My lexus v8 FB build

[85turbo12a]

After 9 years in the rotary game and 8 years owning my 85 FB and tired of the problems of turbo rotary engines....im doing the dirty deed and puting a v8 in the car...but not just any ol cookie cutter ford/chevy everyone else has one engine, my weapon of choice is a 4.0L DOHC all aluminum 1uzfe lexus engine....turbocharged....

the build is not yet complete, I am trying to get it done, running and tuned by around january because i want the car well tested so i can go to DGRR2013, i went in 2011 with my turbo 12a and had a blast, this time with MUCH improved low end torque...it should REALLY be interesting..

now for some pictures...this is the car at DGRR2011, my little turbo engines last hoorah!

[85turbo12a]

this is my facebook album where i log progress, im using the turbo2 transmission adapted to the 1uz, using the T2 flywheel, clutch and pressure plate, starter is from a V6 camry, adpated to fit.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2747203530010.143774.1555200620&type=3

basic info
electromotive tec3 engine management
ford 8.8 rear
re-speed steering
mildly modified gen2 camber plates to work on FB...ok not mildly...but im a machinist so it was free....hehehe
as for turbo(s) still on the fence with using twins or a big single...im leaving that to fate after the engine goes back in the car for finishing/plumbing then ill decide what fits best...not much room...yall know that..

now as far as i know...I am the only one in the USA to do this particular conversion...the only other 2 gen1s i found a trace of were in new zealand...neither were turbocharged.
if anyone else out there was as determined as I am to make it fit and finished one i would love to see pics and info on it.

and BTW its under the STOCK hood, no ugly cowl, its requiring me to shorten the oil pan/pickup...but thats a small price to pay for sleeper status. and it looks better...you wont be able to tell from the outside its a converted 7, and it will be pretty quiet as well....

fun facts, the 12a complete with turbo and oil cooler, weighed 375lbs, the 1uzfe with all accessories i will be using, minus a turbo, weighed 405lbs. i figure by the time its all done, with the changes i have made to the steering, rear end, cooling system and plumbing the car will MAYBE gain 80lbs, if that. and balance "should" remain the same, I will deliver the facts of that when its done and i can weigh it. though i never got a chance to weigh it before hand, i can give and end result and compare to existing rotary cars of similar specs as mine was.

[85turbo12a]

stay tuned...engine build and plumbing coming soon.

[85turbo12a]

the goal of this project is to build something no one else has, and I think i pretty much nailed that...the technical goals are to have at or slightly over 500whp, with the accompanying 400+wtq, have a cruising MPG of nearly 30mpg and a top speed north of 200mph, <--though I am not really willing to risk my car or my life to try it...car is sketchy above 150 with no aero mods....been there done that...

I had to shorten the T2 trans shifter location by 4 inches to push the engine back, resulting in an interesting mod to the shifter housing and new aluminum Xmember and body mounts.

the RE-speed Xmember had to be shimmed down 3/8, and lightly modded for the motor mount set up, offset bushings lower the rack as far as possible, I also added a 1" rectangle tube to the bottom of it to aid in a strike point to guard engine from road impact, also with provisions for armor plate sump guard, sump has to be shortened 1 inch, but i will make up for the loss of oil volume with the dual external filters and large oil cooler, engine holds 6 quarts originally with small filter and no cooler.

had to relocate the brake proportioning valve to the strut tower to clear the valve cover, pretty easy job.

all this work resulted in being able to close a stock unmodded hood over this tall ass engine and without cutting any sheetmetal on my precious little car.

the choice to use the T2 trans is simple...cost, i already had a forged steel flywheel and nice ACT clutch/pressure plate capable of the HP intended so since i did all the adapters myself for free, all it cost me was about 25 bucks for some special hardware, and then bout 100 bucks for a brand new camry starter since the T2 starter lacks the testicular fortitude to roll over a 4 cam v8, as for the strength of the t2...we shall see, they are pretty tough, my 12a made a good 400+ and i beat it like a stepchild, trans still works and sounds perfect.

[FC Zach]

Very neat, you're a talented machinist. Can't wait to see it in person.

[aws140]

Nice! Keep it up. I can't wait to see some videos.

[85rx-7gsl-se]

I can dig it :)

[85turbo12a]

now to pose a question for the more knowledgeable people out there regarding transmission speedometer gears in the T2.

right now my final ratio is 3.90 in my 8.8, i chose to stay with stock ratio for speedo purposes when i had it built, but now due to the engine combo, i want to change it to a 3.08 to achieve the top end and cruising MPG desired, but i would love to be able to maintain my correct(ish) speedo reading, so I am wondering if anyone has discovered an over the counter solution to ratio correction or do i have to just figure out how to make said parts?

[RotorDad]

Interesting project.

[85turbo12a]

interesting is what my ultimate goal is...i love my 7 and want a special engine for it, LSx engines are nice but boring no matter how fast...everyone has one these days...wankels are finicky, delicate, expensive and hard to find parts for...so its time to move on to more reliable means of propulsion, tired of my car sitting in the garage instead of on the road.

most of my time on this project has thus far been spent on chassis mods, the RE-speed steering was ALOT more of a job than it should have been, there were some fitment issues i had to correct, and some parts that didnt work at all..but its all together now and im looking forward to driving the CAR more than the engine combo, i added bigger sways front and rear, hope the rear doesnt become too fishy...otherwise ill put the stock bar back on it, me no want to put car in tree...no no no...7 years without a scratch...and keeping it that way..

mulling over the gen2 brake upgrade, but its not priority right now, the GSLSE brakes work well under 150mph :D
i kinda want a kamei front spoiler for it...i like the plain outside look, but a front air-dam would help lots...and give me a bit more hiding room for intercooler and such

[85turbo12a]

here is the shortened oil pan, the finished/painted trigger wheel and balancer, and the relocated brake proportioning valve to clear the valve cover.

[Garfinkles Motor Works]

You are a machinest well good for you because you can make a speedo gear for the speedo unit,the small gear using nylon.I have done it so you can .The change in OD will change the distance the gears center needs to be from the trans output shaft .Figure the diameter and the differance of the stock diameter and then you will know if you will need to cut the mounting hole from the side of the trans and weld it back in the correct place.You could make a mount and make the hole adjustable changes later .Being a mechinest opens the world to you ,think it out and be proud of what you do .Good skill to you.

[85turbo12a]

ya i just didnt want to have to go through all that work, have enough on the plate as it is, i was actually thinking about making a small gearbox and using RC car gears to change the output ratio to what is needed for any given gear, as it sits i might not even have the gear change done by DGRR, so i might be on the 3.90 final still, which will kill my highway mpg but o well

[85turbo12a]

smoothed off all the sharp edges of the stock pistons, a FYI for anyone considering this engine, the stock internals of the early 1uzfe engines 89-94, are good for near around 600 crank hp and safe to 7k rpm, its recommended to NOT exceed 7500 rpm due to rod CAP failure, and cam tappet shim issues, since its a shim over bucket design. the early engines have MUCH thicker rods for use in turbo application. the 95+ rods are pencils and will break.

settled upon a twin turbo set up, as soon as i finish assembling the engine and start fabbing plumbing I will post pics of the engine bay, im very anxious to hear what this engine will sound like through the twins and into the big single pipe...there will be no hiding its piston engine-ness from rotorheads....but unless they hear it, there are external clues.

i do still want another rotary...just not a turbo...too problematic...would like a nice NA rx3 or something, really like rx3 SP....cant afford one...

[85turbo12a]

got the rotating assembly put together and my turbos came in the mail, now i have to assemble the heads...thats gonna take a while...because someone(me) thought it would be awesome to have a 32 valve engine...

