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My Rocket Bunny FC Rx7 Build
I have decided to pull the trigger on the greddy widebody kit. I was not sure about it and almost decided against it. However I need another widebody in my life. Sooooooo. I'm starting a new fc build and thought it would be fun to post some pics of the progress as I'm going. My rx7 is a 90, it's going white on black and of course it's staying rotary.
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That's the 90 infini I'm using. I had to have another widebody. I was missing the feel. Herr are a few of my last ones:
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If you like what you see follow joe maddox at joemaddox_rx7 on Instagram
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This is the goal for the rhd infini
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The miraculous story of Lazarus being brought back to life by Jesus is why I decided to name this project Lazarus. This right hand drive mazda rx7 started its life in Japan. It was always very well taken care of and eventually was imported by a soldier on base in washington state. Sadly lazarus met his fate shortly after arriving and was crashed, totaled and left for dead.
Which brings us to the story of the resurrection of lazarus. Here are a few pictures of the car when it was first imported into the united states https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...7c500d582e.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...bf123442d8.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...e772ffd7a2.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...ccc4be9a81.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...06e3eacd49.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...a756ef0ee9.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...7e4c63454a.jpg |
Now to the tragedy of lazarus...
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6b9efe5883.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...cb6d14bd67.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...40b52ebb83.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...2eacd3675a.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f6e8f12906.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...bc71cd4d67.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...43ccaa55b2.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...0b68650490.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...dc154a6aa9.jpg I never did get a full explanation as to how he crashed and I did not really press for that because it was kind of a miracle he walked away without being seriously injured. |
And this is the condition that I had found the car. He ended up putting up a for sale ad on craigslist. He was 1st looking to just part it out. However I was very interested in the entire car and the possibility of restoring it. He stated his opinion that that was not a possibility and the car was too far beyond salvage, however I thought I could save it. So we made a deal!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...7c2da67161.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...cfa2443340.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...d555bec791.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...0753248e4b.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f460dbb010.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...61dc9dc8a3.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...e537f938e0.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...a212c9b931.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...569f5adba7.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...865f22733b.jpg |
Unfortunately there is a problem when I picked it up... The shop that he had all the work done at and was storing the car at ended up selling the rims despite the deal we had made. When I mentioned that I had purchased the rims they only laughed at me. And said I don't care you don't understand their value, We sold them for fifteen hundred dollars immediately. I stated that I had a contract and they were already sold to me and then I needed to get them back, However their reply to that was that I could not have the car at all and to just leave... I ended up having to call the police and the gentleman that I purchased the car from to let them know parts have been taken off after payment was made. To avoid any more conflict and to be able to walk away with the car. We ended up making a deal where I got a few hundred back and I did not get the rims. So hats off to whoever is in washington state with those rims of mine, and a simple warning to anyone who is going to use the shop in the pictures.
However in the end I ended up getting the car! https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...1e56bcdbbc.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...db912c283b.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...1be80acb96.jpg So as soon as I got it home I started working on it! Here is a little video of the roof restoration and I think a very appropriate song for the job. |
First thing I did was bring it inside and start the teardown. I had no idea how bad it was. The a pillars were bent in, roof was destroyed, doors were toast, fenders gone, hood ruined, bumpers trashed, qtrs destroyed and the interior plastics had not survived well. Oh and the driver seat was bent in towards the center console.
