LOOK!!!! 88 Vert Initial Start Up!! Pics and Videos Inside!!!

[cpubugs]

Ok, so as the title states this is my 88 Vert's first starting. But before you look at all the pictures I'll give a run down of how it came to be. But first I want to roll the credits here, because with out the help I got I would not be posting this. First I have to, and am honored to thank Alex (El Nene) with "ROTOR7VEN" and for undertaking this project and stress. Second I have to give props to Banzai Racing for their excellent customer service and what I consider a superior product to any I have seen or saw while looking to purchase block off plates for the emissions and omp. Also the shipping was pretty darn fast. I ordered Tuesday morning and had the plates in hand Friday afternoon. There was also some awesome and quick phone support added to the days work I believe it was "Fritz" with Lucky 7 Racing (correct me if I'm wrong). And last but not least I have to thank every one on this forums and all of the other rotary forums.

Ok now for the story.

Basically started an s4 to s5 JDM TII conversion back in April of '06 made a lot of quick un-researched buys and just wasn't ready to purchase the motor yet. Well around December or January maybe later in '08 I traded my JDM TII motor and tranny for the 88 vert. The owner at the time blew the motor and some friends of mine replaced the motor, but they never had it running after that. And that is how i received the car. I was told hey it was either a ECU or fuel pump. So I replaced both. Also replaced the coil packs, the alternator, a few misc odds and ends and never did get it running. So I tried to sell it several times but my $1000.00 price tag was too high for everyone that was interested. So it sat and sat... Well almost 3 weeks ago I was in an accident in my civic (my daily driver) being that it was a 94 and the damages where in excess of 4K, they totaled it. and gave me a check for $1500. About this time I get a PM from El Nene asking if I would part with my fuel tank. After a few minutes of conversation he had agreed to help get my Vert on the road.

So..... he suggested since it was down and we were going to need to redo lines and hoses to remove the rats nest and omp, to which I quickly agreed. Next thing I know he is at my house picking up the beast. He stripped off the 4 million miles of hoses and 200 pounds of environmentally friendly BS (obviously not actual measurements) and then we waited and waited for the block off plates. (My fault not Banzai's BTW) Anyway enough of the boring stuff plus I haven't eaten all day and I'm hungry so I'm ready to stop typing. :) We/He got all the plates on, capped off all the vac. lines that are no longer needed and put everything back together. Then it magically started after sitting for a year or more... Ok no not really. We swapped ECU's we swapped fuel pressure regulators, fuel injector relays, and we did lots of voodoo dances there was chicken bones and candles it was great. Well it still didn't start.

Alex and his brother were able to get it running for a bit with starter fluid and heard a terrible knocking at about 3000 rpm. Well after i heard it and saw the amount of smoke pouring from the motor and we all thought the motor was blown. So we were all down/pissed/depressed for a few minutes... Then he asked what I wanted to do. I was like "screw it!" if it's blown what are we going to hurt (tis was more out of frustration than hope) we started talking and were both kinda hoping it was a stuck seal or something from sitting so long. So I said lets keep trying it. so he was spraying starter fluid and I was turning her over and over and over and finally he stopped spraying and I was keeping it running with just gas. slowly revving higher and higher holding it at high rpms finally getting her to 8000 (with 5th and 6th ports closed) and there was lots of smoke!! finally we tried to let it idle and she cut off. He found a vac leak and capped it, then the next start he was going to start spraying starter fluid in and it started all on its own. Once it got to a decent temp it idled down to about 1000 and stayed running. NO zero zilch smoke this time. the video of this is really just audio because it was dark.

Anyway the videos are in order of attempts. Only the last 2 have the proof.

Here are the Videos, they are mp4 format so if you don't have quicklime or real player find your self a mp4 codec and install it. You may need to "right click" and choose "save target as" save them some where then open them.

