Resurrecting a 144k FD by Fd3BOOST

7 minute(s) of a 196 minute read

5-27-2014

Brown Santa stopped off at my place today. Could not help but to bolts these rims up to get a look. I ended up ordering a set of Michelin Pilot super sports, 255/35/18 & 245/35/18. Going to be real snug with my offsets +20r and +23 front. Wheels are coming from Tire Rack this week. Hope to have these mounted and balanced by Monday. 

Austin, I hope you guys will have the seats by Friday...  

Grabbed a clutch off IRP this week also, getting ready for the next stuff which is oil coolers and the engine. 

Hope to share photos of the completed interior this weekend. Kind of just waiting on the seats.

5-31-2014

Update on the upholstery, 

I picked the seats up yesterday, As I know Austin you will read this let me say that everything you have done, the headliner, A pillar covers, trans tunnel cover, rear hatch carpet, Shift & E-Brake boots all look absolutely perfect. I was impressed with your personal customer service and communication. All were excellent! 

The seats however look liked the sewing was rushed a bit and the materials on the back center and seat center could have came out better. It looks to me as though the materials were not kept taught when they were going through the sewing machine leading to wrinkles in the suede. That being said I obviously not an upholster so I don't know how the materials are to work with etc. Austin did not sew these his boss did. He was taking forever and a day to get these done and rushed them through on the last day and this was the result. While I happy that they got them done within the time I asked I wished he (Shorty) would have taken a little more care in the work when he sewed the center panels up. 

All my crying aside, I'm willing to give these time to wear in and I have them in the sun like you said before I make a final judgement on them. I have the seats sitting outside soaking up some sun right now per Austin's advice on getting the material to settle down. I will hold final judgments on these until I get some honest seat time in them. They look pretty good in a dark car and I will be sitting in them more than I will be looking at them. 

This small flaw though is my only concern with the seats. The side bolsters, back, stitching etc all look top notch. The skins are all tight around the frames and the rear map pocket looks good etc. I am being a little picky about the centers but I can't help to with the money I have spent on this build so far.

I will let the photos speak for themselves. 

Inside lighting... 

In the car....

Trans tunnel also in suede, this looks amazing!

A few other things worth mentioning. i had the front windscreen replaced a couple of weeks ago so I am starting fresh there. 

I also ordered replacement door sills from Ray Crowe as well as other misc items that keep finding the way to the house. Ray tossed in Kuzi  

New door sills.

I had my tires mounted and balanced this morning as well. Just to clarify the rears are 18x10 with +20 offset. The rubber is Michelin Pilot Super Sport 255/35/18 Over all diameter is just about the same as stock roughly 25" My rear fenders are rolled and the clearance should be fine. Although it is hard to say for sure until I get the weight of the engine back in the car... 

The front wheels are 18x9 with a +23 offset. The rubber is 24/35/18 Michelin Pilot super sports.

The fenders are rolled, but again I will not know how it will clear until I get the weight of the engine back on the chassis. 

I have the front bumper just sitting in place for the photo. It is still going to get a lip added to it and possible some canards, not sure on that. Next on my immediate list is a dual oil cooler set up and the ducting.

Just some more fd **** to stare at.