An End-of-build Retrospective on my Rx7 Evo GT by gmonsen

8 minute(s) of a 280 minute read

So, no videos and still no dyno. Logan says I make a little less than Lenny will. 

Some updates...

The oil metering pump (from a 1988 TII) leaked oil and it got worse over time to where it would drain maybe half my reservoir in a few days. Thanks to Ray Crowe I got a new one installed and all is well.

Although everything's running nicely otherwise, I'm thinking of going to a more sophisticated EMS. Like others, I went to the Microtech, because of its support for the 20b. Its a simple system and lots of people know it. However, it just doesn't offer so many of the features found on most of the better EMS today and I've always wanted my conversion to run in as "factory-refined" a way as possible. So, I'll probably take a look at the M48 and Adaptronic and whatever to see what to try next.

I have been using a full set of Spirit R brakes all round that I bought new from the factory. I had -- and still have "I think" -- that purist concept and wanted to keep everything Mazda. Last summer I bought a set of Mov'It brakes (6 Piston Fronts on 13 Inch Porsche rotors and 4 piston on the back and I forget how big the rear rotors are) about a year ago and am thinking of at least trying them out. Its kind of going from one end to the other, I suppose. 

I have been working on the dual bumper exhaust still trying to get that settled. Figured out a way to keep the outer ring of the trim tubes completely flush with the plastic bumper surface. We're putting a 3/4 inch stainless hose clamp around each exhaust tip holding 3 or 4 small aluminum "L" brackets flush and tight up against the inside surface of the bumper. The plastic bumper skin will be sandwiched tight between these new L-brackets inside and the stainless trim tube rings outside. Thanks, Kyle. 

I'll probably think about a little more or different mufflers. Got some time to decide in the Spring. (Naturally, after first getting the car I had told Logan I wanted it louder and when he made it louder I naturally think it may now be TOO loud.) 

Still has the original paint and the rear deck still has the various holes from the original R1 spoiler and the whale tail spoiler I had on it for a while plugged with those black rubber things. Looks like I sort of replaced "divits" in the deck... Last issues whenever they are issues.

Spending the winter trying to get the cosmetics back to where they were before an army of friends and mechanics worked on it for a few years. Which is kind of like trying to get me back -- cosmetically or otherwise -- to where I was 25 years ago. Bought a lot more buffing equipment for my bikes and am using it more and more on the FD.

Only another month or so to Spring!

The only EMS I have had a lot of experience with are the original EFI piggyback, the Haltech e6, and , while I have looked at the Microtech maps, I have never played with any of Logan's tunes at all. He is of course very very good. The best on 20b NA motors, imho. I've just wanted to leave everything alone. But I don't think I will be able to be happy with the Microtech. I mean, it works fine. Just not as refined as it would be with a modern Haltech or Motec. I'm not going to get worked up picking one or the other. If you were to choose between the 2 which would you recommend? 

G

Engine bay after some clean up.

Here are the current wheels and brakes and below are the front Mov'it caliper and rotor. They are kind of massive. I wonder if I'll need a balance valve to tune the fronts versus the new bigger 4 piston rears. They're supposed to work together, but we'll see. 

g

These are with the Spirit R's.

And here are the Mov'it caliper and rotor.

I suspect its down to the Motec or Haltech. This car's never going to be a 4 rotor, so... But a 4 rotor in the FF GTM interests me.

Here are a few shots of the exhaust, which is looking a lot better than its first iteration. I have polished the raw stainless tips -- which also now extend out a bit from the trim rings -- a lot. Wish that had been done before welding things up, but I have never gotten anything right the first (or second or) time. 

G

Heres a pretty good overall picture of how they look.

Heres another view.

Another.

And a close-up of the tip.

Other side.

2-19-2015

September is good for me. Also, I used to do a meet in September and maybe we can make this into a combination track day and meet-and-eat?

G

Here are a bunch more exhaust and rear valance shots. 

Yeah. I might look into a trailer and upgrade ye olde pickup. I don't think oil prices are likely to drop further and the world situation suggest prices have underlying volatility.

But, if we do VIR in September, you have to be there.

G

2-20-2015

I've been trying to get the lighting right to show the way the back end looks with the exhaust and the aluminum lower valance. I know a lot of people look at the pictures like eye candy. Same way I do. I really love the way the back end came out. Looks pretty factory to me. 

duck91... Here's pictures of the bikes. Love the faux alligator pattern on the Guzzi seat.

G