Silver Comet - Build Thread
 

I've been on this forum for a little over 2 years, so I think it was time to create a build thread. I'll start off with a little information about myself, how I got into the Mazda Rx-7, and then finally whats done to it.

The first time I fell in love with the 2nd Gen Rx-7 was fom the Initial D Anime series. Started watching this when my brother introduced it to me and a year later ended up with his very own AE86. Well needless to say ever since I watched the movie I had my eye on getting an FC so I guess you could say it’s sort of been my inspiration like many on this forum. After seeing one in person at a drift event... I just had to have one.

At the time I was driving my 1990 Honda Civic Hatchback:
Me and my brother had swapped a DOHC ZC 1.6L in and it some very basic mods done (Exhaust, Intake, Rims/tires, and some upgraded springs and shocks)

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Getting in an Rx-7 for the first time was an experience like no other. After months of searching I stumbled upon a clean 1987 Arctic Silver FC3S sitting up in Mount Jackson, VA. It was like a dream come true when I was getting pictures and information on the car from the owner. The car had been garaged for it’s entire life and never driven in winter conditions. It was maintained well and never modified. Me and my brother then set on our journey from Ohio to Virginia to pick up the car (at 10pm mind you). We got to the house around 5am and slept in the car to awake to this beauty in the garage.

Well and thats where the journey began.

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Upgraded the exhaust to an Apexi Gt Spec

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Mod Session

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During the period that the car was down for this entire year several things had been done. Here is the full mod list:

Engine/Power Adders:

• S5 Turbo (Rebuilt) and Manifold
• HKS SSQV BOV
• FD Fuel pump
• Denso 550cc/720cc Injectors
• Hallman Pro Rx MBC
• Custom TID (3 Inch) W/ HKS Filter
• NGK Spark Plugs
• Greddy FMIC Kit
• Odyssey PC680 MJT Battery
• Rising RPM’s Blockoff Kit
• Mobil One Fully Synthetic Motor Oil 10W-40
• Samco Radiator Hose kit
• Banjo Bolt (Pulsation Damper Removal)
• Polyurethane Motor/Trans mount

Brakes/Suspension/Wheels

• Slotted Rotors and Ceramic Pads
• Stance Gr+ Coilovers
• Enkei RPF1’s 17x9 +22 Square Set-up
• Blox 20PC Lug Nuts (Black)

Exhaust

• Corksport Downpipe
• Corksport Midpipe
• Apexi GT Spec Exhaust Catback

Engine Management

• Rtek 2.1 ECU
• Palm M515

Gearbox

• Illegal Garage Clutch (Full Disc)
• Act Prolite Flywheel
• Redline Fully Synthetic Transmission Oil 3 Quarts 75w-90

Interior

• Razo Shift knob
• Mazdatrix Shifter Bushings
• Kenwood Headunit
• ProSport Gauges (Boost & Oil Pressure 52mm)
• Innovate AFR

MISC Work

• Fender Pull and Roll
• Full Pinstripe Removal

Here’s how she looks today

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I'll try and get some more pictures up tomorrow as I have it garaged up for the winter here in Ohio for a few things in store for it. Hope you guys enjoy!

How does it feel with the rtek at 12psi? I'm hoping to keep mine mostly stock and maybe collector plates but a little extra power would be nice...

In comparison to stock performance it has quite a bit more pep! I'd say from running the S5 Turbo at 12psi while having free'd up the exhaust and intake should have given it a 80hp boost according to what I've learned from the forum here. Definitely worth the money and you can't beat the plug n play convenience.

Injectors were drop in as well? I think with injectors and larger fuel pump, a BNR turbo, Rtek or equivalent, intercooler and exhaust should be perfect for a daily driver.

The injectors were drop in to the stock fuel rail. It will definitely be a fun daily with what your thinking!

I saw this car in person last evening - the pictures do not do it justice. It is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful example of a very well preserved S4 T2.

Got a few pictures with my Nexus phone because I wasn't able to find my good camera.

