79SA to 87EFI. Not nearly as simple as it looked.
#52
Can't speak for anyone else, but I try not to compromise the structural members of the car if I can help it. If I have to change something like that, I put the replacement supports in BEFORE I cut the old out.
In the case of the rear suspension I left all the stock control arms in place and welded the third member control arm in before I removed the stock upper control arms while at ride height. The lower arms will be removed after I tack a framework in place from the rearend to the frame to make sure nothing moves.
Even then things do go wrong. You have to measure and remeasure over and over as well as trial fitting at each step and remeasuring. Takes lots of time.
I also use heavier gauge metal than the factory would, I'm not up to the caliber of the factory engineers so I have to make an educated guess and over-build things just to be on the safe side. A real engineer could use a lot lighter materials for equivalent strength. I'm just a hobbyist, I'm not that good.
#53
Backfire blaster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Saint Catharines Ontario Canada
Posts: 86
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Check out the inspirational video on you tube about a nineteen year old that messed with his first gen RX7. Love it! "The zero F**ks Given RX7- Tuned".
#54
Saw that, the concept was funny as hell, but I wouldn't want to drive something that unsafe much of anywhere. The guy almost crashed it twice just on camera. Driving a car that actively tries to kill you is rather idiotic in my opinion. Driving a car that could kill you because it's so dang fast on the other hand, falls into the category of good clean fun.
#55
Never Follow
iTrader: (18)
Very carefully.
Can't speak for anyone else, but I try not to compromise the structural members of the car if I can help it. If I have to change something like that, I put the replacement supports in BEFORE I cut the old out.
In the case of the rear suspension I left all the stock control arms in place and welded the third member control arm in before I removed the stock upper control arms while at ride height. The lower arms will be removed after I tack a framework in place from the rearend to the frame to make sure nothing moves.
Even then things do go wrong. You have to measure and remeasure over and over as well as trial fitting at each step and remeasuring. Takes lots of time.
I also use heavier gauge metal than the factory would, I'm not up to the caliber of the factory engineers so I have to make an educated guess and over-build things just to be on the safe side. A real engineer could use a lot lighter materials for equivalent strength. I'm just a hobbyist, I'm not that good.
Can't speak for anyone else, but I try not to compromise the structural members of the car if I can help it. If I have to change something like that, I put the replacement supports in BEFORE I cut the old out.
In the case of the rear suspension I left all the stock control arms in place and welded the third member control arm in before I removed the stock upper control arms while at ride height. The lower arms will be removed after I tack a framework in place from the rearend to the frame to make sure nothing moves.
Even then things do go wrong. You have to measure and remeasure over and over as well as trial fitting at each step and remeasuring. Takes lots of time.
I also use heavier gauge metal than the factory would, I'm not up to the caliber of the factory engineers so I have to make an educated guess and over-build things just to be on the safe side. A real engineer could use a lot lighter materials for equivalent strength. I'm just a hobbyist, I'm not that good.
When I do all my rust repair and body work I try to keep the repairs to one particular area, rather than cutting out ALL the rusted pices and risk something moving/warping etc. Once one patch is done I'll cut out the adjacent part or whatever and work my way on from there.
ioTus - just buy a deent welder and start messing around, that's how I started!
#59
More pics? You are a glutton for punishment aren't you? Here I thought I was overdoing it.
Todays progess. Got my springs back in, a shock mount fabbed/tacked in, and a shock mounted. Then put on a wheel and started checking suspension cycling. No go. Have an interference problem with off camber movement. Going to have to modify the wheel wells some more to move the shocks further inboard, I didn't move them enough. Figures. I'll post a pic or two of it when I get it figured out and fabbed up.
Todays progess. Got my springs back in, a shock mount fabbed/tacked in, and a shock mounted. Then put on a wheel and started checking suspension cycling. No go. Have an interference problem with off camber movement. Going to have to modify the wheel wells some more to move the shocks further inboard, I didn't move them enough. Figures. I'll post a pic or two of it when I get it figured out and fabbed up.
