JJ's 818s Build

[TouchStone]

Took some pictures of the door handle install. The donor handles were very beat up and I wanted something a bit more modern so I got handles from a 2011 RX8.



It is easy to mount these using two screws instead of just one (another reason I was unhappy with the donor's). And the latch pull rod can be used with no modifications beyond bending to adjust the length.



The locking rod is a bit too short, so I welded on an extension.



Here is where things stop being easy... The handle liner is intended to mount into an organically shaped door liner not a flat sheet.



Fortunately, the FFR door liners are thermoplastic. Time for the heat gun.... Many hours later and many trial fit-ups I got something quite nice.





BTW once I countersunk the screws the hold the liner in I found that the screw threads would go through all the material and no long tighten any further (it wasn't striped, the treads stopped slightly before the head of the screw). To fix this I superglued scrap plastic to backside of the liner to give the screws extra material to hold onto.

[nkw8181]

Man that looks good

[TouchStone]

Some sheet metal work over the weekend.

[Mechie3]

Ooh, nice. You should get an mr2 shifter and flip the cables. It would leave the front completely open.

[TouchStone]

Yes! Its on my todo list. I also have to take care of the accelerator cable since the FFR's cable is too short.

[TouchStone]

Made a quick fix to reverse the shift mechanism.

[TouchStone]

Ooh, nice. You should get an mr2 shifter and flip the cables. It would leave the front completely open.

Not quite an mr2 shifter, but it does free up the front.

[shoeish]

What is that shifter from? Looks good!

[TouchStone]

What is that shifter from? Looks good!

Aftermarket for an acura rsx

[TouchStone]

Making slow progress. I some parts back from powder-coat. Anyone able to install the sway bar with the front suspension installed?

[07FIREBLADE]

Yes, I was able to do it on chassis #127. Now I'm switching out my springs and maybe bumping up to the R shocks soon. But it is definitely doing able just make sure your body and all aluminum is off and out of the way and have fun.

[TouchStone]

Quick update, installed swaybar and rear shock brace. Hopefully for the last time.

[TouchStone]

Finally, all the wires are gone!



Anodized, not painted, louvers. I'm looking forward to seeing how they look once the panels are back on.

[nkw8181]

Looking great!

[TouchStone]

Finally got it out of my garage. Took it out for an alignment and tune. Now it spits fire! Engine changes since the last tune include:
ID1000
Walbro255
VF39 ported, clocked, new Char
3 port boost control
AWIC
AOS



Before we put it on the dyno I realized the tires front & backs were reversed. I really wish I had this lift in my garage.

[TouchStone]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzSknFByiG4

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Looks great Josh.
How much boost are you running?
Bob

[NISMO_RB25]

Man that is some Impressive numbers. I am only shooting for around 270/280HP.

[Tamra]

Nice!

[flynntuna]

Very nice indeed. Is it an optical illusion or did I see at about half way when the power was applied that the windshield started what looked like flexing back and forth for a few seconds?

[TouchStone]

Looks great Josh.
How much boost are you running?
Bob

I dont have an aftermarket sensor and I'm not sure how to read the logs, but the max value under "Manifold Relative Pressure (Corrected)(psi)" is 18.86psi.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...int=file%2ccsv

[TouchStone]

Very nice indeed. Is it an optical illusion or did I see at about half way when the power was applied that the windshield started what looked like flexing back and forth for a few seconds?

The windshield definitely shook a lot a some RPMs it will need to be fixed/reinforced somehow. Its bad enough that it moves the rear view mirror.

[Hindsight]

Ouch, I was worried about the same thing. The frame just doesn't seem very strong. Almost seems like it needs a bar in the center that ties into the top-center of the roll bar in the back (like a T-Top kind of setup). Might look dumb but aside from re-making the frame out of metal all the way around and making it very strong in the process, not sure what the other options would be.

[TouchStone]

I might contact a SmoothOn rep and see if they can recommend a cast-able foam. Invert the windshield and pour in a urethane foam, then clean up the overflow. If you get the right chemicals this stuff can be very strong, some are used to support electrical poles instead of concrete.

http://www.rainbowtech.net/products/view.php?cn=2877

http://www.smooth-on.com/Rigid-and-F...c10/index.html

[metros]

Build is looking really good, especially the center console. Great job!

