Street Action

Ever wondered what your car looks like on the street. I did.

Chrno.. aka Daniel shot this one when we went for a drive one day.

looks cool...

Project II Replica

Progress is slow on the Project II replica.

Slowly taking shape though.

Fujimi model + custom wheels from a DISM model.

Russ.

Super Autobacs Adventure

Quick blast out to Super Autobacs in Naganuma , North of Chiba. good place to hang out at the sevens meeting. The car really doesn't scream attention. It kind of gets lost in the car park. But there were still heaps of people taking pictures of it. All eyes turned when I drove in.

For me the car has a few niggles so I don't think it's as good as it is. It drives fantastic. bags of power and really smooth gearbox and new clutch is great.

I should have got some pics parked next to the touge cars, but maybe next time. More pics on this post on the main blog.

BTW, the new Nardi feels great and grips well.

Russ.

Nardi. Classic Style.

The latest addition to the FD3s Project is this interior upgrade. The slight Leyland Mini "Retro" influence is still coming through. This tasty item is a Nardi Classic 360mm. Finished in suede leather, it looks great on the car. A subtle highlight that looks as if it should be there.

The Momo Falcon wheel really didn't suit the black interior as the wheel was grey. This 360mm classic design looks the goods and feels great. It's a tiny bit bigger than a standard wheel, but my steering boss hasa 20mm spacer already so it sits in nicely.

Next replace the ugly Veilside gear knob with a standard looking ATC suede item similar to Key!s racing without the crazy lettering.

To get your own Nardi classic. Visit Newera Parts. This is not a new item and the wheel actually has a bit of a story behind it. But thats another post...

Russ.

Lock down!

Finished installing the bonnet pins today. I ran the wiring for my Defi guages and tried to fix the Defi Control Unit II (many pins broken on some connections) so I can install them, but my soldering attempts didn't solve the provlem, So I will fork out some cash for a new control unit.

A quick wash has the beast looking good again and ready for action. Now how can I stop that squaking from the pins... must be rubbing somewhere...

Russ.

RE-Xtreme Chop

A little bit of photochopping while i wait for a few more purchases. Increased wheel size and colour. Thats All. I wish Advan made bronze RS Advan.

Russ.

Tight, Very Tight

Clearances are tight, but its all in there somehow. The Blitz SUS cleaners and Intercoolers are HUGE, so its all very tight getting everything to fit correctly, so this job was dont by KTS. What took them a few hours would have taken me a week!

The old rad had scoring from the fan so this one has a little extra space for the fans just 1mm back. Already noticed fast cool down. So the alloy works well.

Shiny Shiny finish means that part of the under bonnet look is complete. But the tower bar still needs to be replaced.

Stay tuned for the next install----ment.

Russ.

Rad-ical Koyo

The Koyo Radiator is in, stay tuned for some pics of the super tight fit...

First trip, temps were a lot cooler, especially at speed, but fans are still required to suck the temps when just sitting in traffic. Could be fan controller in the midst. Set and forget.

Russ.

Clutch Time!

Bye Bye ugle 3 puck disgusting worn out piece of rubbish clutch.

Hello smooth engagement, light response, light action HKS LA clutch and flywheel.

500ish K to go before a super attack with it, but feels good. Reversing up my driveway is a real pleasure. haha!

Russ

Number Repair

Re-installed the number plate and re-fitted the Re-Amemiya sleek light cover which was hanging up a little. Not much to report.

With the new bonnet, I can't run the Cusco front strut bar. Anyone got one that fits with a AD9 hood? It is further back than standard and a lot higher. I have to trim small parts for the rear holders but the rain trays are a no fit. Water onto/into the air intake... not so good.

Russ.

Wangan Mid Night!

Last night, I did my first long cruise in the car since I got it back. Tokyo - Daikoku - Return on the Wangan.

The number plate started to come off!!! Luckily, Miguel went past in the newly refreshed Newera hachi-rocku and noticed it was hanging down, we managed to save the plate and more importantly, the titanium knight sports bolts. I think some lock nuts are in order. Looks more JDM style with the plate on the dash.

Thanks to Adam for taking these pics.

Can't wait to take it up in the mountains.

Russ.

Feed Me!

Feed Side skirts installed today and then a wash and a few pics.

Really looking good now. but there is still tons to do. Hmm, what next?

Russ.

Typhoon!

Today was a huge typhoon in Japan. The river was up to the retianing walls and thoughts of my pride and joy being washed out to sea were not far away.

