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Hey guys, I used to be around a long time ago... and been out of the rotary game for a good 7 years until it got to a point where I just couldn't stand it any more and the prices ALL rotaries are on the up here in Australia...
I found a fairly mint looking FC3S that had some work done, it had most of the bells and whistles that I was after to start the project on. It came up at a decent price after speaking to the owner for a good 20 minutes we got to the bottom dollar amount (which I thought was a bargain considering he dropped 6k from listed price) and I was on the plane 1200km away the next day to pick her up!
She is a Brilliant Black, Japanese Import, 91' Series 5 FC3S Savanna
List of mods when I purchased:
Series 5 13b Turbo Bridgeport (secondary)
Dowell
Unbreakable apex seal kit
Microtech LT8 ECU
Garrett T04Z 1.32
Custom Exhaust System, 3” turbo back exhaust
50mm Turbosmart ProGate
TurboSmart BOV
Hybrid FMIC, and Intercooler Piping
Upgraded Oil Catch Can
Twin Fuel pumps
Larger primary 800cc and secondary 1680cc injectors
Malpassi Fuel Pressure regulator
Upgraded Aluminium Radiator, Thermo fan
Upgrade 2-way Differential, and bushes
Short Shift kit
Club Buddy coil overs
Upgrade sway bar and sway bar links
Autotech Carbon Fibre oil temp & pressure, water temp, boost gauges
GFB Manual bleed valve
17” Volk GT7 Rims
Accessories:
FC3S Japanese Import (Savanna) – 2 Seater
Infini Seats, rear bins and steering wheel
I used to own a Series 4 Australian Delivered FC Rx7 which I built from the ground up...
Here is the link, https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...-723175/page3/ unfortunately most if not all of the photo's that where hosted are no longer available!
However here is a quick few snaps of the old beast!
My plans - over the next year or so, I plan on getting this ready for the World Time Attack Challenge that is hosted in Sydney every October, and enter in the Clubsprint class. Meaning the car must not have added areo, or pumped fenders - all tyres must be within the guards and needs to be street registered.
My list of mods that I want to do is extensive! I will update as I go along.
BTW I wasn't kidding about driving it 1200km home... This was my survival kit! haha
Best thing was she made it home.. No issues what-so-ever!
So the very next day after I drove that 1200km I went to a mate's house, to popping my bonnet to show the Dorito and noticed there looked to be oil throughout my entire engine bay!!!!!
It turned out to be diff/gearbox fluid (from the power steering lines)
There was a small crack and was p$$ing out everywhere!
The easy option would of been finding a second hand set of p/s lines, however only at the risk of it happening again any time as these are now 27 + years old...
I went to our local hose ENZED and had custom p/s lines made! pretty happy with the over all result..
After my first repair (knowing well more things would pop up, and boy they did) It was time to do the first thing... After noticing something with the car cover on...
There was a stupid thing poking out the left rear of the car!!!! Having that ALL Audio will be FULLY removed from the car, it was a no brainier!
After getting used to the car, I started to notice a few things that I didn't like!
I took a mate for a spin around the block, after giving it two consecutive hit's, I noticed the Oil Temp was upwards of 230+ degress... (F) with water temp up to 100 degrees (C) - This is WAY too much for my liking...
If it gets this hot after just two hits, it WILL NOT last a full time attack lap... so the planing on fixing/upgrading parts started...
First thing was upgrading the oil cooler to a 68mm PWR oil cooler
The car came with some aftermarket oil cooler lines which was pretty good!
Next up was replacing the old SPAL 1600cfm with a new SPAL 3000cfm.. The difference was night and day! I had some issue's with the 30amp fuse blowing everytime it turned on...
This fan pulls 26amp's consistently... so meaning when it was turning on it was spiking over 30amp's and blowing the fuse... I upgraded the wires to support 30amp's and placed in a 40amp fuse and relay and it hasn't been a problem since! The motor is twice the size!
Another thing I noticed after pulling the car up at a bit of speed was the feed back I was getting through the steering wheel and the pedal... Meaning wrapped front rotor's...
Before taking it out again, that was another thing I did... While I was at it I bleed the brake system and put some Motul RBF660 in it..
After about two weeks, I noticed something under the water pump....
Yay water pump is on its way out!!! Famous for just before letting go they start leaking from the pulley...
I also noticed the bracket to the P/S pulley was broken...
While the water would be out of the motor, I figured I mose well replace the top and bottom radiator lines with aluminium tubing, A it looks WAY neater, and B a lot more reliable!
I also noticed my clutch Master was leaking, and while it's cheap to replace I replaced it and also the slave...
Again while the water was out of the car, I took the opportunity to change the 82 degree thermostat to a 71 degree, Also had the secondary butterfly's removed, and remove that silly emission's/throttle body water feed....
