markng2

Holy ***** of awesomeness.

markng2

I need moneys... so I can have a build like this..................

Dem768

Looook what I picked up….

Just doing some test fitting for now but this bish is sexy.



It also weighs like 4LBS.


I finished welding my exhaust tip on.. I’ve also got some video clips for you guys.


Came out really nice though.


Also working on a custom battery box for my new XS power battery.





Installed my Quik-Latches this weekend – And my new throw out bearing.

So I now have the FM level 2 clutch with a custom 6 puck ceramic sprung disc. While I was swapping the clutch in I decided to replace the throw out bearing. BIG MISTAKE. Turns out the FM level 2 comes with an upgraded bearing that is intended to take the abuse of the serious pressure plate that they include.

This was a brand new OE bearing after about 100 miles:



Thanks to the guys at Flyin Miata I finally tracked down a bearing and here is the difference.





Tossed this guy in and decided to install my Quik Latches:



There was actually already a pretty good spot – Remove the plastic retainer and install the quik latch stud.



Drilled the holes and we were good to go.




It now takes me about 30 seconds to remove my front clip…

Since my manifold is out being coated at Dart I took the time to clean the under side of my hood..


Calling it a weekend.. I’ll keep you guys updated when the manifold shows up. Should be cool – Inside and outside ceramic blended coating.

markng2

I just got lasik eye surgery, now I gotta head back. The new update = eyegasm.

sixshooter

I'm still paying attention to this. Looking forward to some warm weather videos.

Dem768

Let's start with the rear mount situation. Why rear mount? Because I can and frankly I've run out of modifications that challenge me with this car.

I've been working closely with an aerodynamics engineer from GM on the execution of this project and he surprisingly didn't even attempt to talk me out of it. We're going to be venting up through the deck lid because it's a low pressure zone. I'll use two high CFM puller fans to aid in the cooling and AN lines to route the coolant to the rear.

A couple of beneficial factors come into play - It will clean up the bay quite a bit and lower under hood temps. This will also increase coolant volume to aid in cooling, restore some of the weight distribution to more useful areas of the car. But primarily it's just cool. The car is already pretty good at making people tilt their head and ask "WTF is in there?", this should take things up a notch.

I first needed to find a good spot for the radiator and keep one big thing in mind - Bleeding the system is going to be a whole new bag of worms.

To help with this, I've picked up a radiator with no fill neck and produced this little guy. It will sit at the highest point in the system and I'll fabricate an overflow in the trunk.


Next I mocked up positions for the KOYO and welded my AN fittings on.


At that point I jumped right into cutting out my trunk... This is a pretty rad feeling, (no pun intended) to just start chopping your spare tire area out of the car. After that was complete I needed a shroud that I'll bolt or weld into place.



Everything is looking solid, I'm happy with the position, happy with the routing. To add some variety to my day I jumped over to the deck lid. This hot air is going to need to vent near the center of my deck lid for the best exit into a low pressure area. My aero guy believes that the air exiting here will also aid in aerodynamics because it will help fill the low pressure pocket, giving the rear of the car the desired "tear drop" shape.

Cutting things that you only get one shot with is kind of my specialty. I usually don't measure twice because it psyches me out by over-thinking things. I mocked up these to get the shape correct.


According to my from the hip measurement, here is about where these will sit. Looks fine to me I suppose.


To get me started with the air saw and to help in corners I drilled some holes. I also applied masking tape to the other side so I didn't destroy the fiberglass by chipping.


Chopped them out and mocked it up. Looks alright to me. Now I needed to put some mesh in here. I can just imagine the next car show I go to, some kid decides to drop his burger into my trunk and my cooling fans act as a food processor..


I went with an aluminum mesh that's powdercoated. As expected, it came out great.


I also removed my latch and hinge system completely. I did this for a number of reasons. 1, my previously useless trunk space was not completely useless for storage so I won't be opening it as frequently. 2, the hinge system was jacked, the previous owner drilled new holes for the striker and nothing lined up properly.

I went with the same latching system I used for my front bumper.


Quik latch by fab9tuning, on Flickr

Here you can see the strikers and the piece of aluminum up top. Basically it functions by first sliding the back into the piece of aluminum and then closing the deck lid as it originally functioned but instead it locks into place with the latches.


Later this week the car is being dropped off for paint. I'd do it but I simply don't have time.

sixshooter

The craziness continues! Welcome back, stranger!

I was just looking to see who made your manifold. It's nice!

It would be OK with me if you started a thread in the parts for sale section and discussed FAB9 and its offerings. None of the other admins or mods come over here much and I don't think they'd mind anyway.

Redcap

I don't have any power in any way over this, but I'd agree, or just introducing some of your products in your build thread. The thing is that there's a ton of custom work in this build on items you don't really sell. But honestly you could probably make several articles in the "How To" section on installing some of your parts, Tuning an EMS-4, etc. Just generally introduction and demystifying things your site sells, etc. For example, half the stuff you did with Quik Latches I never would've thought about doing. But it gives people tons of options on how they could use purchase and use them.

Dem768

Smallish update, still struggling to find time. Last weekend I spent 9 hours prepping and painting the rear of the car. Both rear quarters + dent repair + new bumper + modified deck lid.

At one point I painted professionally but it's been 7 years or so and these were not ideal painting environments (dusty garage).

After some body work and sealer primer I applied a couple of coats of base trying my best to feather in the edges to make sure everything matched nicely.



New deck lid saw very little prep work before paint. It was in pretty good shape.



Filled the emblem holes and shot the rear bumper. At some point this will see the knife when I fabricate or install a rear diffuser.




I peeled the tape lines while the clear was still wet to make the break lines more seamless. Overall it came out incredible, regardless of the conditions it was painted in.



Made it just in time to attend a local BBQ/Car meet. Ran into a good friend of mine who just happened to be driving Jack Roush JR's race car...



Also - Just installed the ATi Damper, I ordered a dozen of them for inventory to support our recent price reduction so it was hard resist... I've been on thin ice with this motor on the stock damper. A dynamic ATi damper is really the only solid solution on the market. The solid-bonded, lightweight dampers or machined copies of the OE damper only have the ability to target one RPM range so I opted to go this route. I've learned far too much about engine harmonics to justify saving a few bucks.

sixshooter

Nice.

I might be needing to talk to you about some parts here soon.