Hokay..Here goes...
I finished modifying the pff for the t5 Trans. I think it turned out well!
Got a driveshaft made.
Got most of the wiring figured out... all labeled.
Headers are both done...
You can see in that pic that I also bought a sanden s7b10 compressor so I can have ac. I still need to make brackets. It will also be my belt tensioning device. It will live about here...
I made a bracket to hold the rx8 crank sensor on the 3900 engine.
And I welded up the mods to the subframe. Space for the steering ujoints...
And rewarded the rack about .5 inches lower. I'm still gonna add a brace between the mounts and attached to the subframe for more strength..
Lots of other little things figured out like belt arrangement and what pulleys I'm gonna use.
At this point, most of the fab stuff is about done. Just need to bolt it all back together and install it. Then plumb everything and wire it.
It will be a roller with the drivetrain installed by next weekend. (That's the plan anyway!)
Current situation...
So... budget update also:
1000 car
35 shifter
200 engine
50 Trans
280 driveshaft
75 steel and fasteners
380 ecu and harness
105 ac compressor
55 for serpentine pulleys
50 clutch
30 hydraulic throw out bearing
Could be done for sub 2k if you get the car cheaper and don't care about ac and shop better for drivetrain and driveshaft. Plus, I could probably sell the engine and Trans for recoup.
I think that's about it. Still need to do some plumbing and wiring.
Edited for actual prices I have.
Im looking forward to seeing this thing!!!
Really cool build. Is there any issue with spacing out the steering rack? Just don't know how that changes things like bump steer and all those other steering terms.
Somebeach (Forum Supporter) said:
Really cool build. Is there any issue with spacing out the steering rack? Just don't know how that changes things like bump steer and all those other steering terms.
So, it's not spaced out. It's lowered down. Basically what that does is change the location of the inner pivots of the rack. This should create somewhat of a bumpsteer issue. The easy way to correct that is get outer tie rods that lower the pivot point at the steering knuckle as well. This SHOULD minimize bumps tear.
That being said, I have a similar situation on my racecar and it doesn't seem to have much of an effect on corner speed or steering feel so I haven't touched it.
We will see if I go with a bumpsteer correction kit on this or not.
P.s as you can see in a few of the pictures above, those barrina led garage lights make pretty great work lights too. They give you sooo many cords, I just didn't mount 1 light and hooked the switched cord up to it. They take a pounding and still work awesome.
wvumtnbkr said:
Anddddd.....
So awesome! just stumbled in. I'll go back and read the rest
This is awesome. About to start an LZ9 project myself. Are you using 3.4/3.8 camaro trans? Wondering about starter fitment and clutch/flywheel stuff if you're willing to share some info on it.
I think we have the same bike...
Local junkyard has a couple RX8s in it, they just got a lot more appealing to me.
boostabear said:
This is awesome. About to start an LZ9 project myself. Are you using 3.4/3.8 camaro trans? Wondering about starter fitment and clutch/flywheel stuff if you're willing to share some info on it.
3.8 trans in my case. Use the stock htob. Because the 3.9 flywheel is unobtainium, you can use a 2.2 4 cylinder clutch and flywheel. From like a 94 s10. You will need to use 2 fairly thick htob spacers (from tick performance) to make up the difference in flywheel thickness. (The 3800 is NOT neutral balance and thicker. DO NOT USE THAT FLYWHEEL).
Starter is the stock 3.9 (or 3400 or 3500). Bolts up to the normal place.
The 3.4 trans bolts up and you can use the same starter. However, the clutch actuation is different. You will need to figure that out on your own. I have done this swap 3 times and always used the 3.8 trans.
birdmayne said:
I think we have the same bike...
Local junkyard has a couple RX8s in it, they just got a lot more appealing to me.
The cruiser redline? Cool! I got that bike as part of a sponsorship about 21 years ago. Have not done any maintenance on it AT ALL. It's still awesome!
Just as a note... the most time for this work has been learning what needs done and how to do it. I could probably do a 2nd one in about 3 months at the same actual work pace.
This one won't be finished for probably 12 months since the start.
wvumtnbkr said:
birdmayne said:
I think we have the same bike...
Local junkyard has a couple RX8s in it, they just got a lot more appealing to me.
The cruiser redline? Cool! I got that bike as part of a sponsorship about 21 years ago. Have not done any maintenance on it AT ALL. It's still awesome!
The pink one with training wheels.
It's technically my daughter's, not mine
Sooo...
Got the ac compressor figured out and installed. Also got some new pulleys mounted up and a serpentine belt on this engine.
I also got the engine mounted back on the subframe for the last time.... or not...
I got the engine and Trans back into the car and got the ppf hooked up.
