Freeskier7791

nice progress, what headers did you use? I am on a desperate search for something that doesnt hit my steering box. I know you have an FC subframe but want to see what my options may be

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Yeah it'll all be worth it once it's done. Hard to keep reminding yourself of that during the build though haha. If you are buying new ball joints for the S4 arms (I assume you are) often times they come with new bolts. The Mevotech (part number MK9427) ones I got on Rockauto a few months ago did at least...

You're getting there!

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

I'm using Sanderson headers. They make a block hugger that's nice. No gaskets. I made the down pipes so I could route them out of the engine bay.

Freeskier7791

Thanks, I made my own downpipes as well for Corvette rams horns

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

one side down. got the other control arm over the weekend so I'll get that one installed and the front suspension will be in. the fronts are ISC coilovers. nice quality. I got 600 lb springs for the front to start off with. I forgot to mention the rears are 300 lbs. waiting on the rear axle now so I can finish up the suspension.

mustanghammer

iTrader: (3)

Looking great!

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Yeah looking real clean. What are you planning to do with the car, street/track etc? I'm just asking because those spring rates are pretty damn high!

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

I'm going to autocross it mainly, some track time if I get the opportunity and I am going to drive it on the street as well.

Yea I started out a bit stiff but I can always change out springs.

Here is the other side almost together. It's all done now. Front suspension.......CHECK!

Now I need that Granny's rear axle!

mustanghammer

iTrader: (3)

My first reaction was that 600lbs is high. Then I remembered that I have 500lb springs on the front of my car...and I ain't totting around a V8 Chebby. My rear springs are 275's.

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

yea I'm hoping they will be close to what I want. The v8 is a bit heavier than the rotary and the tremec is pretty heavy as well. waiting on the rear axle is killing me. the front is all done. I do have details to take care of in the meantime like some wiring.

Once I get the axle in I have to measure for a driveshaft and the drivetrain will be done.

Freeskier7791

nice, I run 450 front 300 rear on my FB with an LT1 and T5. Car feels real balanced, I am sure your setup will be fine

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Ah ok, yeah if it's mostly going on a track then that makes more sense, especially given the engine/trans combo. The FB I've taken to a few drift events has 350/275 and it's not the friendliest thing to drive on the street (or maybe I'm getting old and grumpy?!) so that's why I asked. My aggressive street FB is 225/150 if I remember right..

How long is the Granny's axle supposed to take?

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

I was mostly thinking track with the spring rates. I do plan on driving it on the street as well so if it's too stiff for my liking (I'm old and grumpy too!) I can always swap for softer springs. Grant gives the timeline of 6 to 8 weeks on the axle. it's been a little over a month so far. I got the brake lines all finished last night so my to-do list is:

hook up the steering linkage. fortunately that is already fabricated so I can bolt it on.
bleed the clutch.
fluids
rear brakes when I get the axle.
still have some wiring to do then I can install the seats and that's about it. getting so close.

Freeskier7791

I can't wait to see this thing move under its own power

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Yeah it'll be awesome to see this thing out in the wild after so long!

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

The Dog is even ready for a ride!

MTheoryInc

iTrader: (3)

Awesome pic.. hanging out is her limit, the boost freaks her out so she don't ride.

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

still waiting on my Granny's Speed Shop axle. been 7 weeks today. this wait is killing me! just had to vent...........................

Freeskier7791

Must be torture, you probably could have made your own by now!

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

yea, that's a good way to put it. I'm ready and waiting on it. I know this stuff takes time but dang, 2 months? I know it will be a quality axle that will fit. I probably could have built it myself but he knows what he's doing. he gets rid of the c clips and adds 33 spline axles. plus the torque arm. I'm a patient person. 11 years working on this thing so far. I guess a couple weeks more won't kill me.

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

still waiting on my axle. Been in contact with him, several times now. it's always "a week to a week and a half." then that time frame passes and still no axle. I ordered it in March.

So, I still have stuff to do is why I'm not freaking yet. Like I'm putting new internals in my steering column. I got the brake lights working and the left turn signal but when I hit the right turn signal the flashers came on. hoping it's a bad switch. it looks pretty nasty. so that's ready to go back in and hopefully that will finish the lights wiring. still need to wire up the wipers/washer and the heater.

I ordered a Unisteer power steering pump. Going to see if I can get my power steering working. I'm old, I have 10 inch wide front tires with a heavy engine over them, that equates to power steering. I know guys have had luck using the second gen rack with a KRC pump for drifting so I'm going to try it with a stock pump and see what happens. if any of you guys have any experience with this I would appreciate any feedback.

Still thinking about how to quiet the exhaust down. it's just plain loud. I figured it would be with that tiny muffler but that's all that would fit under the side skirt. I'm thinking about adding another muffler to that side. two should be quieter than one right? I only have about 5 inches of space square to work with.

Freeskier7791

Add more/better mufflers. Any exhaust like what you have is gonna be super loud and not necessarily the best performance wise. I am planning on building an x pipe for mine and then merge it before it goes out the back like stock

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

Well, still waiting on the axle. He says it's ready to ship but I have yet to see a tracking number. I don't see how you run a business like that. I will never order another thing from him. I appreciate that it takes time and stuff happens but the blatant lying is what upsets me.

So in the meantime, I have pretty much everything else worked out. I re-made the flares on all the brake lines and clutch line because I will admit, I suck at flaring. I tried to bleed the clutch and it kept sucking air through the flair I made. So, I bought a tool from Eastwood and it makes a perfect flare in like 30 seconds. got the wiring done and stuff works! the problem with the lights was the turn signal switch and now everything works great. the heater blower is hooked up and so are the wipers.

I had ordered a unisteer power steering pump but I cancelled it and got a KRC pump instead. after a bit of research I figured out how to make the lines and the steering is done now as well. I may have to play around with flow rates once it's hooked up but I can tailor it using their flow restrictors.

I need the axle to order the driveshaft. that's like the last thing I need to buy.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

You're getting there! Sucks about the axle taking so long though - that's bs... I just bought that Eastwood flare tool after using a cheap kit for many years, it's sooooo nice isn't it!

Frankenmazda

iTrader: (2)

Yes I think 15 weeks when he advertises 6 to 8 on his website is excessive. now he says he's waiting on a tracking number. it's been over a week. I don't believe a single thing he says. I'm giving him until the end of this week to ship or I'm filing a complaint with PayPal. how do you run a business like that?

Yea the flare tool is a savior for me. my hand done flares, admittedly, were garbage. That tool takes any skill and guessing out and just makes a perfect flare every time. they also have AN dies for the tool as well. might look into those.

so other than that the car is coming nicely. finished off more stuff over the weekend. the wiring is almost done thankfully. for me it's been the most painful part. Still trying to figure out the wiring for the backup light into the painless harness. the instructions are pretty vague when it comes to a lot of the details like that. I bought the pigtail and it seems straight forward but the wiring for the harness makes no sense to me. I'm probably just going to skip it and go direct from the fuse to the switch, then to the light. in the Painless harness it's in with the Cruise Control section of wiring. makes me scratch my head.

if I had the axle I could be driving it by the end of this next weekend.