My haggard FD

[jack.am]

I've had my FD for probably eight years now, a lot of which it has spent neglected on the drive (and it shows).

Overall plans now are get it mapped, buy some sensible tyres, track it some, then sort out the paint, then fit the water injection I have sitting around (with some AEM secondary coils) and map again.

Spec List

Power
-Stock ports
-T04Z 0.84 a/r divided turbo
-Bosch 550cc primaries, 1680cc secondaries
-Radium fuel rails/damper/reg/filter
-Quantum 340lph fuel pump
-AEM IGN1A coils
-Apexi GT intercooler
-GReddy Race radiator
-Link G4+
-RE-A Dolphin exhaust

Chassis
-Tein Super Street rear coilovers
-Tein Monoflex front coilovers
-Enkei RPF01 17x8.5/9.5
-Atomic Rex sidesteps
-Origin Labo roof spoiler
-Mazdaspeed front brace
-DM Motorsport harness bar
-Dynotorque front slam bar
-Custom PS pump
-Stoptech discs

 

[JoeLanger]

Get it sorted! Don't think I've ever seen pics of you're FD before

 

[jack.am]

Hah, yeah. I promise it does actually exist!

 

[jack.am]

Threw in some AEM coils because why not, ignition setup is now:

Leading - MSD 6AL / MSD GM Dual tower coil
Trailing - 2x AEM smart coils

It's a fiddle to get this working as you need to keep the igniter to trigger the 6AL but bypass it to get the most out of the AEMs. I should reap the best of both worlds though; CDI for strong spark at low and high RPM and that long duration, powerful spark from the AEMs for comolete combustion.

Will draw up a full wiring diagram at some point.

 

[jack.am]

Took everything to pieces to wrap it in loom tape and tidy it up, even gave the igniter a polish. Probably overkill, and nobody else seems to do it, but I had some copper net lying around so made some shieding for the trigger wires:

The idea is to solder a wire to the copper net and then wrap it around the wire to be shielded, then earth the wire. This creates a Faraday cage to stop EMF interference.

Fully wrapped and ready to re-install

Done!

 

[jack.am]

Spent the afternoon with Jay and Stu looking at the map. Couldn't recommend these guys enough, patient and thorough with no bullshit. I had a few issues with the car; blowing manifold, low fuel pressure and ignition breakup. The guys tried to get all of these sorted out and get the car fully mapped but they just kept resurfacing.

Blowing exhaust looks like a combination of tubo to manifold gasket and the front manifold to wastegate, I've got an HKS cast manifold to chuck on so that should simplify things and cure the blowing.

Ignition breakup I have no idea... spark is nice and strong on all plugs but the guys found that above 7psi or at open throttle problems would start. Got some colder plugs to try and will have to double check all wiring.

 

[jdmr_neil]

Great guys, always super helpful especially when things don't go to plan which happens all too often.

For gaskets try to stick with oem. I had a few problems with gaskets blowing to pieces trying cheaper ebay shite.

 

[jack.am]

Put it all back together after tracking down the manifold leak. The front wastegate v-band was a little out of tolerance (cheap parts again...) so it wouldn't seal properly, a small copper spacer to close up the gap sorted that out. Also found my oil drain was leaking so fixed that and re-did my water lines to come from the stock location.

Bit of an experiment, put a NACA duct in the undertray to direct some cold air to the filter, not sure how effective this will be given the high pressure vs low pressure of the engine bay and under car.

 

[tomCTR]

Nice to see some pictures mate!

Think the only ones I’ve seen before were of your hard line set up for he fuel lines?

Jay and stu are great guys, good laugh as well ??

 

[Spendyrx]

Haha I love the duct! Cold air is cold air! I reckon it'll be great!

 

[jack.am]

Tiny update...

Had issues with fuel pressure, seems the Walbro GST450 was pulling way too much current. Despite everything being direct wired from the battery and able to handle at least 40A it was getting very hot. Swapped it out for a different pump so we’ll see.

Also swapped my Aeromotive FPR for a much smaller Radium non-adjustable one (base pressure fixed at 43.5psi):

It uses a Bosch OEM regulator and has the return -6 machined into it so less stuff to leak.

 

[jack.am]

Sad times

 

[rx_dreamer]

View attachment 277

Even "haggard" - there is nothing sexier than an FD is there

 

[jack.am]

Made a new downpipe and repacked my mid-pipe with Acousta Fil. Buildng downpipes is simultaneously really fucking irritating, but quite satisfying when it all lines up perfectly.

 

[rx_dreamer]

then really fucking irritating when you final weld it and it doesn't seem to fit anymore

 

[jack.am]

then really fucking irritating when you final weld it and it doesn't seem to fit anymore

Been there, done that...

I only ever spot bits in place, I get someone who actually knows what they’re doing to do the finished welds!

 

[rx_dreamer]

isn't that exhaust wrap was designed for

 

[jack.am]

Exhaust wrap doesn’t cover the holes I blow through it with the torch

 

[jack.am]

Downpipe iteration 47.3b. Added a flexi because it was still leaking and a 2.75” v-band, my turbo has an iutlet flange that’s an odd size.

Wastegate lines in kunifer, will connect them to the solenoid with short silicone runs.

Oil drain sorted.

 

[tomCTR]

Labour of love these cars! Good man for cracking on still though mate! Getting there!