Bottom line, the guy is incredibly lucky to be alive... But the car is completely destroyed, and it is going to be a miracle thing to bring it back from the dead. The first thing I started on was stripping out the interior and taking out the front window. I pulled the dash and all of the interior and took invitory of what was salvagable. The dash and the seats could be reused however all of the plastics were destroyed. The door panels were still an incredible condition and just needed cleaning. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...56e15b4aef.jpg The seats cleaned up very nice With the help of hydraulics of geometry, I was able to get the a pillars back into position. The roof skin was far too gone. It's the metal brace that ran in between the a pillars and under the roof skin was too far damaged as well and needed replaced. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...dea9327357.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...b9182dd593.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f9f0de403f.jpg Now time to remove the roof! |
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First off i want to apologize for these first batch of pics being so terrible. go pro footage as i was awaiting my new phone. Hero3 silver. Old school 😆 https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...41d6bcc837.jpg So the first thing i did was remove the paint and prep to drill out tack welds https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...175192d8bf.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...dd3ae40e58.jpg Loooots of pinch welds to remove https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...a91e6a4e44.jpg Done! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f1b66acb2c.jpg There are multiple skins in the front, its a real pain to get them out. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...36ee0910a2.jpg Done! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...275b7def2f.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...fa7d50cfb4.jpg No more roof, doors are on and they line up perfect! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...31a92f39ae.jpg Oh yeah i should mention the wiring on this is the worst hack job ever. Viper security, remote start, power locks with keyless entry, bad stereo job and a riped out stand alone with a hacked up fuel set up, cut out headlight and turn signal relays and lastly a cut main loom. |
Had to use a couple parts cars to bring this guy back to life.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...8a9ea55a0e.jpg Picked up this 91 gxl for 400 bucks. Had a blown motor and was in a flood. Looked great, smelled awful 😖 lots of good parts though👍 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...752c925014.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...17e646e279.jpg Also had to use this rhd parts car. Had no floor boards left, the previous owner used it as a race car. But it has a great roof! https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...9e46e935eb.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...51e41b63ea.jpg Getting ready to take the parts car roof off, all of this with my trusty milwaukee drill 😆 https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...a8631a2f5c.jpg Prepping the new roof skin https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...751eb9671b.jpg Marking whete to drill out the welds https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c53385c4f0.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...89edc7dfe2.jpg Drilling out the welds https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...4bdf861592.jpg Cutting at the seam |
The roof skin came apart easier than the crashed one but not by much.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...ea77009c20.jpg I needed the section that went across the windshield but not the a pillar. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...cd1fbe18af.jpg 💥 👍 https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6586bd4c78.jpg Liam helping me set it on https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...d90982b677.jpg It was a perfect fit! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6e6fb6822b.jpg Not everyone has a tool brand with their name on it 😉 https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f422b5ec9b.jpg Now to the fine details of bodywork and the dirty fun https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...14d4a38fd6.jpg About ready to sand and weld https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...bd5edfc3a5.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...617033c481.jpg The worst corner is now brand new! |
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Welding time! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6e6d349000.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c64d9bf5de.jpg Block sanding for days https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...479d8033f1.jpg Done! It turned out perfect, no one would ever know if i didnt have these picture's! https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...12c4b8d579.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...b51d49f96a.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...d4c6513aff.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...bb9cc2ae6c.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f611b77214.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...1b63024ef8.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...01e46704de.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...d4b7c4dc3b.jpg |
Now to install the glass and interior!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...ad9f390401.jpg The old hood was destroyed in the crash but my 10th anniversary edition had a hood i am going to use for the time being. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...be6f1d5bf8.jpg It still needed body work and paint so i got to it. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...27b5f6020d.jpg Fixed the hood scoop https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...e192d11cab.jpg Windows installed! https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...75ecfc5c0e.jpg I installed my old rhd dash to make sure all fit well and its like new! Im ready to install the original interior! https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...4500e7d53c.jpg Almost like it never happened https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...47aba92518.jpg Might put these on it or my 10ae https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...fa728d8ecc.jpg Got em. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...b0606deab6.jpg Mmmmm not a fan of them on the rhd, might work on the 10ae https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6d49615adb.jpg Cars ready for paint and interior 😎 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...4b5a9714e1.jpg The rhd and gtus getting ready for paint 🎨 |
Interior time! I've been looking forward to this part. I bought all original plastics and found some nice new carpet.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...992987ee7f.jpg First step, clean these filthy floors https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...aea16e1c65.jpg Much better 😌 https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...cd420230b7.jpg Nect step is sealing. I like a nice 6mm thick vapor barrier https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...2bfd7d30d9.jpg I always use clear as it makes finding hole locations easy https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...044e2142fb.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c52f299c07.jpg New carpet in! https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...e662e030de.jpg Clean and fresh oem rhd carpet. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...03dbad1f19.jpg |
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💥 interiors in and looks amazing 👏 https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...8e09cd45fd.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...013aa24712.jpg A few other distractions happening https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...ba702a08e9.jpg New headliner from a infini and the accident never happened! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...72c060e7e1.jpg After a long day of interior installation https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...2351d9b204.jpg I got a mint condition oem cargo cover. Looks awesome 👌 https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...78376be9bb.jpg Got a bn sport kit for it... but then changed my mind because ive already done that... https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...27363790be.jpg My last rhd fc i built was a bn sports car. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...1f9126a5c8.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...2c05acd8ed.jpg So this car needs to be different. |
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I saw a guy selling an fc and it had a wing ive never seen before. A hard rubber wangan wing from DP Sports. I asked if he would sell just the spoiler and he said yes. I got it for 50 bucks. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...63ff0366d1.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...abd68a0fb6.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...811fe59b2f.jpg |
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So onto body work again! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...16a871ac36.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...7134956c34.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...a9e1135dbe.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...4d89787343.jpg Qtr panel finished, ready for the wing! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...cd7755d901.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...06310f741d.jpg This thing was destroyed! But after a great deal of work i made it like new again! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...311c3d5d81.jpg All prepared for base coat in white! https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...2dd4721901.jpg |
I'd like to take a break from talking about body and paint for just a minute and discuss the heart and soul of this project. My last right hand drive was a full Turbo rotary. It was as built and as fun as one could get. So i'm not trying to repeat what I built last time but instead do something completely different.