[85turbo12a]

engine almost done, few cooling system and accessory belt problems to solve, the lower intake is done, modded it and the rails to accept the 42lb green tops i had for it, and modded rails to accept AN fittings -6 o-ring to -8 male.

once this is all together the fun begins with the plumbing of the car...its going to get really cramped in there very soon.....

[85turbo12a]

here is what the engine bay consists of now, i had to shim the Re-speed Xmember down 3/8, i also added a 1x2in tube to the bottom of the X and shortened the pan 1inch as stated before,

I added a 1 1/8 front swaybar, not exactly happy with its fitment...i hope to go to a tubular one at some point to shed a few pounds and they work nice.

here is some pics of the transmission adaptation, the only major modification to an existing part is that i had to change the bolt location on the flywheel, but i did so in a nice meaty place, I do not fear it, and even so I also have a scatter shield for it. (not shown)

[85turbo12a]

here is the transmission on the engine, i had to adapt a camry 1mzfe starter to fit the mazda bellhousing, i cant find a pic of it right now...its not super complicated though, its a gear reduced starter, the T2 started lacks the nuts for a v8.
12415

here is the shifter relocation mod i had to do to move the engine back 4 inches and retain stock interior, only permanent mod to the trans itself was i had to cut off one ear of the original shifter housing boss on the tailhousing.
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[85turbo12a]

offset bushings i made for the rack to lower it as much as possible
12417

front view with mock engine in final location
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more to come...

[85turbo12a]

timing belt installed, working on the new belt tensioning system, and making it all pretty, incidently strips of velcro mimic a serpentine belt pretty good for figuring out what you are going to do and how long the belt is going to be.

i have to dissect the stock spring tensioner...looks like that might be a dangerously amusing good time, then will mod/fab/machine accordingly and then i can put the darn thing in the car!!! then plumbing...yay....

[RotorDad]

Coming along nicely, looking forward to see this finished.

[85turbo12a]

engine should be going in the car this week, nothing to show yet, will take pics as events unfold, plumbing starts soon....and dont we all just love doing that...

[85turbo12a]

engine is in the car, here are some pics of the various clearances, and just...well pics..still a long way to go, but every step counts.

[85turbo12a]

progress update, headers are fabbed and turbos hung in place to begin plumbing down pipes and intake piping, intake is bolted down now, just have to finish the throttle body and install it.

ill probably end up using a free standing IAC unit with a GM motor and billet housing so i can put it where i need to and run lines to it

still have to detail the underside of my hood before installing on car, then i can monitor clearances as i finish it out.

[djmtsu]

I saw this car at DGRR with the 12a turbo, bring it next year with the V8 power!

[85turbo12a]

planning on it brother...been a long road and its not over yet, I am but a 1 man army on it, but that is the plan.

if everything is ship shape by mid feb and i can do some in-state runs for shakedown im driving it up to the gap, will be a hoot in the hills with the added grunt

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/270412_4804275835532_666842821_n.jpg

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/531044_4827501736165_778761394_n.jpg

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just some progress pics

[85turbo12a]

still waiting on parts to continue, as well as do the welding on the compressor housing mod and charge plumbing...stay tuned....

[Force13b]

Very nice build! I hope to see a video of it stating here soon.

[85turbo12a]

thank you, hope so too!!

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/390145_4837479185595_1463227188_n.jpg
this is all the intercooler i can realistically fit without cutting up my chassis, plus wont need anything bigger really, its going to be on pump gas boost levels and i have water injection also

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/559561_4832181333152_1646098563_n.jpg
had to make an oil re-routing block to eliminate the stock filter housing since it does not fit in the car, plus i want to run external filters and a cooler, this routes the lines forward away from the steering, i will be mounting all that mess soon enough once the intercooler is hung in place

[StephenSheppard]

I like where this is going :)

[85turbo12a]

well its not going anywhere yet :D but soon enough, will post updates soon.

[9krpmrx8]

Nice Build man.

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534739_4882254224943_362475469_n.jpg

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http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/68050_4882248984812_28184414_n.jpg

[tweiss3]

I actually really like this build. It's different, and its quality work.

[85turbo12a]

thank you, thats the idea. it might not be a wankel, but will still be the only one like it anywhere it goes.

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/259986_4920203413649_1241505854_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/31580_4920203733657_1700339023_n.jpg

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http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/9165_4971620259038_1433347774_n.jpg

[djmtsu]

Mother of god

[Whizbang]

wow rather intense project.

[hybrid G]

red x on pics

[85turbo12a]

red x on pics

work fine for me....

[ROTOSPEED]

Interesting build, its so clean and nice I can't help but love it.

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/483527_10200126784323095_1171492523_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/199423_10200126639479474_1412298398_n.jpg

[StephenSheppard]

Are you going to run that as a wasted spark setup then?

[TheDriver216]

what is the potential of the engine?

[85turbo12a]

yes induction ignition, waste spark, powerful stuff, will really make you appreciate life when it zaps you :D

the "potential" of the engine is approximately 600hp at the flywheel depending on how well you can prevent pre-ignition. the engine is all stock with the exception of upgraded valve springs for the turbo application. if a person has the extra $1k laying around a set of forged pistons raises that bar to around 750hp, and with H-beam rods around 850 which is where the cams run out, with cams and a treated crank around 1200+ but that gets very expensive and not worth it, when a stock ls2 can deliver that power for less money, also...you cant plant that on the street. and useless dyno numbers do not impress me.

but what i will ask out of the engine will probably be much lower as the chassis cannot plant that much power on the street and it is a street car with street tires, so a conservative 350-400whp will be more than enough to make it silly with the 375-450 lbs/ft of torque that will go with it from this grunty little engine.

[TheDriver216]

i keep thinking of unique swaps... but when it comes down to a junk yard 5.3 ls motor and a 70mm gettting 600hp no problem it makes other options seem less impressive lol

[85turbo12a]

i keep thinking of unique swaps... but when it comes down to a junk yard 5.3 ls motor and a 70mm gettting 600hp no problem it makes other options seem less impressive lol

thats a matter of opinion, im not impressed at all by cookie cutter builds, i dont need that much power so the stock $300 engine with a simple rebuild kit and springs will do just fine, as i would have to do all the other modifications i have done for any other v8, just the initial engine cost would be a lot more as an alum ls2/3 is pretty pricey, so i decided to build something no one else has. and with any luck carve up the dragon with it this year

[GySgtFrank]

I think it's a very nice build and I'm impressed with the craftsmanship that you're putting into it. It will be a beast with that much torque and horsepower. It's definitely going to strain the chassis' ability to put it to the ground as it is. :biggthumpup:

[85turbo12a]

I think it's a very nice build and I'm impressed with the craftsmanship that you're putting into it. It will be a beast with that much torque and horsepower. It's definitely going to strain the chassis' ability to put it to the ground as it is. :biggthumpup:

that comment reminded me to ask a question.....if anyone reading this has had any adverse chassis problems due to the swap without putting a cage in the car to stiffen it? I know even the gen1 is a pretty stiff chassis, but i love my car and i dont want it to twist the body, granted i am unlikely to ever put anything more than a soft radial on the car so i doubt i will hurt it, but figured i would ask the knowledge base.

and thanks for the comments, its a lot of tedious work as any builders know.
Im building this because its unique, and well...because i can...now just because you CAN do something doesn't mean its a good idea....but I am sticking with it!!!:driving:

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/62164_10200181155642344_1687191327_n.jpg

ran the fuel lines today

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/544052_10200240472725234_844552292_n.jpg

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^yeah so my new front tires are wider than my old tires despite being the same 205/50/15, thus creating yet another problem i have to solve...i dont wanna have to buy a different pair of tires but i dont have much option, i cant go out or they will hit the fenders, they were close before im afraid they might hit now anyway...dammit..

