FFRSpec72 818R Build Seattle WA

[Mitch Wright]

Tony, when I get back in town I will send you a photo of what did for the rear deck.

[FFRSpec72]

I mounted the under the battery aluminum, I'm still not certain what I will do with the gap that exists under the steering rack to the front splitter

I got the rear overflow tank mounted and plumbed

WP_20160222_06_13_41_Pro.jpg

And now have the rear diffuser mounted

WP_20160222_06_13_16_Pro.jpg

[FFRSpec72]

Finally got the steering bushing and bracket since the Zero Decibel Steering Rack spacer did work with the older ('02) bushing (old bushing was flat on bottom). Still looks a little off (cocked) bit did not have time to measure, maybe that is how the rack is supposed to look ?

WP_20160223_17_27_02_Pro.jpg WP_20160223_17_52_04_Pro.jpg

[RetroRacing]

That's why we made our own out of a muffler clamp, just couldn't get it straight across.

[FFRSpec72]

After more playing with the steering rack mount, I went back to the FFR supplied mount so I could finish up some work on the radiator/splitter aluminum.

So added the finishing pieces to seal off the bottom and the sides of the radiator


WP_20160227_16_44_36_Pro.jpgWP_20160227_16_44_30_Pro.jpg WP_20160227_16_44_23_Pro.jpg

[Mitch Wright]

Looks Great Tony,
I just finished my firewall around the fuel cell, next up for me is the radiator ducting. Don't be surprised if what I am doing looks like yours.

[RetroRacing]

Just finished the flat bottom on the car to the rear...very happy with the results, was able to extend the diffuser by 10"! May not use the supplied diffuser now, need to thing about it. Will post pics this week.

[FFRSpec72]

Just finished the flat bottom on the car to the rear...very happy with the results, was able to extend the diffuser by 10"! May not use the supplied diffuser now, need to thing about it. Will post pics this week.

I'm only out about 4" if I go out further I would have to change the up rake on the diffuser to be effective, I imagine with you wing back further that you need the diffuser not to cause air turbulence on your wing mounts

[RetroRacing]

[FFRSpec72]

I installed the strakes on the rear diffuser, I installed the new mount for the passenger side steering rack (all looks perfect now). I did an nut/bolt torque check an all the front and rear suspension.

I ordered tires so I can do the alignment I will be running Hoosier R7 P225/40ZR17 81W LL on front and P245/35ZR18 80W LL onrear.

[Mechie3]

I installed the new mount for the passenger side steering rack (all looks perfect now).

Sweet! Glad it worked.

[FFRSpec72]

A 10 minute job that took most of the day, mounting the R windscreen, had to redo the windscreen mount and move it closer to the cockpit, which also involved more cutting and making openings for odd items like the master cyl (brake and clutch), etc. This ranks right up there with the headlights

Had to spend Sunday on taxes so no work on 818 or Challenge car

WP_20160312_16_05_23_Pro_LI.jpg WP_20160312_16_06_25_Pro_LI.jpg

[FFRSpec72]

WOW, I as just looking back and it was 2 years ago I received my 818R and I'm now just getting ready to head out on the track in a few months, it has taken me a year longer that I thought.

[Mitch Wright]

I am right there with you Tony, I am at 18 months and it is looking to be late April (optimistic) early May to be "Track Ready". I figured a year and 1/2 and I think I could have done it in that time frame but I added things to the build ($$) and didn't want to spend the money from the joint accounts that could raise eyebrows. So building up my fun money reserves slowed down my parts or tool purchases.
For me the end results are worth the wait, I have the car I really wanted to build.

[Hindsight]

I'm in the same club. 18 months and counting. I'm very close though I still have to mount the body and do the interior, then deal with all the registration stuff.

I agree 100% that the time has been worth it. I think the only negative aspect to any of it (other than money spending of course hahaha) is that I have a tendency to become a little guarded about my "car time"....... I'll just leave it at that

[RetroRacing]

We should start a club., same basic time line here. Unless an act of God comes forth, we will not make testing this month. Really disappointed in that. Depends on the tuner and wiring the car.

[metros]

I'm in the same boat. This week was 2 years since I picked up my 818. I was still working on donor part rejuvenation when I first got the 818.

I'm slowly starting to mount the body. Have most the interior done. Hoping to be done for the warm weather this summer.

My household has had many conversation about the car time schedule.

[Loring]

I feel fortunate that my wife wants to help. Puts some ease on the time and money factors.

[Harley818]

I was pushing really hard to get it ready for last summer.... then I realized I was taking shortcuts I didn't want to take. I stopped for a while and now I'm re-doing stuff right, and still having fun doing it.
Hoping for this summer now..... and it will be done right.

[Frank818]

Looks like we are all in the same club. Let's take a beer, all on my account!

[FFRSpec72]

I spent the weekend mounting my 71" APR GT250 wing. This took longer than expected, as I forgot when we were designing the wing mount I only tack welded it, so I had to take off the stand and weld it, then ran out or flux wire, so a trip to the store, etc.

WP_20160320_17_22_46_Pro_LI.jpg

Since I will have a removable rear deck, I had to cut slots in the deck lid for the wing mounts and that would weaken and make the deck lid flimsy so had to strengthen the lid with some structured backing plates

WP_20160321_06_15_22_Pro_LI.jpg

Once all that was done then on to mount the wing

WP_20160319_13_45_21_Pro_LI.jpg WP_20160320_18_56_24_Pro_LI.jpg WP_20160321_06_14_10_Pro_LI.jpg

[longislandwrx]

Now that its on, do you think visually, and functionally 71" is the right width for the car?