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Pics of some of the removal and install of the plates and such (in order of time I took them):

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(1).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(2).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(3).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(4).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(5).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(6).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(7).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(8).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(9).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(10).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(11).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(12).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(13).jpg

http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/88Vert/emissions%20removed%20(14).jpg

[Brent]

That's great!! There is nothing like FINALLY getting a car running after dealing with all that frustration. Always makes it worth it:)

[cpubugs]

Indeed! Tomorrow is a big day also. We will be putting on my racing beat header, de-sleaving and "PROPERLY" opening up the 5th and 6th ports, replacing the top, possibly modifying the throttle body, replacing the cracked plastic for the coolant filler neck, changing the oil over to Mobil One Synthetic, filling up the gas tank with some decent fuel, double checking for vac leaks, making sure every thing is fastened down. Basically the whole interior is in need of attention. This is really just a list I have in my head. It could go totally different. And will certainly be in a prioritized order not a vastly random order. I should be in bed because I have to be up early but hey I am so FREAKING Stoked.

[cpubugs]

Well I have added a few more youtube videos, and well let me add the updates... forgot I was trying to keep up with this in two places..


10/6/08 -
Ran in to a small snag. (big suprise to all I am sure) Water pump was bad. thought I had one off of my other motor but have been unable to locate it so I have to purchase one. on the flip side got some more video of the car running and Alex getting it to idle properly. As well as adjusting the crank angle sensor to find it's "sweet spot" I will post it up asap! Got to take it for a very short spin due to the water pump, it was very short.. Going to get it out of Alex's hair this eveing after work as his job is done now. And I will baby this motor for a few paychecks while i save for a rebuild. But she sounds good and wow.... talk about loud.. no mid pipe so just racing beat headers and good old florida air. lol

- Tuesday 10/7/08 - Towed the car from El Nene's to my moms (she has a concrete drive way, I don't) and dropped it off.

- Thursday 10/9/08 - Got the water pump swapped, replaced all the belts, changed the oil and filter.

- Saturday 10/11/08 - I went and swapped the RB Street Race headers for the stock manifold until I get the rest of the RB system.. Also went and had four tires put on my rims. Took her for about a 5 mile drive went to the gas station, added my premix and filled her up. Noticed the temp rising a bit on the way back so going to figure that out tomorrow... Possibly a thermostat i don't know. Noticed that the hoses were under quite a bit of pressure and I knew that the system was not vented so I let her cool a bit and then relieved the pressure. After that pulled the plug on the top of the radiator and plugged a fitting in and ran the hose to the over flow tank however it still seems as if its running too high so I am going to do a few things tomorrow about that 1, replace the thermostat and 2 flush the system to make sure the radiator isn't clogged. After I finish cleaning the engine bay I will replace the under carraige plastic air dam deal and place the fan shroud where it should go. Anyother Ideas?

Tomorrow I should be getting the replacement top and hopefully the seats to go with it. down sizing the video of today to put on youtube as soon as i get it done i will post it.

10/12/08 - What Actually happened today... went to a friends shop and yanked a 90%better top. s5 black interior and a few other odds and ends. left and right side motors for the top, full exauhst system, temporary until i get the exauhst I want black leather seats with the head rest speakers, misc black s5 trim interior snaps and screws the amp or control deal for the head rest speakers and one bbs center cap. I think that was it anyway, grand total 225 bucksI had to pull it all and then go put it on my vert. got the thermostat and changed that but its still over heating the fan clutch seems to be ok so tomorrow or wednes day I am going to try and flush the system and bleed it see if that cures the problem. Any one running their seven in FL with no thermostat?

10/13/08 - OK!!! Some what of a successful day. I was so worn out from cracking at it all day Sunday and my back hurt so bad I didn't go to work... took a few muscle relaxers and went back to bed. got up around 1 and started working some more. Put the fan shroud on and pulled the thermostat all together. Decided to let it run a bit and yep still over heated.. So..... I decided to tighten the belt a little more and TADA!!! or so I thought. I took her for a drive probably close to 50 miles and she didn't over heat. she stayed very very low actually around the bottom of the guage. Until I took her on the highway went about 10 miles and noticed she was getting a bit warm so I pulled over at a station and proceded to top off the water and sure enough she was over flowing and boiling. So I am some what encouraged and discouraged at the same time.

[cpubugs]

Recent videos:

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Latest addition...
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[cpubugs]

Ok so I have been trying to figure out why since getting this back up and running its been a little quircky.... LOL Yeah... One hand full of 20 year old treasure from your gas tank... FREE
http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/tank(2).jpg

The last bit of gas drained from the tank before cleaning
http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/tank(3).jpg


What is this? Because I broke it and need another one... lol It sits on the top of the fuel tank in the middle...
http://www.rightwingdaily.com/rx7/tank(1).jpg