rivalrx

So I've been grinding and blasting.... And I have sold the s4na 13b back to my mate who offered me a deal I couldn't refuse including s5 13b auto counterweight, dizzy, alternator, s5 mazda rebuild kit minus apex seals plus $$. Now it's game on for the 13b bridge. I'm hoping to have the internals balanced shortly: Assembly balanced Rotors lightened Rotors clearanced (shaves top of the rotor side faces as they tend to expand at high revs and can contact the side plates) Rotors slotted 3mm from 2mm as they are just out of spec (need 3mm carbon apex seals from mazda) Rx8 e shaft cross drilled Pressure plate pinned to he flywheel I need a brass button clutch now and it's game on!!!

Sorry for the posts but it's a pain in the ass to load all at once... I blasted the RX3 cross member engine plate and headlight buckets the other day. I couldn't be bothered zinc coating them so just etch primed and I will paint them later. I need to see BNT for some new headlights too as my USA ones won't do. I used an IDA throttle linkage bracket as a template to knock a few out at the same time. I need to trim them slightly to make them all square etc but I'm happy with my efforts. I'm keen to do as much as I can myself to get this car on the road.

And my mate who is porting and building my engine hooked me up with s6 stat gets and a front stack etc 13b And after being denied an offer of $80usd for the 618 manual on eBay I find this one....$9.95usd

Mate up the road cut the old rear wheel bearings off And has a little tidy up of my ignition

Bought me a grinder today as I actually have never owned one....so I got to work on the diff

Yeah Alex, I'm at lead foot next year and old school ants if all goes to plan. It's on the hoist now awaiting a blast underside and an under seal. Then the repairs....can't wait

I'm not too fussy. Been quoted $350 already after minimal searching however I would like cheaper haha.

This has been years in the planning so hopefully I have most bits now to finish. Looking at front windscreens now - anyone know cheap places?

Yeah man - I'm ecstatic!! Engineer was saying its a straight forward fix and said should be an easy sign off. Front and rear glass out this week - bit of rot lower screens but that's cool. Rx2 616 618 coupe shape is just hot I think.

Under the passenger guard is sweet The drivers side has a wee hole I cleaned out the rear a bit as it was dusty and full of dry crud The grey bit top left is a small hole Passenger well has a similar small hole. Rest is all good. Might need to get some dry ice and remove the deadening material from the floor pan. Headliner is good So it's getting under side blasted this week and perhaps the rx2 beaver in also. I can't wait to have this back in the shed all complied so I can prep it for cert/low volume vehicle cert. Hope you enjoy the progress pics

I'm currently preparing for the media blast and underside under seal. Today I pulled the stone tray and both guards off. I was a tad nervous to what I will find underneath however this wasn't an issue as it's reasonably clean - like the rest of the shell. Drivers side..

Pulled the front windscreen chrome off tonight and as expected, found some lower windscreen rust. I also took the door rubbers off - these were solid from the years of sun....the doors are mint as

Hahahah mate Pete does

In the weekend we pulled the s4na 13b from my mates s3 rx7 (had a FC subframe transplant). The interesting thing about this engine is that the secondary ports don't have the actuators in them rather they have them in the intake manifold. These are cast smooth runners. I'm only using this motor as a runner to gain compliance whilst the bridge is built. Now I can mock the exhaust up etc. The vw golf gti 13b transporter I really couldn't help but put my Ida and manifold on for a pic.... Gave the housings a bit of a quick buff I couldn't say no to another set of these NOS RX4/5 13b old school housings......I need help.... Pretty aren't they I have a spare set of 12a plates tall port centre also which will go nicely with these one day in the future. Anyway I'm off to the shed - hope you enjoyed the update.

I wanted to keep my car rolling whilst in the body shop however I'm gagging to redo the running gear...sooo I bought a used 616 diff from the South Island and shaped it up. Now I can go ahead and blast it, paint it, put new brakes, rear blistein platform suspension, brakes and my LSD in. The nugget is a stock unit and will be a good spare. You can see by the pic that it's in top nick. I wire brushed the b-Jesus. Out of it and tapped out the mint axles New bearings will be ordered for the diff and LSD.

I picked up some good condition RX2 Coupe head rests whilst in Aussie last week - here they are next to my old ones... Test fit on the shagged seat

Pulled the tank and I'm happy with what's under it [url="http://s964.photobucket.com/user/rivalrotarys/media/1972%20Mazda%20618%20Coupe%20RX2/image.jpg6_zpsrd4ohzpp.jpg.html'>

Th car is in the workshop - engineer looking over it on Thursday All the guts is out....man it was full of rat sht and piss.....

Yeah the old 14x7 cragar quick tricks have good dish alright. Beats the cheap 13" ones out there. I have most of the interior out bar the rear cards...bit fiddly. Pulled the gas tank out in the weekend and being an ex piston Mazda, the tank is under the floor pan. About 1.6 cubic metres of Idaho dirt came out (mostly on my face) when the tank fell. It still had about 15L of petrol in it and it actually looked good. The underneath of the boot is great which is a relief. It will blast up very nicely I think. I will post pics soon as my phone shat itself.... Engineer coming for a look see soon....

Wife knows and all is well.....for now. I'm going for the hilux look man. Ps I almost have your nos goodies boxed up

Today was a good day as Ice Cube once said. I picked up the Mazda 618 and didn't even have to use my AK... Now it's at the body shop 10 min down the road from me...once that's done, back to my dry safe shed and the fun begins.

Just bought some more now 13b rx4 housings for the future..... Gar going into the body shop in 2 weeks time then it's game on.....just need to tell the wife I own it now....

Oh I forgot to mention, I bought a running UK spec s4 na 13b, s5 turbo box shortened, another 12a front cover and a dizzy for a price I just couldn't say no to...this will be going in the coupe for compliance as it's nice and quiet and I ca use the same exhaust etc for when the BEAST gets dropped in.

Bit of an update I managed to find a mint set of spitfire alloys 13x7 in 4 x 110 - might lay off the old wheel purchasing for a bit.... Also my RX2 coupe rear wheel arch rust cuts and my 24 spline USA RX7 LSD arrived from LA to Nelson then to me in Auckland. I will be getting the LSD checked and new bearings added etc. My 12a tall port plates are almost ported thanks to my mate Jacob!!! Once I get them back, I will have them nitride do and skimmed just to be sure. Got flow? It's based on an Xtreme Rotaries template with all plates bridged and housings notched. I realised I have a high rise IDA manifold to suit a S4-5 13b therefore I needed to get an old school 13b Ida manifold... It will need a good opening up to match the plates now. This should make good HP with less torque compared to a longer one. Here they are together along with some spare Amber lenses I picked up so I can chop and change from twin reds to nz spec. A good mate went throug LA 2 weeks ago and was kind enough to drop into Racing Beat to get me a Mazda Factory Racing competition oil pump....its a thing of beauty Thanks to Escortwags on here, I now have a RHD 616 labelled wiring loom which saves me hacking into the LHD one that the rats most likely have already cracked into. I also picked up a new RX8 e shaft that will be getting cross drilled when the internals go into get balanced and clearances. There will be a new set of s4-5 stat gears coming my way soon as well as FD 3 window stat bearings - I will have the stats machines to make the most of the bearings oil flow also. The car should be coming up to the body shop in 2 weeks....I guess I need to really tell my wife I own it now......sigh. It's always easier to ask for forgiveness over permission.

You are almost there! This will be a stunner once done boss