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New desktop background! http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ns/awesome.gif

love the car! great to talking to you!

2012 Plans

So my assignment in Puerto Rico is scheduled to be finalized at the end of January. So in order to get the project moving when I get home I am going to start planning out everything that needs to be done now and order all the parts so they will be all ready.

This winter will be more focused on fine tuning and details as opposed to last winter when the car made a huge transformation.

First item on the list will be the front bumper. I have decided on the Pettit GTC replica. From everyone I have talked to and all the pictures I have seen it fits close to perfect. It is really my only option considering the amount I am willing to spend on this. This will be ordered shortly as they are made to order and could take up to a month to get.

Pettit fitment:
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...fitment001.jpg


Next item on the list will be a front splitter for the track. I am going to pick up a 4'x6' piece of Alumalite from a local supplier and use that as the main material. The other option is making the splitter out of wood, but I am going to try out the Alumalite first. This will be a consumable item that WILL get damaged so using the alumalite or wood is preferred over more expensive carbon fiber for now. Im starting to work out a plan to fabricate brackets that will not interfere with the ducting that I already have in place.

Alumalite:
http://www.signsforspokane.com/Porta...alumalite1.gif


One thing that I considered last winter while installing my bushings was adding zerk fittings. The general consensus is that they are not need with the SuperPro bushings so I decided not to install them. I never installed the SuperPro's on my front suspension arms, so those will be going in. While I am in there I am going to go ahead and install zerks anyway, could not hurt to lube the bushings every once in a while. I don't want any binding to occur.

Zerk Fitting on Chadwick's FD:
http://www.tweakit.com/rx7/zerk.jpg


After the suspension work I will need to get a new alignment. I plan on running slightly less camber this time around. Then I will be getting a corner balance as well.

For some finishing touches I plan on taking a whole bunch of parts to the powder coaters to get coated. The thing that really needs to get done is that giant sun reflector between my headlights AKA radiator shroud.

The last item will be sway bar mounts. I plan to upgrade sway bars in the near future, but before I do I need to get rid of the flimsy OEM mounts. I will probably get the beefed up mounts that RotorSports sells.


And as always... a new pic:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6091/6...303be7ce_b.jpg

Hey John, not sure how much attention you paid to my belly pan last time we at the track, but I gotta say, I was surprised with how rigid it was when all was said and done. I used some plain 5052 .063 aluminum. There are a string of bolts around the front bumper, it travels all the way back to the subframe, and has a few pickup points in the center. When it's all snug and in place, I was surprised. I was expecting the need to box in some of the larger unsupported sections by riveting C channel in place, it just wasn't the case. I have no experience with the cored AL pieces, just the standard flat sheet.


This we should chat about :D

Aaaaaan tuning as well, correct? When I get some more details on dyno rental I will let you know. I'm sure something can be arranged though.

:drool: Beautiful as always.

Hope all is warm where you are, it's dropping into the 30's up here

I did not get a chance to check out the under side in person, but I have seen pictures. I already have an undertray on my car that I like alot. I use the 3-piece carbon undertray from shine that was meant for the '99 spec bumper. That will be staying on my car most of the time, but I want a splitter that extends out past the bumper for track days. The part that I am worried about is the section that extends out past the bumper. That needs to be very rigid. Although it depends on how far out it extends.



We will talk. This will be happening come spring time.

And yeah its warm down here... The dashboard read 100F when I got in my car to go to lunch yesterday haha

Ah, I see....

How thick is the carbon? I'm thinking maybe build a replica out of some sheet, and use the aluminite for the section that protrudes?

Excellent :D

Yeah welllllllllll, I think it's supposed to drop into the 20's tonight I think, maybe 30's. Admit it, you're jealous ;)

John, thank you for your constant inspiration and new information.

Dude, I don't know you, but, I admire your dedication to your FD.

If you are ever in Canada, specifically Alberta,
we should grab a bite, or something like that.

:o16: DUCTING

what DriFD3S said.

i feel like reading your thread and following your build is like cheating. you're doing everything i want to do. thanks for paving the way, :)

I normally FDs are not my thing. But this car is Prefect. I like the wheels you have, It is so clean, and the ducting, I want it.

The Pettit GTC replica bumper arrived and I had some time to test fit it while I was home over the holidays. Good news is it fits perfectly! :D

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...7/IMG_0052.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...7/IMG_0063.jpg


My only complaint is that the bumper came "unfinished" with mold markings and various imperfections in the gel coat. Im going to smooth these all out before it goes to paint.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...7/IMG_0060.jpg


I also took some time to finally mock up a template for the intercooler splitter. I ran all last year without any ducting to the intercooler core and it worked ok, but with this Im hoping it will help maintain lower AIT's during longer track sessions.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...7/IMG_0073.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...7/IMG_0088.jpg


I need to order some wire mesh for the bumper openings.

Mmm, I've always loved the GTC bumper. And I like that ducting too. Giving me some good ideas.

+1, love this car

I think I read somewhere that zerks could weaken the bushings because you need to drill through the body of the bushing to lube the inner wear surface (which would also prevent it from moving freely). I used the Energy Suspension grease which I heard is good for 30k+ miles if you stay out of the wet/rain.