Anyway. A short drive shows that the car is driveing well. The loss of a bit of weight hasn't harmed the feeling either.

More grip + lighter weight + cool looks all equals an impressive driving experience.

Russ.

Get Down!

Coming together, lowered the car today and it solved some of the clearance issues I was having with the wheels on the front of the car. I now have full lock without rubbing, but its close.

Still have to install the side skirts also but its getting there. Rear spacers are probable 5-10 mm too wide but the front of the car is spot on. All will be adjusted in due course.

Russ. ;)

On the Road!

Car is back. Huge gaping holes where the Advan wheels should be. So they will be filled asap.

For now its front pics only!

Russ.

666 + F-111 = 777

Check it out brah! All back together.

Take the Devil (666). Add a slice of General Dynamics F-111 and you get a bit of what this car is like.

It definately wont be long until the green mist lifts and the midnight machine of death is let out on the streets. If you were wondering about whether the car will be a subtle or in your face machine. Well all I can say is "Its subtly in your face."

Sorry for pic quality -- still using my phone camera. 3.1mega pixels of rubbish.

Russ.

Carbon Hood 9 - Fortunatly.

My RE-Amemiya Carbon Hood 9 arrived today also at Newera, so I went by to pick it up.

Just a little distraction in the driveway.... No it's no mirror. There are two Fortune FDs in this picture, each just as fat as the other!!!!!

Anyway, Back to the bonnet, The RE-A quality is not perfect. The carbon is quite thin and the way its moulded around the rear vents in the bonnet is not so good. There is a cut in the carbon in places that looks a bit ratty. It came with hood pins, but I am not going to fit them. Maybe I'll get some of those Aero catch things.

I was going to use an old hood from one of these Fortune cars and blend it to the standard hood, but the venting isn't so large and I need all the cooling I can get.

Russ.

Highlander!

Cue the highlander theme music by Queen. "I want it all.... I want it now..."

Takahashi's paint work with his weapon of choice "the spray gun" is fantastic. But it will take more than my poor quality camera phone to show anything like that. Where's Dino Dalle Cabonare when you need him.

I'll have to wait until its clean and out in the open, but its coming together.

Guards are fitted. Front Bar, Rear Bar, Hatch, Spoiler and Sleek light inners are all painted now and cured so thats all the paint work done. I was going to get the sleek lights done in black, but they painted them in green. It's OK though because the colour is dark enough for them to still look awesome.

Its hard to show the colour because it really depends on lighting. Sometimes it just looks black but in the sun's reflection its AWESOME!

Russ.

Paint, Paint, Paint

Well, the final preparation was being done last Tuesday. So I went off to check it out today.

Here is a sneak peak of the front fender. Hard to tell the colour, but OMG! its nice.

The revised deadline is "When it's done it's done."

Russ.

Tick tick tick

As time passes while the car was delayed. Not much activity to report. Basically the car is still in preparation mode.

The clock ticks down to the 20th. Which is my new expected delivery date.

How do I pass the time. Build another car you say. Thats right! a 1/24 replica.

The Fujimi Plastic G9 kit is a bit of a pig but it allows me to vent in some way.

Russ.

I see the light, but not the end of the tunnel.

Today the RE-Amemiya lights showed up. RE-Amemiya took their sweet time delivering these so the car has been waiting around in prep form. 2 weeks after from their promised delivery.

This has delayed work on the car and the shop is now pretty busy so there will be a bit more time. In some ways it's good because the primer and filler will have cured properly by now, but it in most ways it's bad because I wont have the car back when I expected. But I would rather have the job done perfect than exactly on time.

I also ordered the RE-Amemiya AD Hood 9 in Carbon and their expected delivery date is the End of August, so I guess thats my new finish date with the new rad, clutch and gauges fully installed, suspension aligned and sorted. If it takes longer, I will have to VENT on someone... get it? haha.

Anyway, lets hope all goes smoothly, then i can go for a long drive.

Russ.

7's Day sCHOPping

After 7's day there are always things you want to change as it's like a big parts supermarket full of ideas. But actually this seven's day has confirmed my plan for the car. I found a few pics I could mash together to get another ideo of what it will look like.

I tinkered with the idea of the Feed bonnet, but as it would make the car look long in the nose, in the end the RE-A Greddy 9 Hood still took the favour.

It will be on its way soon.

Russ

Titanium Knights!

Here is a very nice item that will be added as a finishing touch. These Knight Sports number plate bolts are titanium finshed with a heat treatment that has the full colour spectrum.