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/268492_10200263233174231_2094116573_n.jpg

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engine bay is 99.9% complete mechanically, primed the engine oil....and tightened that oil line i forgot :D
finishing up some stuff under the car, then it is time to run electrical and vacuum line and dump some fuel in it and light the fire!

hoping to have running very soon...

[GySgtFrank]

:biggthumpup:

[speedjunkie]

That looks really good. Great work and attention to detail.

So what options are you looking at for fixing the suspension/tire issue? I guess it would be more expensive to modify the fender outward a little more than it would be to do a slightly skinnier tire huh?

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Gorgeous.

[banzaitoyota]

"like"

[85turbo12a]

That looks really good. Great work and attention to detail.

So what options are you looking at for fixing the suspension/tire issue? I guess it would be more expensive to modify the fender outward a little more than it would be to do a slightly skinnier tire huh?

well...its kinda like this for now...there is a sweet spot when you rotate the coil and it misses the tire by around 1/16".....and once under the weight of the car it will stay there pretty good and rotate on the upper bearing so im going to try it and see, like the old saying goes, a miss is as good as a mile, as long as it doesnt catch hold of it and spin my adjustment collar up or down im happy :D and yes, the only real option is to get a different tire....dammit...i mean i can understand putting a slight amount of lip protection on the tire...but these dam things are obviously made with woman drivers in mind :D i could drive on 2 wheels and never touch the rim i think....

its always something with this car...it is a most difficult relationship....

[TitaniumTT]

thats a matter of opinion, im not impressed at all by cookie cutter builds,

That... we've done close to 40 LS swaps @ Speed1, it's almost gotten to the tpoint where we can flat rate it which is kinda ridiculous. Personally, I'm looking at a few different non RX cars for a unique engine swap but THIS one is definately unique and one of the cleanest that I've ever seen. Well done sir

i dont need that much power so the stock $300 engine with a simple rebuild kit and springs will do just fine, as i would have to do all the other modifications i have done for any other v8, just the initial engine cost would be a lot more as an alum ls2/3 is pretty pricey, so i decided to build something no one else has. and with any luck carve up the dragon with it this year

I would LOVE to see this thing @ DGRR this year, absolutely love to. Good luck with it.... I would offer dyno services, but I fear a 40hr round trip would be a little too far for you :rofl:

[85turbo12a]

thanks dude, im going to try to make the gap...i am trying..:D

i was there in 2011 and saw your car, its fantastic all the right things in the right places.

appreciate the offer of dyno services, but luckily i have a friend in the biz and he is only 2 miles away so basically have dyno any time i need it.

its good to be da machinist...

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/398120_10200301817658819_1845218434_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541860_10200301888300585_1411089986_n.jpg

ok underside is done until further problems surface :D, car is on the ground and re-wiring for the new engine configuration is under way....not much time till DGRR now...

[GySgtFrank]

I'm in lovvve! <3 <3 <3 :)

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/393023_10200307929771618_1989625484_n.jpg

rolled it out on its wheels for the first time in a long time and gave it a much deserved bath, i think the corvette is jealous of the attention....

[TitaniumTT]

thanks dude, im going to try to make the gap...i am trying..:D

i was there in 2011 and saw your car, its fantastic all the right things in the right places.

Thanks man, I appreciate that.

appreciate the offer of dyno services, but luckily i have a friend in the biz and he is only 2 miles away so basically have dyno any time i need it.

its good to be da machinist...

Werd.... I wish I was a machinist... I'm still toying with the idea of taking some classes so I can computer design and build some parts that I would love to have....


[IMG]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc
rolled it out on its wheels for the first time in a long time and gave it a much deserved bath, i think the corvette is jealous of the attention....

And probably the HP as well ;)

[85turbo12a]

nothing left to show during the ugly and boring wiring process...so stay tuned for the start up videos, good or bad i will post them, if something goes wrong a report will be filed accordingly

[fc nut]

totally insane swap! A++

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/603077_10200359869790086_921422165_n.jpg

for those who have not seen the insides of it, this is my total black interior conversion with silver and grey trim, silver faced gauges that glow blue, this time around i added a wideband gauge from PLX to match my controller, other than that, its pretty simple and understated like the rest of it.

sadly the previous owner drilled a hole in the perfect dash to mount a ricer tach, so what i did was mount a low profile shift light in its place, filling the hole and not looking too terrible.

[730RWHP12A]

what turbos are those? i see they are internal wastegate T3 flange, mfg? comp wheel size?
did you arp head stud the motor? head gaskets?

[85turbo12a]

what turbos are those? i see they are internal wastegate T3 flange, mfg? comp wheel size?
did you arp head stud the motor? head gaskets?

sadly my current turbos are of the budget variety, i was using a nice 60-1 turbonetics unit on the rotary, but this project is so expensive i had to get something i could afford at first, they are 57mm compressors, 52mm turbines, .63ar hot sides.
im not asking much out of them so they should behave, and if they dont, i can put garret cartridges in place of the current ones once i recover from the bleeding and have more money.
i did the internal gates because i HATE open dump gates and plumbing a set of externals into the down pipes would make this nightmare of a space problem unbearable lol internals makes it easy and keeps it quiet

i did not stud the engine no, i see no reason to for what i am asking of it, i used stock gaskets, many 1uz have gone in the 10s on unopened high mile blocks, i did use new head bolts and upgraded the springs slightly since i wanted to replace them anyway, didnt cost anything extra to get better ones. i think it upped the seat pressure from like 48lbs to 73lbs if memory serves..somewhere around that.
and i am not looking to go 10s, its just a pump gas fun car. so hopefully it will be ok, otherwise as time goes by i will prep another long block, but building a 1uz with all the goodies in it will run you around $3500 in parts, and that is before you upgrade the cams and the work needed to complete the setup of them, its too expensive, at that point i would just buy an ls2

[willnordacgreen1211]

holy shit! just now got caught up on this build, looks fantastic! cant wait to see the burnout video!

[85turbo12a]

trying to figure out how to embed a Facebook video...having no luck

[85turbo12a]

http://youtu.be/SXc4Z5otcco

http://youtu.be/BiuHs7mzjLU

testing systems

[GySgtFrank]

first link is private. Why you no stick your finger in there on second link? :)

[85turbo12a]

should be fixed now...and i tell you what mate...you go first :D if you survive it you can give me some inside info on the experience hahahaha

[85turbo12a]

yall will like this
http://youtu.be/RFkDWgIGMX8

[GySgtFrank]

yall will like this
http://youtu.be/RFkDWgIGMX8

IT LIVES!! IT LIVES!! BWAHHAHAHAH!! You're right I do like. :party:

[djmtsu]

Wow man. This is a great build for sure.

[85turbo12a]

here is a little parlor trick

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4341535458954

[FC Zach]

Nice!!

[85turbo12a]

just putting some finishing touches on it before tuning, i still need to construct some sort of crankcase vent system as well as a catch can for the fuel tank vent.

putting plates on it today so i can go get the front end aligned soon.

[85turbo12a]

hard to believe as this may sound...i got hit in the ass today in 7...with 15 miles on it....punk kid not paying attention in traffic slams into it, surprisingly little amount of apparent damage, but a lot of cumulative damage, and i think it hurt the engine as well...its only happened an hour ago so the full spectrum of damage is yet to come...i am...quite unamused with the whole thing.....it was running perfectly....for 15 miles...details to come but looks like DGRR is out for me, i cant afford any more work on the car now at this point and im worried about a sound the engine is making.

