NA s4 snail build.
 

Hello guys! My Introduction was turning into too long of a thread so I thought it would be better to make a build thread for my car.

Snail build doesn't imply I am building a slow car (even though it's a NA :P), but rather the car will be built slowly since I don't have the same budget and time as others; meaning I won't be able to make updates daily. But I do have a lot of plans for the car, so I'll update the thread as parts come in and I put them on the car.

My SD card with pictures went toast so I only have a few pictures to upload as of now.

My old STi that I regretfully sold to save money.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3097/5...2089ae90_b.jpg

My miata that crapped out on me on the freeway. I sent it to the junkyard and then bought my RX-7 a few months after.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/8...06790518_c.jpg

Picture of the first night I took it home.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2869/8...994c6f51_b.jpg

The seller was leaving the country so he didn't have time to smog it so I snapped a pic of it at the smog station. It passed with flying colors; it only has a catback.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/8...0f610d23_b.jpg

Added some flavor to the 7.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/8...268d5612_b.jpg

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So then a problem arose; the previous owner must have not installed the coilovers correctly or else these coilovers are garbage. The collars were not tightened so I lost about 1"- 2" of travel and the inside of my front passenger side and the coilover was grinding on my wheel. It sounded horrendous when it happened and luckily enough I was close to home so I inched it back and fixed the ride height and collars when I got home from work.

Inner rim got torn up.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8398/8...3f8c03c0_b.jpg

Collar grinded down by the rim
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8409/8...2d4ecfb2_b.jpg

All good!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/8...63c76561_b.jpg


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I scheduled a service appointment with RRR in Santa Ana about 30 mins from my house and they replaced my rotors for me while servicing the car because as you can see, the previous owner again did not change out his pads so the brakes put a groove in the rotor. Aside from these two minor issues, the car is in perfect shape with the compression test showing 110 with a mere 69k miles on the engine.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/8...88cc17cc_b.jpg
A few beautiful cars sitting outside RRR.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/8...c4db815f_b.jpg


My co-worker's BRZ and my 7. I also changed out all my lights for LED's from superbrightleds.com but pictures don't do it justice.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/8...a1017450_b.jpg


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Parts coming in!

-Cusco Drift Knob
-NRG Stealth Style Shift Knob - M10x1.50
-Bönez 2.5" Race Pipe
-CORKSPORT 'Power Series' Header for RX7
-CORKSPORT Toe-Steer Eliminators For RX7

The corksport header is not in stock yet, so install on these items won't be for a few weeks.

Thanks for taking time to read, hope to keep this updated as much as possible.

-Suspense

The transmission has felt really stiff and hard to shift since I got the car. I know for sure the synchro is off so I'll be needing a transmission rebuild in the near future. But I just got in my new shift knob and it shifts like butter now so I'm really happy with it.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/8...4567db49_b.jpg

Your STi was T & A :icon_tup:! From awd and boost to rwd na must be somewhat :scratch:, but your FC is too nice NOT to appreciate the differences :nod:.

I have nothing against MX5's but I am glad it crapped out on you, because now you have a awesome FC :gwink:.

Good "waiting parts list", post up once they arrive and PLEASE post a video of your FC idling and revving. I would like to hear the muffler :nod:.

Pretty much on the same boat as you. Went from awd turbo GC8 coupe to a n/a 12a FB. Lol. Nice ride though.

I definitely regret selling and miss the STI a lot. And I do miss that AWD Turbo at times, but like you said the FC is too nice to not appreciate it.

I loved the way the MX5 handled, like a go kart, but I hated the way it looked so like you, I'm kind of glad it crapped out on me.

Thanks, I'll definitely update the thread as parts come in or as I install them.

Ask and you shall receive!

Yeah it's definitely a huge difference and change. the RX-7 won't put me in the back of my seat like the sti did, but I still love the 7. Thanks!

Cool! Thanks, it sounds good :icon_tup:.

Car looks awesome!.. Get a mazdatrix header if corksport takes to long, your car will be FN loud though.. I got basically the same setup and its loud as shit!..lol

I'll get a new sound clip when I install the rest of my exhaust parts that come in; straight pipe ftw!

Thanks! The kind people at Corksport messaged me the day I ordered and told me it would be in stock on the 14th. I didn't mind waiting, so it should be here and installed this weekend. Hopefully it's not too much different from your setup. Loud is what I'm hoping for, I want to raise hell.

Straight piping it myself with dual straight thru mufflers ;).

thats a sick 7. one day ill get my GXL to where i want it.

Thanks man, keep at it and don't give up on your build. I learned that if you stick with one build it will get to where you want it; even if it takes 10 years.


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My buddies and I had an install day, coils into his BRZ and my exhaust.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9...f926530a_b.jpg

After jacking up the car and looking under my ride I found that the catback was custom made - which is why I couldn't ID it. Because of this I am unfortunately unable to run the headers that I bought. On top of that since I bought from two different sites and two different products, they weren't meant for each other so I completely screwed up there. So I only installed the Bonez 2.5" on the left.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/9...379432d6_b.jpg

The old pipe
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/9...a58c923f_b.jpg

Of course, a sound clip - My buddy also told me that he saw it shoot some flames while we were cruising, which is pretty awesome.



So the plan is to keep the headers, heat wrap/ceramic them and slot them on in two years when I need to smog again for registration. Until then I'll be running this set up. I have decided to stop here with the engine mods for now.

Next up (in no particular order)
-Status Racing Seats
-New Body Kit
-New Coilovers
-Cusco Roll Cage
-New Rims
-More suspension mods

Hmmm...try Advance Muffler in Pasadena, they will be able to match up your header and exhaust. I had them match up my Racing Beat Downpipe and my custom exhaust system. They did a great job and their prices are very good.

Your current set up sounds awesome though, RE Power!!!

Waiting for your next installment :).

I like your foxy tail ^^]

Lookin good man! Do you know the specs on those wheels and what tire are you running?

Yeah, I'm thinking of going with a custom made exhaust with a buddyclub muffler tip when I put on the headers. Thanks, hope to get some new parts in when I get paid.

Thanks ^.^v

Thank you, they're XXR 530's 17x9.75. Unfortunately I do not know the offset cause the previous owner didn't understand when I asked him; but I'm assuming around +20/+30.

If you're thinking about going wide and slammed, don't go wider than 9 in the front. My new set of rims will probably be 17x9 17x10rear. Reason being is that my front wheels hit the coilover if I go too low; and I want more low.

Looks good!