|
theorie's "this is why I'm always poor" 20B-FD build.
I won't bother with the full-history on my car, you're interested in that, feel free to check out my CarDomain profile - I have an ongoing "build thread" over there that covers the time from when I purchased this FD up to present.
As a brief background: This is the second FD3S I have owned. I bought my first FD at age 17, and had it for a few years before selling it to fund a move to New York. While I was in New York, I got the rotary itch again, and purchased this 1993 SSM w/ Red Interior Touring model. The plan was to keep it in FL for when I visit family, but I eventually started bringing it up to NY. Couple photos of the car when I bought it, near stock except a relocated battery, SSR wheels, a some kind of home-made dual-tip cat-back exhaust: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1364570064 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1364570077 Between 2007-2011, I did quite a bit of work to the car. After a motor rebuild and some performance work, the car dyno'd peak power just shy of 400rwhp on 93, with a street ported motor and non-seq stock twins. With this setup, I was able to break into the 11s (exactly 11.98!) with street tires and virtually no suspension upgrades. Here are a couple of photos of the car at the end of 2011: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1310955812 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1309184329 In November of 2011, while driving the car from NY to FL to leave it for the winter, I had an oil line come loose at 80mph, about 1100 miles into the trip. The motor never ran completely dry, but the short period of low oil was enough to cause an oil control ring failure on the rear rotor, which I found out after pulling and tearing down the motor. I spent a few months considering what to do, and I finally decided that I wanted to go "all out" with the new build. There are a few things I've always wanted, since I bought my first FD at age 17: a RE-Amemiya GT-AD widebody kit, and a 20B motor. Well, I decided that 12 years later, I was going to get on the path to make that happen. My soon-to-be-wife and I moved back to FL in August of 2012. The first thing I did, even before unpacking, was to have the FD trailered to my new house, which has a 2 car garage and plenty of space for me to work: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1343862482 In a short period of time, the car went from that, to this: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1356913135 The first step was purchasing a motor. It's certainly become harder and harder to find a good 20B to use as a starting point. I looked for at least a few months to even find one that was in my price range ($5000 for the longblock). After lots of dead-end leads, I finally came across an eBay listing for not one, not two, but FIVE complete 20B longblock motors. Listed at only $5500, it seemed to good to be true. Fortunately the seller was only 3 hours away, so I made the drive down to Drag International in Davie, FL to inspect and hopefully purchase a 20B. The motor I was after was a "D" but the seller also had "C" and "A" series available. I really wanted the "D" or "C" but was willing to take the "A" if the seller was unable to come down to my $5000 limit. The seller had the motor out and hooked up to a battery when I arrived, so we compression tested the motor on the spot. After unflooding it, the motor made excellent compression on all three rotors, and after brief negotiations, I was able to get the seller to let me purchase it for the $5000 price I wanted. We loaded the motor up into my CX-5 (it barely fit) and brought the motor back to Sarasota to get the build started. http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359001306 I'll begin this build thread from the point when I purchased the 20B, since it's really the start of a new life for my FD. I'll post more photos of the 20B longblock teardown, and some of the other work I've done to the chassis thus far, but I think I'll stop here for now. http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1360027945 |
I reeeeeeally look forward to following this thread. I've always loved the look of your car.
Out of curiosity, do you think he still has any of those 20B's left? it's probably a long shot and he doesn't, but i figured i'd ask. |
I dig the fear and loathing poster! and the 20B FD build of course...
|
Quote:
Quote:
So just to catch up a little bit... Photos from the teardown can be found here: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/index.p..._stripping-car and http://gallery.tfrascone.net/index.p..._stripping-car and http://gallery.tfrascone.net/index.p..._stripping-car I want to refresh/refurbish/replace every part on this car, all the way down to the nuts & bolts. I even refurbished the climate control system, photos here: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/index.p...c-foam-replace After the car was stripped to the chassis (except the windshield, I left that on), the first step was to give it a deep clean. I literally spent 20 hours just cleaning the chassis with various solutions, sponges, and brushes. After cleaning it was time to paint the engine bay and treat the fender wells with "truck bed liner". Here are some photos: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1356913026 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1356913023 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1356913159 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1357869499 And then my friend and I painted the engine bay: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1357960859 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1357960813 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1357960877 More photos from painting can be found here: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/index.p..._93/2013-01-11 Next was spraying the fenders with "truck bed liner": http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1358366003 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1358607265 ...and the rear fenders: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1358607297 I also did part of the transmission tunnel: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1358721498 More updates soon... |
Some photos from the 20B longblock-to-shortblock teardown.
