project lunarbomber

[lunarbomb]

hey folks, i've been reading through other peoples builds for awhile now. the stuff people pull off in their garages on a budget is pretty awesome. i figured i would contribute and post my current project.

this is how it looked when i originally bought it from a friend. i think daft did the original swap.






i didn't really know what i was going to do with the car at this point. nor did i have any money after purchasing it so i just welded/plated the diff and started making little things.









i made some fixtures and chopped up my knuckles. at this point i'm starting to think dedicated track car.






then i chopped and boxed my FLCAs. i probably would have bought PBM knuckles and FLCAs at this point if i could have afforded them.





i noticed that my front ARB had been relocated forward and down and was hitting the tension rod. i ended up making new brackets to move it back up but still forward.





then i went off the deep end and chopped the front off of my clean kouki. at this point i'm committed to the dedicated track car thing and decided i'd take my time and try to do it right.





cleaned up the subframe and added some PBM stuff.





then i gutted it and stripped out the sound deadening (no dry ice. heat gun and scraper... sucked).





next, i stitch welded the entire car.





got the rack and x-member cleaned up.





cleaned up the engine. all i did was maintenance and some minor changes for reliability. no power mods at all.





these are the base plates i made for the cage.







almost done with the front and the cage. i originally purchased one of enjukus "drift" cages but was not stoked on it at all (it looks just like the picture they show and not like what you see when searching for install pics) so i ended up only using the main hoop and a-pillar pars and made the rest myself.







next, i cut the tunnel out to make room for everything and just to make getting to the transmission easier. this and how i built my cage were heavily influenced by Costa Gialamas and how he built Matt Powers' 2012 car.





i finished the rear of the car and decided the radiator might as well go in the back.





i also decided that the steering column had too much going on and started making a new one. this was pointless work. the OEM column is fine.







it turned out i had a ton of throw left before i would "over-center" the tie-rods so i notched my FLCAs. i still want PBM FLCAs...





replaced all the wheel studs. previous owner did not run hubcentric spacers.





i ended up rebuilding the T56 (multiple times until i got it right). i did the 3rd to 4th synchro housing, bronze shift fork pads, bronze shifter cup, 4130 synchro keys and was going to upgrade the aluminum 3 - 4 shift fork to a steel one but it was already in there.






engine in!





the daft trans x-member worked fine but i decided to box it anyway.





now i started preparing for overs. this part hurt because thes 1/4s were pretty clean.






then i made the firewall/radiator shroud. my little TIG can't weld aluminum so pop rivets it is.





made some ARB end links because the OEM ones were forced into this crazy angle when i moved the ARB.





this is the fuel cell i'm using. i've always used fuel safe on previous projects but aeromotive makes these with internal pump already installed and baffling. it's just too clean and easy.





these are some brackets i made to manage the fuel and coolant lines under the car.





and this is how i ended up routing the coolant lines. again, if i could weld aluminum or had a ton more money, this could have turned out much better.










i originally wanted PBM uprights that would accept dual wilwood calipers but since they were out of stock i got the OEM/wilwood version. i figured i could just modify them to use my z32 calipers and wilwood. i ended up just modifying them for wilwood/wilwood.





and that's the car so far. i plan to finish it early 2014. i'll update as often as possible. in the meantime, http://www.facebook.com/lunarbomb it's pretty much just a build log for this car and occasional drift related bits.

always open to constructive criticism!

[Lt Shinysides]

You sir have some skills many wish they had. It sure as hell would make my project easier/quicker if I had machining access. Subscribed!!

[conrad_s13.5]

I digg everything about this!

Questions about the rear radiator setup.
-Where is your air intake going to duct from? 1/4 glass?
-Vent back out threw the trunk?
-Plan to have your rad water neck rewelded to add water?

with ur bag of skills already,.. im sure you'd catch on to tigging really fast. DOIT

[JohanM]

this build is sick man

[japslapsilvia]

WOW just FUCKEN WOW!!!!!

[DJPimpFlex]

Finally.....

Now that I'm drooling over this again. Are you going to make the trans tunnel panels quick release like Powers' car?

I want to switch my fuel system to that aeromotive set up. It not only has a internal pump but a surge too from what I have read. So awesome.

[5280VertDET]

I.... I... Just... WOW!

[lunarbomb]

thanks folks! i appreciate the comments.

Originally Posted by Lt Shinysides

You sir have some skills many wish they had. It sure as hell would make my project easier/quicker if I had machining access. Subscribed!!

thanks man! i don't know where i'd be if my dad hadn't taught me how to machine when i was a kid.