[TouchStone]

Getting ready for an autocross next weekend. Have to make sure I look the part!



The stripes are temporary until I decide on the final color. It was also good practice on how NOT to vinyl wrap. They certainly dont pass the 5ft or even 10ft rule.

[Tamra]

Well they look good from here! Good luck next weekend!

[TouchStone]

Very nice indeed. Is it an optical illusion or did I see at about half way when the power was applied that the windshield started what looked like flexing back and forth for a few seconds?

I figured out what you meant. I used YouTube's image stabilization on the video which made the windshield warp instead of just vibrate. I turned if off so it doesn't look so weird.

[ben1272]

Sorry if you explained this earlier in your thread, but what are you using for the shift linkage? Is it a custom control horn? It is definitely different from what I have in kit #352.

Great job on your build. Your car is looking really clean!

-Ben

[ben1272]

I think I get it now. The new shifter required reversing one of the motions on the shifter, thus custom horn mods? Nice job on all of the custom work....cutting, steel fab, welding, sheetmetal. All looks real nice.

[TouchStone]

I think I get it now. The new shifter required reversing one of the motions on the shifter, thus custom horn mods? Nice job on all of the custom work....cutting, steel fab, welding, sheetmetal. All looks real nice.

Thanks! The shifter is designed for an Acura RSX and needs the left/right motion reversed. I was originally going to use a bell crank (similar to Craig's design) to reduce cable bends but it was way easier to just weld on an additional tab to the FFR bracket. This setup feels ALOT better than FFR's shifter and mile long cables. You can see the brackets better in the following post. http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...l=1#post223396

[Frank818]

Are you using mini latches from Quik-Latch?
If yes, what OD size?

[TouchStone]

Are you using mini latches from Quik-Latch?
If yes, what OD size?

Yes its from Quik-Latch partnumber QL-25-S.

The top is 1.25" and the hole to drill is 0.75"

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/qul-ql-25-s

If you want to use FFR mounting location you need the longer screws http://www.quik-latch.com/elongated-...latch-pin.html

I instead fabricated offsets out of 1" square tube to allow the use of the standard screw and move the latch position closer to the corners of the hood. I don't have a picture of them installed (will post it later).

[TouchStone]

All the changes I made to the engine and alignment since my first autocross made for a much more drive-able car. Still had a fair amount of spins but I was able to straighten it out and save some runs (huge improvement). I didn't realize till much later that during the straight-a-ways I was giving the car too much throttle.

Run 6 was my fastest time and in run 8 I went looking for the car's limit (fun!).

My shifting is terrible, I know.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Great job Joshua. Way to beat the bugs out of the car.
I suspect you and your rider will ne a little sore tomorrow.

Your body role didn't look to bad, did you bump up the springs?
Where your tires spinning whenever I heard the rev limiter?

We do not see the rev limiter doing that on ours. Maybe because only 195 whp and 255 race comp rear tires..
Are you running more?

Keep diving the car hard and you will get quick hands every time the care thinks about stepping out.
Bob

[TouchStone]

Your body role didn't look to bad, did you bump up the springs?
Where your tires spinning whenever I heard the rev limiter?

We do not see the rev limiter doing that on ours. Maybe because only 195 whp and 255 race comp rear tires..
Are you running more?

Thanks it was an exciting day.

Changed springs in the rear to 550# and added the roll bar to the front.
The wheels were spinning through the entire straight causing the rev limiter to kick in. I know if I back off on the throttle a bit the car will accelerate faster but it was just too much fun. I have Potenza RE-11s (255 rear/235 front), they are an aggressive street tire and not as sticky as Proxes or Hoosier.

[nkw8181]

Looking good! you even got a bit of drifting in on the 8th lap

[TouchStone]

After sitting on my paperwork for about 2 weeks. I made the long journey of walking a couple blocks down the street from work to the county tax office and registered my 818. I was sort of expecting to deal with lots of questions and missing/incorrect paperwork, but no they only asked about the registration year (since I wrote 2015 by accident). In less than an hour I paid $465.75 and walked out with regular plates and a windshield sticker. This in addition to the vehicle and state inspection I paid just over $600 total to register!

[Hindsight]

Wow, congrats! Has to feel good to have that behind you.

[Frank818]

And TOUCHDOWN for Touchstone!