Quest for More Power and More Traction! BP+T + AWD Build Thread

[Nerd Racing]

Good to know. I want to get my bottle filled and mig conversion kit hooked up before I do anything exhaust wise though.

[Nerd Racing]

Suspension is on the way... Saved about $100 with shipping factored in over racelands.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190651940138?_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&item=190651940138&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT&vxp=mtr

350 front 250 rear spring rates, sounds stiff but my car will be a bit heavier. I priced it out and it was cheaper to get these than piece a kit together.

[Nerd Racing]

Updates!

Cleaned out the Miata diff housing and installed new stub axle seals:



BF 323 GTX diff carrier and diff in place in the miata housing:



I forgot the carrier to housing bolts so I was unable to seal and fill the diff...

Subs in place:



This gives you an idea of how the shaft will have to run to the back:



Dropped out and assembled the rear suspension... then I remembered I still need to seal and bolt in the diff carrier... woops...



Checked the shock to axle clearance and things look good, I was worried because the VW struts do not neck down at the bottom like the festiva ones do.



Just another shot because I thought it looked cool:



Back up on stands overnight... I plan on doing the final little bits of welding and then prepping and priming the bare metal tomorrow. I might possibly top coat the under side of the sub frame and the unibody if there is time. I want to have it off stands in the back for good after the weekend. (well except for the rear shocks since they will not arrive till next week).

Check out the rake now!

[Nerd Racing]

Hookay so...

Welded in the rear floor piece and finished welding the boxed in portions and sprayed some etch primer on the bare metal parts:



Then some sealer:



Then I did some black topcoat for now:



I will be coating the whole floor with either por-15 or bed liner when I decide what I want to do. I'm leaning towards bed liner because there isn't rust to paint over and por-15 doesn't work well unless there is rust to bite into.

etch primed the bottom of the sub frame:



Then sealed it:



Then top coated:



The under side will get rubberized undercoating after I install it back in there tomorrow or Saturday (Depends on if I go out for St. Patrick's day eve).

I should be final installing and aligning the rear end Tomorrow or Saturday as well.

Also, got email confirmation that my struts will arrive on the 22nd, but I have to sign for them... so I may just take a half a day so I can get them and not have to wait an additional day cuz fedex kinda sucks like that. The UPS guy will just leave stuff for me now cuz I signed a waiver thing once.

[zoom zoom]

nice man your makin some real progress here!

[Nerd Racing]

Got the rear end back in and the brake lines hooked up. Just waiting on my suspension so I can turn him around and start the front!

[Nerd Racing]

Finished the brakes off today, had to put a plug in the miata passenger rubber line because it had a junction block in it. Festy has a line for each wheel. Then I had to clearance the caliper bracket a little bit, apparently the EGT caliper brackets sit closer to the wheel than the miata ones. My rotor was binding when I torqued down the lug nuts. Now he's free rolling. Still waiting on my suspension till I can drive him out and get him turned around to start the front end fun.

[aglatfe1]

yayyy! So glad you're making progress!

[91mcnasty]

Me too, going to be a little tougher, ay?

[Nerd Racing]

nah not really, its just little details for now, nothing really picture worthy.

[Nerd Racing]

did a little spring cleaning! Rolled him out of the garage so I could hose him down and turn him around in preparation for the start of the front half of the swap.

I love the awkwardness in this shot:



I also like the old school look to the car with the wide rear tires pushing out the sides of the car:









A better profile shot (ignore the front positive camber...):



And all tucked back into the garage for now:



And a little teaser of what's to come on the front end:







Suspension should be here tomorrow!

Also ordered the passenger side PROTEGE 4wd axle with the special end for the viscous center LSD.

I am super pumped to get started on the front end... look for a lot of updates fairly fast when the front starts!

[Festiva_Fred]

Love the project! Nice work so far :thumbright: looking forward to more!

[kellen302]

It's gonna be such a super sleeper...

[zoom zoom]

Niiice..what did you say.the front a arms came off of?

[Damkid]

^^my guess is from a BF 323

Looking great Aaron!!! I look forward to more updates