[RetroRacing]

Very nice!!

[FFRSpec72]

Now that its on, do you think visually, and functionally 71" is the right width for the car?

So from wheel well to wheel well my car is 71" across (actually its like 70.xx), so I wanted a wing that covered that space since the car will be disturbing air in that 71" space and I wanted the down force to cover the rear wheels. It's a big wing but it looks spot on when you look at the car from the front and rear. It will take some playing with to get the angles right but I have lots of adjustments to play with but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

[Frank818]

Another thing that took longer than expected...

Really nice result! And those bends on the one and only exhaust pipe are great, didn't realize that before.

Do you know how much your entire spoiler support weighs?

And finally, a pic of the rear diffuser that speaks to me!! I am finally able to visualize how this thing looks from inside. I can mock-up stuff in my head now. Tnx a lot, man!

[FFRSpec72]

Do you know how much your entire spoiler support weighs?

The wing support weighs 17lbs and the transmission protection (back plate with 818 on it) weighs 7 lbs, so 24lbs for what I installed. I'm sure you could get it down if you built it out of aluminum but I have yet to master welding aluminum and steel is still questionable.

I have not put on the under the engine pan yet (I have test fitted it) as the dolly is in the way, I will have the car on tires this week so will be able to finish up the under side.

[Mitch Wright]

Tony,

Nice work and I am jealous, we kicked off our season a few weeks ago getting in only 5 hours on my car in the last few weeks.

[FFRSpec72]

Tony,

Nice work and I am jealous, we kicked off our season a few weeks ago getting in only 5 hours on my car in the last few weeks.

I know the feeling, but you have the advantage of track time !!!

[Mitch Wright]

OK that is true but I have to have the car done to get that advantage LOL.

[longislandwrx]

So from wheel well to wheel well my car is 71" across (actually its like 70.xx), so I wanted a wing that covered that space since the car will be disturbing air in that 71" space and I wanted the down force to cover the rear wheels. It's a big wing but it looks spot on when you look at the car from the front and rear. It will take some playing with to get the angles right but I have lots of adjustments to play with but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

awesome, thanks for the info!

[FFRSpec72]

Been doing some odds and ends and these are taking longer than I want (and Easter slowed progress)

So I added tabs to the frame to support to support the rear hump deck wings that I cut off and mounted to body so rear deck is easy to take off.

WP_20160326_15_08_38_Pro_LI.jpg WP_20160328_19_57_10_Pro_LI.jpg

I aligned the hood and got it close to a final fit and mounted the hood pins

WP_20160322_18_10_57_Pro_LI.jpg WP_20160328_19_56_33_Pro_LI.jpg

I installed the front splash guard to keep tire rubber to a minimum
WP_20160328_19_55_56_Pro_LI.jpg

Installed tabs (3 in total) to support the dash (front lip)

WP_20160326_15_09_00_Pro_LI.jpg

Received/mounted my tires to I can put the car on the ground and check all the clearances and get the initial alignment done

WP_20160328_19_56_39_Pro_LI.jpg

[Hindsight]

Your tires look good and level, they should work well.

That dash tab pic gave me vertigo! For some reason I never considered welding dash tabs on! Great idea... I may use that one.

All else looks good. Can't wait to see some track videos, especially @ PIR. Had my first HPDE day there back in 1998 in an 83 rabbit with a supercharger. I think I still have some video of it on.... VHS!

[Mitch Wright]

Nice, looking forward to a track report.
The race is on to see who will get on track first, I think you have a bit of an edge on me. Technically I guess I beat you to the track, I got in 30 miles as a go kart.

[RetroRacing]

We were supposed to be on track mid april, not going to happen. Now, first of may in Portland if I can get the bad boy wired and tuned in time!

[FFRSpec72]

We were supposed to be on track mid april, not going to happen. Now, first of may in Portland if I can get the bad boy wired and tuned in time!

I will be at race #2 on May 14/15 at Pacific, most likely running ITE (group 4) until I get all the bugs out and comfortable and then switch to SPM (group 1) as that is a busy group and don't want to get in anyone's way as I sort out car

[shoeish]

Can you post more pictures of your completed rear diffuser/rear bumper?

[FFRSpec72]

Can you post more pictures of your completed rear diffuser/rear bumper?

What angles/shots do you want ?

[FFRSpec72]

I had the chance to finish the under the steering rack aluminum, so now I have a flat under carriage.

WP_20160331_13_11_04_Rich.jpg WP_20160331_13_10_36_Rich.jpg

I also started to install the hump block off aluminum, I will be attaching the actual hump aluminum to the lid but the block off plate is now attached to frame

WP_20160331_13_10_17_Rich.jpg

[FFRSpec72]

I hit a milestone yesterday as the car came off the dolly that it has been on for 2 years and now is on the ground to finish the odds and ends. The first thing that I notice is that the tires are hitting the front fiberglass where the fender meets the bumper on the inside of the body, so lost of little things to do now


WP_20160331_18_32_44_Pro.jpg WP_20160331_18_32_36_Pro.jpg WP_20160331_18_32_25_Pro.jpg WP_20160331_18_32_14_Pro.jpg

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Hey Tony,
Your car is looking great.
Now get that thing out on the road/track and work out the bugs.
Bob