All tucked away in the garage
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that thing looks bloody spotless! and those RPF1s ... gorgeous! this car is being well put together so far. look forward to more.

looks good

That thing is beautiful...i love the cleanliness of the car...very nice!

Thought I'd go ahead and upload a few more photos since a few people seem interested.

Stance Coilovers arrive!

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During my year long mod session

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My brother was also in the middle of a High Compression 4A-GE build for his AE86 so I thought it would be nice to include him

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My Rx-7 and my brother's AE86 at a meet

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Looking good, subscribed for sure.

shouldn't your brother have a yellow fd? lol

cool thread man!

Went ahead and purchased Redline Goods short shift boot made out of Faux-Alcantra shortly after purchasing my new Mazdatrix Short Shifter. This baby was pricey ($200.00) but after shifting with it in the car it feels great! I swapped out my leather shift boot which I purchased a year prior which is in great condition if anyone is interested.
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http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps9ee4bd69.jpg

I then decided just recently to swap out the S4 tail lights for a mint set of S5's. I spent about 3 hours buffing them by hand, still have a little more to do.

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Thought that I'd get one more engine bay picture up with a decent camera and lighting. Was contemplating investing in a temp controlled E-Fan if anyone has any suggestions!

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As far as what's next on the list I will be doing some Goodridge SS Braided brake lines and will be removing the calipers for a good respray in black. Enjoy

I am planning to try a 16" Flex-a-Lite fan mounted in the opening of the factory shroud - about the same position as the factory clutch fan - and then use a Hayden electric fan controller. If you have a/c, make sure you get the model that will take the input from the a/c electromagnetic clutch so it will turn the fan(s) on when the a/c is running.

Most FC folks have used a Ford Taurus fan assembly - it fits well and only needs a slight be of trimming to fit. Do a search on "Taurus fan" for details.

I've been reading about the "Taurus fan" in a few walk-through threads. Looks easy enough and will probably be what I end up doing. Thanks for the advice!

great build so far, very similar to mine!

Going to an electric fan from stock can be useless unless you pay attention to the CFM rating, the stock clutch fan is very strong and going to a random fan could be worse for the cooling. The ford Taurus and Escort fans are insane! If you want spend 80$ on a brand new Taurus fan or 15$ on a used Escort fan from PullAPart. Both shrouds will require custom brackets to fit the radiator, the fans are both 2 speed, high and low. There are different ways to wire the fans, the easiest being "OFF" on start and "ON" with a flip switch. You WILL need to upgrade to either a stock 100amp FD alternator or get a refurbished 150amp FD alternator from Amazon/Ebay. Thermal switches are useless in my opinion. Let me know if you want more info on wiring the fan

Also, car looks really good!

I ended up ditching the stock clutch fan and wired up a Flex-a-lite Blackmagic 16" which turns out to be a perfect fit for my new Godspeed radiator! I didn't want to mod the S4 brackets so I picked up a set of S5 ones. I cleaned them up really nice and gave them a really nice purple finish!

I read up a little on the alternator amps that the S4, S5, and FD's were putting out so I decided to go with an S6 polished alternator that I found on the forums here with a Mazdatrix Dual Alt pulley. That was more of a pain than it should have been honestly.



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Besides upgrading to a Blackmagic fan, Godspeed Radiator, and FD Alternator I discovered that I had a brake leak! I figured since all of my fluid had drained this was a good time to take off the calipers and give them a good respray along with removing the old spongy lines and replacing them with some SS Braided Goodridge lines. I'll try and get some pictures of how the calipers came out soon!

I ordered a Corksport clutch line and front lip as well. The clutch line works great but they really dropped the ball on my front lip. It doesn't come pre-drilled as it says on their site, nor does it fit correctly. It's going to take more work then I had hoped for that to come out correctly. I'll try and get an update on that soon.

Thanks for reading guys!

Nice clean FC!

You should come out to a drift even with us (Rotary91) sometime since you're pretty close to us.

Midvale Speedway 6-16-2013 (~1:30 drive) :nod: