You werent kidding... that landi is one crazy mother!

Still though.. should have just bought a jeep, lol...

I use PPG products.... but as you can see the rig is in my "booth" so I took the bulkhead down to an old friend of the family.... not sure what they use. Brought it there yesterday morning, was there this morning and it wasn't done, they called a little while ago.... DONE! and baked off too so tomorrow night the POS is going on.

I turned my ac on the drive home:biggthumpup:

Yeah, no doubt.... but he had to have the diesel, and he had to have something that would somewhat match what he's got in Africa.....

:toetap05:




AC is for pussies..... The only time I use AC is when my dogs are in the truck




I wish it was warm out... my garage is up to 60* and it's still cold out there.

Ok, i have read your entire thread, and thats some damn good work. Much props to you.

I do have a few questions, since I am looking at some tooling purchases.
1)What grade steel do you use for your body work and what thicknesses?
2)what type of welder do you use, I'm assuming TIG.
3)what gas do you use for your welding?
4)do you just cold bend all your pieces, or do you have a sheet metal bender?

He's a Miller Whore.

Fixed for accuracy

Great build....!! nice work.... !!!

Will check it out more at Deals gap...

You read the entire thread in one sitting? Damn, how long did that take? And thanks!

I haven't had to do much body work that required steel. Cutting out the rust I want to say it was standard A36. It was .063" thick. All the work that I did to the hood was all AL, that was mostly .063", some .050" and that would have been 5052 for it's formability.

If I'm welding steel, it's almost always MIG welding, SS sometimes MIG, sometimes TIG. AL is always TIG. I tried the spoolgun thing, and it just doesn't work cery well, for me anyway... well it works, but it looks like bubblegum birdshit

Depends on the base metal. SS is tri-mix, steel is 75%argon 25%Co2, AL is 100% argon.... I've been meaning to try the helium mix on some of the thicker AL, but haven't really been welding much thick stuff lately. That is changing though as I'm helping a local Rotor head twin-charge his FD and we're mounting the Eaton SuperCharger where the P/S pump once lived.

I built a sheel metal brake out of some 5/16 or 3/8 mild steel "L" Cost like $30 in materials to get a 36" brake... I think it's 36" It works well. For smaller, tighter bends I've got a vise mounted brake that works well... actually I think it's the only thing that I've ever bought from HF that was actually worth the shipping :smilielol:

That is correct....

Hypertherm plasma cutter though. Cheaper and more power compared to the Millers.

You would know :suspect:

Thanks man!!! Yeah, I would LOVE to talk to you at Deals.... we'll have to figure something out before hand so we don't miss the opportunity!

Yes, in one sitting, between this thread and real work, it took almost 6 hours.

I'm supprised to hear you mig almost everything. That's good to know, cause I'm looking at welders, and can mig passably, and can tig sorta, but was going to try to learn more, but the more i hear people using mig for everything, the more i would rather stick with what i'm comfortable with.

A36 is reasonable to find, I was just making sure. I've done a ton of 4130 chromealloy in school, (structural design project start to finish).

Yeah that's right, 1/2 cage and the bumper support in the front were all chromoly.

MIG is great, fast, easy to learn. TIG is slow, time consuming, more accurate though.... so it depends on what you're doing.

I bought my TIG a bunch of years ago before I started the engine swap, lots o' custom shit on this project. I had never picked up a TIG torch in my life. I'd seen it done a bunch. Bought the machine, bought a book, talked to a bunch of pros that I knew, and just started messing around with it. I am by no means a pro welder, but I can get by ;)

Unless you're planning on using a bunch of AL for your build (which I was, I wanted everything AL to save weight because I knew I was going to be adding a bunch of weight with everything), just go with the MIG. Miller just came out with a 211 auto-set. If I we're looking for a new first welder, I would go with that one.

and damn! 6 hrs... I don't think I could sit still for that long... nor woulf my eyes tolerate it... even with my glasses :rofl:

Honestly, thats just about a perfect choice, nice recomendation. Price is right about the max i want to use, decent specs, and is a 110/220 compatable. My dad's truck we need to do some restoration (new fender arches, typ. rustout in door rockers) that it would work perfect for.