[GySgtFrank]

WUT?

No, No, No! You wants I should rub'im out for ya? This sucks, I really wanted to see this at DGRR. :(

[djmtsu]

Justified Homicide is all I can think of right now.

[TitaniumTT]

here is a little parlor trick

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4341535458954

That is really impressive.... nicely done!

hard to believe as this may sound...i got hit in the ass today in 7...with 15 miles on it....punk kid not paying attention in traffic slams into it, surprisingly little amount of apparent damage, but a lot of cumulative damage, and i think it hurt the engine as well...its only happened an hour ago so the full spectrum of damage is yet to come...i am...quite unamused with the whole thing.....it was running perfectly....for 15 miles...details to come but looks like DGRR is out for me, i cant afford any more work on the car now at this point and im worried about a sound the engine is making.

Wow.... sorry to hear than man..... that is so very uncool. Insurance should pay for EVERYTHING, even mechanical issues that arise from an accident..... it's not like you don't have the proof of how perfect the thing was running posted on YouTube prior to the accident.

Justified Homicide is all I can think of right now.
Nah.... no profit in that

KNRR....
Kidnap
aNd
Rape
then
Ransom

[85turbo12a]

trust me..i wanted to pinch his head off...i was furious...still kind of am.....but at least it spared the sheet metal, ill get pics up eventually, got a lot of stuff going on now, ill still try to make dgrr if the engine is ok, but its making a funny noise now that it wasnt making before the impact, so it will either get worse or not i spose, if its a bearing or something it wont take long to find out.

that is the second time i have been hit by a redneck in a pickup truck, the other one backed into my miata with his ford 4x4 and mashed up my front bumper, because all of a sudden while sitting in a line in a parking lot he decides to throw it in reverse and nail it....i think they need to ban pickup trucks from anyone without a CDL...maybe it will weed out some of these morons.

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541427_10200535846749400_901124754_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/69601_10200535848549445_626148635_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563546_10200535849949480_1125164835_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/2025_10200535854109584_2113092171_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/11899_10200535856109634_1425328124_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/223496_10200535856629647_1878225565_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/480465_10200534196788152_532073149_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/67957_10200534197668174_2141912368_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/535039_10200534199148211_1341731208_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/538052_10200534202068284_1043171787_n.jpg

im floored at how my tail lights and rear sheet metal escaped damage, but it fucked up the paint at the door jams and hood/cowl where panels moved and impacted, kind of dented my exhaust tip and broke one of the hangers for the muffler, the bumper...is under scrutiny...i took it off, its not badly damaged but its not the same shape, i will attempt to straighten it, otherwise i will need to find a straight one...that might take a while...

pisses me off, that road is such a pain in the ass but it is the only road that leads east out of town, so everyone has to go down it, this ass hat was a kid, bout 17, probably on the phone, he had no biz doing what he did, traffic was stopped, been stopped, he was simply not looking forward....i had to tell him to get away from me...i wanted to knock him out..i was furious..as soon as it hit i just envisioned an impossible repair job to my once perfect shell.

now the insurance battle begins, but thankfully..being a car guy i have car guy allies, that have car guy lawyer allies that know people...car guys stick together...

[FC Zach]

I'm real sorry to hear this man, makes me sick!

[speedjunkie]

Negligence is one of the things that pisses me off most in an accident. Oh, so because you had something more important going on while you're DRIVING, your dumb ass hits me and possibly ruins something that JUST got out of the garage?! JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO PAY ATTENTION?! WTF?!!!!

If you get his address, let us know. I'm not into dudes, but I like Brian's idea. And this dipshit DEFINITELY deserves it.

[85turbo12a]

Negligence is one of the things that pisses me off most in an accident. Oh, so because you had something more important going on while you're DRIVING, your dumb ass hits me and possibly ruins something that JUST got out of the garage?! JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO PAY ATTENTION?! WTF?!!!!

If you get his address, let us know. I'm not into dudes, but I like Brian's idea. And this dipshit DEFINITELY deserves it.

you see the truck...thats the first thing i saw...i was going to beat his teeth out immediately and then i saw the back of my car and it shocked me just long enough to stop myself...then i told him to stay away from me..and he did

and yes, this was not an accident, this was negligence, there was no reason for this to have happened, i had just moved away from a school crosswalk, maybe 3-4 car length and stopped again because the line from the light ahead is long and slow, and this tard drives straight into me and like 20mph, wtf was he doing 20mph for, no one moved more than 40ft...a fucking accident is a severe blowout, or unexpected hydroplane...or mechanical failure...or even an honest misjudgement of distance/speed/visibility, this dude was on the phone or texting or masturbating or something and just ruined a very beautiful thing

[speedjunkie]

Exactly. I hope you get everything fixed soon, and in enough time to still make it to DGRR.

[85turbo12a]

took it out and had a little fun with it last night, was good for my mood, despite me still being a little sore and frustrated, at least you cant see the wounds very well at night and it makes you smile, its fun as hell to drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPIg6DyCmzk

[speedjunkie]

Sounds awesome!

[djmtsu]

Sooooo....it isn't broken?

DGRR???

[85turbo12a]

Sooooo....it isn't broken?

DGRR???

its on probabtion, the noise is still there, neither myself or my friends have been able to pin down the source...so for lack of desire to describe it in text...im going to run it till it pukes or it doesnt and then ill know.

as for DGRR, its still planned if the car behaves, although now i need to touch up paint the damages and find a new bumper which is difficult around here, finding one as perfect as mine...was...is nearly impossible, but considering the circumstances im sure the knowing eyes of the DGRR folks will know why my car isnt as clean and perfect as it should have been upon arrival to the show...

i have a BAD vibration in the driveline, im almost positive something is amiss with the driveshaft the was altered to fit the new configuration, so i have to take that back to the driveshaft shop and see whats what. anything above 60mph tried to shake the car apart, while we were out playing with the car in "mexico" i had the car up to some northern speeds and the vibration is terrible and unsafe so im taking it back apart and fixing some of the damages from the impact while im at it.

i have my 3.08 gears for it...they came in the day of the wreck...dammit...it needs those bad...as you can see...it spins a bit :lol:

[85turbo12a]

well i have another issue not related to the impact or engine noise..

along the way in this build i overlooked something very important...and when i say overlooked, i was aware of it, i just kept it on the back burner....well it bit me...

i have a bad trans/driveshaft/pinion alignment problem...and there isnt much i can do about it easily.

the transmission ended up a little lower in the car than it was, and possibly at a different angle(i dont have another 7 around to measure), also...im not sure my grannies 8.8 is at the right pinion angle to start with...ill verify that when i can pin down the info i need to do so....

this results in the pinion being about 4 deg north of the trans angle, and almost directly in line with it......it caused an immediate failure of the yoke Ujoint within the 140miles i put on it so i put it on stands to investigate the vibration and discovered my oversight....but an oversight i couldnt really avoid...due to space constraints

SO i needed to change the rear end gears anyway, so it needs to come out now to investigate further my problem....and time is running out for DGRR...and money ran out a long time ago...:18:

im probably going to have to build a 2 piece driveshaft or something...i cant really move anything around in any direction...

[TitaniumTT]

I had some similiar problems with both my FC and my Jeep.... I found that the gents @ Carolina Driveshaft really, I mean REALLY know thier shit when it comes to troubleshooting and solving oddball problems like that.... personally I would suggest calling them and they can help solve it either through a new driveshaft or axle shims or something... I had a bad vibe in my 7 when I swapped the engine and 6spd trans in, same sort of thing, because of the tailshaft housing and not wanting to massage the tunnel or cut 1/2 of it out, I ended up with the driveshaft pointed basically directly @ the diff and I had a pretty bad vibe as well.... we got it worked out though.

