Lighter = Faster (N/A build thread #2)

[infernosg]

Almost three months since the last update. I've got some "life issues" going on, which prompted me to build the engine earlier than I had originally planned. After a brief setback due to receiving a wrong oil control seal spring I got the short block assembled last night:





My goal is to get the oil pan, water pump assembly, and clutch installed tonight. I'll then bolt on the transmission and drop everything in the car tomorrow or Thursday night.

Here's a couple things I've noted along the way:

1. Somehow I managed to mix up the rotor housings. I have the "rear" housing in the front and and "front" housing in the rear. Everything I've read seems to indicate this isn't a problem. I have S5 N/A housings with TII exhaust sleeves, by the way.

2. Eccentric shaft end play is within spec but near the high end of the tolerance at somewhere between .0025 and .0030 in. (my dial indicator is only accurate to .001 in.). I'm using the second smallest spacer, "V." Going to the smallest, "Z", would give me approximately .0008 in. less end play but I figured it wasn't worth the wait.

3. I'm confused about these "water pump housing shims." The S4 has two ~0.5 mm thick metal shims between the water pump housing and the front iron. I have an earlier-style S4 front iron but I'm using a S5 water pump and housing. Everything I've read says to match the washers to the iron, but when I mock up the water pump housing I'm not seeing any gap for these shims. I'm concerned if I use the shims they'll cause the housing the stand off from the iron and fail to seal.

[infernosg]

Just about ready to drop in the car.





Need to install the water pump assembly and that's pretty much it. I think my rear iron is one of the earlier ones with the BSPP water temperature sensor so I need to find a 1/8 in. BSPP plug

[djmtsu]

So pretty!

[speedjunkie]

Yep, that makes me drool, how spotless it is. mmmmmm

[infernosg]

Originally Posted by djmtsu

So pretty!

Originally Posted by speedjunkie

Yep, that makes me drool, how spotless it is. mmmmmm

We'll see how long it lasts. I have no delusions of a leak-free engine.

Got the engine in the car last night. Doing this by myself was certainly interesting...



It's definitely easier to drop the engine in without the fenders and hood installed. I didn't feel like realigning anything so I left them in place. The wider fenders made lining everything up difficult so there was lots of pushing and pulling.

This is how everything looked when I called it a night:



It's funny how noticeable the engine slant/tilt is when the engine bay's empty. I'm going to keep bolting things on that won't get in the way of finishing the wiring. There may be a slight problem with the oil cooler lines and the side-mounted alternator though. The front line appears to be about 4 inches too long, which causes the fitting to point upward at the front cover, which may interfere with the belts. The line isn't torqued down yet but worst case I'll need to shorten the line by 4 inches or so. The rear line could be shortened an inch or two as well.

[infernosg]

More things bolted up during the weekend. I'm going to have to remove the throttle body in the future to work on the wiring but I'd rather it move with the car than risk losing it in the move.





I also installed the driveshaft and filled the transmission with fluid. I wondering if there's any incentive to go ahead and fill the engine with oil as well. The driver's seat is bolted down and pretty much all that's left is to install the roll bar and radiator. After that this will be on hold for 6 months or so. We're moving into an apartment so the RX7 will have to go into storage until we find a house.

[C. Ludwig]

Looks very nice!

[FC Zach]

Yeah, looking great!

[infernosg]

...

[reversecaoboy]

Cant wait for more updates

[vex]

I demand satisfaction: UPDATE YOUR THREAD!

[infernosg]

The car is sitting in a storage unit. I try to make it out there every week or so to turn over the engine a few times. We're in the process of closing on a house so hopefully I'll be able to resume once the dust settles in June or July. It's pretty much all wiring at this point. Ugh...

[vex]

Originally Posted by infernosg

The car is sitting in a storage unit. I try to make it out there every week or so to turn over the engine a few times. We're in the process of closing on a house so hopefully I'll be able to resume once the dust settles in June or July. It's pretty much all wiring at this point. Ugh...

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffff.


But congrats on the house!

I'm going to have to figure out how to get my car down to my garage and begin the process you've already pioneered.

Did you ever rotisserie your car? I don't see any pics on it so...

[infernosg]

Originally Posted by vex

I'm going to have to figure out how to get my car down to my garage and begin the process you've already pioneered.

Did you ever rotisserie your car? I don't see any pics on it so...

It was on a rotisserie, but only for a brief period of time at the body shop. I had the bottom of the car coated in truck bedliner and I think that's really the only time the rotisserie was utilized other than welding up some holes/rust.

[project86]

car is looking good. Im very intrigued and want to see more. Im thinking of doing a good 4 port build in my car.