# Red Rocket vs. Hometown Hero **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [April 20, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537 "2008-04-20T20:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/41 "2008-05-01T21:28:22Z")
No thanks I’m good. so done with engine swaps. ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/42 "2008-05-11T21:43:58Z")
Went home, lots of parts are were waiting for me. Did some work. Further stripped out the car. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2769.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2769.jpg) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2752.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2752.jpg) Got to fix the famous door fender dent. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2753.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2753.jpg) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2765.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2765.jpg) No need for heat and AC. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2764.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2764.jpg) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2772.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2772.jpg) Suede on the dash. ---
**Author:** ![tougethisDB1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tougethisdb1/32/6358_2.png) [@tougethisDB1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tougethisDB1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/43 "2008-05-11T21:50:46Z")
nice cars dude. its amazing how big the AE scene is in seattle ive read about more guys cars out there than anywhere else. wanted a gt-s forever…still do. clean 240 also. ---
**Author:** ![Shady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Shady](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shady)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 9:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/44 "2008-05-12T09:50:48Z")
> Now for the car you guys actually care about: dude are you kidding me, id be all over that 86 rather than the 240… I want one so fucking bad but theyre hard to find in decent shape and a decent price ---
**Author:** ![bennyfizzle](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bennyfizzle/32/6291_2.png) [@bennyfizzle](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bennyfizzle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2008, 10:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/45 "2008-05-12T10:27:08Z")
uh, why wouldnt you keep the heater core so you can defrost the windshield when it’s raining, or when it gets chilly…etc… ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/46 "2008-05-13T04:15:56Z")
It’s not hooked up. There’s no point for it to just sit there. If I really regret it I’ll just get one of those sweet off-road heaters. before ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2780.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2780.jpg) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2782.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2782.jpg) after ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2803.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2803.jpg) rears before and after ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2788.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2788.jpg) fronts before and after ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2809.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2809.jpg) Then i got stuck on the fronts, since i can’t take the strut inserts out… without taking this hex thing out, which means disconnecting the brakes and such to put it in a vice. And… I don’t have a vice. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2811.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2811.jpg) So i decided to go to the interior Remember. Before: ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2764.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2764.jpg) After: ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2816.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2816.jpg) and add sticker powerzzzzzzzzzzzessssssssssssssssssszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzszzzzzzzzzzzzzz ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2821.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2821.jpg) And in other news, My friend from long island may sell me his 92 325i for dirt cheap. Definitely looking forward to that. ---
**Author:** ![tougethisDB1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tougethisdb1/32/6358_2.png) [@tougethisDB1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tougethisDB1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/47 "2008-05-13T06:29:35Z")
where are you located? can i come check out this car in person? ---
**Author:** ![Hooked\_on\_240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Hooked\_on\_240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hooked_on_240)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 6:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/48 "2008-05-13T06:42:49Z")
he lives in seattle, but goes to school in troy… and… hes home which means no AE86 for the 518 to see :sad ---
**Author:** ![OsoiNA6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/osoina6/32/6301_2.png) [@OsoiNA6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OsoiNA6)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/49 "2008-05-13T17:47:58Z")
> [@w.tungsten](#): > > It’s not hooked up. There’s no point for it to just sit there. If I really regret it I’ll just get one of those sweet off-road heaters. > before > And in other news, My friend from long island may sell me his 92 325i for dirt cheap. Definitely looking forward to that. Good stuff… What’s the plan with the 325i? DD? ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/50 "2008-05-14T21:24:50Z")
well if you’re ever in the seattle area… so I got strut spacers that are 15mm too long so some new ones are on the way. As of right now the front struts are stock, but still on swifts. I also realized that the fuel is full of rust or some sediment that needs to be flushed and I’m probably going to need new injectors in order to get this guy running again. once again. before: ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2780.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2780.jpg) after: ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2832.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2832.jpg) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2833.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_2833.jpg) The 325i will be lani’s daily driver/ baller status car. e46 alloys or other big factory wheels (5,6 or 7 series? I don’t know if they’ll fit) cut the springs fan delete may weld the diff, may not. Then when money allows: Tokico Illuminas (with the springs they come with) LSD ---
**Author:** ![Hooked\_on\_240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Hooked\_on\_240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hooked_on_240)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/51 "2008-05-14T21:36:35Z")
i am begining to like this more than a AE hatch. Great job, and next semester bring this and the 240 to troy. ;D ---
**Author:** ![OsoiNA6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/osoina6/32/6301_2.png) [@OsoiNA6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OsoiNA6)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/52 "2008-05-15T15:39:33Z")
> [@w.tungsten](#): > > The 325i will be lani’s daily driver/ baller status car. > e46 alloys or other big factory wheels (5,6 or 7 series? I don’t know if they’ll fit) > cut the springs > fan delete > may weld the diff, may not. > > Then when money allows: > Tokico Illuminas (with the springs they come with) > LSD Cut springs? C’mon man, you’re gonna allow your girl to ride ghetto like that!? ;D Well if you’re getting other strut/springs that’s ok I guess… At least make sure it’s a 5 spd… ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/53 "2008-05-16T22:55:01Z")
only reason i was going to buy it was it is 5 spd, and after driving it when he was really drunk and needed a ride home, I was rather impressed. But cut springs = epic win. this car is more about looks than performance. unless i can convince lani to come street drift with me :wow, then shocks/springs and an lsd (or weld) may be in order. ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/54 "2008-06-16T03:10:39Z")