Also with my lifted Cherokee... $188 for a brandy new double cardon driveshaft and damn is that thing silky smooth now...

Harry or Tom is who I've been dealing with over there, Harry mostly as of late..

Good luck man, I would LOVE to see this beast @ DGRR... I'll bring a nickle ;)

[85turbo12a]

trust me dude..i want to go..but it seems there are powerful forces at work trying to stop me...
first i get hit, then i get an odd and as of yet unidentified noise from the engine following being hit, and now i have a major driveline geometry problem that i didnt catch.

however it seems to me that the brunt of the issue lies in my grannies 8.8, the problem was probably there before when i put about 600 or so miles on it with the rotary shortly after DGRR2011 when i installed it, but was probably so borderline that it went largely unnoticed, it did have a previous high speed vibration, but not till around 130+, so i could have blamed it on many things never figuring the driveline would have a problem, since i ordered the rear to fit my application and parts, but NOW that i have changed things a little with this engine the problem has surfaced big time. the transmission is approximately 4 inches further back, and somewhere around 1.5in lower down. not a huge difference, but its non negotiable.

annoyingly i dont have a stock FB to measure on, BUT my trans is essentially pretty level in the car, and really it cannot move in any direction for any amount of worth while distance, but with that, the pinion gear is less then 1 inch below the tailshaft, BUT the issue is...the pinion points approx 3-4deg NORTH of parrallel, which is exactly opposite of where it needs to point...so its somewhere around 6-8deg off.
now i have but a few weeks and zero dollars to basically refabricate the rear end geometry and hope it solves it enough for my driveshaft to work, otherwise i will have to engineer and build a subframe in the middle of the car to house a carrier bearing for a 2 piece driveshaft assembly...not cheap, and not fun....

so with the damage from the impact along with it..im bout to call it a day and lick my wounds for a while

[TitaniumTT]

Believe me man, I totally get the whole tuck the car away and lick some wounds and focus on shit that can get done in a timely fashion to actually enjoy the event.... hence the 8 going and not the FC....

As to geometry problems that have arisen, I don't know anything about the grannies 8.8 swap, is it a live axle or is it some type of IRS? If it's a live axle, what the Jeep guys have been doing for years is getting shims, basically little wedges that mount between the perce and the leaf springs to angle the pinion either up or down to get the proper angle for the pinion.... I'm wondering if that can be accomplished with the your setup.... although, now that I'm picturing the underside of an FB, which happens to be in the air behind me, that wouldn't be a very feasible option... one would need to cut off every single mounting tab and spring perch, rotate around the tube to where it needs to be and reweld everything.... that just sounds alot of fun.... in a sadistic kind of way.

I don't know if a carrier bearing and a 2-piece driveshaft would be the cheapest option either, the most fun for sure..., I'm thinking a double cardon driveshaft might solve the problem... and I can tell you I just paid $188 for mine for my Jeep.... and yeah.... 6-8* is way too much, they usually want to see 2-4*

I dunno.... any good pics of the grannies 8.8 you could point me too?

[85turbo12a]

well the coil spring and 4link set up in the FB will require me to cut and reweld the bracketry and spring buckets to solve the problem, i have a local driveline guru coming to the house this weekend to put a second set of eyes on it, no matter how much i know and do i always respect an experienced opinion as im no expert, i learn by trial and error like everyone else :D

but i will still try for DGRR, though im not going to reserve my room if you know what i mean, hopefully they will send me my shirts in the mail if i dont make it hehehe

not sure i will have the paint fixed either...we shall see....

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/535950_10200584377242632_796530108_n.jpg

a carefull look that i obviously failed to give it when i installed it will reveal the problem as i am seeing it, the car/trans are near as makes no difference level, and the rear is jacked up to all but ride height minus maybe 3/4" that the springs would let me get without lifting the car, this is an unaltered as ordered, bolt in grannies 8.8 rear end, and as i am seeing it, and the digi protractor i borrowed yesterday told me, the pinion is like 4 degrees UP instead of 1-3 degrees DOWN, it is as far as i can tell, totally wrong. and lowering the transmission for the 1uz install exacerbated the problem to the point it was noticed immediately

[GySgtFrank]

Their rear ends are probably setup to be used with their mounts. Which does you no good since you're a nonconformist. :)

Used to run into this a lot with lifted 4WD trucks when the u-joint angles got too severe the engine/trans mounts and pinion angles had to be changed. Your u-joint angles can't possibly fall into this category though. :lol: The centerline from the eshaft to the back of the transmission output shaft has to be in the same plane as the pinion shaft. Is moving the front of the engine up or the back of the transmission down at all feasible?

A good guideline http://www.iedls.com/asp/admin/getFile.asp?RID=10&TID=28&FN=PDF

Hope this helps, I really need to see this at Deals Gap.

[2gslse]

I'm sure its fixable in the long run but would it help any if you either extended the lower links a little or shortened the upper links to rotate the axle? I know you cant go far without modifying the spring perch,sway bar mounts, body/wheel contact but it may be an option.

is your trans and rear parallel to each other left to right? or a slight offset to allow the u-joints to rotate? I asked about my car since the drivetrain is slightly offset left to right and was told about vibrations from u-joints if I remember correctly( go look at it Brian. look at the motor mount to x-member)

[85turbo12a]

Their rear ends are probably setup to be used with their mounts. Which does you no good since you're a nonconformist. :)

im pretty sure that the pinion angle is just outright wrong, sotck driveline or not, there is no way it needs to point 4 degrees north in this chassis for any reason, conformist or not :D i think it was borderline functional before and now it is intolerant

[QUOTE=2gslse;233006]I'm sure its fixable in the long run but would it help any if you either extended the lower links a little or shortened the upper links to rotate the axle? I know you cant go far without modifying the spring perch,sway bar mounts, body/wheel contact but it may be an option.

is your trans and rear parallel to each other left to right? or a slight offset to allow the u-joints to rotate? I asked about my car since the drivetrain is slightly offset left to right and was told about vibrations from u-joints if I remember correctly( go look at it Brian. look at the motor mount to x-member)

im working on that plan tonight once my help arrives to wrestle everything around, and yes, the control arms are an option, although the uppers are quite difficult to shorten, since that will also change location centers on them due to being angled, i can fudge a small amount and let the bushing take the flex, but not a lot, and the lowers can only rotate so far for stated reasons, but i can cut stuff off and move it just as easy, its just aggravating to have to do so. i will be obtaining the hard data on what is there and what needs to be there tonight, but if anyone has the STOCK information and reference points to determine factor pinion angle i would be more appreciative, i might be able to find it via google but i dont have to time to spend hours forum fishing

stay tuned for the next adventure of frankenseven the unlucky...

[2gslse]

I would give you some measurements but my car is currently still in Pa. but it has its stock axle and newish bushings and the TII trans in stock location.

