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My first FD build...help me actually finish this thing!!
What's up everyone! Wanted to document my build and hopefully get some help along the way.
Ive always wanted an FD and finally added one to my collection about 5 years ago. It wasn't perfect, but it was rust free, ran ok, and was the right color. Interior was very clean and the car had just been sprayed so that was a plus. Did some maintenance to the car and was able to enjoy it about a year while I played with it. Did suspension, wheels, bunch of exterior stuff, etc. Just as I was happy with how the car looked and ran, it blew a coolant seal lol. I decided then I would buy a new engine since Mazda Japan was still making them and they were still semi affordable. That enabled me to play with the old engine without having the car down for a long time. Fast forward 4 years. Life got busy, other cars, motorcycles, hobbies got in the way lol, and overall the project just sat. So here we are finally getting around to it! I do all the work myself including paint and body, so it will take me a bit to finish, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll post up some pictures from the start of the project. Im sure I will have a bunch of questions, so thank you in advance to all that help!
Day I bought the car! Was pretty stoked, but short lived as it popped the heater core the next day and made a mess! Decided to strip the interior and go to town. Repainted most of the inside of the car, stripped old sound deadening, and added some kill mat. Also refreshed the whole interior and seats.
While doing the interior I grabbed some Ohlins, buffed the car, and added a 99 spec wing. This was the first time the car was ready to drive since owning it, so off to cars and coffee!!
After that I decided to get some new wheels, get a 99 front, and do a couple other small modifications and clean up.
Now on to the cars current state. A couple weekends ago I finally found the motivation to start the rebuild. It's not a full nut and bolt resto, but as close as I can get it within reason. In the last 3 weeks we got the car stripped down, painted the bay, and now we have started putting it back together. All new bushings, suspensions arms, boots, etc, etc. Also took the time to undercoat the wheel wells and get them sprayed up. I don't know if I would use the term OEM + when it comes to the car, but that's kinda what I'm going for. Finally got the new engine opened up also as it sat in the box for 4 years.
Brand new 13b-rew from IRP that was studded. All oem Mazda seals.
Stage 1 BNR Turbos
Greddy V Mount kit
Greddy Downpipe
Bonzai pully kit and FFE Air pump removal kit
Setrab 25 Row Coolers
ACT 6 Puck Sprung HD Clutch
JP3 RX8 AC Conversion
JP3 Battery Relocation
This is where I'm hoping some people with way more knowledge on these cars can chime in. Im torn on what to do with the turbos going forward. Ive had several people tell me to go non-sequential and delete all the heartaches. Some people claim the BNR's will still fire off pretty quick non-sequential and obviously I get to delete the rats nest and old solenoids. I feel like at that point though I should have just gone single, which I didn't do because it just isn't in the budget right now. I also remember being 19 and driving a friends car with proper working sequentials and it was a blast. Never had that same feeling in my car as I do not think they were ever working as good as they should have.
I also would like some input on management and fueling. I would be happy with anything over 300hp with this car. It's a street car and honestly I have other cars that make big power like the supra and gtr. Im leaning towards a good ole PFC. They just seem to always work and give very little headaches. Only down side is it doesn't have all the safeties. What would you guys do for fueling? Im a lil lost here and would maybe like to give myself a lil room for growth or e85. Thanks again to anyone that chimes in!
I've had non-seq, seq and single. Since single isn't in your budget at the moment, I would go simplified seq. Lots of info on how to go about this on here.
PFC works and like you said it doesn't have all the safeties. I've had it and currently have a Nexus R3. If the budget allows, I would get a newer ECU as I like having the safety features. Before you do anything I would find a tuner and get their thoughts. You don't want to buy an ECU then settle for a tuner that will tune it.
Same thing for fueling, a tuner will be able to talk you through your needs and recommend something.
Based on how I've seen you build your cars, I see you going towards a standalone ECU and new fuel system.
Given the list of parts you have on hand, and since you mentioned you're not quite ready to go single, here's my recommendations:
Get whatever parts you're missing to restore full sequential operation of the twins; the effort will be well worth it when compared to the non-sequential twins. Should be easy enough to find that stuff used for a reasonable cost.
For engine management, that question is bit tougher since you mentioned E85... Personally I wouldn't even consider E85 if your power goals are < 400RWHP; you can safely get there on 93 pump gas.