Originally Posted by conrad_s13.5

I digg everything about this!

Questions about the rear radiator setup.
-Where is your air intake going to duct from? 1/4 glass?
-Vent back out threw the trunk?
-Plan to have your rad water neck rewelded to add water?

with ur bag of skills already,.. im sure you'd catch on to tigging really fast. DOIT

my original plan was definitely to draw air from the 1/4 glass but i don't really want the car to look too "race car" from the outside. i'm thinking i'll make a PC flip up sunroof and put NACA ducts in it. i have some thoughts on venting the air out the bottom of the trunk but i don't know if i'll have time. i'd like to avoid blasting big holes in the trunk and bumper if possible. i'm really hoping to get away with using the existing filler neck in it's current position.

Originally Posted by DJPimpFlex

Finally.....

Now that I'm drooling over this again. Are you going to make the trans tunnel panels quick release like Powers' car?

I want to switch my fuel system to that aeromotive set up. It not only has a internal pump but a surge too from what I have read. So awesome.

yes, i'm definitely making the trans cover quick release but it's going to be a little different from mats car.

...i can't wait to see how the aeromotive cell works. such a clean install and so purdy!

[Matej]

That steering column is fantastic.

I do not consider my time wasted by visiting this build thread. Bravo.

[FKNGRSY]

Wow...

Subscribed.

[gostrider]

can you make me one of these? pm me how much thanks..

[xoxide]

beautiful build! Cant wait to see more.

[yetijeff]

Man this car is awesome man keep up the good work. This is what I always hope to see when looking at build threads.

Side note: u have huge nuts of steel for cutting up such a clean kouki. Lol

[imoverherre]

Wow man, now this is some FD prep type of build, to much awesome-ness here, that I forgot about "why in the world, you'd do that to that poor clean kouki" lol

Your making it why much better.

All I got to say it keep up the good work sir. Wish I had at least 30% of your skills.

[Pinggg]

deff gonna be keeping up with this build! looks sick so far

[BiG MiKE86]

Good lord you sir are talented! Amazing build keep it goin

[UnknownGuy]

I think the awesomeness is starting to burn my eyes......

[Chronicle]

Are you still running a GM ECU with a VE tune? I just ask because I noticed the MAF was deleted. What are your future plans for the engine, or is that a secret for now?

Anyway, amazing build. That is some great craftsmanship and attention to detail.

[K crazy]

Such an amazing build. Can't wait for more updates

[aymaeid]

your fab work is inspiring

[Okinawandrifter87]

Amazing build so far!

[S14_kouki504]

awesome build!

[FaLKoN240]

This is the attention you wanted, that you didn't get from NCD. Haha. Looking forward to the updates.

[Lt Shinysides]

Any updates?

[yomisiu]

any plans for aero and wheels? hopefully it'll look just as badass as the work you're putting in

[tricky_ab]

I honestly did not expect this...

Looking REALLY good so far! I'm diggin' your fabrication work!

[lunarbomb]

again, thanks for all the positive feedback! it motivates me to get this thing done.

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Are you still running a GM ECU with a VE tune? I just ask because I noticed the MAF was deleted. What are your future plans for the engine, or is that a secret for now?

the car was set up for SD when i got it. i'm definitely open to thoughts on the subject. i do dream of doing some kind of obnoxious engine build in the future but honestly, i'm not exactly the most proficient drifter. i just want reliability and seat time right now.

Originally Posted by yomisiu

any plans for aero and wheels? hopefully it'll look just as badass as the work you're putting in

i'm not quite sure what it's going to look like haha. i can say for sure it will be less FD and more street though.



i finished installing the oil accumulator. this little adapter made short work of it. it was only $40 from some crawler shop. i wish i could remember the shops name.






and i got most of the fuel plumbing done. i would have finished this if i hadn't ordered the wrong fitting for the pump outlet. and i forgot the vents too

[mad-ass]

Good work sir. good work.

[PureRush]

wowowowowowowoowowowow didnt expect to see work like this before clicking

[Chronicle]

Originally Posted by lunarbomb

the car was set up for SD when i got it. i'm definitely open to thoughts on the subject. i do dream of doing some kind of obnoxious engine build in the future but honestly, i'm not exactly the most proficient drifter. i just want reliability and seat time right now.

I feel that if you're going for drifting, you won't need any more power than what you already have. I don't have personal experience with speed density tunes, but you might want to double check the tune once everything's back together to iron out your torque curve. These engines do have a high powerband for an OHV V8.