[TitaniumTT]

[IMG]http://sphotos-a.xx.

a carefull look that i obviously failed to give it when i installed it will reveal the problem as i am seeing it, the car/trans are near as makes no difference level, and the rear is jacked up to all but ride height minus maybe 3/4" that the springs would let me get without lifting the car, this is an unaltered as ordered, bolt in grannies 8.8 rear end, and as i am seeing it, and the digi protractor i borrowed yesterday told me, the pinion is like 4 degrees UP instead of 1-3 degrees DOWN, it is as far as i can tell, totally wrong. and lowering the transmission for the 1uz install exacerbated the problem to the point it was noticed immediately

Looking at that and one of the FB's we haev on the lift, it looks like it's pointing in the right direction, just too much in that direction. I know on the FC it was pointing up slightly to be almost in line with the angle of the transmission, both of which were offset to get the needed rotation on the u-joints. It was a royal PITA for me, and what I ended up doing was putting the stock TII trans in there minus the tailshaft housing and putting a digital leve on the output shaft and then getting a measurement on the flange of the diff, IIRC they were withen 1* of each other, the offset came with the engine/trans and the diff itself not being in line....

My problem was made MUCH worse by the Banzai engine mounts to get the 13B-RE Cosmo block in there..... my thought at the time was, well, Chris I'm sure did all the math and made sure everything was proper to get the proper angles.... how wrong I was.... I know this for FACT because I built a steel "pallet" that I could bolt the Cosmo to with his mounts, sans the rubber engine mounts.... Then I needed to transport a stock S4 with stock mounts on it.... they weren't even close to lining up. Built my own pass side mount to rememdy the problem, then the drivers side mount broke :icon_no2:

I'm sure its fixable in the long run but would it help any if you either extended the lower links a little or shortened the upper links to rotate the axle? I know you cant go far without modifying the spring perch,sway bar mounts, body/wheel contact but it may be an option.

is your trans and rear parallel to each other left to right? or a slight offset to allow the u-joints to rotate? I asked about my car since the drivetrain is slightly offset left to right and was told about vibrations from u-joints if I remember correctly( go look at it Brian. look at the motor mount to x-member)

All rotaries are offset, except the renni, that bitch is in there pretty damn straight.

[QUOTE=GySgtFrank;232964]Their rear ends are probably setup to be used with their mounts. Which does you no good since you're a nonconformist. :)

im pretty sure that the pinion angle is just outright wrong, sotck driveline or not, there is no way it needs to point 4 degrees north in this chassis for any reason, conformist or not :D i think it was borderline functional before and now it is intolerant



im working on that plan tonight once my help arrives to wrestle everything around, and yes, the control arms are an option, although the uppers are quite difficult to shorten, since that will also change location centers on them due to being angled, i can fudge a small amount and let the bushing take the flex, but not a lot, and the lowers can only rotate so far for stated reasons, but i can cut stuff off and move it just as easy, its just aggravating to have to do so. i will be obtaining the hard data on what is there and what needs to be there tonight, but if anyone has the STOCK information and reference points to determine factor pinion angle i would be more appreciative, i might be able to find it via google but i dont have to time to spend hours forum fishing

stay tuned for the next adventure of frankenseven the unlucky...

As I said before.... we've got a stock FB on the lift now without a driveshaft on it, what measurements do you need?

[GySgtFrank]

Another quote failure. I keep getting blamed for stuff I didn't even say! :squint:

[85turbo12a]

Another quote failure. I keep getting blamed for stuff I didn't even say! :squint:

could be worse...at least you dont have driveline misalignment :D

as for offset, i dont have much if any, the big arse engine kinda dictated where things went so im having to adjust around it, i think i have a plan....if goes to plan i should have car back on the ground by next weekend

[85turbo12a]

the data collected tonight revealed a 5deg positive pinion angle to trans, luckily it looks like all i have to modify will in fact be the lower arms, need to extend them about .400in, im still very close in line with the trans, but it is angled, in the worst case position, near bump stop to simulate total full fuel tank, 2 people and a good dip in the road at speed, i have almost an inch drop with 1deg neg pinion angle, so it will be perhaps almost 2 inches with normal load so it just might be ok, i have my driveline guru making a special trip out tomorrow to verify my thinking and add his opinion...now if i can win the lotto it looks like i just might make DGRR!!

and TitaniumTT...you gonna have to bring the nickle...im probably going to use all mine up for fuel....

[85turbo12a]

ok, got the measurements needed, ended up having to shim the trans 3/8 up at the tailshaft, that is all the body and engine configuration will allow, but its better than nothing, going to make new lower control arms tomorrow, and stick it back together and let it eat and see what shakes loose.

also have to deal with the gearing..1 thing at a time...

[85turbo12a]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/267955_10200611245034310_997825786_n.jpg

new lower arms, now with 1.25x.125 tubes, hope it puts things where they need to be, wont know for certain till its all back together

[WankelsRevenge]

I see you have a tire plug kit.... anticipating problems?

[85turbo12a]

I see you have a tire plug kit.... anticipating problems?

funny you should mention that...i have no spare in the car since the battery and other hidden items consumed by spare tire well....so its plug kit and air pump for me, and hope for nothing catastrophic since i have a hard time finding my rear tires

[WankelsRevenge]

Its funny how now that Im working at a tire shop, how many people just carry a can of fix-a-flat. Its not a bad idea keeping a plug kit in the car though, ever since I spotted a screw in one of my GF's tires Ive had one at hand in her glove box ever since.

[85turbo12a]

right test drive revealed i still have a vibration at 70ish, though its different this time and i blame the shaft itself, its about 1/2" too short now as well as when i had the Ujoint replaced the guy at the shop said the tube is slightly egged, so tomorrow i get a new shaft made and go from there....it has approx 2 degrees of drop from trans to rear and about 2 degree down pinion, that is the best i can do.

in other news....it will spin the tires about anytime you want...passing people at 70mph on the interstate whilst crabbing sideways has got to rustle a few jimmies.
when its finally tuned it will be undriveable...methinks...

[GySgtFrank]

You are a sick, sick man. :lol:

[85turbo12a]

You are a sick, sick man. :lol:

been called worse :iagree:

i just hope i can cure the vibe...it used to be so smooth at high speed...and as for the gap...i spose the engine is as good as it can be, i have beat the piss out of it trying to make that noise worse and it hasnt tossed its cookies so, now i just need to get the AFRs tuned in, front end aligned and hopefully cure the vibe and make my vent canister fit, and then...win the lottery so i can afford the fuel and motel....:D

[85turbo12a]

so far as i can tell the vibe is cured, put about 40 miles on it, including some northern speeds, and it seems ok now, with the help of my friend riding shotgun for some street tuning we got the interstate and mid range driving AFR's tuned in pretty good for a short session, its not perfect but its pretty good.

car is making great power and drives real nice, the combo such as it is, is a great one, now time will tell if the T2 trans will live, but ill just be nice to it now, got the gears changed out and put the swaybar and tailpipe back on it, and get it ready for DGRR!!

[GySgtFrank]

:hurray:

[85turbo12a]

what i meant to say was..got to get the gears changed out, and put all the parts back on it, going in for alignment this weekend. might be able to get the gears changed out this week or next

[FC Zach]

Glad to hear everything is coming along since the setback, looking forward to seeing this beast at DGRR!

[Pete_89T2]

^What he said. That's one hell of a build, can't wait to see it at DGRR, I'll try not to drool on it when I do :o16:

[TitaniumTT]

right test drive revealed i still have a vibration at 70ish, though its different this time and i blame the shaft itself, its about 1/2" too short now as well as when i had the Ujoint replaced the guy at the shop said the tube is slightly egged, so tomorrow i get a new shaft made and go from there....it has approx 2 degrees of drop from trans to rear and about 2 degree down pinion, that is the best i can do.

4* shouldn't be too bad, unless the offset is really bad.

even a short driveshaft will cause wierd vibes. Had them in my FC, a few shims and spacers got rid of it in the troubleshooting phase, can't imagine how the shaft got egged but that as well as I'm sure you know will do it as well....

in other news....it will spin the tires about anytime you want...passing people at 70mph on the interstate whilst crabbing sideways has got to rustle a few jimmies.
when its finally tuned it will be undriveable...methinks...