While everything was off, I deiced to have a change in colour! Also replacing the Gilmore drive kit with a belt kit.. I can't stand the noise of the Gilmore kit....
After cleaning up pretty much everything in the bay, I am much happier with how she looks.. I cleaned up alot of wires while I was at it too, still not 100% happy, but it's better than what she was..
This is all about I have been able to do in the last two months of owing the car... And things that have come up!
There is still lots of things to do...
This week I had fixed a few things that needed attention with the car.. The passengers door handle was broken, the passengers window switch basically didn't work (even from the drivers side aswell), Central locking wasn't working, boot lock wasn't opening with the key...
I had replaced the handle on the passengers side, replaced passengers window switch, re-aligned the windows on both passengers and drivers side (my god so much better), removed door speakers, fixed the rod for the central locking (woohoo it works) fixed the boot lock which now can be opened with the key! Small things, but they are what makes a "Street" car, all these things needed attention and needed to be working.
Over the x-mas holidays I will be moving the battery into the boot to clean up that engine bay, I have the lines and everything I need to get it moved.
Things on my list and mid year 2018 goal.
1. Rego - this may require getting engineering cert which means alot of work and headaches... I hope not as could delay EVERYTHING!
2. ECU - LT10c - Microtech Pro 7" dash
3. Reassess fuel system, and replace most for E85
4. Garrett GTW3884R 67MM turbo and tuned to 24-28psi - 650-700+hp
5. XD9 Bronze shoes... 8" up the front and 9.5" on the rear - with a off set of 20+ (fill those guards baby!)
6. A freshen up of the motor
The over all goal will be street registered, street driven, and a time attack machine...
I was waiting for a build thread like this! Car looks great and I look forward to more updates and track time. What are you plans for the suspension?
Awesome! Thank you my friend!
Me too, I really want new shoe's before everything, but I know rego will have a issue with the size of the rims I want - so alot of things need to go on hold until then... Starting of next year JAN/FEB will be focusing on rego.
Currently the suspension they are Club Buddy coil overs, personally I think they are a little meh... So will be looking at the MCA Suspension https://mcasuspension.com/suspension - Purple series for mine.. Having it been a street/track car I don't want to fully dive into a set just for the track, however this MAY change and I might end up getting a set of full custom set from them at some point. But as a starting point the MCA Purple will fill that spot!
In terms of setup and they rest of it, i haven't thought that far ahead just yet, with my main focus now on Rego inspection...
Me too, I really want new shoe's before everything, but I know rego will have a issue with the size of the rims I want - so alot of things need to go on hold until then... Starting of next year JAN/FEB will be focusing on rego.
Currently the suspension they are Club Buddy coil overs, personally I think they are a little meh... So will be looking at the MCA Suspension https://mcasuspension.com/suspension - Purple series for mine.. Having it been a street/track car I don't want to fully dive into a set just for the track, however this MAY change and I might end up getting a set of full custom set from them at some point. But as a starting point the MCA Purple will fill that spot!
In terms of setup and they rest of it, i haven't thought that far ahead just yet, with my main focus now on Rego inspection...
I wasn't aware MCA made coilovers for the FC. I guess that's another company I need to check out. Thanks.
No updates yet, i have been too lazy and just enjoying doing nothing over these holidays... however i do plan on attacking the battery tomorrow...
however, after looking closer to my turbo i saw something was missing... Water lines in and out... Hmmm so after at little bit of investigating, its actually a OLD T04R... which is oil cooled only i believe.. but still runs the 1.32 rear...
she is a old journal bearing turbo!!! needs much attention!! it does actually have a bit of shaft play aswell... oh well time for upgrade!
Nice Progress mate & the car looks awesome!! Love the seats! I see you and I are in the same boat hey and both had a rough start to the build .... Bloody old cars are just a bit temperamental! Those coolant temps are similar to what I was getting so might follow your lead on put in a 72deg thermostat.
Good luck with the Battery relocate.. nice easy one for the holidays
Last edited by Reckless_Panda; 01-06-18 at 10:56 PM.
Scott?? You bought my 1st gen from me way back? YNO20B?? You still in Canberra?
Anyway, great to see. Hardly see FC's anymore, or any rotors on the street in Australia. They're getting too expensive.
Might see you up at WTAC. I've got an RX8 I'd like to enter in clubsprint too... And an FC destined for Open class if I win tho lotto or something.
Christian! how are you?! Yes mate - I remember, first car I ever owned! haha - my mate now owns it and has taken the plates off to get rid of that "whoring" stigma and completely rebuilding it! cannot wait to see it when its done!
Oh perfect, yeah - I wont make this years WTAC I don't think, my first goal was reliability I have questions about the motor as it's completely unknown... But it seems happy and 100psi for all rotor seems healthy!
12-24-17, 06:29 AM
Also replacing the Gilmore drive kit with a belt kit.. I can't stand the noise of the Gilmore kit....