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359179668 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359764064 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359764079 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359849475 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359849585 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359849490 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1359849618 With the motor torn down, the next big step is to decide on which transmission to use (either the stock FD transmission or something else). I am considering using a different transmission for two reasons, #1 because I would like to make more power than I feel the stock transmission can handle, and #2 because I would like to sit the motor as low and far back as possible, and relocating the shifter to the frontmost "port" on the transmission might not be a possibility. In the meantime, I have a number of parts I'm cleaning / restoring / modifying. I started by refreshing the front & rear subframes with through cleanings, scuffing, and coating with rust-preventing enamel. http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737770 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737768 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737769 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737797 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737809 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737877 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737867 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1361737877 Subframes reinstalled onto the chassis: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1363278712 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1363278712 In the above photo you'll notice I have the new "track compound" polyurethane mounting pucks from IRPerformance. I'll be using these with custom-fabricated mounting arms. The IRP pucks are also available in "steet" (soft) or "track" (hard) compounds for 13B motors, and you can buy them though their website, www.IRPerformance.com http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1362261145 |
Did you link pics from the 7club? They are all broke for me. :(
|
Quote:
|
the pix were working on friday. now, just the pink teddy
|
Haha crazy stuff. I tried to block the pics from being hotlinked on RX7Club but it's preventing them here too...gotta fix that lol
edit...think I fixed it. Hopefully you guys see photos now. :) |
Lol
|
Another update...
While the car is stripped down, I'm also working on the interior. I decided to strip out all the sound deadening using dry ice. The plan is to paint the inside OR coat it with something like LizardSkin/QuietCoat. Not sure yet... http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1363279098 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1363279100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1363279098 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1363279185 I've also started media blasting some parts. I've been using this old blast cabinet at a local machine shop. The glass window was almost completely frosted from years of use, so I was pretty much working blind. http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1362102375 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1362094311 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1362094633 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1362094311 Also did the rear diff cover...this is going to get modified to increase fluid capacity... http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/alb...g?m=1362102389 |
Quote:
I have lizard skin (one jug of lizard skin and one jug of their ceramic composite heat layer) to put under the carpet in my FD. . . but since it doesn't run i can't tell you how effective it is yet :lol: Will you be at DGRR in a few weeks (obviously the car won't be there unless you are working 32 hours a day, 11 days a week :D |
Quote:
No, I won't be able to make it to DGRR this year. I'm getting married on the 20th so I have to skip this year. I hope to have the car done for DGRR '14. though! |
Quote:
|
great start to what I figure to be a fabulous project.
congratulations on the wedding. |
Thanks guys. The project has obviously been coming along slowly, partially due to the wedding and all the associated out-of-pocket costs... Once the wedding is over I'm hoping to really make some progress.
Another element of the equation that I've been working on is the suspension. While the car is down, I'm refreshing all of the suspension components with new bushings & pillowballs. I've decided to go with the Powerflex bushings kit and OEM pillowballs. I'm getting everything through J-Auto.net so big thanks to Juan over at J-Auto.net for the hook-up on these parts! http://www.j-auto.net/images/logo.png Here are some photos from the process: http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 Now that all the old bushings & pillowballs are out, the next step will be to media-blast and powercoat the suspension components. I want to powdercoat them in a "cast aluminum silver" so they still look OEM but stay nice and clean. After that these guys will go in... http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1189034100 |
Good stuff man! and congrats on getting married soon! Cant wait to see the finished product!!
|
soooooo
what all do you plan on getting custom made ? :o |
This thread is magical and bacon powered beyond measure.
