My lexus v8 FB build

[FC Zach]

Beautiful car man! I enjoyed seeing it at DGRR, glad you made it out!

[RETed]

First of all, I gotta say congrads on this build!
Wish I could see it in person for myself...

Gotta love the link to the dumb club...
(Bent axle shaft? Are you for real?)
Only really useful info was the sheer pin reply.
Gotta narrow down the problem to either a resonance problem (which is sounds like) or a out-of-spec part (which would usually mean +speed = +noise, which doesn't sound like the case).
Let's concentrate on this as a resonance problem...

Do you know what your caster spec is?
Too little caster can cause your headaches.
Another more than 5-degrees should be okay - I would worry of caster is less than 5-degrees.
Since you basically did a front steering / suspension retrofit and others have complained about the same problem, I would tend to blame the retrofit itself as the problem...


-Ted

[85turbo12a]

Originally Posted by RETed

First of all, I gotta say congrads on this build!
Wish I could see it in person for myself...

Gotta love the link to the dumb club...
(Bent axle shaft? Are you for real?)
Only really useful info was the sheer pin reply.
Gotta narrow down the problem to either a resonance problem (which is sounds like) or a out-of-spec part (which would usually mean +speed = +noise, which doesn't sound like the case).
Let's concentrate on this as a resonance problem...

Do you know what your caster spec is?
Too little caster can cause your headaches.
Another more than 5-degrees should be okay - I would worry of caster is less than 5-degrees.
Since you basically did a front steering / suspension retrofit and others have complained about the same problem, I would tend to blame the retrofit itself as the problem...


-Ted

thanks a lot!
ok alignment specs, my caster L=3.1, R=3.8, with a specified range of 3.2-4.2 and 3.7-4.7 respectively, so it is pretty much in factory spec range, that is where we put it since it was all new of course and totally out of whack, so that is where we go from here on that.

I have to pull the lower steering knuckle off since the trip to DGRR had long sustained periods of vibration on the interstate it has worked a little slop in the spline, and it is as tight as the little bolt will go, so it needs to be looked at and possibly replaced.... who knows, but such is life, in the process i also had my upper intercooler bracket bolt break and the drivers charge pipe rubbed the sheet metal and put a small hole in the pipe...so gotta fix that too...FUN!!
considering the abuse i hurled at it on its maiden voyage and the vibration problem it left home with, that isnt too bad.

also along the way i bagged me a c5 corvette, a 5.7 GTO and a 6.0 GTO on the interstate that thought they wanted a piece of my lil ol rx7, aint surprises a bitch

Looking forward to doing that again, with a more refined tune, more power and better tires...oh that and a ^&$##$*&@^%$( GPS.....

[RETed]

Originally Posted by 85turbo12a

thanks a lot!
ok alignment specs, my caster L=3.1, R=3.8, with a specified range of 3.2-4.2 and 3.7-4.7 respectively, so it is pretty much in factory spec range, that is where we put it since it was all new of course and totally out of whack, so that is where we go from here on that.

Stock FC caster is 4-degrees, 40' - almost 5-degrees.
Kingpin angle is about 13.5-degrees.

Can you induce more caster with your set-up?


-Ted

[Mutaku]

This build makes me happy in pants...

Seriously though great build man!

[85turbo12a]

Originally Posted by RETed

Stock FC caster is 4-degrees, 40' - almost 5-degrees.
Kingpin angle is about 13.5-degrees.

Can you induce more caster with your set-up?


-Ted

yes i can, the RLCA of the conversion has plenty of adjustment, again i started with stock settings to get it going, but i will for sure play with it next time i have an alignment rack avail to use, that vibe has got to go...one way or another...

[85turbo12a]

so i had a thought about that odd "knocking" noise that has been in the car from the first time i drove it...and the day i got hit of course...

I am thinking it might be one of my exhaust valves shimmed too tightly, seeing as how it does not do it cold and gets louder after a pull or even moderate acceleration and return to idle, though it did not do this during the first couple of heat cycles in the driveway, mainly due i think to the fact that the engine runs very cool and until you get it out and drive under load it doesnt really get hot, so...since the stethescope places it over the passenger valve cover area i can remove that valve cover and check the clearances again...the drivers side requires removal of whole engine...

i think the "knocking" sound may actually be compression+combustion being blown into the exhaust pipe which is right on the frame rail making it very noticeable inside the car. but constant torture of the engine has failed to make it better or worse so its obviously not a critical issue, but if the valve is hanging open a bit i might have already burnt it a little... hopefully not, it will most certainly be robbing me of some power on that hole.

so while i have it in the air doing other things i will try to solve that mystery once and for all.

now as it has been a bit of a smoker since day 1 i think it is the result of the extra piston .002 we gave the stock HE pistons possibly coupled with the extra ring gap added for FI. i can deal with it, its just mildly embarrassing pulling away from a stoplight and fogging the car behind me for a moment.
i might have to replace plugs more often...but after 8 years of rotaries that is nothing new, and they are only $1.50 each