I'm in the last year of a 4 year apprenticeship as a boilermaker/welder, don't know if that trade is called the same thing in the U.S.

I have also started a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering but only a couple modules into it.

My second car that I ever owned was a 73 RX4 coupe and played around with that a bit. Had it fitted with a FC 13b turbo engine but I didn't do the install.
This is my first engine transplant, just learning as I go along and picking up parts when they come up for a good price. It tends to make the project direction change as I go along but I'm happy with how it's going .

 

^ I hear you on that one. My Rx-4 project changed directions a bunch of times as different stuff came up for sale at a good price. Same with my FC too. Gotta kind of roll with the punches so to speak.

 

Hey guys, today I moved the wastegate outlet which fouled on my new radiator .

Cut it off and shortened it........



Then welded it up!




The pipe from the barrel cooler to throttle body now welded.



I made a mount for the coils. I think they should work there .



Here's a pic of the dump pipe, just tacked up at the moment. When I get the lower flange cut and tacked I can see if the flange will fit past the engine and steering box .
Then I can weld that up as well.

 

I can't imagine trying to stuff that huge downpipe past the steering box on the right side of the engine. I had a hard enough time just getting a Racing Beat header to fit in my car and it's left hand drive. I just had to clear an idler arm....

 

After tacking the lower exhaust flange I found that I couldn't fit it past the steering box, inlet manifold and bell housing. So with a bit of cut and shutting and shortening it now fits!

The finished the dump pipe....




...and fitted, it's a bit tight .

 

Looking at the pics and the fun time making the downpipe. Makes me glad to have left hand drive.

 

you must be using a header that is not made for a RX-4

 

Any more progress on this?

 

Just a quick update guys, with a few jobs around home keeping me busy I haven't had a lot of time on the old girl. So while I am waiting to get a bit of cash together for the stud kit and the rotors to be machined I have managed to sneak out to the shed a few times. Wore my fingers a few centimeters shorted by sanding and polishing the intake manifold and throttle body snout.



Still needs another sand I think to get a few more scratch marks out. It's not going to be any show car but I always wanted a car with an engine bay I was proud of.

 

The turbo to intercooler connection looks kindof sketchy. I'm sure you'll work it out. Looks great.

 

There's a short bend welded onto the turbo end of the barrel cooler to give it correct alignment.

 

Looking real good Stredrotor. I would so love to have another RX4 to play with.

Green with envy.

 

listen to me people: I AM IN JAPAN, I BUY ENGINES ALL THE TIME ! there are two types of importers: ones who buys engines checked in japan, they are double the price of unchecked engines because japanese arent stupid: they sell the broken engines cheap, real cheap ! because mazda factory compression testers are $2000 no one wants to buy them here.

how can i fit a 13b series 6 with 13b series 6 timing cover and sump? will it fit in?

 

very good proyect!!!!!!!!!

 

What did you use to sand the piping and manifold?

 

how thick are your engine brackets?

 

Great work and green Scotchbrite pads on a dremel make polishing much easier. Still have to hand polish in the tight areas though.

 

I used one of racing beat's unwelded 13B header kits.

 

I used a 5 inch grinder with 36 grit metal sanding disks to remove the cast seams, 80 grit wet and dry sandpaper to remove the casting marks 180 grit to smooth it some more and the final sand with 240 grit. After that I used a sisal wheel on my electric drill and on the bench grinder, and last a fabric flap wheel in the drill and bench grinder. I might go back over it again with 600 grit paper just to get a few more scratch marks.

If you are talking about the engine mounts, they are 8mm thick.

 

for rx7 series 4 or 6 brakes, where can i be adaptors to fit rx4 coupe? i dont want to do any machining or anything. email me dr50376272@gmail.com david robertson

 

Just a quick update. Didn't get much done over the break, had a lot of stuff to do around the house.

But I did acquire some coil over struts and S4/5 calipers and slotted disks.

 

Nice!!!!!

 

Absolutely a gorgeous build...I'm subscribed and can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

Haha same here. In fact thats one of my project ideas that i want to do once i finish up my FD. Wanting a N/A 20b shoved inside an rx3 or a Cosmo (Rx-5) and then have some minor porting done to it like a street or bridge

 

I too would be happy with a 20b na but it's not that much more work to go turbo.


Anyway while I was waiting to get my TIG fixed I decided to make a start on removing the dash. I have a crack free replacement to go in and I need to remove the dodgy chopped loom. A mate of mine thinks he might have a unmolested one.

Dash gone.


One loom with some dodgy chops


The connections that plug into the fuse box. Been getting a bit hot me thinks.


Loom removed.


Cracked old dash.


Crack free replacement!