Some progress:

The rollcage is now pretty much done, it's a pretty simple 6-point cage, with a few reinforcement bars added behind the seats. Used tubing is 48,3 x 3, local rules required at least 45 x 3 tubing but I didn't have any bendingtools in that size. I thought a lot about adding another doorbar tube, creating an X, but it would make getting in and out of the car very difficult for a streetcar. The car also isn't going to be used for car to car racing so I left it like this.








A bit of stitchwelding




Hammered and ground the front fenders




Also rolled / pulled them out about 1/4", should be enough to fit my wheels while keeping stock-ish looks

 

What year of FC is it?
I modified the bars on the doors and fenders on my -88.
Think it looks better without them
(Also Bomex-kit though)

 

I think the fender/bumper/door guards are part of what makes the look of the car. It looks weird without them imo. I would like to see an S5 conversion though after owning two s4 models and now an s5, I definitely like it more. Looks like a shark to me

 

With all the work you have in that cage I'd hate to see you leave out 2 more bars hat would let you tie in the front end. from the front strut towers, through the firewall, and into the a-pilar bars, but at an angle.. I'm sure you know what I mean. It would look great with a 4 rotor. You may have to modify your beautiful tank assembly, but it would be worth it to have a fully integrated cage. Anyways it looks killer as always

 

i think i need new pants

 

coming along nicely!
are you taking it step by step or have you got plans in mind for the rest of the build?

 

Nice FC, The car is from 86, so early S4. I'm keeping the bars though, I think a stock body would look strange without them.


I like S5 too, pretty difficult to find S5 body parts out here though


I know what you mean, and you do have a good point there, it would probably stiffen the strut towers a bit but it just doesn't fit with the stock dashboard. The blower is hugely in the way, and there are some bits in the way on the other side as well. So I would probably have to go with a custom heater and modify a lot of stuff underneath the dashboard, which isn't worth it to me. I did stitchweld the strut towers and made the strut bar also connect to the firewall, so it should be ok.

A car like this is never done, so there is no other way than doing things step by step. For now I want to get the car up and running with the 4-rotor and ready to do some trackdays, but I've already got a growing wishlist of things to modify after that.




Slowely but surely the shell is coming along, I rolled and pulled the rear fenders, made a cover for the area where the battery is going to go and started prepping the car for paint. This is a LOT of work, so the next update will probably take a while.

 

Holy crap thats crazy!! Pure dedication. are those custom bars?

 

no, i think he bought them at walmart for 3.78

 

Pics of the fenders I've been waiting to see how you were going to to them I need better ideas in order for me to do mine I'm just not confidant on how I'm going to do them I saw that you hammered the front but the fronts come of so that's easy to do Its the back that has me a little stumped....

 

This is one of the most awesome build project I have seen so far, keep it up!

 

Can't wait to see it IRL, it will be WASOEM!!!

Maybe pay a visit to Rotary Stock Holland 2013 organised by the RX7 CLUB Holland?

Grtz Dee.

 

still loving this build. keep up the good work!

 

I like the cover where the spare went, I'm thinking about doing the same for a battery hiding place and also to put a FP surge tank. Keep on, keeping on! This build is EPIC!!

 

Ok then I will be goin to walmart then to find them

 

Hey john, Could you do me a favour?

My battery is in the same place, and that cover you made also something that was in my mind.

Can you make another one for me? If possible in aluminum? (materials and efford at my cost obviously).

 

@geenidee: john is also on the dutch forum and maybe send him a mail/pm

Last time I checked they where sold out

 

I wish they weren't custom, that would've saved me a LOT of time.


First I heated the fender with a torch, after that I got a thick welding glove and a nylon hammer, I used the hammer to knock the lip against the fender, while supporting the outside of the fender with the palm of my other hand. The torch isn't necessary, but I found that using heat just makes it easier. Heatgun would probably work too. After this the lip looked like this: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...2/CIMG2319.JPG
Then I pulled the fender outwards, I think you can use one of those fender rollers, but you can use a pipe, the rear wheel and some wooden blocks like I did, if you still need to do paint / bodywork anyway.


Maybe, if the car is up and running


Sure, this one is made from aluminium too. I've sent you a PM.




Currently prepping the car, removing the undercoating was a crappy job! Also had to do some rust repair, cutting out rusty pieces, making new pieces and welding them in. Very time consuming, but I think I can get some paint on there in the next week

 

You are doing a great job there John

I was wondering about your oil cooler placement. I see that these are Earls Temp-a-curve coolers, I guess the 9" version. As I am in need of a dual oil cooler setup too, I did some mesurement on mine (S4 NA, bare shell)

As you removed a good chunk of the lower front I am wondering how low the oil coolers are actually sitting. They dont seem flush with the lower front bumber area.
How does the underside of your custom undertray connect to this ?

I am also running into a problem with the headlight motors, they are a good deal in the way. I was planning to do some ducting behind the coolers pointing down so that the air gets sucked through the coolers from underneath.
Did you try your setup with the headlight motors ? Seems like there is not a lot of space even on your setup, looking at your pictures. I was really surprised once I installed my motors to find out that there is so less room left.
They go straight to the bottom of the undertray.

You might consider to put some sort of grill behind the bumper openings to protect these expensive coolers from foreign object damage

BTW, the Netherlands are like 60-70 kms away from me. If you need some help I would be happy to help out

Best Regards
Steven

 

Holy **** that's dope

 

i may have missed it but have you chosen a color for the paint, or do i have to be patient?
great work anyways

 

Pink Pearl

 

Definitely! Ha

 

The car would still be mean as **** even if it was pink
I hope he doesn't go pink though, i vote for a dark metallic green

 

Matte White with matte black details... OMG...