:smilielol5: DO WANT!!!!

car is making great power and drives real nice, the combo such as it is, is a great one, now time will tell if the T2 trans will live, but ill just be nice to it now, got the gears changed out and put the swaybar and tailpipe back on it, and get it ready for DGRR!!

Normally I would say the rear would be the weak link as the TII trans are good for some serious power, but 8.8 so I'm curious to see which explodes first.
FWIW we're creating a stock of TII and REW trans, rebuilt and cryo'ed, ready to abuse/

:hurray:

What he said.

what i meant to say was..got to get the gears changed out, and put all the parts back on it, going in for alignment this weekend. might be able to get the gears changed out this week or next

I think you and MC (2gslse) need to have a chat about the RESpeed kit.... I'm still of the mind that a proper alignment will solve it though, MC ;)

Congrats man! Can't wait to see this monster.... chat it up this year we must :)

[Archie]

I rarely venture into build threads, or the performance side of the house anymore. However, your build is absolutely professional. I hope you reap everything that you have painstakingly sowed into this project. You deserve it.

[85turbo12a]

Normally I would say the rear would be the weak link as the TII trans are good for some serious power, but 8.8 so I'm curious to see which explodes first.
FWIW we're creating a stock of TII and REW trans, rebuilt and cryo'ed, ready to abuse/

I think you and MC (2gslse) need to have a chat about the RESpeed kit.... I'm still of the mind that a proper alignment will solve it though, MC ;)

Congrats man! Can't wait to see this monster.... chat it up this year we must :)

thanks guys, yes Titanium, due to space..and configuration issues my first plan in response to a trans failure will be a beefed up version, such as they are, then if that just wont cut it, ill do the dirty deed and adapt something like a T56 or R154, the r154 is a really tempting install, they are super strong and dirt cheap, and work well once rebuilt with aftermarket pieces.
the t56 would just be kick ass though, uber O/D and nearly bullet proof for the power im making.

anyway, as far as i am concerned unless i dont make it there due to environmental reasons, or unforseen mechanical failure ill just add to my already silly credit car bill and hit the mountains with vengence...and tender throttle inputs :biggthumpup:

worst part of the whole deal is im going to lose my speedo accuracy...so ill have to run the gps speedo for a while till i get used to converting my speedo in my head hehehe

i found no good solution to the Rmodel transmission speedo gear, so at some point i will probably buy one of those electric speedo drives and run a mag/speed sensor on the diff and then i can tune it exact.

[85turbo12a]

as far as the REspeed kit...i will refrain from too much bashing on behalf of the REspeed and Grannies, but i had to re-engineer quite a bit of both companies work to make it right.

both companies shorted me a few pieces and assorted hardware, that locally actually proved difficult to get, ended up having to order stuff from a bolt house down the road and wait for it.

as far as operation of the REspeed set up...too soon to tell you since its not properly aligned yet, it seems to be ok, i put a 15:1 manual rack in it.
i dont want to say it has bump steer...because it tracks pretty straight, BUT it is rather abusive to the steering wheel and requires a firm hold on it when road is rutted

some of the problem there could be from me having to lower the rack down with offset bushings changing the angle of the tie rods slightly from the original geometry, but i had no choice.

one thing i am for certain, despite all the quarks it has or might have in time...it is 5000000000% better than that &^*&^^$$$$*&^$*^%$ draglink...

[TitaniumTT]

thanks guys, yes Titanium, due to space..and configuration issues my first plan in response to a trans failure will be a beefed up version, such as they are, then if that just wont cut it, ill do the dirty deed and adapt something like a T56 or R154, the r154 is a really tempting install, they are super strong and dirt cheap, and work well once rebuilt with aftermarket pieces.
the t56 would just be kick ass though, uber O/D and nearly bullet proof for the power im making.

anyway, as far as i am concerned unless i dont make it there due to environmental reasons, or unforseen mechanical failure ill just add to my already silly credit car bill and hit the mountains with vengence...and tender throttle inputs :biggthumpup:

worst part of the whole deal is im going to lose my speedo accuracy...so ill have to run the gps speedo for a while till i get used to converting my speedo in my head hehehe

i found no good solution to the Rmodel transmission speedo gear, so at some point i will probably buy one of those electric speedo drives and run a mag/speed sensor on the diff and then i can tune it exact.

Kewl... sounds great.... as for the CC bill.... Meh..... I have ways :rofl:

For the speedo.... check out a co called advanced adapters or Speedometer solutions... I have used both of them in the past with great success... Speedometer solutions sells a piece that places a halleffect sensor where the cable once lived.... works wonders... loved it when I was using it.

Advanced Adapters will build gears to adapt different tire sizes and rear end ratios for the NP transfer cases, they may be able to help with a gear... and I know I've seen in the past a little gizmo, I think it was from them or Dakota Digital that wil alter the output shaft speed to get the speedo correct... works on the same principal as those steering quickners....

[85turbo12a]

and now for some comparison shots....

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/226722_1950234086272_1856714_n.jpg
here is the car with turbo 12a power

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74912_10200372058014784_952239566_n.jpg
and here it is in TT v8 trim....muahahahha

[85turbo12a]

I think you and MC (2gslse) need to have a chat about the RESpeed kit.... I'm still of the mind that a proper alignment will solve it though, MC ;)


i am having a steering vibe that seems to be common among ReSpeed rack victims, allow me to direct attention to this club thread
http://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/steering-vibration-cant-find-cause-947816/

im not the only one, and my symptoms are the same....am now in the process of sorting this problem out..like i needed any more problems at this point...

so for anyone here that has this set up or worked on one, lets try to solve it, because its hugely annoying

[2gslse]

That sounds like the same vibe I have in my car and it wasn't there before I did the rack and pinion swap I have checked and rechecked and found nothing wrong with mine either. when I did my swap I replaced everything in the front at 1 time, steering, 5 lug conversion, new shocks, coilovers,lower control arms etc... I am about to just pitch the R&P and just put my stock parts back on. :(

[djmtsu]

I know when I drove a local's SA with the RE-Speed kit, I had a serious brown moment when the steering wheel started to shake like hell. The 2 bolts that secure the spindle to the LCA's had worked loose, somehow. Once tightened, it went away, but I know his has some other issues as well. Like for some reason, it is harder to turn left than right. Weird.

The FC subframe on his daughters car has no issues though :)

[2gslse]

It is one of my upgrades that wasn't really needed but I thought would be a great improvement when I did it but I like the kit but don't love it. my complaints on it are the vibration of the wheel and at low speeds in parking lots the car fights itself when turning(ackerman issues) I talked to Brian about mine and if it doesn't get better soon I will be removing the R&P and putting my old steering back in.

