
ACT Clutch
ACT Light Flywheel
Apexi Boost Control Kit
Banzai 2.0 KW Starter
Banzai Aluminum Pulleys + Belt
Banzai Diff Brace
Banzai Stainless Steel Clutch Line
Banzai Transmission Crossmember
BNR Twin Turbos
Fuel Lab Pressure Regulator and Gauge
Full Function Engineering Oil Pedestal
Full Function Engineering Rails (6 AN)
GReddy SMIC
ID Injectors (1300/1700)
IRP Fuel Pressure Regulator Bracket
IRP Oil Neck
IRP Oil Pan Brace
IRP Polyurethane Motor Mounts w/ Steel Arm
KNS StopTech Sport Kit
Koyo N-Flow Radiator
New OEM Tension Pulley
Radium Catch Can
Recaro RZ Seats
Sakebomb Apexi 3 Bar + Bracket
Sakebomb IGN-1A Coil Kit
Tial QR Blow Off Valve (Maybe)
Walboro 450LPH

Thank You
I just wanted to give a quick thanks if you’ve been following this over the past year. It’s been incredibly fun, frustrating at times, but fun. I’m already looking and itching to get started on phase 2, but I’ll have to hold off for now. Until then!

Here’s some pictures of the finished interior
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Here’s some pictures of the finished engine bay
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Here’s some pictures of the car
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I would drive and enjoy the car for a bit, car has turned out AWESOME and should be a ton of fun.

For intercoolers I'd also look at a U-type intercooler. Good way to get more surface area without having to do big changes in the engine bay.

May also want to consider the RX-8 4.44 rear gears. Does great with the twins, makes the car feel super responsive.

Dale

Looks FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC Akomix! Beautiful.

:shocking:
It looks amazing.. showroom clean...!

Looks incredible! Very inspirational thread.

Doesn't look like it needs a paint correction from here.

Very Nice!!!!

Thanks for the tip on the U-Type Intercooler. Think I have a KnightSports one lined up to buy once this virus tones itself down.

Thanks everyone! :)

Outstanding workmanship. The attention to detail on this build is second to none. Bravo!

Colten - The CYM is looking stunning!

Update 5/20/2020:
Woah it’s been a bit! Wanted to drop an update on the car. I’ve been driving it a bit and it’s great! I really love the twins - they are so different feeling compared to the single in my FC. On the parts gathering front I was able to source a brand-new CD player unit. Really happy with it and it’s going to look great sitting in the box being new until mine craps out...which given track records won’t be super long. I’ve really decided on a different stance with the car than my previous post. I had all this stuff laid out for it’s future and I’ve chopped off 45% of it. I really decided I want the car to remain stock-ish. No upgrading the fuel delivery system, no bigger turbos - if the Power FC can’t handle it with a base map I don’t want it. I have the FC for the race car; I just want to keep the FD relatively tame and problem free. With that being said - in the near-er future I’m looking into acquiring a KnightSports SMIC, Aluminum Radiator, and a HFC. I don’t anticipate having boost creep, but if that ends up being the case I’ll slap a restrictor plate on.

Here’s the updated reduced list for Phase 2:
Aluminum Pulleys + Belt
Diff Brace
Stainless Steel Clutch Line
Transmisison Crossmember
KnightSports SMIC
Oil Pan Brace
Polyurethane Motor Mounts w/ Steel Arm
StopTech Sport Kit
Aluminum Radiator
Recaro RZ Seats
High Flow Cat

I don’t anticipate another update for a bit so I’ll throw some pictures below of a recent shoot with my two cars. Until next time!

Here is the brand new CD player
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Here are some shots of my cars from the shoot
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She’s a beauty.

If you’re looking to keep the car tame, TBH, I don’t recommend poly motor mounts. Try the mazdacompetition ones, new OEM, or maybe the vibratechnics ones posted in the general section recently. I got poly mounts and my trim vibrates when the fans turn on or the AC is running. I raised the idle a bit on the PFC to alleviate it, but I’ll probably try a different mount solution TBH. As for a diff brace, probably same story. If you’re looking to keep the car tame, maybe just mazdacomp bushings for it. A brace will add more NVH for a tame cruiser.

Just my $.02.

Look forward to more great pictures of this thing

matt

Thank you for your thoughts Matt. You bring up a lot of good points. I'll have to put some deeper thought into it I think. The FC has solid motor and transmission mounts - I feel like a rocket ship waiting to blast off lol. I'll do some more research and get some more options. I think the goal is still performance oriented, but it's more along the lines of, "how much can I live with".

Update 6/29/2020
It’s been a month since my last update! I’ve finally collected enough pictures that I felt it was warranted for one! I decided to give the FD a full paint correction and sealed it with the new Wolfgang Sio2 Sealant. The paint,unfortunately, has a ton of tiny defects in it that you can’t see until you are right up on it. I realize 99.99% of the population won’t notice it, but it still bugs me. Fortunately I have plans to have the car resprayed eventually. I’ve slowly been collecting parts when there are good deals to be had. I acquired some OEM steel motor mounts for 30 bucks and a Banzai Transmission brace. I also acquired something I’m super excited to show off - the FD Motorsports U-type SMIC. This is the company's latest version with cast end tanks. It’s a gorgeous piece with it’s included carbon ducting and is currently off at powder getting prepped to go on the car. The last thing I grabbed isn’t really a car part, but still super cool. I scored a mint condition, in box, Kyosho 1:18 diecast. It’s even yellow to match! Next update should be the SMIC in the car and a few other things.

Until then!

Here is the motor mounts and transmission brace
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Here is the SMIC
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Here is the diecast
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Here is the paint correction products used and the finished rear end
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Here is some recent pictures of the car
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Car is looking fantastic!

If the car is going to be a driver I'd be hesitant to get a full respray. You're going to have nicks, defects, etc. in any driver car that isn't a museum queen. The respray process can be more traumatic than the blemishes in the current paint some times.

How much is that IC? I've seen it posted up and stuff but never saw a solid price. Sure looks good and the CF ducting looks killer.

Dale

Hey Dale!

The respray is more to counter the fact that the new body panels don't color match well. I planned to get all my new stuff and the 93 parts sprayed at the same time so I can swap back and forth and they all match. CYM is a hard color to match unfortunately and my OCD hates the color differences! lol (This is in addition to the defects I mentioned earlier).

In regards to the IC, It was about 1500 USD shipped from Australia. Sasha was really nice to work with. There is some drama between FD Motorsports and Marcus Reed who makes a IC very similar to this. I don't know who made the original or anything, but I do know that the FD Motorsports variant offers the cast end tanks where Marcus' does not.

Really excited to get it on.

That IC look really nice, the cast end tanks made it look OEMish :icon_tup:

Wow, looks like Sasha came through. IC looks great.

Thanks! Thanks for pointing me in this general direction when I PM'ed you about it.

Thanks! Yeah, Sasha was pleasant to work with. The ducting got a little banged up in shipping and he refunded me enough to have it fixed. Really nice guy.

That makes sense on the respray. One thing to consider is getting rid of the texture on the lower half of the sides of the car, it's called "rocker schutz". I've seen cars that have had that removed on a paint job and it makes ALL the difference.

Sometimes I wish I had a nice stock mount, I committed to a big ole front mount ages ago and it's cool looking but sometimes it's a pain!

Looking forward to seeing some pics of that IC installed!

Dale