Most of my inspiration for this build has been from initial d. I built my last right hand drive without even knowing the series. Realizing after I was being Ryosuke Takahashi on my Mary's peak mountain was a bit of fun and is a bit of why I am inspired to call lazarus the "final stage" white comet. At its heart will be a Aristo 2jz gte. It's soul will be possessed by Kei Miura's rocket bunny kit dressed up in a racing beat inspired design! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...df79e03b48.jpg This is the goal https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...464754fbbc.jpg I got the full rocket bunny kit! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...85742b4c87.jpg The infini final stage rocket bunny dream https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...971f7d0901.jpg Now the reason i feel ok with the swap is i have the holy trinity and the gtus and 10ae i have are 13b rotary engines. So this is just for fun and the perfect car to do it to! |
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I bought this 2jz off ebay. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...a643fcc1da.jpg Took a bit of time to get them to ship it and i had to pay extra to get it to a loading dock in portland but it made it finally https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...e4c630fdc9.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...b6dce71e8e.jpg Got it unloaded https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...7ba77ecdaa.jpg Found it had an immobilized ecu 😔 |
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Bought a couple new r154 transmissions https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...7c2e8ca450.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...550010981b.jpg Got a non immobilized ecu https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...da0a0f9ee3.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6310e8e496.jpg New excedy clutch, slave ect and it all cane together! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...9a702b5920.jpg Now to put the beast in! |
Ok where to start... this is where the build had a hiccup. When taking off the oil pan and replacing the front sump with a rear sump, removing the twin turbo for the single and getting it in I ran into some serious problems.
The first problem I encountered when taking off the oil Pan is I found chunks of metal. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...948586a6cd.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...031a896f90.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...389b668732.jpg When I confronted the seller with the problem And showed them these pictures. The first thing they did was said that I blew up the motor by putting it in the car already and taking it to the track. So I filed a paypal claim and showed that the motor was still completely assembled in all of their shipping materials and had never been put in a car and a video of me taking off the oil pan and finding the shreds of metal. My claim was denied on the basis of the no returns policy they stated in their ad. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...37e8e706bf.jpg So as you can imagine that was a little daunting and I had a pause in the build. I am hopeful that it is just going to be the turbos blew the bearing packs or something and it's not bottom end parts. Originally the plan was is to run the twin turbos. I purchased the excessive engineering 2JZ swap kit for the FC RX7. They said that it would work for the twin turbos. However, I found out after trying to install it. In the right hand drive, it does not work for rhd's and only left hand drive models. So I scrapped the twins and decided on a single set up. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...ecf11bf5fe.jpg The problem is nobody makes a single Turbo set up for the right hand drive. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...45d290afc8.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c15f470d72.jpg |
Which brings us back to putting it in!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f322b3d5b0.jpg While it is an incredibly large motor compared to the 13b, it actually fit in very nicely. The only problem I encountered is once again. Excessive engineering sent me the wrong part and so I had to wait for the correct part to secure the trans. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...de6b02ff72.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...f59cda3675.jpg The new part fit well. The problem I found is this kit is designed for the US style transmission. That has a shorter shifter position, while the JDM style has a tripod style that extended much further. The US style did not fit. The RX7 chassis and needed modified by excessive manufacturing. However the tripod fits perfectly and lines up exactly in the stock position. So their part barely fits with the tripod. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...945e14d2fd.jpg I do believe this is a better option than having them. Well done extended rod to the u s version. I only say this because my next experience with excessive engineering was that they sent me the wrong drive shaft. I took it into my local specialist and had them swap out to a Turbo Differential flange and upgrade the ujoints. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c071db6b94.jpg Now that I got the motor secured I had to figure out the single Turbo conversion situation. In the end a no name random single Turbo manifold I found on eBay had the right angles I was looking for. When it showed up in the mail I was very surprised to find out it was of decent quality. It's not exactly a cast iron HKS manifold but it is something that will work for now. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...c76432d072.jpg |
It was about at this time I decided to start working on the body again. I was getting a little too far into the build with everything still being red. The car's base is going to need to be white. Then I'm going to be able to put the kit on and repaint it again. At that point I can add the graphics.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...6187942a0c.jpg The first thing I did was started doing was reassembling the interior. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...d0a33df3b3.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...502c77b72d.jpg Then it was prepping the bodies for paint. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.maz...33edcc445e.jpg It was kind of a difficult shoot because I currently needed carpal tunnel surgery. So it was difficult to do but it turned out very well. |
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