Somehow between AZ and TX, I feel like you may have sat in one spot for 6 hours, lol..

Yeah well, that was a 21 hr straight stretch.... but the scenery kept changing

I'd have to agree, making the 19 hour trek from akron ohio to saginaw texas isn't bad at all cause the scenery changes

Lots of scenery too... head to DGRR man, probably the same amout of seat time

So it's time for an update I suppose. We hit a snag with the landi build when the firewall came back a different color, so I decided to spend the weekend working on the 7. I really didn't do much aside from winterize it and start tearing the interior apart to fix the shitty sound quality in the Sirius, and add a 12V adapter specific for the Laptop. I decided I don't need an inverter, I'd rather buy a DC adapter for my Laptop for $20 than go through the hassel of finding, mounting, wiring an inverter. So I raped a beautiful socket from an old XJ dash and mounted it in the glove box. After a trip to the boneyard later this week I'll have that finisihed.

Mechanically I didn't do much, I was too disgusted. After I pulled the elbow off the TB to get the fogging fluid in there I happened to glance into the intercooler and saw a POOL of oil in there..... turbo's puked AGAIN. That's a total of 6 turbo's that I've killed in the course of 6 weeks.... :banghead: I'm done with these Hitachi's. I got in on a GB for some BNR's and I'll be pulling them off tomorrow night and sending them out for coating assembly on Wednesday. Plan is to break the old record with them of 426 rwhp. More importantly, they should be RELIABLE!!!! That's the key right there, if they last a few years I'll be happy.

Originally I was going to rock a supersecret turbo, and I may still do that next winter and use the FC as a year long test bed so everything's pretty much sorted out for the FD. But, I've been through too much with this car to make it sequential, and I just can't see going any other route with it. So yeah, BNR's for DGRRXI! and a 6-spd, and a 4.3 Torsen. If the TC works well I should be able to LOG 0-60 in 4s!! WEEEEE!!!!!!!

Good grief man, you're like the arch nemesis of turbos haha.

I wish I could make DGRR, but I can't pull the time off work, that PTO is reserved for my wedding and such. Otherwise it would be a no brainer. I went to DG last year with my other forum, and it was a blast.

:smilielol5: I know!!!! The turbo's that we put on in Cali, both sets, were old, used ones so they sat for a while, the seals I'm sure dried out and when they were hit with 135pss of oil at cold startup and 100psi of oil at cruise, they just let loose. I could have Brian rebuild them, but how long are they gonna last? All the plates I'm sure are slightly worn, I've NEVER had luck with reman products of ANY kind, so I'm looking at it this way.... I'm paying $1000 for the Stage 3's since I'll be out $700 for two reman'ed cartrides anyway. I am going to call Garrett and see if I should put in a small restricter of some sort, but I would hate to have too little oil there ya know?

Other forum? What is this "other" forum you speak of?

Other forum = www.6crew.com, yes I am a mazda junky, even if i rock a sedan (if i could get time and money to rebuild her)

Both DGRR and 6Crew are calling me to the dragon, and I can't make either. It makes me quite unhappy.

I was talking with a buddy of mine in CA yesterday who was planning on attending. Registered and everything until Sunday when he blew his LS1 powered Miata on the track. We're working on getting him down there via plane to reduce costs and time away from work. I've found, there's always a way.

DGRR would mean no time off for my wedding, and teh 6Crew run is durring my wedding/honeymoon.

Brian, you are a crazy person. Just thought you should know ;)

and you blew up 6 turbos in 6 months? How's that? I know you'd had one failing when you were here, and you got a new set in Cali - that's like 3-4 turbos accounted for, what's the story on the others??

Uh, he said 6 weeks.