I can't wait to watch this one!!! Please update frequently!!! |
Just saw this car in person over the weekend. Everything Tom is doing is top notch! When this car comes together it will be very nice, one of the better builds out there.
|
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...1&d=1366729424 Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
^word, that cake is bad ass lol
that's whats up and congrats and best wishes to you guys |
Got back the suspension back from Advanced Race Technology with fresh powder coating in "cast silver" color. I wanted to powder coat it so it will stay cleaner - didn't care to change the color.
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1369751288 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1369751442 Also the OEM pillow ball + dust boot set came from J-Auto.net http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1369751288 The Powerflex bushings were super easy to install - just had to grease them up and push them in by hand. The pillow balls went in pretty easy as well using a hand press machine - locked them in with the snap rings and installed the dust boots. http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1369751331 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1369751288 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1369751331 Now I need to get these back on there car. I still need to pull the bearings from the hubs and clean / powder coat those as well. |
how did you powdercoat the arms with the ball bearings? Did it just burn the grease out when heating it?
|
Quote:
|
Looks great man!
I love this build, keep up the quality work. :icon_tup::icon_tup: |
this project is already full of WIN!
|
No work today means car-work today!
More parts from J-Auto.net on the menu today: http://www.j-auto.net/images/logo.png http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...-28-171641.jpg http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064066 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064066 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064086 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064087 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064099 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064099 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064086 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064111 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064111 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064112 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1373064113 The hub knuckles will be powdercoated silver to match the rest of the suspension, and the rear spindles/hubs will get sent out of plating. |
This is going to be one of those build thats just insane! Being OCD myself I have a lot of respect for the attention to detail thats in this build! Keep us updated!
|
Looking good there :icon_tup:
Question, I'm going to change my diff carrier bushing soon, is there a place I can buy those metal cylinder to use with my press? Or do I have to use whatever socket that fits the bill? |
love the build mate, high attention to detail just makes it win win :hurray:
cant wait for more pics and updates :) |
Got to do some powdercoating today. My friend let me use his booth & oven. Also had to throw one of the axle ends onto the lathe to take off some mushrooming.
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150678 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150679 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150736 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150680 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150735 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150684 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150801 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150680 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150679 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375150684 Tomorrow the car will sit on wheels for the first time in months...but only so I can flat-bed it to my new house a few miles down the road... |
so that is what those things are supposed to look like (clean)
|
Few photos of the front hubs reinstalled. Too bad I only have those crappy stock coilovers to install at the moment...those will get replaced at some point in this build.
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375927477 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375926248 Obviously nothing has been torqued yet. My wife and I also moved into a new house a few miles down the road. I was able to borrow some 300ZX wheels to roll the car onto a flatbed trailer and we towed it to the new house. First time this car has been out of the driveway since I moved into that house a year ago! http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375928116 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375928115 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375928280 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1375928116 Now to get the garage setup and the car unloaded (it's full of interior pieces and random parts to make moving easier)... Once the car is empty, I'm going to take the car over to Advanced Race Technology, here in Sarasota, to start work on the motor mounts and also weld-in a cage. |
Looking good man :biggthumpup: New garage looks like it's got way more headroom.
-Dan |
Feed me a stray lift.
|
Got the garage all unpacked and setup. Did a few little things here and there with some of the parts I plan to re-use. Last night I finished refreshing the stock brake calipers. I painted these calipers black a few years back, but for the past two years they have been kicking around while the car is disassembled. The paint got pretty chipped up, so I wanted to repaint them. I eventually want to upgrade the brakes, but since they are not necessary to get the car running, the stock ones will be used for the time being. I am front and rear brakes with Endless SS-S pads.
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128476 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128490 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128476 http://[img]http://gallery.tfrascone...8490[/img] [img][/img] http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128511 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128512 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128513 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128525 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128536 http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1378128536 |
Quote:
http://asedeals.com/ http://www.asedeals.com/two-post-lifts-MaxJax.html |
So I bought another FD. This will be the "daily RX-7" while the SSM is off the road for the 20B swap.
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1380931899 I'll start a different build thread for the black car... |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:26 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Hosted by www.GotPlacement.com