theorie's new Daily Driver. 1993 BB Base Model Build
 

As some of you might know, I'm currently building a single-turbo 20B SSM 1993 RX-7 "weekend warrior". In the mean time, I picked up a second FD to drive around town / take to meets / maybe do the occasional track day / etc.

I bought this car locally and got a really good deal on it. The owner move out of the country and left the car sitting for several months before I was finally able to convince him to sell it to me. I picked up the car last Friday as an early birthday present to myself.

The first thing I did, before even taking the car home, was to install a RE-Amemiya Dolphin Tail cat-back exhaust.

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1380931899

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1380931842

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1380931912

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1380931846

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381191153

Step two: Install SakeBomb Garage HID Projector Headlights:

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381191153

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192671

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192684

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192699

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192716

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192716

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192716

The interior was tan with red seats. Pulled out everything that was tan and replaced it with black, except for the carpet and headliner.

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192729

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192730

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1381192730

Nice buy! Looks super well kept.

Awesome. Love the plate

Not sure what happened but there are posts missing from this thread. Forum hiccup or something. Anyway, I'll repost the photos that disappeared.

I installed an Innovate MTX-L boost gauge in a center-speaker dual pod:
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382716715


http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382716715

Also got a new downpipe and a Bonez resonated midpipe. Decided to wrap both with Titanium exhaust wrap. I also had Advanced Race Technology weld a bung for the wideband's O2 sensor.

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382716269

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382716269

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382716287

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382716324

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382921108

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382921108

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382921118

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1382921118

Somehow I forgot to post photos from the other day when I had the car's paint professionally detailed. The back-story is that that this car had a brand new (and very nice) paint job done about a year and 1/2 ago. It then sat outside in an industrial park for several months. There was even a cement factory nearby so there was a lot of dust sitting on top of the paint that wouldn't come out from normal washing. I didn't want to risk messing up the paint, so I brought in a professional to work his magic.

It took the guy an entire morning, but the results were night & day. What originally felt like sandpaper to the touch came out smooth as silk. Here are a few after photos:

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383233920

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383233803

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383233921

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383233964

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383233974

The silver car's new heart sitting in the background...


http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383233964

Last night I swapped out the downpipe and resonated midpipe that were on the car. Apparently the previous owner had these "custom made" by a truck exhaust shop...I think the photos speak for themselves. The car didn't sound very good and clearly had some exhaust leaks (you can see where some of the welds were leaking).

I swapped them out with the downpipe and Bonez resonated midpipe that I wrapped. Just swapping them out changed the tone of the exhaust dramatically. It's now a bit quieter, and the tone is deeper than before. Definitely happy with the results. I'll have to get a video at some point...

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383247097

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383246893

Check out the awesome crushed-bend...I'm sure that flows really well...
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383246893

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383247238

Nice leaking weld on the midpipe...
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383247092

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383247097

I was parked and rev'ing the motor and out of nowhere the rear main popped out. I heard a loud pop but thought it was just a backfire. Next thing I noticed there was oil under the car. Seemed like it was coming out of the bell housing and when I looked in with a flashlight I could see the rear main popped out.

2 hours later, had the transmission off and pulled out the rear main. It had a slice in the side and also part of the center lip was torn.

I had to wait 2 days to get a new one, but got it, installed it, and bolted everything back together last night. I decided to swap-on my spare 5-speed transmission (off my SSM) since the black car's transmission had the 4th-to-5th gear grind and way less miles on it.

Check out the differences in the rear main seals in the pics. I think the new one should hold up a lot better.

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703831

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703813

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703814

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703804

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703831

Out with the old...

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703804

Old rear main on the left, new on the right. Obviously not all seals are created equally...

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703853

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1383703854

Any numbers or brand on the old seal? I guess it was supplied with a non OEM rebuild kit.

nice car. i like what you're doing so far.


question: what theme plate is that? i've never seen that at the DMV before.

^ He painted that plate and put stickers on it for the numbers.

Correct. I don't remember the brand - I built that motor about a year ago using a kit that someone else provided.

Installed the dual Setrab 25-row oil coolers (SakeBomb Garage kit) that I used to have on the silver FD. I realized I would need different lines (and maybe different brackets since I plan to use a different bumper) so I put the kit on the black FD. Few pics...

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1384789925

Off with the old:
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1384790620

On with the new:
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1384790617

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1384789926

http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1384789926

Lines, crash bar, and ducting installed:
http://gallery.tfrascone.net/var/res...g?m=1384789926

Was gonna get a shot of the coolers with the bumper installed, but it was too dark outside after I did a test drive and checked for leaks.

Your car seems to sit lower than stock. Do you know what kit was used on it to lower the stance? I love the look of that and want the same for mine.

BC Racing coilovers. Though any decent coilover kit will can achieve the same ride height.