[one320fc]

I was just thinking about this build and had a great idea! I think once you and MC get all the kinks out, what better thing to do than put two silver FBs against each other V8TT vs single turbo 13BRE :willy_nilly: On a more serious note I hope both of you can get things sorted out very impressive builds! :cheers2:

[GySgtFrank]

I was just thinking about this build and had a great idea! I think once you and MC get all the kinks out, what better thing to do than put two silver FBs against each other V8TT vs single turbo 13BRE :willy_nilly: On a more serious note I hope both of you can get things sorted out very impressive builds! :cheers2:

Let me set up a tire dealership before you do this. I'll make money hand over fist. :giggity:

[85turbo12a]

here is a run down of my steering details easily viewed in the pics, but its just FYI and for comparison reasons as we all try to figure out wtf is causing this.

i have a manual 15:1 rack
solid offset rack bushings
ALL energy suspension bushings/tie rod boots
new ball joints, bearings have 6500miles and are adjusted proper
KYB strut inserts, 6500miles
RE-speed Xmember/steering arms
new tie rod ends
tie rod adapters are maximized on the threads, meaning i have little adjustment for toe needs so maximum amount of thread is engaged
.750 thick roll center blocks under the strut
i have 280# springs
adjustable camber plates
custom spring tops riding on torington bearings
15x7 +35 wheel
205/50/15 tire

i never took the strut insert apart for the current mods, i just added the adjustable camber plates, and the .750 roll center blocks, that i am going to remove and try without. i never had this vibe before, and at first i was blaming the new tires, but i dont think they are the cause.

oddly the car is super reactive, the slightest input will result in direction change, but when the wheel is vibrating at its worst the car tracks straight and true....

i think once we find the cause of this a LOT of people are going to be made happy...including myself..im tired of problems...if i wanted problems i would have kept the 12a :D

[85turbo12a]

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/602767_10200843586322697_1093712939_n.jpg

straightened and repainted the rear bumper, its not "perfect" anymore...but most people will never notice, I will...but just going to have to live with it until I chance upon one that is better, which ya'll know isn't easy to find....I am still very amazed at how it withstood that impact, how the car managed to escape panel damage and at how i managed to collect my senses enough to not get myself put in jail...

[StephenSheppard]

If the steering wheel shakes it's a tire nine times out of ten.

Did you tighten the thread adapters properly on the rack setup? Cause I have the same one and have no issues at all. I bought mine when Mr. Waits still owned RE-Speed though so I don't know if that matters or not. I didn't feel like reading that thread you posted.

[85turbo12a]

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/58167_10201023257134355_323295849_n.jpg

good friends on top of the skyway

[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]

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 :D

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

[banzaitoyota]

Beautiful car, glad I got to see it in person

[RETed]

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!

[rwatson5651]

I dont know how I missed this build thread before, but I just read it front to back. I saw your car at DGRR as was, to say the least, very impressed!!!!

I dont WANT to like this car, but I just cant help it , Hell I dont like it , I LOVE it!!

I have never seen a piston conversion that I would give two cents for, until I saw yours!!!

I was so impressed that I nominated your car for the peoples choice award, that's alot for the rotorhead that i am. Peeps, get out and vote!!!!

Cool car, cool guy.......

2 cents
Robert Watson

[85turbo12a]

I dont know how I missed this build thread before, but I just read it front to back. I saw your car at DGRR as was, to say the least, very impressed!!!!

I dont WANT to like this car, but I just cant help it , Hell I dont like it , I LOVE it!!

I have never seen a piston conversion that I would give two cents for, until I saw yours!!!

I was so impressed that I nominated your car for the peoples choice award, that's alot for the rotorhead that i am. Peeps, get out and vote!!!!

Cool car, cool guy.......

2 cents
Robert Watson

thanks again man, it has a tendency to do that to the haters hehehe
i took it to a local gathering and got a few sideways looks, so i just popped the hood and walked away to talk to some ppl i knew, and i look back...20 ppl huddled around it...its impossible to hate :D

however it wouldnt be nearly as cool with a chevy/ford engine in it, even as clean as it is, it would probably be faster...like it needs more power...:lol:
but cool no...

[85turbo12a]

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...:18:

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...:07: 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 :biggthumpup:

[85turbo12a]

wish i had something new to report....car runs fine, i only fiddle with the tuning because i can and i like fiddling...

some minor suspension mods coming soon, will post details during that project

going to make all attempts to make DGRR2014 and then some gearing up for a pikes peak excursion is in the works, long ride out there....

in the meantime a few pics of it out and about
https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/q83/s720x720/1004514_10201794641818490_1191545587_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q83/s720x720/1016709_10201584595687468_315434316_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1381873_10202224104154780_2122121480_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/q87/s720x720/942632_10201295847428942_1228715952_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/934949_10201048171877208_607542048_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q77/s720x720/1150874_10201816809332664_620497951_n.jpg

[estevan62274]

Clean FB or whatever you call it now with that boinger in it ;) :icon_tup:



.

[85turbo12a]

I have many names for it at times....most of them are NSFW...

hope to see you this year steven, there is some airport show in orlando coming up...might go irritate a few rotorheads at that one too...if i dont forget about it...

[estevan62274]

^Awesome, hope you can make it to the meet.

I'm off that day so I should be going.

[85turbo12a]

so i took it to the track a few weeks ago for the first time to get some data and see what it would do...well...first launch at 2k rpm....yeah the yoke available for the 7260 joint cant take it, nor did the greasable Ujoint, but that said the yoke failed badly, pics dont show it clearly, but the ears are twisted quite a bit, and the internal spline is twisted as well, that is the only thing available i know of for the T2 trans, unless i make one, which i lack the tooling to spline it...so i have a new shaft now, with a solid joint and ill just stick to the street until i can find something stronger, i beat on it relentlessly on the street with no problem, but with drag radials and VHT...bang...car only moved about 6inches....never did get a pass....dammit...driveshaft loop going in car ASAP....:patriot:

https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q85/s720x720/1452447_10202503724105104_1928430939_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q89/s720x720/1463654_10202503723665093_548634223_n.jpg

[Monkman33]

sounds like a driveshaft loop would be a very good idea.

I'm not into piston swaps... but this has me converted to an "Only liking amazingly well done piston swaps" enthusiast.

[85turbo12a]

thanks, I just try to do a good job on everything I do, within human and monetary limits..

yeah that has me spooked now, I am glad it wasnt moving then it dropped it, the car barely moved at all, the front end rose to the top of the struts than it popped, moved less than a foot.....glad it never did that on any of the "70" mph highway pulls:Angel_anim:

taking it to turkey rod run this weekend, should rustle a few jimmies in the very american muscle biased crowd :sifone:

[GySgtFrank]

so i took it to the track a few weeks ago for the first time to get some data and see what it would do...well...first launch at 2k rpm....yeah the yoke available for the 7260 joint cant take it, nor did the greasable Ujoint, but that said the yoke failed badly, pics dont show it clearly, but the ears are twisted quite a bit, and the internal spline is twisted as well, that is the only thing available i know of for the T2 trans, unless i make one, which i lack the tooling to spline it...so i have a new shaft now, with a solid joint and ill just stick to the street until i can find something stronger, i beat on it relentlessly on the street with no problem, but with drag radials and VHT...bang...car only moved about 6inches....never did get a pass....dammit...driveshaft loop going in car ASAP....:patriot:

https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q85/s720x720/1452447_10202503724105104_1928430939_n.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q89/s720x720/1463654_10202503723665093_548634223_n.jpg

:smilielol5: You are a sick. sick man. It looks like a beefed up T-5 or Tremec transmission is in your future. I don't think I've seen anything outside of a dedicated drag car twist off a yoke that bad. At least the rear end took it, ... this time.

[85turbo12a]

i have a 31 spline 8.8 with auburn, im not worried about it hehehe

yeah im already considering the expensive and time consuming project of a different transmission, even though the T2 has not failed, i cannot get a yoke for it that can take it, and if i do...then it might be next....the only trans i would consider would be the t56 or TKO600 with the high 5th gear OD, that way i can launch WOT and finally get my 30mpg highway :D
i was also considering the toyota r154 but those are starting to become rare these days
if i use a domestic trans i can get parts and beefy yokes for it

[85turbo12a]

just a little take off video, was still on the old tires...spins a bit...those sucked so bad, they hardly even smoked, just spun like crazy
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202705346625541&l=1585417291682975858