craaaazzy's Widebody REW project
 

I think it's time for me to start a build thread here since I am planning on installing an REW some time in the future. I had a build thread in the local SE forum that documented how I got the car, what's been done in the past year, etc so if you'd like to take a look, here it is:

My old build thread/

so my plan is to finish the body and collect parts needed for the REW swap. Not sure if i'll go ahead and do the paint just yet but the collection of parts have begun. I have an REW motor with all accessories, S4 TII transmission, 12a front cover, 12a oil pick up, TII starter, and to attempt to make wiring as easy as possible, also have a PFC. other parts I still have yet to acquire so guys familiar with this or the TII swap, let me know if you have anything I need.

here are some helpful builds that I have gathered to help with this swap, in case anyone cares
z-beater
kevinbtz
sleeper7
81widemariah
rotorican85
ducktape

if you know of additional build threads, feel free to add them or let me know.

the car as it sits:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...hoto%25204.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...hoto%25205.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s...hoto%25201.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o...hoto%25203.JPG

lx-machado and i picked up this wing, it's just sitting on the car, nothing bolted in...just wanted to see what it looks like. not sure if i'll have a wing or not.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G...hoto%25202.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...hoto%25203.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...hoto%25204.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z...hoto%25205.JPG

Looks good
 

I'm to the point where I wish I had gone the route of buying a kit instead of making one from scratch.

I like the look of your car.

Looking good Fred! I didn't know you already picked up an REW.

The cars looks good with or with out the wing.

Fuck yeah on the wing.

thanks guys. i like how it looks with and without the wing but i haven't made up my mind. will hold off on paint until i decide.

BUT in the mean time, alex and I are trying to get a mold made for this wing so we can duplicate it. just having a hard time finding a shop that does this type of work locally for a reasonable price. if anyone knows of a shop here in atlanta, please let us know.

why are you going to remake the wing when you can still buy them?

Looking good Fred! Did Marco convince you to go REW? When are you planning to do the swap?

end goal is to make them more affordable for everyone.

indeed donnie. he is a bad influence. :cursing:
no timeframe yet. am still collecting parts and after that, i'd like to go over everything, fix all known leaks, paint parts, modify what needs to be modified, etc. before tackling removing old and installing new motor.

looking good!!

Looking good so far! If you're going with the front cover mounting route don't forget the GSL-SE oil pan... Didn't see that on your list.

i really like the black dragon kit, cant wait to see your car done! its gunna be a beast.

Thanks guys. Parts collection still taking place. Received my GSL-SE oil pan and have a few other parts to track down.

decided to paint the car so it's at the painters. am still collecting parts though which include S4 NA waterpump/housing (since i'll be eliminating everything but the waterpump and alternator, i need the waterpump to be spinning opposite way of REW waterpump so belt does not slip), rear adjustable spring perches, lightweight flywheel, and bosch 044 fuel pump.

also found these:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-A...s400/photo.JPG

I own, have owned the top 2 cars, and for the porsche, i will own one someday...

Any updates, Fred?

yes actually. got the car back from the painters but need to do some cutting/polishing (anyone local have a polisher i can borrow?) but here's a sneak peak:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I...hoto%25202.JPG

Where in GA are you? Nice build thread!

Travis

i'm in alpharetta.

added the fender welt to the passenger side as well today. hopefully it protects the body enough from vibrations from the rear fenders. also changed out the rear glass for one without a wiper...looks much better. =)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...hoto%25201.JPG

changed the driver's side door seals (door seal, window seal, window trim). now the window motor needs some help and it also does not go all the way up (gap of about 1/4"). not sure if it's due to a weak motor or needs lubrication. i did squirt some lithium along the seal which helped a little but not much. could possibly be from the corners of the rubber seal as it feels tight in those areas. also tried adjusting the window a bit but no go.

anyway, some more pics:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h...hoto%25202.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...hoto%25203.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0...hoto%25204.JPG

Looking good, Fred!

thanks donnie. hopefully it'll make it out to the next OGTA meet.

so here's what happens when you replace the ball joint in the front control arm and not tack it in. this is the driver's side:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...s400/photo.JPG

i was going to simply get a new ball joint and install that but after removing the old arm, it was fairly easy to insert the old ball joint in with a few light taps of a hammer (hole had expanded too much in my mind). so new control arm ordered from mazdatrix. hopefully the other side stays put cause i don't really want to buy another $170 control arm.

Finally got the new control arm as well as the other control arm welded and installed. Here is the car at a local meet.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h...hoto%25201.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...hoto%25203.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E...hoto%25204.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N...hoto%25201.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...hoto%25202.JPG

wide
 

That thing looks badass!

Thanks. I'm still debating about the wing but not the wing posted above. Thinking I may make a custom one out of aluminum.

Looking good, Fred. What wing style are you going for? I have one similar to yours, but a little more modest, on my WB and could be down to trade.

