Page 01: Introduction
Page 02: White RX7
Page 03: Green RX7
Page 04: Engine
Page 05: Let the fun begin!
Page 06: Engine bay work
Page 07: The V8 drop-in
Page 08: IT'S ALIVE!!!
Page 09: Clutch & Radiator
Page 10: Driveshaft & Exhaust
Page 11: RX Unleashed
Page 12: Dyno and Weigh-in
Page 13: Alternator, Fans, Gauges
Page 14: SUSPENSION!
Page 15: Seven Not Stock, 2006
Page 16: Paint & Quarter Mile
Page 17: Saying Goodbye
Page 18: Conclusion.

The engine and tranny were in, this met my Christmas break goal... I looked at the calender and realize I still had a week to go.. so I just kept going. The next logical step in my mind was to begin rewiring the engine. What I basically did at this point was layed out the harness (it was a rats nest) on the ground and labeled each connector according to www.shbox.com (a VERY helpful website). Once the harness was installed, I aimed at getting the starter to turn over as an easy starter/confidence gaining project. This was actually pretty easy and had the engine turning over, very loudly I might add. Next I wired up the essentials to and from the computer according to Granny's instructions. The LT1 computer was put where the stock Mazda computer was origionally located beneath the passengers kick panel. The wires were fed through the gommet on the firewall where the old 13B harness went through.

Next, I focused on getting fuel to the engine, this was done simply with some HP fuel hose from the filter to the regulator and rails. Next I modified the fuel pump so that it pumps when the key is on, it doesn't rely on anything else but key position... I knew I had it right when I could hear the powerful pump buzzing in the back.

What are the chances that a first-timer like myself could have the engine running on the first try? Not likely :), I cranked it over with no success. After a day or 2 of troubleshooting, I found two critical errors. First the fuel lines were mixed up, fuel in and fuel return were swapped (quite messily, I might add... oops). It is almost ironic that this was the same problem with the first white car, and I laughed at the previous owner for missing such an obvious error. Second, I was not getting the required voltage to the injectors, this was simly fixed by clumping up all of the "pinks" (you know what I mean if you've ever worked with a latemodel 350 harness) and connected them to switched ignition.

The day before I had to leave back for school, only 3 weeks since I started, I had two buddies over to see the progress. The car hadn't started the night before, for whatever reason, so I asked them if they'd like to hear it just crank for a couple of seconds. I twisted that key like I had done so many times before, but for some reason this time the engine decided to light up! There wasn't even headers on the engine, so you can imagine that it was the loudest, meanest, baddest assed sounding thing I had heard in my recent memory. My friends eyes were saucers for the 4 seconds before the VATS kicked in cutting off the fuel. My mom came running out into the garage thinking something had exploded! I changed my underwear, and decided to do try again... sure enough, it started right up again, what an exciting day. You know, I haven't been around all that long, but I would venture to say that a first start up after such hard work has got to be one of the greatest feelings ever.

Here are some pictures of the engine in its running form, the green tags labeling the connectors are still on. These pictures actually show the paint color quite well... just in case you didn't believe me that its dark.

Here's a pic of me looking like a huge nerd. It's also the night of putting the car back in storage for the spring semester. It broke my heart to have to leave so soon after the day of excitement... but at the same time, it was SUCH a relief to have it running before I left instead of stressing over what was wrong for a whole semester!