If you're happy with < 400-ish RWHP running on pump gas, the PFC is the easy solution, especially if running sequential twins. True that PFC lacks the latest safeties & engine protection strategies of the modern stand-alone ECUs, but there have been recent developments there to extend PFC capabilities in those areas. I'm not a PFC user or too familiar with them, but this thread has some good info: https://www.rx7club.com/power-fc-for...aster-1167351/
OTOH, if you're really serious about going single, and running E85 and perhaps some additional motorsports features, I would consider a wired-in modern stand-alone ECU to help future proof your build; Link G4X or G5 would get my vote, but folks here have had good luck with Haltech and a few other brands. ECU selection tends to depend more on who's tuning it and who's going to do the wiring - most have similar capabilities at various price points.
Love to see the care you are taking with this and it being in the hands of an obvious enthusiast with a great taste in cars.
Having built MKIV Supras for years as well as different Generations of RX7's, I can tell you FDs around 300HP feel about the same as a 500+hp Supra only much more nimble. 350hp seems to be the sweet spot for FD's as far as reliability and fun goes in my experience. You can't make a 500hp supra with the response of properly operating sequentials like you can with a 350hp FD
- Stock Fuel injectors should be fine at that power point with pump gas. ,E85 takes roughly 20% more fuel and stockers run out around 400hp IIRC. Because of this, I would recommend replacing with modern injectors and rails if you plan E85 in the future but this will be a decent expense because you have to think of all the rubber lines in the system as well as fuel filter, FPR, etc. not just the injectors. Walbro 255 is really the go-to fuel pump for this power range (just buy from a reputable source.)
- PowerFC is OK for a budget build.........but lacks many of the safeties that the modern EMSs have. PowerFC "Just works" and has been very reliable especially with the recent FC tuner programs people have written, but you still won't have all the feedback control and what not of a modern standalone. There is a large price difference between the PowerFC and a decent Haltech or comparable setup though.
- I personally don't believe in running the factory twins in sequential unless you are in a pinch and its temporary, there is really not point, just go single if you plan on doing this and sell the BnRs. By doing this sort of build, you already have everything apart and replacing all the vacuum lines and cleaning things up would be pretty simple. Even if you replace all the solenoids and you should be under $500 (probably less if you plan on deleted emissions solenoids) in parts to restore that area and be good for another 30 years. Properly operating sequentials are a large part of that "fun" factor with these lower HP FDs. Since you have the BNRs you should have a nice reliable set of twins perfect to take advantage of the sequential operation and it would be well worth it to keep the system intact. I made a video on restoring the rats nest and factory fuel setup, its not really hard to do in the car and since you have everything out, I don't see any reason not to run sequential.
Thanks for the replies and suggestions! Appreciate it very much.
It's looking like I'm just going to bite the bullet and pickup a Haltech 2500. I'll get the car going with the BNR's and just do a drop in pump for now with oem injectors. If I decide to go single later I'll do the rest of the fuel system and injectors, but at least I'll be ready in terms of management. Got a bunch of parts in this week so hopefully this weekends progress will be solid!
Thanks for the replies and suggestions! Appreciate it very much.
It's looking like I'm just going to bite the bullet and pickup a Haltech 2500. I'll get the car going with the BNR's and just do a drop in pump for now with oem injectors. If I decide to go single later I'll do the rest of the fuel system and injectors, but at least I'll be ready in terms of management. Got a bunch of parts in this week so hopefully this weekends progress will be solid!
Nice build! Car looks awesome!
I'll be watching for updates
I'd suggest you research, you might wanna go with the newer Haltech Nexus S2 that just came out.
I'm in Melbourne, Fl... hope to see it out at some future Orlando car meets.
Steve
Last edited by estevan62274; 09-02-24 at 08:18 AM.
Put in some work the last 48 hours lol. Got the keg on the stand and started going to town. Taking a lil longer as everything is being cleaned and painted, but happy with the progress. Just need to do the vacuum lines and harness and she's ready to go in!
Got the engine on the stand and took care of the oil pan brace.
Mail man stopped by with some goodies from Ray Crowe and Atkins
Ended the first night with turbos mounted up, FFE Pully, Banzai Pully kit, LIM, and Alternator ready to go.
And now to wrap my head around these vacuum lines. Going to run the car Simple Sequential and hopefully I get this right the first time lol
Loving the updates man, you are where I hope to be in about a month. Minus that vacuum line mess, I'm going non-seq just because I don't have any of the solenoids, which I'm kinda grateful for.
I would NOT get the 2500 as they just updated a lot of their ECUs. By the time you get a 2500 plus the wideband addon, you are at the same price as an R3 practically. There are a handful of sales I saw for Haltech for Labor Day, maybe you can pick one up for a modest discount. Of anything I would throw the money at the ECU. As you upgrade parts in the future, this ECU can handle it.
08-27-24, 05:45 PM
