Brando's Newbie 818R Build Thread

[Brando]

Since I have my transfer case disassembled and therefore access to the shifter, I am thinking of re-drilling the hole in the rod and cutting off atleast 1/2 inch of shaft.

I considered doing that but the density of the rod swayed me to redrill the bracket instead. If you have a way to drill through that rod I would go that route as well.

[Xusia]

Is the hole/pin required? Can't it be clamped? What if you drilled just a little ways and used a set screw or something?

[Brando]

When you say drilled are you referring to drilling the rod or bracket?
Either way there is a fair amount of tension being put on that piece and I wanted to remove any slop possible. Not sure if an alternative would provide such a tight marriage between the rod & clamp. In fact i also used jb weld (i don't have a welder) between the bracket and FFR supplied bracket arm to remove any slop between those. Its super tight feeling at the shifter now will very little play.

Status Update:
knuckles reinstalled with new bearings and ARP studs
Brake lines are run and bled
Clutch run and bled
Radiator & Coolant lines completed
Dashboard and cluster installed
Center dash, center aluminum and shifter installed (PITA on the center dash)
Throttle cable installed
New energy anti-sway bar mounts

So that leaves a few major areas left to be completed.
Wire harness & ECU should be delivered this week (VCP street with VCP switchpanel)
Wheels/Tires installed (arrive in a week)
Boyd tank and fuel system (arrives this week)
Seat and harnesses (waiting on fuel system to be complete)
Body panels

I optimistically scheduled a dyno tune and once over check with Outfront for the end of next week. I also scheduled a DMV appointment early march to start the registration process.

It's an aggressive timeline and I hope to make it

[Brando]

Correction, as i walked out the door for work this was sitting on my doorstep.



Super excited to come home from work

[Rasmus]

I optimistically scheduled a dyno tune and once over check with Outfront for the end of next week. I also scheduled a DMV appointment early march to start the registration process.

It's an aggressive timeline and I hope to make it

A hard deadline always seems to move a project forward quickly.

[flynntuna]

Very cool Your planning to be at HB this year I'm assuming, right?

[Brando]

That is my goal, April 26th. I am assuming they will do their autoX on Sunday so i'm trying to get this done in time to get at least 1 day at Streets of Willow for testing prior to that date.

[David Hodgkins]

Brandon, no AutoX this year...

[Brando]

Drat, oh well it will still be fun. Stop in soon Rocki wants to meet you

[David Hodgkins]

You can plan on it! I can't wait to meet her!

You're killing it with your build schedule! We'll have to see if I can match it with the MKIV I'm starting this weekend...

[Goldwing]

I like the JB weld use idea to marry the 2 shifter brackets. I used a little underneath the lower shock bracket on the LCA, to ensure an evenly stressed joint. I tried matching the surfaces well, the JB weld filler made me feel better about the joint.

[EODTech87]

Whats the weight of the VCP street with control panel?

[longislandwrx]

That's great... what did you have to send in to Wayne to get that beauty sent back?

[Brando]

For the Electromotive TEC-S supplied by Wayne at Verycoolparts.com I had to cut 8 different ends from of my Harness. Here are the pictures of what I cut off followed by the pictures Wayne sent me as a reference with snipping marks. Hope this helps.
Oh yea I also sent $2k.

[Brando]

Here are the snipping locations supplied by Wayne

[Brando]

I won't have the switch panel for a few days but will let you know when i receive it.

Whats the weight of the VCP street with control panel?

[Rasmus]

Nice pictures. Take a few when it gets back from "Wayned".

[EODTech87]

Check post #164 Rasmus.

[Brando]

I obviously like pictures more than writing. Why stop now

Need to get some pads on the foot pedals. I am adding a VCP switchpanel to center dash.

[Brando]

After taking a closer look at the harness I feel inclined to give credit where credit is due. This harness/ecu combo is epic. Every plug and wire is labeled with either a Ptouch or directly on the wire. The length on each segment was so spot on the cord almost fell into its rightful spot. It took 20 minutes to have the wires run and plugged into the majority of locations.

I can't imagine trying to accomplish this piece on my own... Power to the people who are tackling it, for real.

[Rasmus]

Might have the trailing arm installed upside-down, on the wrong side, or both. The concave side goes out. Convex goes in.

What's that firewall insulation material?

[Brando]

Like so?



Thanks for the catch, good eye you have.

The insulation is EZ-Cool

[Wayne Presley]

After taking a closer look at the harness I feel inclined to give credit where credit is due. This harness/ecu combo is epic. Every plug and wire is labeled with either a Ptouch or directly on the wire. The length on each segment was so spot on the cord almost fell into its rightful spot. It took 20 minutes to have the wires run and plugged into the majority of locations.

