My FD build
06-25-07, 03:53 AM
#51
At this point we removed the lower hinge, and tried out the door. The alignment was perfect and the door shut better than ever! Because the door's mounting surface is recessed, we had to unbolt at the hinge and remove it for surface prep with the sander. Some metal stock was added on the front of the hinge for more contact to the fender.
06-25-07, 04:13 AM
#54
Next, there is a bracket that limits the door while in the vertical, from hitting the windshield pillar- it needed a slot cut out of the fender for ajustment. We made the slot an inch deep then cut the brackt to the length it needed. Two allen bolts secure it on the bottom of the hinge.
06-25-07, 07:20 AM
#55
After cutting and mounting the bracket again, it was time to mount the two shocks. Threaded holes are provided on the hinge but not on the fender of course. We welded a piece of square stock on the fender where the fully extended shocks (while the door was up) ended. Then drilled the holes and welded the fittings on. What a difference, besides not having to hold the door, the process of raising and lowering it was effortless. The shocks are a little to much but should wear in after some use. The FD's door isn't that light.
06-25-07, 07:31 AM
#56
The doors are easy to use, open them normally outward. If you want to minimize attention, don't raise the door, just get in or out. Just pull the door down while you start to sit down and pull it closed like normal. I'll operate the door for my passenger anyway out of courtesy and so they don't screw up anything.
06-26-07, 09:09 AM
#59
I picked up this led light kit from Car Toys. I'm planning on mounting two leds on the bottom of each door, facing the rear of the car while the doors are vertical. The kit is red and there are a lot of patterns such as strobe, pulse, fade, breathing, etc. Each of the 4 leds is commanded from a remote. As many as six kits can be daisy chained together. It will warn oncoming motorists to stay clear if the doors are up, let's say if I'm fixing a flat or something. Not to mention-car shows. The kit is from Varad, check out their website.
06-29-07, 09:34 AM
#60
I'm thinking of going the fuel cell route, anyone have any suggestions on size and brand? Sumped with -10a/n fittings would help, to go with the SX performance pump and stuff I just picked up. Not looking to go long distances either. Gary's on vacation this week, maybe we'll get the other hinge welded on next saturday. TiAL said they will send us some housings to get the manifold mocked up, the question is when will they get here? I'm in no hurry but I like to see some progress. The deal on the seats fell thru, I'll probably have a local shop reupholster them in a nice leather and have a logo embroidered in the headrests. Maybe a rotor or "RX-7" in silver to accent the silver carbon fiber dash. Lots of stuff to consider.
07-24-07, 04:16 AM
#62
Here's the rims that I'm going with. 18" dia, still not sure about the widths and offsets. Have to measure once the Feed kit is installed. Leaning towards the brushed finish with a clearcoat and wrapping them in Yokohama AO48's. Then I'll have room for the brake kit I want. I like the directional look of the 542r, it really keeps with the lines of the car.
08-02-07, 12:18 AM
#63
Fresh from RX7.COM-Aluminum A/C and heater *****. These will replace my stock ones which are black plastic. If you notice, they still have tooling marks from a milling machine. They don't look all that bad. Another cool thing is that they have a fiber optic dowel inserted for illumination purposes. Should compliment the aluminum trim ring on my touchscreen and the chrome bezel rings on the guage cluster.
08-02-07, 12:48 AM
#64
A little sanding, some green metal polish, and a dremel rotary tool took care of those tooling marks. I should have these installed this weekend, when I go to put the other vertical door on. Stay tuned for more pics, might be getting the turbos soon also.
08-05-07, 08:58 PM
#69
Here's one of the plug up close, we're going to reuse it in the new harness. The hinge has a nice design to it that allows you to easily disassemble it, so it would make sense to have a plug and play wire connection. We'll be routing all the wires thru a conduit and attaching it to the hinge underneath. Maybe braided stainless.
08-05-07, 09:26 PM
#71
Gary marked the location of one of the stock mounting holes on the driver's door and drilled a hole in the new hinge to bolt it to the door. That allows you to free up your hands and get a sense of where the rest attaches to the fender. (the bottom stock hinge is still attached) Also there is this bracket, (that limits to door from hitting the car while up) that I removed from the hinge for trimming. Things moved a lot faster, now we knew what we were in for.
The following users liked this post:
SpeedCrazie (05-28-22)