How are you liking it with the SE running gear?

Thanks Donnie. I'm thinking of making a wing much like what Marco has on his RX3...something simple. I'll be making a sample with cardboard first to see if I like the look first though.

I haven't gotten the chance to open her up yet as I am only 300 miles into the break-in on the SE motor. Gearing seems a bit short though, especially the first 2 gears as I can get to 4500 rpms pretty quickly.

wow fred, looks fantastic after paint. im such a sucker for white fb's :D

Car is beautiful man! I know what I want for Christmas!

Hopefully I'll be successful with the REW swap so the motor will match the looks of the car. Still collecting parts and more research.

I need to visually lower the front of the car (front coilover a already set to lowest setting) so need to somehow add some sort of lip to the front. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

if you still have plenty of travel in the front move the lower spring perch down on the strut tube.
what length spring is on the front? Looking good Fred

If I saw that in my rear view mirror I would probably end up in the ditch!

I basically have an re-speed street coil setup equivalent so would not be able to move it down without having to cut and weld. Not sure but it's likely a 7" spring. I like the ride height as is but want the front lip portion to be visually lower so may need to come up with something creative. Will start brainstorming...

Lowering the spring perch will reduce suspension travel capabilities.

Look into raising the strut towers. Racing Beat used to make a kit for doing this, and a few people on here have done it without their kit. You retain suspension travel but can lose a few inches in ride height.

Edit:

Get the Respeed race kit and you should be able to go lower. My SA has it and I can take it lower than I would ever want to. Cutting and welding a new perch isn't that hard of a task. Any competent welder should be able to do it.

Yeah, I saw this on Mariah's site which is what you described: http://www.mariahmotorsports.com/sus...oweringkit.htm

I've already done 2 alignments within 100 miles of each other (due to upgrading suspension and replacing parts). I think I better drive and enjoy what I have for now. :)

wow I did not know Mariah sold those

Not even sure they are available Alex as they are no longer listed in RB's website...so unless they have some in stock, may be SOL.

Donnie, to take advantage of the "race" setup, one would need to get the special "race" struts or at least a shortened strut. Since I already have the regular illumina's, not worth the trouble right now...and my wallet thanks me.

started playing around with ideas for a custom wing. would be painted black. what do u guys think?

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H...s600/photo.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_...hoto%25201.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z...hoto%25202.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...hoto%25203.JPG

attempt number 2. i like this better as it puts the wing more where the original IMSA wing location was.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G...hoto%25202.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...hoto%25203.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1...hoto%25204.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...hoto%25205.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...s600/photo.JPG

Fred,
take a pic of the wing with the entire car would help..also..make a longer piece, not just 1/4 of the wing...lol if u need carboard, i have some big pieces u can borrow....

http://theglogspot.com/gallery/album...5396.sized.jpg

Looks oddly familiar!

Looking great so far! Keep up the work!

Thanks Chris. Have seen pics of your targa before and always like the clean look of it.

alright polo, here's my 3rd attempt at the wing:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...hoto%25201.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...hoto%25203.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...hoto%25204.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U...hoto%25201.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...hoto%25202.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...hoto%25203.JPG

Widebody looks great, Really love this look.

Great Build! Good luck!
I really like the last wing mock up you posted..looks like a nice blend of the group c wing and custom. Do it!!

Fred,
Here is my .02
look at the last pic of the wing from the top view. I would at least align the edge of the wing with the line of the fender beading, just to get a cleaner look from the top. However, i am not sold on the length of the wing as well, is that a random number? Maybe a tad shorter? I cannot grasps the perspective of the wing along with the whole car, maybe i need to come over to really have a look at it in person. shorten the wing may also help stabilizing it at a installing stand point. Are you planning on having those brackets support per your mockup? I think it is a neat idea, and making the bracket size a little bigger to match the folding line on the trunk would be a plus. As far as the angle of the wing goes, when u look at the car from the side, the line of the glass meets the body would be the line for the wing extension. Good job =) Now lets see the real thing already

wow what a project, looks awesome so far!

Marco, u need to come by and take a look. Alex is coming at 10am on Saturday to drop off and pick up some stuff, ur more than welcome.

I'll have to give ur suggestions a thought, especially the one about matching the fender welt. As for the brackets, no, I have a different idea now. Will be using some hinges and supports which will allow me to adjust the angle of it...as is, it's close to the IMSA wing's angle.

My god, this is amazing. That kit is really aggressive, I like it alot. How wider are those rear fenders over stock? I can't get over how wide it is!

Thanks. This is the widest kit you can get I believe. The rears are 5" wider than stock.

This car looks even better in person. Fred, I cant wait to see what you do with the wing.

Looking good!

Thanks for dropping those things for me Alex. The car does look better in person, it's got some very particular angles, some of which does not look good in photos.