I can't imagine trying to accomplish this piece on my own... Power to the people who are tackling it, for real.

Brando, Your harness routing is close to where it should be. In the pic the "Y" that is by the seat belt should be out over the front mounting bolt for the left lower trailing arm. Then you can run the long run of the harness down the center or left outside rail to the front.

[Goldwing]

Your progress is fast, Brando! If you raise your newborn like this, you'll have a high school graduate while my 2-year old is entering middle school, lol.

[Wayne Presley]

Tail harness routing



You can run the main run down the middle (all years)




Or down the side (02-06 on the left side, 07 down the right)
you would run them below the upper bars on the R and in the triangle area on the S

[Wayne Presley]

The relay blocks I put here for easy access (screwed on and not zip tied)



Dash harness goes here, notice the two plugs at the left of the pic, those allow you to unplug the entire dash assembly and not have to try to unplug the ones right on the cluster. That sucks to do on a complete car, ask me how I know...



Starter wire



Speed sensor and back up light



Front harness with fans, horns and lights

[Wayne Presley]

You can mount the TEC here as the board is sealed and water resistant.



or here



or here



Engine plugs on the 02-06

[07FIREBLADE]

Wayne, does your harness have options to control ABS, OBD2 and and cruise control too?

[Brando]

Thanks Wayne that was very helpful!

[Brando]

Wheels arrived today, i just had them mounted and balanced on heat cycled hoosiers R6's. One step closer..

[Wayne Presley]

Wayne, does your harness have options to control ABS, OBD2 and and cruise control too?

You could add if if you wanted but I do not put them in.

[Brando]

DEEP THOUGHT

[flynntuna]

DEEP THOUGHT

Caption: boy I'm glad I look like mom

[Harley818]

Brandon,
My 818S delivery is May.
Learning from your thread...... and everyone else's.
Stripped most of my engine today. Doing a full rebuild, bearings, rings, belts, water and oil pumps, etc. depends what I find when I take the heads off.

Nice to see you balance the work/project/family. I like the baby pics.... reminds me of my own kids.
I have a 20 yr old, and 18 yr old ....girls, and 16 yr old son. They are worth every minute. Keep spending the time.
I built my first car at 17. My son is now helping with this build as I recover my car interests. They are fun from 0 - 20, and.....??

Harley

[David Hodgkins]

Hey Brandon,

We have to visit each other again. I want to see your progress and I've got a new roadster I'm working on.

What's the latest on your build?

[FFRSpec72]

We have to visit each other again.

Come up to Seattle, can always use help !!!!

[Brando]

Hey Brandon,
We have to visit each other again. I want to see your progress and I've got a new roadster I'm working on.
What's the latest on your build?

The baby slept a considerable amount the first month and I maximized those precious hours building away. Now I have a hungry baby waking every few hours and my morning build shifts have been replaced with well needed catch-up sleep. No surprises here as I planned on everything happening just as it and I am loving every second of it. I do still find time to work on the 818 but its gone from 25 hours a week to 5-10. Right now i'm getting the wiring situated, figuring out dashboard switches, trying to figure out all these vacuum hoses and installing an Air-Water IC. I have been laying low on the forum since any progress is not visually apparent. I hope my next update is my dyno results. Wishful thinking...

So you got a new roadster! That's great! What is to become of your existing roadster...is this a compliment or replacement? I would love to swing by this Sunday if you're around. I will reach out to you on Saturday and will bring the fam by so you can meet Rocki. Look forward to catching up...I need to get out of the house!

Brandon,
My 818S delivery is May.
Learning from your thread...... and everyone else's.
Stripped most of my engine today. Doing a full rebuild, bearings, rings, belts, water and oil pumps, etc. depends what I find when I take the heads off.

Nice to see you balance the work/project/family. I like the baby pics.... reminds me of my own kids.
I have a 20 yr old, and 18 yr old ....girls, and 16 yr old son. They are worth every minute. Keep spending the time.
I built my first car at 17. My son is now helping with this build as I recover my car interests. They are fun from 0 - 20, and.....??
Harley

Very cool. My favorite part about this community is the members and their seemingly strong family values. I definitely fall onto the rookie side of the spectrum with building and parenting alike. Lots of great role models and stories of things to look forward to. Thanks for sharing and good luck with your S build. Just a few short months away!

[Brando]

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[Brando]

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[Brando]

And Finally, my last placeholder