Reiketsukan
10-13-2011, 09:45 PM
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the chronological record of my progress with my 1986 LSx-swapped RX7. Being a student, my progress will be slow, but I plan on doing my best with what I've got to work with. I'm writing this for my own reference, but please don't be afraid to add your own comments or factual recommendations.
Here she is the day I brought her home!
http://i56.tinypic.com/1zwlq43.jpg
Looking good! No rust, no dents, and freshly painted, although it was an amateur job. The finish on the paint is a little off, but it's all 'even'.
Known modifications:
'99 5.3 vortec with about 70k miles
'98 Firebird PCM
stock ls1 intake, injectors and exhaust manifolds
2 1/4 crush-bent, cobbled dual exhaust
Turbo 350 trans
Ford 8.8 IRS rear differential with 3.23 gears and LSD
5-lug swap
SVT Cobra wheels
Unknown modifications:
Aftermarket shocks and lowering springs. (stiff as hell!)
http://i54.tinypic.com/jkimth.jpg
God, did this need some serious aesthetic work...
Cobbled-together intake pipe replaced with some nice pieces from siliconeintakes.com
badly-fitted twin fan setup replaced with a taurus fan
3-piece radiator hose replaced with an aluminum pipe and silicone couplers
Heater core capped off, hoses removed, inlet/outlet looped
Hand-bent, asymmetrical radiator plate replaced with simple radiator tie-downs.
http://i51.tinypic.com/t6ox0o.jpg
-UPDATE- 10/13/11
I've accumulated some new parts to put on during the Fall / Winter
http://i55.tinypic.com/w82pnt.jpg
New alternator, corvette lower alt mounting bracket, serpentine belt, tentioner and pulley
http://i54.tinypic.com/im1lrc.jpg
New 3.73 gears for my Ford 8.8 IRS
http://i52.tinypic.com/2vdnqs9.jpg
GM factory fresh '02+Z06 cam and springs from GM Parts Direct
http://i53.tinypic.com/2l9166q.jpg
TCI Streetfighter 3,000rpm stall converter w/anti-ballooning plate for my TH350
A buddy of mine unlocked my PCM with HPTuners. Once the new cam and everything is installed, he'll tune it up real nice for me!
-UPDATE- 11/24/11
Got the trans pulled and upgraded a few things!
http://i39.tinypic.com/w6umar.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/ve9dp3.jpg
Transgo shift kit and governor re-calibration kit installed!
http://i43.tinypic.com/29o33ua.jpg
It's almost a shame you won't be able to see it.
http://i41.tinypic.com/34gmql1.jpg
Quite a comparison! Check out how huge the old stock one is.
-UPDATE- 11/26/11
http://i43.tinypic.com/117g51w.jpg
'04 Z06 cam and springs installed!
http://i39.tinypic.com/2hqarur.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/fvl3s4.jpg
Test fit of my new alternator and serpentine belt setup.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2qkjfxl.jpg
Picked up a 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust kit from Summit. Four 4' straight pipes, four 45° bends, four 90° bends, and four 180° bends. I plan on fabbing-up a true dual setup with either an 'H' or 'X' crossover.
http://i43.tinypic.com/2vijvnt.jpg
The new exhaust with get a pair of Thrush Welded mufflers with 2.5" inlets and outlets to keep sounds somewhat under control.
With any luck, and the 8.8 T-Bird diff should get rebuilt with 3.73 gears in a couple weeks or so.
Here she is the day I brought her home!
http://i56.tinypic.com/1zwlq43.jpg
Looking good! No rust, no dents, and freshly painted, although it was an amateur job. The finish on the paint is a little off, but it's all 'even'.
Known modifications:
'99 5.3 vortec with about 70k miles
'98 Firebird PCM
stock ls1 intake, injectors and exhaust manifolds
2 1/4 crush-bent, cobbled dual exhaust
Turbo 350 trans
Ford 8.8 IRS rear differential with 3.23 gears and LSD
5-lug swap
SVT Cobra wheels
Unknown modifications:
Aftermarket shocks and lowering springs. (stiff as hell!)
http://i54.tinypic.com/jkimth.jpg
God, did this need some serious aesthetic work...
Cobbled-together intake pipe replaced with some nice pieces from siliconeintakes.com
badly-fitted twin fan setup replaced with a taurus fan
3-piece radiator hose replaced with an aluminum pipe and silicone couplers
Heater core capped off, hoses removed, inlet/outlet looped
Hand-bent, asymmetrical radiator plate replaced with simple radiator tie-downs.
http://i51.tinypic.com/t6ox0o.jpg
-UPDATE- 10/13/11
I've accumulated some new parts to put on during the Fall / Winter
http://i55.tinypic.com/w82pnt.jpg
New alternator, corvette lower alt mounting bracket, serpentine belt, tentioner and pulley
http://i54.tinypic.com/im1lrc.jpg
New 3.73 gears for my Ford 8.8 IRS
http://i52.tinypic.com/2vdnqs9.jpg
GM factory fresh '02+Z06 cam and springs from GM Parts Direct
http://i53.tinypic.com/2l9166q.jpg
TCI Streetfighter 3,000rpm stall converter w/anti-ballooning plate for my TH350
A buddy of mine unlocked my PCM with HPTuners. Once the new cam and everything is installed, he'll tune it up real nice for me!
-UPDATE- 11/24/11
Got the trans pulled and upgraded a few things!
http://i39.tinypic.com/w6umar.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/ve9dp3.jpg
Transgo shift kit and governor re-calibration kit installed!
http://i43.tinypic.com/29o33ua.jpg
It's almost a shame you won't be able to see it.
http://i41.tinypic.com/34gmql1.jpg
Quite a comparison! Check out how huge the old stock one is.
-UPDATE- 11/26/11
http://i43.tinypic.com/117g51w.jpg
'04 Z06 cam and springs installed!
http://i39.tinypic.com/2hqarur.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/fvl3s4.jpg
Test fit of my new alternator and serpentine belt setup.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2qkjfxl.jpg
Picked up a 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust kit from Summit. Four 4' straight pipes, four 45° bends, four 90° bends, and four 180° bends. I plan on fabbing-up a true dual setup with either an 'H' or 'X' crossover.
http://i43.tinypic.com/2vijvnt.jpg
The new exhaust with get a pair of Thrush Welded mufflers with 2.5" inlets and outlets to keep sounds somewhat under control.
With any luck, and the 8.8 T-Bird diff should get rebuilt with 3.73 gears in a couple weeks or so.