FD3S Single Turbo Build(Kinda)

[pjs65]

Nice bit of spanner work there and successfully doing what sounded like a bitch of a job .

[Gedge]

Track track Track track Track track Track track Track track Track track

[Ben]

I doth my cap to you - nice work.

[dom187]

Thanks all, yeah working in my garage is a bit snug to say the least and proved to be 50% of the challenge. Just got out of the garage from tonight's session and got the car off the axel stands fully and pumped up the tyres. I am going to move the car out of the garage tomorrow to wash the car as its covered in dust, will also give me a chance to ensure the brakes/clutch are working for when I get the road TAX through. I have also got some new door seals to fit which I will wack on as well...

I have already got a stockpile of more bits to go on which will go on once I have racked up a few miles and I know everything is running smoothly, so more to come...

Now suspension setup wise I am going to go for...

Front:

Toe = 0
Camber = -1.4
Caster +6.0

Rear:
Toe = 0
Camber = -1.2

(I think this is close to what Gedge is running)

[Gedge]

Yup alignment looks spot on mate

[RX7]

Nice work matey, really amazing all the work you have done on this.

Superb job !!

[dom187]

Well I have finally stopped driving it!

Took it yesterday to APT to get the wheel alignment sorted with my supplied specs, the car was given back to me and everything was bang on. Then I hit the road, drove tentatively for a bit just to be sure everything was ok then I progressively started using more boost until I did some WOT runs. I forgot how responsive and alert these cars are and also how good the noise was!

Had one issue which worried me which was some vibrations, I have got hockey pucks for engine mounts which naturally give a reasonable amount of vibration I think the vibration was not there before I did the work as they where not done up to the factory torque specs?!

I am now looking at my bank account and wondering when I can afford to book my first track day....

I have done one trackday at Snetterton many moons ago and two at RAF Marham. I am debating doing a novice trackday first to get to grips with things? Sound like a good idea or should I just go for a normal day?

[Stuart]

Nice update. Go for a 'proper' trackday but one where the TDO doesn't oversell it so someone like Dave @ Opentrack?

[RX7]

Nice work Dom.

Agree with Stu re the track days, you could always see what the April evening one is like and decide whether to book on the one in May or perhaps one during the day ?

[dom187]

Update time!

I decided to put some rear bins in the car (rather than the rear 'seats' which where there), I had to take out the RX8 seats out to get the rear bins in...however due different rear side panels the RX8 seats would not for fit back into place. I havent got on with the RX8 seats for various reasons so I decided it was time to switch back to stock. Also I decided to remove the bose sound system in the boot, it sounds rubbish IMHO and is taking up space. This meant getting a new parcel shelf and boot carpet, while I was here I tidied up a load of wiring as well.

Here are some pics of the result...









Then next up is the exhaust, this was a very hard decision, I really liked the look of the shotgun exhaust and the tone on it at WOT. However it had to go, it drones like hell on cruise and I am fed of neighbors complaining about the noise as well. I managed to source a replacement which was almost new at a really good price.





(I have since adjusted the exhaust so its not so close to the body work)

I also changed the front scuttle panel and wiper arms as they were faded/rusty in order to neaten the car up. All in all the changes made the car a nicer place to be and more comfortable for longer periods of use...so....





I did a open pit lane track day at Snetterton on the 15th, my first proper trackday - all my previous ones have been airfield track days. I was quite nervous to be honest, I have done a lot of work on the car over the months and I am only a DIY mechanic so I was not sure how the car would hold together. I had been offered some mentoring by some of the more experienced guys on here, only reason I didnt take people up on the offer was I genuinely was not sure how the car (and me to some extend) would hold up.

The day started off well and I grabbed some passenger rides after the sighting laps to get my bearings further and just getting used to the pace of the day. I went back out in the rex and started out very slow and just built things up and work out tyre pressures and damper settings. Just before lunch I was adding in a bit more pace until I was being limited by my oil temps, I was confused as I wasent pushing the car at all really and the warning light was coming on my after market gauge.

After some Goolging at lunch and finding out Mazdas recommended thresholds I found out my warning was set too low so I nudged that up by 15 degrees and I had no further issues, the car wanted to sit at just over the previous warning threshold. Rest of the day I continued to add in more pace and refine my lines a bit futher, still need to improve my lines and my braking technique but that will come with time I am sure.

Really enjoyed the day and the car performed faultlessly, now my life is just waiting for the next one! Its nice to know I have got a car I can grow into, I was also only running the car at 0.6 BAR for the day and its mapped up to 1 BAR.

While I am waiting/saving I have got a list of things to fit to the car which I will start work on...

Slam Panel
Relocate and fit new power steering cooler - will also mean coolant flush.
Possibly put on my new carbon bonnet - however I may sell this and go a different route
Fuel tank baffle