They will finish the car off very nicely indeed. Hard to notice, but true fans will appreciate these small touches. Big thanks to Miguel for picking up these tasty little items.

Russ.

4 or 6 Eyes!

Ordered the RE-Amemiya Sleek Light Kit today with clear covers and H11 Bulbs like those above.

I didn't want to do this just yet, but I thought its better to sort the body cutting and painting all at once. I wish I had the cash though to get the bonnet but that will have to wait for some time.

They should arrive soon and the installation can begin before the fenders and bumper go back on.

I'll probably change the light globes in the driving lamps to remove the orange tinge also.. later...

Russ.

Verdigris

The colour of money? Green with envy. Kermit the Frog, It's not easy being green.

The Hulk, Shrek I II and III, Green as in sick, Ecology, save the trees and anything else.

Get it out of your system now because the Green Machine is coming.

Paint should start end of this or early next week.

Mazda Mx5 Metallic Green. Similar to Jaguar Racing Green. hard to tell with the flash on.

The car has been pulled apart the rear hatch is off also so the sills can be painted properly.


Russ.

Mirror Mirror On the Wall

Who makes the sexiest mirrors of all? Craft Square of course. Check out these little beauties. They weigh about 300grams each. The backing plate is cast alloy and then polished to a super nice finsh and the carbon section is thin and gorgeous.

Ordered through Newera 29May and Craft Square delivered within Two weeks. Pretty fast for custom made items.

They make you go a bit mad though. Always looking for ways to increase visibility... I though about installing them on myself, instead of the car. But then I thought, that's just silly.

Russ.

Smooth as a Baby's Bottom

Notice anything missing....?

The car is now progressing to near final panel preparation for painting. Most of the holes are now smoothed, except doors where the mirrors will be. the other panels are in final preparation mode. I might take this opportunity to do some mechanicals. Radiator change... hmm.

Russ.

ps. It's the antenna hole that's Gorwne! (gone)

Body Update

Front bumper lines... I would love to have a set of RE-Sleek Lights and RE- 9 bonnet to install right now as the panel lines may be different, but as money restrictions go, I'll have to wait for this and the bonnet. I hope the panel lines of the RE-A Sleek Lights aren't too different to standard.

The AutoEXE wing is ready to mount. Currently just sitting on the car, although holes are drilled and its almost ready to be painted. Should finish the car off nicely.

Holes are filled. Rear wing holes, aerial and door mirrors. Side and door panels have aslo had the bumpy stone resistant surface removed. I have Feed carbon skirts so that isn't required. It's looking pretty smooth.

Russ.

AutoExe Wing

My wing has arrived!

Stay tuned for pics on Tuesday as thats the first chance I will get to go to the body shop.

Also side winkers are here. Yip Yop Yip Yop Yip Yop Yip Yop ;)

Speedy service as usual from Newera in Japan with a 2 day turnaround.
Japanese companies know about service and supply is very good.

Craft Square will take a while though cause everything is custom made.

Russ.

Advan & Fender

Advan RS + Advan Neova are Mounted! And the verdict is in that they look awesome!

I picked them up this afternoon and Miguel and I couldn't resist a test fit. I didn't have the spacers, but there should be enough room to house these puppies. yummy yummy!

When we dropped past the workshop, the rear fender inners were done so we whacked them on. With the wheels on without spacers they almost fit flush with the standard body. now slightly flared. + 25 mm spacer should push them out perfectly for the +20mm fenders.

I don't know who is more excited me or super smiley, Miguel. Big thanks for transporting wheels around all day. Progressing along nicely. Now the wheels are at home again away from the dirty paint shop.

Cant wait.... Russ.

Wing and Mirrors

Ordered another round of parts today to finish the body.

Craft Square Touring Competition Mirrors ( TC-F ) with the GT Stickers

These will be mounted on the window corner triangles, not on the doors. Holes to be filled.

Auto Exe rear wing. FD-02 (MFD-2600) adjustable GT Wing.

This wing has been wind tunnel tested and produces the following results.

Coeficient of Drag (CD). - Coeficient of Lift (CL) rear specified

Wind Tunnel Test CD CL(r)
Standard Mazda Wing 0.351 0.001
FD-02 (WING LOW) 0.373 0.008
FD-02 (WING MID) 0.380 -0.047
FD-02 (WING HIGH) 0.389 -0.103

The car will have classic styling so an all out GT wing is out of the question. I also wanted to colour code this to the car, so its the perfect choice.

I also ordered some clear winkers for the sides. Should be here in a few days.

Russ.