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Messages - rmaurer

#1
I would echo Brian here - Kerim and Jaydee at Powergains built my engine (large streetport) and single turbo setup (gt4088) for track days and fast road use and it has been absolutely solid. Great power (all my mates with Scoobs/RS4s/supercharged elise) etc have commented how strong it feels and I\'ve had no issues with it since. I received a steady stream of photos during the initial strip down and porting, and they were happy to let me watch them build it all back up afterwards.

The great thing about Powergains is that it\'s a one stop shop - solid engine build and excellent mapping from the guys with excellent support afterwards, they even popped up to Snetterton on my first track day to see how I was doing, help out if I needed anything and also offered to fine tune the map on circuit.

Cheers
Ross

Quote from: bnaellis;764572Sorry mate the least I could do after coming on here and spoiling your thread(sorry) is answer your question, best person to do your engine is Jaydee.


rgds
Brian
#2
I had the same and after multiple brake bleeding attempts, a new master cylinder sorted it. Just make sure the new cylinder is properly bench bled before fitting and worth doing a full fluid flush at the same time.
#3
I\'ve got a small custom silencer fitted to my wastegate/screamer at the moment, made up by Predator Motorsport in Welwyn Garden City for ~£160 (they normally do custom bike exhausts). It takes the edge off the full throttle wail and gives a more bassy noise yet doesn\'t seem to cause any back pressure issues.
#4
I bought a couple of angled valves for my Advan wheels from the chap here:
 
http://www.dieseldub.co.uk/SubCategoryListing.asp?Id=184
 
Fitted no problem, just a pain they cost so much.
 
Cheers,
Ross
#5
3rd generation RX-7's / FD Induction kit
June 14, 2009, 07:04:18 PM
Don\'t know if you\'re interested but I\'ve just put my Apexi filters up for sale on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=330336928867

Not sure what they\'ll go for, just need to sell them on.

Cheers
Ross
#6
I think I\'m going to head down the route of a BBK, mainly to get increased disk size and maximise capacity to deal with generated heat and also increase pad surface area. Max disk size for my 17" wheels looks to be around 335mm from what I\'ve seen so far - thanks Andy for your input there.
 
There seem to be a lot of options out there though:
 
D2/K Sport ~£900 - Cheapest and seem to have some good write ups but am concerned about actual quality and longevity. Apparently perform well with Ferodo pads.
 
AP Racing 6 pots ~£1850 - Expensive but probably the best out there... Overkill?
 
Racing Brake via MRP ~£1400 - Seem to get very good write ups on rx7club with plenty of detailed design info and positive reviews. Also have a rear setup to balance out the fronts for £600. Tempting...
 
Hi Spec £? - Have seen both positive and negative reviews... Seem to have a lot of supporting distributors though.
 
Kad £? - Looks like 18" wheel fitment only
 
Any others worth considering?
#7
Quote from: tinker-27;588688the brakes have been sold cheers craig,

Damn that\'s a shame...  
Oh well, am assessing all options at the moment...
#8
Interesting reading, thanks all for advice so far... I\'ve ordered a 929 master cylinder although it\'s a pattern part from Raybestos in the US found on ebay (damn the exchange rate at the moment!). Here\'s a link if anyone else is looking:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370158734802&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=
 
Had another look at the car last night and the fluid in the brake reservoir is now a dull grey/black colour. Last time I saw fluid that colour was when the clutch master cylinder seals failed in my TVR and disintegrated, so a fairly good sign this is the main cause of my problems...
 
I\'m leaning towards a BBK as it just means I never need to worry about brakes again, just a matter of finding the right kit at the right price which will fit under my 17" wheels...
#9
Quote from: tinker-27;588517i might have a full front ap 6 pot set up for sale soon ,craig 07950399080 if you are interested they dont fade !!!!!!!!

Definitely interested!! What size disks, will they fit under 17" wheels? I\'ll try to give you a call later this morning.
 