Last edited by GySgtFrank; 02-13-13 at 06:59 PM.
#60
ACBron Motorsport
I hadn't check your thread for ages, but i'm so glad i finally did.
That work is is very well thought out and well exacuted Sargent!
Keep it up, i'll make sure i get on here a bit more too ;-)
That work is is very well thought out and well exacuted Sargent!
Keep it up, i'll make sure i get on here a bit more too ;-)
#62
Will do, just glad you guys are actually interested in what I'm up to.
#63
ACBron Motorsport
#64
Never Follow
iTrader: (18)
I keep checking your thread, one of the few I keep a subscription on, because I really like the way it's turning out. Had a few problems with getting the parts I needed, so had to come up with alternative methods. If I'd just quit hitting snags along the way I would be a lot further along. Where would be the fun if everything always worked perfectly though?
Will do, just glad you guys are actually interested in what I'm up to.
Will do, just glad you guys are actually interested in what I'm up to.
I love seeing build threads with lots of fab work. Keeps me motivated on my own projects
#66
Thanks guys.
As promised, a few more pics from weekend progress, it's a real shocker (sic). Had to notch the wheel well housings and rotate the bottom mounts slightly to angle the shocks inboard.
inside of wheel well
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482739313/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482739313/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
interior mount.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482741015/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482741015/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
on ground at full drop, tires hit sheetmetal slightly.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482746643/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482746643/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
At desired ride height.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483835638/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483835638/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
Found that the rear axle was not centered from the factory, offset slightly to the driver's side. Planning on replacing the lower arms with Maximum Motorsports arms that use a captured Heim style joint. Adjustment shouldn't be a big deal with my panhard rod once I get rid of the bind.
Don't look at the puddle of oil under the car. Left the driveshaft out and it emptied from my transmission when I lowered the car back down to the ground.
As promised, a few more pics from weekend progress, it's a real shocker (sic). Had to notch the wheel well housings and rotate the bottom mounts slightly to angle the shocks inboard.
inside of wheel well
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482739313/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482739313/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
interior mount.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482741015/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482741015/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
on ground at full drop, tires hit sheetmetal slightly.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482746643/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8482746643/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
At desired ride height.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483835638/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483835638/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
Found that the rear axle was not centered from the factory, offset slightly to the driver's side. Planning on replacing the lower arms with Maximum Motorsports arms that use a captured Heim style joint. Adjustment shouldn't be a big deal with my panhard rod once I get rid of the bind.
Don't look at the puddle of oil under the car. Left the driveshaft out and it emptied from my transmission when I lowered the car back down to the ground.
#67
Had a couple of requests for shots from the rear to see what a 275/40 17 looked like when tucked in.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8484208668/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8484208668/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483116587/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483116587/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
Not the best shots, but it's starting to get dark.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8484208668/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8484208668/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483116587/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8483116587/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
Not the best shots, but it's starting to get dark.
#69
A couple more requested pics.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486485256/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486485256/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486486966/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486486966/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
just a leeetle bigger.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486485256/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486485256/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486486966/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gysgtfrank/8486486966/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/gysgtfrank/, on Flickr
just a leeetle bigger.
#70
Airflow is my life
Great build, great thread! I'm thinking of transplanting a stock 86 engine into a first gen too. I will be referring back to this thread often. Thanks for the ideas.
#72
Thanks guys. I stayed with a bone stock engine setup for the reliability. Wanted to get everything else done to support big power before I start messing with the engine. Have to go cut the tack welds on my panhard mount loose AGAIN!, only about the 4th time now. I'll get it right eventually. Need to get that done so I can center the axle for the rest of the mods.
#74
6 ports are functional, using the RB 6 port FC header for the actuation. It has good power. Enough to where I needed to source the LSD rear end and more tire as it had a tendency to break the tires loose in corners when you punched it in second. Definitely not up to TII or REW levels, but fun in a car this light. 1-2 shift also got a little squirrely.