Rx7 fd #FirstProjectBuild

Well lads, I had been looking at project builds for long enough so decided a spell ago to begin my own. Cheap and cheerful was the aim at first so I picked up an e36 coupe for a couple a hundred with the idea of lumping in a v8. By the end of stripping it down I was bored (sorry beamer fans) So I began looking again...
This popped up soon after and I had it bought within 30mins of it being posted. ;)
Rolling fd3s shell with brakes, halfshafts, diff, propshaft, rack, dash...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psc2d3e6bf.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psdc0c4b9a.jpg

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Got her home and soon got to work while I could....

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psec039a32.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps0e74f0af.jpg

chopped boot floor plus corners because one was mangled
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psdcccee2e.jpg

Front near side had a tip at some point so instead of worrying about it being ment,,,Chop Chop Chop,,
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps8aa985bf.jpg

Lightened up the doors
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps464e943f.jpg

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When I was down to just a bare shell I went about stripping the sound deadening. A few boys had told me wait till a frosty night, hammer and chisel, clean with petrol, and all the rest. Tried some a these but wasnt happy with the results so after a few calls bought myself 10kg of dry ice.

Makes some job of it, leave some pellets evenly spread across it for 5 mins, couple a light taps of a rubber mallet and it comes off clean as a whistle
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psed0c8ae3.jpg

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An hour or so later...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psa7e39e08.jpg

Windscreen out...Ready for cage...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps64ae379a.jpg

I love a good cage, nearly makes or breaks a car for me so off she went to Ronan at Roco Performance, I heard from a few lads he was good,,,,he is!!! (Pics are poor all from iPhone)

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps2c2436b2.jpg

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Because the rx is so tight for space he even went so far as to cut out and beat back some sections from the A and B pillars to get it as tight as possible. Went for Nascar door bars for extra room, X at the back for looks, 4 extra diagonal braces, roof X, tied to both A pillars and steering rack in oem position. No weight saving in mind here just wanted a cool cage. Also with the X in the roof it will easily pass scrutiny for any other motorsport (hill sprints in mind...)

NICE :) looks good so far!

Where did ya get the dry ice well handy as I'll be tackling my sound deading in the near future

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Originally Posted by thetangerine

Where did ya get the dry ice well handy as I'll be tackling my sound deading in the near future

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Polarice.ie they have a few centres, one in cork, dublin, but the only one that will sell v small quantities is the one in Port Laois. Think I paid €25 or something like that for 10kg of it which was loads

nice work man its going to be sweet

With roll cage in two slots in the dash were cut out to fit in place. Must make up a few brackets at a later stage to secure it.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps244fc8d1.jpg

Next job was to line up the engine, modify the subframe and fab up engine mounts...
This was a difficult decision. Was going to go ls400, then decided bmw 4.4 v8, but in the end decided I wanted to keep it light and as neat as possible and lets face it Sr parts aren't hard to come by so SR20 it was. Because of the new regs i cant cut the bulkhead so i beat it back as evenly as i could without breaking the seam. Got about 75mm out of it. This wont be seen anyway :p

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps1b6fd07e.jpg

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Using this engine hoist I made up a few years back it was very easy to sit the engine where i wanted and tilt it to the right angle
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps93781bcd.jpg

Then set about modifying the subframe,,,after spending years welding with arc welders cant believe how easy mig welding is. Only bought the mig for the project.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps41f9056f.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psc1112cf8.jpg

This is how the subframe ended up. Chopped more than I needed to at the beginning,,,too eager,,,but it worked out nicely at the front end. (View from underneath)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psb422ee32.jpg

Then back on with it, double checking engine position, fabbed some engine mounts and tacked them in place for welding after!!!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...ps7040ca46.jpg

All welded up,,,sitting pretty
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5...psd03f3487.jpg

top work there man

cheers dude, just learning as i go...

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Originally Posted by Darren

top work there man

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great job man....wondered what the car was looking like. want to see the finished product. will be keeping an eye on this tread. i am the boy that sold u the top mount mani and boght the vsxx's of u.