Well, i guess now is the time. i am nearly done with this build, so i figured i would throw up a thread. i have a tendency to NOT document things as i go, as i work fast and alone, and i hate stopping to take a pic and dirty up my phone (my camera is my phone)
but, as all my friends know, i have been working on this 1989 vert. a lot of people talk hella **** about verts, but i have always been in love with the vert 7.

quick story: purchased the first vert from a guy in sf that had allowed the car to sit around, needed a ton of work, new interior, vert top, the engine was solid, but was auto.
i dont have any pictures of it, but it was a mess. well, the previous owner never did any of the paperwork, and only a lawyer would have been able to sort out that mess.
i found another vert on craigslist for pretty cheap, and actually had a lot of stuff on it: tokico illuminas with tein springs, tc sportline camber bar, poly bushings, stainless braided oil lines, and the car was in pretty damned good condition. i got it home and starting ripping into it.

here the build breakdown:
SUSPENSION:
drop engineering subframe bushings
drop engineering differential bushings
drop engineering front control arm bushings
racing beat dtss elim bushings
poly urethane motor mounts
infini IV strut bar
mazdatrix camber bar
zeal function-xs coilovers 8k/6k
mazdatrix sway bar end links
front and rear hubs: new bearings, arp studs
modified knuckles 49degrees
s4 lower control arms w/new ball joints
powder coated rear subframe
stoptech cross drilled/slotted rotors
racing beat ssb brake lines
hawk hps pads
**NEXT UP**
**poly-u trans mount
**semi-solid diff mount

WHEELS:
work xd9 wheels- 17x9.5 +17, 18x10 +18
bfg kdw-nt tires- 225/45/17, 245/40/18

ENGINE:
racing beat SSB oil lines
custom oil filter relocation
electric fan/thermo control
custom radiator shroud
inline radiator hose temp adapter piece
racing beat coolant hoses
dual sheeve alt pully
racing beat SSB clutch line
custom battery relocation w/ oddessy pc680 battery
t2 drivetrain w/s5 lsd, s4 trans, rebuilt axles
mazdatrix lightweight flywheel
spec stage 3 clutch
**NEXT UP**

INTERIOR:
omp corsica
custom shift ****
custom shift boot
alpine deck
custom gauge/deck cluster
crow 5 point harness x2
infini iv kneepad
infini iv seats
**next up**
**full cage
**sound system??

exhaust:
racing beat street header
racing beat pre-silencer
knightsports cat back

exterior:
canvas convertible top
re-a type 1 mirrors
replaced door handles
**next up**- Bwave front bumper, spec-re sideskirts, spec-re rear diffuser, led tail lights, hid head lights, hid fog lights

ill be posting pictures as i get a chance

 

thanks to hypertek, i have a rendering of how it will look


here are some pieces of everything

 

new canvas top:


powder coated rear subframe with delrin bushings

some re-amemiya type 1 powered mirrors


a mid-renovation interior shot

when i replaced the top, you can see the battery relocation

dirty *** engine bay

 

custom fan shroud


while doing the suspension, comparing the old vs the new


the shifter boot


old vs new

caught the omp at an odd angle

 

thats it as of right now, i dont have any other pictures laying around to throw up here, at this point im just working full time, ill eventually tow the 7 to my shop and do the trans (broke a bolt, gotta replace the bell housing)
i have a ton more planned, and i will be unveiling it by the end of the year, after paint and body.
ill keep everyone posted

Lloyd

 

im diggin the crown royal shift boot. What brand suspension is that? Im on the same path. Im considering pbmax for my T2.

 

zeal function-xs coilovers 8k/6k

Lloyd

 

i see. How come people always go for 8k/6k? Besides from it being a softer ride what els does it provide?

 

i dont like super stiff springs, i am going to be daily driving this. plus, you can go more aggressive on the valving and adjustability on overall ride. plus, thats just what they come in

Lloyd

 

just a small update: ordered the wheels, they will be here by the end of the week, but the rear tires just came in


Lloyd

 

Dope! Who did your subframe powder coat?

 

Ive read good things about those tires. Im not sure what to do about rims though. Ii want to do 17" for the performance but the 18" looks so good.

 

ya, i chose the staggered/offset wheels for the overall essence of the car. im going to be running 16x8 enkei rpf1 for track/autox/drift events.
and carlos, i had to take it to maas bros in livermore, my oven is too small, otherwise i would have done it myself lol

Lloyd

 

Nice nice. Whatever size i get i want to run 9" and 9.5" wide. Im a fan of a small stretch.

 

The rendering looks great! Thumbs up on the BWave bumper. I'm rocking that as well, but I replaced the headlights with a custom setup instead of keeping the stock lids like you'll be doing.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

thanks man, i cant wait to be done with it, its killing me financially lol.
that, and im sick of looking at a rendering, i want to walk out into my shop and see it done

Lloyd

 

Very nice build, always more fun in a vert.

 

thanks. everything is sorta on hold. been waiting for the wheels, should be here this week, gotta order the front tires (paycheck issues).
just powder coated the s4 control arms, modded knuckles, and brake calipers. rebuilt the calipers, gotta order new brake hardware, hardlines, and brake clips from mazdatrix.

if the wheels come this week, i will get the tires mounted and balanced, do the brakes (luckily i am replacing the entire corner setup) bleed the brakes, install the bmc brace, and start getting it ready for body

list of things to do as of right now:
replace entire hub assembly (control arms, etc) with powder coated pieces
install brake system
bleed brake system
mount and balance wheels/tires
replace bell housing
reinstall exhaust
start fitting wheel assembly to body, start prepping body for kit/fitment
set ride height

Lloyd

 

thats a big shifter O.O

 

looks great!

 

diggin' the shift boot, just not the shift ****. lol

 

i got the shifter because i wanted something sorta "out there". plus, the car came with a short shifter, and i hate those, makes drifting/touge more difficult while trying to quickly shift. so, it adds a bit of weight, nagate the short shifter, and i like the outlandishness of it.......

the bitches love it too!

Lloyd

 

just came in today via my awesome friend who drove to AutoRnD for me. big thanks to rishie and anthony for hooking it up!!!
ill post up pics of all the powder coating i just did as well before final assembly

Lloyd

 

ready for mounting and balancing, need to get red valve stems, and some open ended lug nuts with locks

Lloyd

 

Nice, Didnt know you had a build thread. Cant wait to see this vert finished.