So, I finally got the engine and everything in the whole way. I did sacrifice one of the stock rx8 engine mounts to the God of learning. (Don't keep trying to jack up the engine while the subframe is caught. Tensile testing engine mounts doesn't help get the car done).
We ended up here...
Got all 3 of my beautiful ladies in that pic! They are excited with the progress...
Now, onto some issues that are bothering me...
1) the shifter is still too far forward and a bit "low". I am getting my buddy to make me a new shifter handle with the same threads as a miata or rx8 so I can put a stock 5 speed mazda shifter in the car.
2) I didn't put the passenger brake line back where it goes when I put the engine in. Now, it is inaccessible, as is a couple of electrical connectors that will need plugged in.... this means engine is coming back out at some point...
3) the steering joint rubs on the modified subframe a bit. No me gusta. This will require some grinding and some hammering.
So, the hoa is currently happy that I have a put together (mostly) car on the driveway. I know I'm taking this thing back out in the near future. For now, I am going to fabricate the exhaust while everything is where it should be. Then, it all comes back out again!
Slow progress over the next couple of weeks while I recover from the big push to make it a roller to keep the hoa happy...
Man, i am glad to see this update!
Congrats' on the progress. This should be a hoot to drive.
My daughter has the same huffy, progress is looking good.
Long time no post...
I played with the car a bit. My buddy is working on making me a custom shifter handle and knob. Pretty excited about that. I'll upload a pic later.
I ground down the subframe plate I had made so that I have full steering now with plenty of clearance. I'll upload a picture later.
Now, I'm working on mounting the stock radiator. Because I moved the rack down, the lower rad mounts needed modified. Cut and weld and they are good to go. Pics added later.
Also, I had to install the gm throttle pedal. I am making a custom bracket for this. Luckily, the gm and the rx8 pedal are very similar in length, and angle and everything else. Once the adapter bracket is made, it will just be a matter of bolting it in and wiring it up....
So, that's where everything stands.
Most things are figured out for the most part. Now, it's just getting the time and energy to do it.
Gah. Just deleted my post...
Stock radiator is installed on stock hardware and mounts. The lower mounts needed modified to fit around the now lower steering rack. My 4 and 6 year old daughters helped me paint the mounts:
Next I played around with piecing an intake together from some pieces I had laying around. This should work fine:
Next, my buddy sent me a beautiful cnc work of art. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The shifter mounts to the top of the Trans and brings the handle back about 3 inches, makes up for the 15 degree tilt of the camaro gearbox, and looks awesome. The shift know is probably sacrilegious, but I don't care. I like it!
Finally, I found out that the stock rx8 returnless fuel system puts out about 55 to 60 psi and enough flow for 300 hp. I literally just need to hook up a 12 inch long hose and that task will be done. Easy peasy!
Current situation:
Now, I am waiting on a fitting so I can hook up the heater lines, and waiting on pieces and hoses to complete the radiator hoses. Then, coolant system will be complete.
I am working on modifying a plate to have an internal shift boot as well as the leather one. It really makes a difference to the noise and smells in the car. I'll try to show this with some pics when I get it fabricobbled.
Pretty soon, I'm gonna be forced to mess with wiring... ugh.
I sorted the gear shift internal gator. (Can you tell I watched some project pinky?)
Everything needs cleaned, lubed and assembled.
I got my aluminum radiator piping. Now, I can finish that.
Next couple of days will be busy and I won't get any rx8 time. E36 M3. I'm somewhat motivated right now.
Really long time and no post. I'll try to update over the next few days with pics.
Lots of small things sorted:
Gm throttle pedal installed and in same position that the rx8 pedal was.
Got a wildwood clutch master installed. Took some fiddling.
Installed some heater lines over the top of the manifold in order to keep them out of the way.
Figured out the radiator hoses.
Got the passenger side brake line I mentioned above out of the way of getting crushed between the engine and firewall.
Still need to do exhaust, finish up clamps and mounts and whatnot for the water hoses.
Still need to make a new bracket for the abs unit.
Then.... wiring. Ugh.
Challenge in May 2023? Maybe. Hopefully. We will see.
More pics needed...
I cut off the stock abs mount off the chassis. Will be modificated and rewarded slightly different to make room for the heater hoses.
I ordered some bits and pieces for the clutch master hydraulic connections, p clamps for various hoses, lightening hoses for the spark plugs, some other stuff.
Need to finish the mechanical this weekend. Then I need somebody to help with the electron tubes and sensors.
It will have brakes. It will have a drivetrain. It will have coolant.
It just needs to run in the next month or so. I need to work on the racecar for the championship in February which includes diagnosing / changing a well built engine.
Did you sort out the steering shaft's fouling?