Cheers,
Ross
#10
New to MRC - introduce yourself / Herts hi!
March 02, 2009, 05:27:16 PM
Quote from: Spartacus;588386Hi, I\'m in St Albans by the train station too! Welcome aboard

Hi! I see you\'ve installed a v8 in your RX7, would love to have a look at that some time if you\'re around! I\'ve come to RX7s from a couple of TVRs and have to admit I\'m missing the v8 torque/noise (had a Chimaera and a Cerbera) although I\'m fortunate enough to also have an Audi RS6 which is awesome in a straight line but lacks finesse in the bends...!
 
Cheers,
Ross
#11
Oh and had braided brake lines fitted as well with no improvement...
#12
Quote from: shaunwil;588027Did they flush the original brake fluid out of the system ?
 
Also are you running stock pads and discs or are they aftermarket. The stock stuff does get too hot but not that quick !
 
Shaun

Yeah was told the fluid was flushed and ~0.5-1 litre added each time they were bled... The 3rd garage said they went round the car 3 times to ensure no air in the system. I\'m wondering if the master cylinder seals could be on the way out as originally it looked like the car was only braking on the fronts (rears were rusty, even after a run with some hard barking) so think the 929 cylinder will at least prove/disprove that.
 
I\'m running stock disks but the pads are Black Diamond track day spec front and rear... Thing is the bite is always good when they do eventually start to work, just the pedal travel seems to be the issue and that has to be fluid/air surely...?
#13
Hi Everyone,
 
I need some advice on some problems at an Easytrack day at Bedford Autodrome yesterday. Apologies if this is a long post but please bear with me as a I would value some advice/experienced views...
 
I bought the car as a track toy and so the first job was new bushes all round (pillowball and OEM), new suspension and a general going over of the engine etc by Kerim at Powergains (Tiger catback, PFC, remap, full service, a/c removal to improve cooling etc).
 
The main problem - ever since I bought the car, the brake pedal has had a long travel but if you lift and then reapply quickly, this goes away. The pedal is firm once braking force is felt and does not drop to the floor. Lifting off the brakes, waiting maybe 10 secs and then reapplying results again in a long pedal. I have always put this down to air in the system, and yet have now had this bled 3 times by 3 separate garages and each time the pedal travel has improved but not totally fixed the problem. However it was much improved after the 3rd bleeding attempt... until Bedford.
 
Within 5 mins of spirited driving on track, the pedal started dropping again (my dad was out in the first session) and when I went to use the car after a 20-30 min cool down, the pedal was dropping a loooong way (almost to the floor) :eek:. Double pumps were giving a better feel/response but this is simply not practical on track and I called it a day after only 2 laps :mad: of gentle braking.
 
Strangely after lunch, I went to use the car to see how it felt and the pedal feel was returning now the car was fully cool. Having chatted with a few friends/guys on the day, we noticed how hot the cat was getting (silenced midpipe is the top item on my list of things to buy) and wondered if the rear brake lines run near the cat resulting in excessive heat soak/fluid boiling. I remembered that garages commented when bleeding the brakes that there seemed to be quite a bit of air in the rear brake lines on each occasion - maybe backing this up...?
 
So, I have a few queries...
 
- I have read that the standard brakes are supposed to be superb despite the small disks but does this really apply for track work?
 
- I\'m ready to go straight for the 929 Master Cylinder upgrade (no brainer) and am also strongly considering ABS removal but what happens with brake balance if you do this? Is the balance valve not part of the ABS pump?
 
- Could the ABS pump have air in the system that gets into the lines in any way (I have no idea how ABS works, presume it\'s just a bypass that relieves pressure when triggered... If so, can air be in the bypass and can you bleed this?!)
 
- Is it worth trying to patch the existing setup or just dive straight in and go for a BBK upgrade? Must admit I\'d rather try to find the problem one step at a time (personal satisfaction and confidence going forwards).
 
