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Second Test Drive

1/31/2015

Another test drive, this time with the transmission working right and the rear brakes not dragging so much. I gotta say, this thing is growing on me! If the SS handles half as well, I'll be happy. It's better than my Z3 and I love the Z.

Rat is definitely a keeper so here's the question: White (even without the mildew stains) is definitely the most ugly imaginable color for this thing so it's gotta be painted. I'm thinking it has to be a dark color but I hate black. Any suggestions appreciated.

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January 25th, 2015

1/25/2015

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Do you remember when you could actually see the engine when you pop the hood? Last time I saw a car with this much extra space in there was in a 57 Chevy.

After many delays and setbacks, the engine is finally installed and all the wires & plumbing hooked up. The original radiator looked so bad inside I decided to replace it with a three row racing radiator. With no AC or other accessories adding heat to the system I'm hoping to get away with no cooling fan. I don't anticipate any city driving but if cooling is a problem I'll add an electric fan later.

First engine start went without a hitch, It barked to life instantly after sitting on a shelf in the shop since 2005. And when I say bark I mean a loud one. The Racing Beat header is only hooked to a resonator that was removed from my BMW for the performance exhaust system install. Thought it might be enough but not even close. With all the soundproofing removed from the car every piece of sheet metal shook when I rev'd the engine. Without any doors or rear hatch I think this thing will tend to attract LEOs, so a muffler install is the next step. No leaks of any fluids which is always a pleasant surprise. I've done several engine installs so it wasn't too big a deal.

What WAS a relief was that after the front pump primed all the plumbing in the transmission it slipped into gear and so far everything works as expected! That was a first, and if the tranny had been a no-go I wouldn't have had enough personal drive to drag it out and start over.

No test drive yet, I still have some engine instruments to install before that happens. Of course I couldn't resist goosing the throttle once and it effortlessly laid down several feet of rubber on the shop floor! If you've ever driven an automatic equipped RX-7 you know that's not something it will do in stock form. I think this thing is going to be FUN!

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Photo Ops

1/23/2015

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Weight reduction is done ounces at a time. The stock Mazda coil assemblies weigh almost 10 pounds so they were replaced with these more modern parts. Chevy fans will recognize these from the LS series of V8s. The home made coil mounts are made from aluminum sheet, aluminum tubing and a couple of pieces of all-thread.

The stock intake manifold was chopped up and modified for weight reduction (it was crazy heavy) and higher power. A cold air intake will be added later. When it was in an airplane that scoop on top of the throttle body was inside a ram air intake on top of the cowl, ala P-40 Warhawk.

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Second Test Drive

January 25th, 2015

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