The Black Box

[sketchman]

Realized I was being stupid and switched back to the stock TB, though I did half shaft it first. The ZX2 needs a cammed throttle cable pull? shape to be usable on a B3 IMO. Too touchy with the stock linear one, though it feels very light and feathery like I wanted. I noticed the stock TB has 2 springs too, so I just unhooked one. Perfect. Good control and now that it's half shafted, should add like 5hp.:highly_amused:

[sketchman]

Ordered more stuff. Gauge pod, dump flange, FI hose clamps, MBC.

Started trying to twist the turbo into the appropriate orientation to find the hot housing is frozen to the center. PB blaster soaking it now.

[sketchman]

Rio swap is go. No pics yet till the rear wheels/tires are on. Ran out of time today. It needs lowered pretty badly, but still OK with me till it is. Got the turbo apart and test fitted the gauge pod. Bulky. Think I might end up using some PVC/ABS plumbing pipe and making my own pod. Gotta remember to take more pics. Log is lame so far, I know.

[sketchman]

Dirty, but BAM.


Still gotta get the wheels balanced and an alignment, and I didn't get around to painting anything yet, but it's working. LOVE it.

[sketchman]

I gotta buy a bubble balancer. Cost me $10 each for balancing. They actually charged $8 each for labor to do them. That seems a bit excessive, especially when I'm already paying for an alignment too.

Oh well, it's solid now. Moving on. LOVE these brakes.

[sketchman]

Still ordering parts. Have nearly everything, but while doing the knuckles and wheels I got to see the suspension.:shock: HAS to be done first. I knew it felt bad, but it's completely toast. So, springs and struts on the way.

I should have some interesting pics when that's done, and possibly some new budget suspension info for everyone if what I have in mind works.

[sketchman]

Car needs a lot of basic TLC, so I took care of some of that yesterday.
Swapped bat tray from an old parts car to replace a broken and BADLY bodged on original.
New plugs and wires(FYI, wires made for an OLD Civic are cheaper and more options are available).
New Denso o2 sensor(3 wire "conversion").
And some makeshift alloy intake tubing till the new tubing is in with the turbo.
Before.


After.



Slowly but surely.

[sketchman]

Springy and dampeny bits are here.

Rio Sensen front struts, Aspire KYBs in back, and Civic lowering springs all around. Supposed to be 200F 150R and a 2" drop at both ends. Have a cheap and easy idea for fitting the narrow coils on the front springs under stock-ish spring seats too without cutting any coils. IF the ride height ends up where I want it, this could very well be a great way to stiffen a stock Festiva without going sleeves and universal springs or waiting for some FMS units to show up FS. And these are about $50 shipped, so win win win, hopefully.

[sketchman]

Tiny progress. Restockified the headlights for now till I'm ready for a real HID setup with projectors, and ran another "temporary" intake setup. A bit cleaner now at least.

[sketchman]

Aero Grill MKII and "mad tyte JDM hood tilt brah". Used an 80s grill this time and got a more flat look. Also filled the back of the grill with spray foam to keep it from bowing in.

Rear of hood is up about 2" off the original position in the back. This "should" keep air off the wipers a bit as well as letting the air ramming into the engine bay from the bumper holes out in a better place than under the car.


My theory: the higher rear of the hood should "aim" the air flowing over it at a point and angle closer to that of the windshield and above the wipers. At the same time air that would normally get scooped up into the engine bay and push out the bottom of the car should now at least partially be shot out the gap and further contribute to directing the flowing air up and over the windshield. And the grill block obviously keeps some of the ramming air from getting in the bay in the first place.

Still haven't filled up yet to see if any of it worked. However(and I know this sounds crazy and I still am not sure whether I believe it or not) it seems to be easier to keep speed now. It SEEMS to be requiring less throttle input to climb hills on the 4 lane doing 65-70. One hill in particular I could NOT keep 65 up. I could floor it in 5th and it just slowed down the deceleration to a point. Now it's no problem. Again, this seems weird to me, but does seem to be happening.