:rofl: Yeah I've heard that once or twice before

Yup, 6 weeks

Well, the one that was failing when I was there totally gave out shortly thereafter. I replaced that in CO. That one lasted an hr before it puked. (there's two in three days) I hobbled the car to Glenns where we pulled the engine, fixed the sleeve, bolted on a set of turbo's that included one of my old ones. Those lasted a matter of minutes as well. (three) Swapped those out on Sunday night for a new cartridge and left for home(number 4). Made it to AZ before turning around and heading back to Glenns. Swapped those out for two different cartridges and those got me home. Now they're making 382hp and spewing oil everywhere. So those are gone 5 & 6 since I left in early December - to late January when I last drove the car.

That's right :) So I guess I'm part of the reason why Brian doesn't have more of his checklist complete. Hopefully I can give him a hand to return the favors over the next few weeks though.

I'll have a build thread up by the end of next weekend so everyone can see the welding talent. (please don't ask any questions about the setup in this thread)

The Supercharger bracket formerly known as the power steering pump/AC bracket.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...rger/photo.jpg

So pretty:
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ger/photo2.jpg

Hmph... twins.... A small part of me died just now.

Oh well... we'll have an ultimate FC shootout DGRRXII!

:rofl: You're not the reason, the Landi is the reason, and beyond that it's my body shop that fucked me out of more than a week by painting the damn firewall the wrong color. Hopefully I'll be dropping that off to be re-sprayed tomorrow though.

End of NEXT weekend? C'mon man!!! And where the fuck ya been???? We got some welding to do damnit. Oh, and to answer your question from the txt, I think that mounting the tensioner there is going to be very difficult to make it strong. In order to mount it there the load is going to be against the thin part of the mount, not the thick part. I think it's worth looking at again how to make the SC adjustable to get tension.

Meh, you're just upset cuz I'm going for 425+ which is more than 2 and 1/4 of your silly little rennis ;) :rof:

Haha, well ok, the Landi is the true reason. Work is killing me though, now have to go to FL until saturday night. I'll shoot you a text, hopefully we can do something sunday. I got all of the flanges traced out last night, so I just need to get cutting.

What's the eta on the BNR's? Are you getting those cermamic coated as well?

Fucking Lame man! Was wondering where you've been. Sunday we can definately get something done. I'm hoping to be dropping off the firewall tomorrow, picking up Friday, going out to Dave's on Saturday, so I bet Sunday Grant will be by to help installing that fucker.

ETA is hopefully by the end of the month. I'm actually pulling the oldies out right now. Going to be sending BNR the cartridges, the comp housings and all the oil/water lines. The center section and the snails are going out to be ceramic coated and then they'll be shipped to BNR for assembly. Exhaust log and a few other parts going for coating as well. Brian is going to mod my y-pipe and then send that to coating. Then everything is on it's way back to me. Hopefully I'll have everything back in my hands by the end of the months. Then it's a few other TEEEEENY TIIIIIINY things left and she's good to go. Little things like trans', brakes, fuel cell gaskets.... little shit.

Definately gimme a shout on Sunday, I'll be around doing little to nothing I'm sure :rofl:

you no brian, after reading the comments people made i dont think these guys understand how shitty the twins really are reliability wise lol

when the actual cast iron housing around the wastegate started cracking at 15lbs in my first set i knew then and there these things were going to give me a lot of FML moments

cant wait for ST setup this year :)

God I don't know whos worse you or MC...you guys are going to give Bill a complex and not a good one either!! It's good though it takes his focus away from daily harassment calls about my project. Keep up the good work! :biggthumpup:

OH yeah its time for me to start harrassing you again thanks for the reminder :)

Ah - thats right, did you get that engine in yet?? Did you get a chance to order the pilot bearing/seal, lol....

It only gets worse from here...


On another note, Brian won't give me a complex. Our cars are way to similar as it is, but at the end of the day.. my peak HP and TQ will yield a little higher of a number, lol. I mean, lets face it... twins can only do but so much :toetap05: