Nimminz' LSD GLT Daily - Part1

[Nimminz]

ah, yeah i see exactly now - feel a tad stupid haha. Think i'm going to swap the PAS for manual. Any major issues with not using the vibration damper? The PAS column ends very close to the rack but the non-pas is much further up - I'm thinking of chopping down the bit on the manual rack to accept the stock PAS column. As far as I can tell there is a lot of play in the PAS rack and I'd rather just have non-pas steering - PAS parts aren't going to get easier to find.

Swapped the flasher relay for one out my scrap corsa - works great and is much quieter. Also buggered a front wheel bearing. got new bearing kits as i REALLY NEED new stake nuts as the old ones have been used a 'few' times now.

Getting close to having all the bits for the turbo swap, think the last things to get are the oil feed pipe, spigot bearing, plug leads, GM clutch disk & new oil.

College is letting me loose on the CNC lathe to make a oil drain hose fitting for the turbo

All that's left before the RX7 brakes go on is 1 brake pin which i'm praying mazda sell seperately.

Turbo deadline is x-mas

[Chris_C]

Given how many people sell racks just by "lock to lock" and don't quote the distance travelled dont feel stupid. Just check that any you find/buy do move the same amount as a stock rack.

[macplaxton]

I'm thinking of chopping down the bit on the manual rack to accept the stock PAS column. As far as I can tell there is a lot of play in the PAS rack and I'd rather just have non-pas steering - PAS parts aren't going to get easier to find.

How about not chopping a PAS part (potentially useful for someone, because as you say yourself the parts aren't going to get easier to find) and getting hold of a manual column?

[filthyjohn]

Because the column is a big job to change? I probably have about 3 full PAS kits if anyone needs one.

[filthyjohn]

Thinking about it, why not ditch the 'T' shaped ends and fit a more convential steering UJ or straight clamp? It would really help with downpipe clearance.

[Nimminz]

Oh no I wasn't gonna chop the PAS column, going to use it right the way down to the rack, where I'll use the PAS UJ onto the top of the non-pas rack. The bit that sticks out the non-pas rack is about 6" up to the t-shape which bolts to the vibration damper, that's the bit to be chopped down till it matches the PAS part which the UJ attaches.

Gonna try get this done ASAP as my trackings out anyway and don't want to have to pay for it twice

[340GLT]

There are two types of non PAS racks too matt 340 & 360, with different length T sections. I recently had to add a second UJ into mine after dropping the column height for the new seating posistion.
Adam

[foggyjames]

I have a 360 manual rack I'm trying to get rid of...!

You'll also need the steering column...as far up as (and including) the upper UJ (two for PAS, one for manual).

cheers

James

[Nimminz]

Well haven't done a lot recently
Went to mazda and ordered what i thought to be the correct brake pins, they were 15mm too short :/ Think I'll just make one to tell the truth
I did wind the rear coilovers down a bit, had to loosen the anti-tramp / radius arm bolt as the coilies wouldnt wind past it. I intended to take it out and put it in the other way but forgot and now the car vibrates like mad over 40mph. Will fix that before i drive it again and wind the coilovers right down. Front dampers do wobble slightly in the strut tubes, am wondering if its with using the oem top nuts. will swap em over for aftermarket ones that came with a set of cartridges.
Painted the steelies in BMW sparling graphite think they look pretty cool.





Hopefully can get closer to the turboness soon.
what i still need:
Clutch disk
oil feed
oil drain hardline needs modifying to fit the hose to the sump
360 Spigot bearing

Bits i want done before the actual 'conversion'

-drill sump and mount oil return fitting
-modify bellhousing to accept CPS
-finish and install loom
-make exhaust centre and rear section
-Mount intercooler and install oil cooler
-make mounts for AMM, ICV, Ign amplifier, Radio interference relay, fusebox and LH2.4 relay, extra guages, ECUs, OBD socket, Engine management light
-rebuild turbo
-fix / new radiator
-Get front suspension sorted &tracked

then the 'conversion' part only involves

Swapping bellhousing, fly &clutch
Removing old exhaust + Intake
Removing LE loom (the hard, time consuming bit)
Installing intake and exhast mani's
Install turbo and connect up water and oil feeds/drains
Make downpipe once new exhaust's in place
Swap sump

Probably missed something but thats the plan. Really would be great to get it done by xmas

[Nimminz]

Got a bit done recently,
water/oil lines all done, most boost tubes done, waiting on new intercooler as old one was too big :/, Downpipes sorted, just need some straight 2.5" tube and finish the exhaust. Oil drain's in the sump now, Rebiuilt the turbo.

Also got a new radiator, got some o the suspension sorted, still got a horrible clunking on the n/s which is - i'm 99% sure, a bad fitting damper .. hate these coilovers like. Still waiting on a pin to fit the brakes, gonna make one when i get some time free

Few mounts to do, tiny bit of loom work and get intercooler and oil coolers mounted and it's not far off.

Really want it done for x-mas but times running out :/

[Nimminz]

Right, been a while.

List of stuff to do for turbo is:

Intercooler to Throttle body pipe
Intercooler mounting
Oil cooler fitting (still waiting on parts arriving)
Make exhaust (or at least downpipe)
Some brackets + heat sheilds
Guage panel
get spigot bearing

once all thats done then we begin

Got a transit connect intercooler to go on for now, it's pretty small off a 1.8 tdi but will be better than nowt. Also got a vauxhall astra GTE clutch disk to try on a torque tube but looks to be right, we shall see - if it fits it might be a good upgrade along with the 740 TD pressure plate I'm using.

Anyone know of a problem with the turbo water return going into the top of the expasnion tank rather than halfway down the pipe going to the radiator?

here's a pic of the car at the moment