A mate of mine was there with an Impreza P1 with monster AP brakes and I have to say they were phenomenal... He\'s running around 360-380bhp, topping ~145mph on the back straight and yet could really lean on the brakes lap after lap with no fade and amazing response. I was rather jealous by the end of the day!
 
Having read a lot of "forum chatter" on RX7s, I was fully prepared for overheating problems, high oil usage etc but following Kerim\'s work and with the PFC lower fan settings, I never saw over 90 degrees coolant temp and that\'s with a standard rad and AST (removal imminent). I backed off when intake temps peaked around 65 degrees but have a 2nd hand Trust/Greddy SMIC ready to bolt on to tackle that.
 
I have to comment on the handling... My dad normally drives a Boxster and was surprised at how much the car "moves" in the bends rather than just sticking. Surprised by this comment, I really pushed on through a few bends and found an amazingly well balanced car that breaks away really smoothly/progressively when under hard power in the bends. If I came away with 1 big positive from the day, it was that the handling is awesome and I put the amount of sideways action down to the fairly new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres - too much tread depth and I understand they overheat quickly on track. I bought some cheapish Tokico adjustable shocks and H&R springs from the US (<£450 all in!) and they really do seem to respond remarkably well considering how little I spent (wasn\'t sure if engine work/rebuild would be needed at the time).
 
Oh and if you\'re interested, with the standard cat, Tiger catback and leaky downpipe gasket I was only reading 93db on the static noise test which was a relief as I know Bedford have the tightest restrictions in the UK at the moment.
 
Cheers,
Ross
#14
New to MRC - introduce yourself / Herts hi!
February 27, 2009, 01:51:21 PM
Quote from: AMH;587597Welcome Ross - where abouts in Herts are you?

Hi, just in St Albans near the train station. I work in London so only get to use the RX7 at weekends... Can generally be found out and about if the weather is nice though :driving
#15
New to MRC - introduce yourself / Herts hi!
February 23, 2009, 11:56:46 AM
Hi all! :Thumbs-up
Think it’s time I finally posted, having been a lurker for a while…
 
I bought Philo’s car from on here back in November last year having always loved RX7 FDs, wanting to use it as a weekend toy and track day car. I’ve been doing track days for a few years (started in an MX5) and spent quite a few days in 2008 renting Bookatrack Caterhams but always fancied my own track car to tinker with and the RX7s looked like an ideal choice.
Having bought Phil’s car, I went on a mini spending spree over Christmas and then booked it in with Kerim at Powergains to get it looked over and the following fitted:
-Full fluid service (engine/gearbox/diff oil, coolant and filters), plugs etc
-New brake disks, pads, fluid and braided lines all round
-New Pillowball (rhdjapan) and Powerflex bushes all round
-Powergains trailing arms and Fighters Garage (US) Toe Arms
-Tokico shocks and H&R springs with new OEM mounts
-Full alignment (Elite Direct)
-Air con removal to improve cooling/reduce weight
-OMP steering wheel and boss (thanks to ebay and r-tec in ffice:smarttags" />St Albans)
-Apexi ECU and commander (thanks to Whifbitz race car parts thread!) and remap by Jaydee
-HID headlights and Tiger cat back exhaust (thanks to Mazda Rotary Parts!)
-Front Mazda strut brace (good old ebay)
Basically I wanted to get the chassis sorted without spending too much money so that I’ve got some in reserve in case it needed any engine work. The bodywork is in pretty good condition, although there are some interesting wiring alterations which Kerim has been stripping out/sorting (cooling fans wired to air con relay due to poor earth which all stopped working when the a/c was removed!).
I’m aiming to give the car a shake down at Bedford Autodrome as it is local (if I can pass their noise regs) on 28th Feb and then am heading out to the Nurburgring with www.mazdaontrack.co.uk at the end of May (anyone interested, they’re keen for RX7s to join in…?).
I’ve already got the impression that the RX7 community is small but very close knit, so hope to see some of you around at events in the future!
Cheers,
Ross
 
Oh, here are some photos after a recent clean and polish: