Short story: I'm done with street FD's! Finally started my build for my new dedicated track FD that I will use for my new found love...TIME ATTACK! This ones going to be a BEAST! Already have over 3 months of good progress but I'll trickle the pics slowly to keep it interesting...

Long story: This build is my second FD I've owned. My first FD (white) I bought back in 2000 bone stock and enjoyed going through many different stages in modifications not to mention different stages in life with (including meeting my beautiful wife). Over the years I ended up with a solid, clean, street/track monster that I would start to only take out every couple months to the track...technically still a street car but really not too streetable after a while. I found that tracking my FD was one of the funnest things I ever did and despite the paint chips, scratches, rubber marks to my once immaculate paint job, it was the best use I ever made out of it in the over 10 years I owned it... not to mention SUPER addicting trying to beat the clock. Sooo decided to slowly take it down "track only" avenue in the near future.... BUT, finally one day it would all start to catch up to me... In October 2011, I ended up getting up close and personal with a wall at Buttonwillow Raceway after losing it at over 100mph. Yes, I found one of the ONLY walls at that track after I lost the back coming out of the esses pinned in 4th gear. **For anyone who tracks there, that wall is closer than you think!!** Luckily, given the angle of impact, I bounced off the wall (8ft in the air as some people told me) and it didn't roll... the wall was lined with old tires which absorbed a lot of the energy. I walked out with only bruises and realized that I was SUPER lucky to be alive and that I was NUTS for not having a full cage at those speeds/times, especially with a wife and kid. With that in mind I decided my next FD will end up as a fully caged, gutted track only race car with all safety mods. No more street FD's for me.


.
.
.

My hunt started for a new clean FD chassis to strip down and start the process...I came across this silver FD locally that had a fresh paint job and a blown motor (lucky me). My only real concern was it had to be a straight chassis and it sure was. Got it for a great deal! Wow!




First step, remove the blown motor... no need for it since my old motor with 5K miles, 500R turbo strapped to it survived the crash.





Going under the knife...started stripping her down before we start the cage. Pretty heavy stuff behind the dash...





Next step, remove the sound deadening and tar crap. Amazing how heavy it all was, literally filled up the whole spare tire well up with a mountain. Dry ice worked great! Use plastic baggies with crushed ice and gloves to hold on the vertical areas. The residue was wheeled or sanded off later by the painter...




Next episode... SICK cage and chassis strengthening! Sneak peek...

 

looking good. while i love track cars i dont think i could ever do that to my FD i would feel like im cutting up my child lol.

 

I agree, that's why I decided to **** around in my z33 and keep my fd clean as possible. Parts are getting harder and harder to come by, not to mention the cost. ( unless you are blessed with an unlimited budget )

 

can't wait to see the outcome

 

This made me lawl so hard can't wait to see this builds progress! TA is where its at :P

 

Nice so far. I'm going to watch this thread

 

Pics of your crashed FD?

 

Stay tuned... I'll post some pics soon. Warning though, it's a little tough to look at!

 

I know what you mean! have some crash pics myself from a previous FD.

 

Don't want to go too off from the build thread but this is the reason for the build... some before and after's of my white one over the years...

 

 

Double

 

Damn!!

 

It looks like the spoiler survived unharmed! Poor poor fd. Rip. But its even better to hear your okay, and ready to reattempt to tame your adrenaline high from a safer, and more purpose planned approach.ill be following!

 

ooooh cant wait to see the cage build photos & I love track cars, striped out all bizness! I'm working on my own FD track car here in NZ, was worried the other night when I was rudely woken by a earthquake, first thought was I hope my car hasn't fallen off its jack stands haha

 

wow, i think your fd survived the 100mph side impact like a boss!
I was awaiting a lot more serious damage to the b-pillar structure!

May I ask you why you lost the car? driver mistake or physical damage to the suspension or a tyre?

glad to hear you are ok... good luck with your upcoming build!

 

Exactly! After walking out of that I didn't give two ***** about the car... situations like that you never know what can happen. Cars are replaceable.

The wing actually IS toast... the mounting points both at the wing and hatch have cracked... it was literally hanging from a thread in the pic. APR told me to NOT try to fix it for fear of flying off on the track.


Given the speed and impact I was expecting it to look worse too! Upon further inspection we found the whole chassis is crushed and kinked...everything buckled the way it was supposed to. B-pillar kinked near sunroof, rear subframe took everything with it forward including bending the trans tunnel, also the whole rear end is shifted towards driver side. Weirdest thing my pedals are crooked as well as my steering wheel is bent I guess from holding so tight.

If you notice the back passenger corner took the hit first and the rest of the passenger side swung over and climbed the wall. The wall was lined with stacks of tires which saved my ***... plus not hitting the wall square kept me from rolling it over. Some folks have told me that they've seen cars jump and land on the wall before...wow.

I had been running with a 200lb passenger the two sessions BEFORE this one so right off the bat I was running faster solo in this session. My tires were too hot by the 4th lap and my lap times were getting slower. Coming out of the last turn out of the esses I basically hold 4th gear full throttle (like I had been all day), came out a hair wide and I think I caught some gravel on the edge of the track where I usually start letting off. Back end slipped out and I started to slowly go side ways...trying to correct did nothing (I'm thinking I was too tired and slow at the end of the day). Once I made a 180 degree turn I had crossed the track into the dirt, for split sec I though ok no biggie I'll slide and it'll stop eventually... then I see the WALL, no brakes, no steering, just sliding like I'm on ICE... OH ****. I brace myself and hope for the best. Just a bad spot for the track to lose it...

More pics of cage coming soon... you guys are gonna love it.

 

Shitty to see a awesome car gone like that ... Glad you are ok though

I have a feeling this one is going to be better. I really want to see the cage work

 

That's not pretty

 

Things happen, glad your okay. The 7 did eat that wall like a champ. I'd say cut the bad and custom wide body!! But can't wait to see how thing turn out. Good luck on the build.

 

Cage done by Justin Pawlak... I knew he was a drifter for Falken tires but also remembered he said he does fab work. I went down to his shop Hot Line Performance back in December to check it out, wow I was surprised to find it was super clean and organized unlike other shops I'd seen. Saw some super cool work including an insane drift race car with probably over $100K in it! Didn't take much time to realize that this dude does clean and well thought out work and takes great pride in anything he puts his name on. DOPE!

Turn up the volume before you click on his website.
http://www.justinpawlak.com/
http://www.facebook.com/JustinPawlak












More pics coming soon...

 

Glad to hear that you're getting back into it! Sorry to hear about the wreck though. Luckily you got away unscathed. I look forward to seeing this build as it progresses.

Best,
-Lane

 

Mocking up gussets...






Windows?? We don't need no stinkin' windows?


Mock up 3D X door bars going into door shell...






3 pound carbon fiber sunroof plug... saved about 15-20 lbs overall right there. (thanks Kevin Doe) This will be sanded down and matte cleared along with rest of carbon fiber parts

 

would you take some shots of the sunroof from underneath?

 

Ok i just unsubsibed to this thread just out of pure jealousy.




LoL i play dam that guy does good work.. Cage looks awesome