Okay well long time no update. So since the last post, wow about a month ago. I’ve gotten the front AGXs on, and then tried starting the car. The car didn’t start. Realized I wasn’t getting spark, and couldn’t tell if I was getting fuel. Well first things first. I checked my coil packs and wiring. While I redid the wiring on the coil packs I just decided to rewire the car. So it took me a while to double check everything and make sure that the wiring on the coil packs was right (that was my guess as to why I wasn’t getting spark). So now i know it’s wired correctly. Therefore, the problem is the signal wire coming from the Megasquirt (MS). It should be a 0.0v (or ground), then jump to 5v when it wants the trigger the coil packs. I can’t tell what’s happening until I figure out how to use the oscilloscope I just got. In the mean time I changed the spark settings\>inverted spark\> from yes to no and spark settings\>hold ign\>2. That was a potential problem, since inverted spark doesn’t trigger the FC3S coil packs. However, even now after all that. nothing. So now i’m going to reboot the MS, since Greg, my MS mentor thinks something is f’d up with the firmware. he looked over the tune I wrote for it and said it should be fine, so whenever I get the chance I’ll wipe the MS clean. I realized I never mentioned this car was running at one point. Open header, with an open EGR hole so it sounds… funny [![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/th_MVI_1542.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/th_MVI_1542.jpg)](http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/?action=view¤t=MVI_1542.flv) pics, because build threads are useless without pictures: ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_1567-2.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_1567-2.jpg) Old wiring setup. Note the wiring bundle in the bottom left corner. Also look across the valve cover. GARBAGE! ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3105.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3105.jpg) Now. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3107.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3107.jpg) pulled out the front dent… kinda ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3110.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3110.jpg) better pic of the interior ---
**Author:** ![Swifty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Swifty](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Swifty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/55 "2008-06-16T11:02:59Z")
lookin good, so thats a video of it running before? hope you get everything straghtened out. ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/56 "2008-06-16T16:02:38Z")
yeah last summer it was running and driving. I have no idea why it wouldn’t have spark now. Yup, so I organized my photobucket and it deleted every picture i’ve posted. oh awesome. \*EDIT 6/25/08 Okay so I figured out a couple things. First the Megasquirt isn’t sending enough voltage to fire. It has an internal problem where the ignitor chip has 3.2V instead of 12V on one of its legs. I’m going to send it back to get reconfigured since i don’t want my ugly soldering all over the PCB board. Second, The injectors are clogged on the black two cylinders for sure and a bit on #2. This caused the deteriorating condition of the engine (running on all 4, then 3, then 2) it also explains the backfiring out the throttles (indicates a lean condition). SO, once I find someone to reconfigure the MS then send out the injectors to Witch Hunter to get cleaned and when everything comes back it will fire up… i hope Also, the other thing is the MS shouldn’t be able to run my engine with the setup I have now, but somehow it’s worked in the past. No one can figure out why. It’s set up for direct drive for ignition, and the FC coil packs have a built in igniter so it’d only make sense if the wiring bypassed the base of the coil pack (aka the igniter) and went straight to the coil. Yes strange. No one. I mean no one can figure out how it worked in the past… but it did and that video is proof. So no matter what the MS needs to get rewired for pull-up resisters which is relatively easy. However I still worry that if it’s not getting the correct voltage now, it may not get correct voltage even if it is reconfigured. This is why: if you can afford to avoid Megasquirt, you should. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3136.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3136.jpg) The line of black square on the top are the different transistors, the two on the farthest right (VB921 spark output chips) are the ones causing me trouble. ---
**Author:** ![w.tungsten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7bcc69/32.png) [@w.tungsten](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/w.tungsten)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/57 "2008-07-16T22:45:02Z")
Been doing lots of work since I last posted. Today finally got some ignition events. Sputtered a bit, but never really started up. The RPMs are very inconsistent. try again tomorrow. hopefully the 86 will be back on the road by this weekend. In the meanwhile. Here’s what i"ve been doing Got my injectors cleaned by Witchhunter a injector shop. New fuel filter Cleaned out the fuel tank which was full of rust and nasty rust-infested gasoline. Resealed the transmission Changed harness mounts so it won’t kill me when i crash (yes I will crash) Got a test pipe and stock exhaust Battle Version Negative Camber roll center adjusters (NCRCA). Like the name implies, adds camber, while adjusting the roll-center which gets lowered too far away from the CG (happens when your car is over lowered), creating a HUGE roll-couple, which gives bad turn in response. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3298.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3298.jpg) Yay camber ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/after_before_NCRCA.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/after_before_NCRCA.jpg) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3330.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3330.jpg) It also lowered the car Picked up a manual rack from a first gen MR2. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3299.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3299.jpg) All the write ups made it sound easy. It certainly is NOT. I had serious trouble with this. (okay I wrote a huge essay about how hard it was, but w.e just know it involved a propane torch, two people and two days) ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3353.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3353.jpg) But in the end. worth it. You get some serious steering angle improvement 20 degrees~. It has more room, but suspension starts hitting, and the wheels start rubbing on the frame… awesome. ![http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3342.jpg](http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/Englshmadesimple/ae86/IMG_3342.jpg) More pics to come… when the hood is on and it’s running. which might be never lol… ---
**Author:** ![Hooked\_on\_240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Hooked\_on\_240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hooked_on_240)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/58 "2008-07-17T19:43:22Z")
> [@w.tungsten](#): > > Got a test pipe and stock exhaust :nuts :lol when you coming back down…welll east lol. well just pm me, i need a couple things from you. ---
**Author:** ![OsoiNA6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/osoina6/32/6301_2.png) [@OsoiNA6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OsoiNA6)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/59 "2008-07-17T20:12:17Z")
Holy steering angle man!!! Not only will you be able to countersteer your way out of anything, it should be a breeze to parallel park this thing in the big city… ;D ---
**Author:** ![Hooked\_on\_240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Hooked\_on\_240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hooked_on_240)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537/60 "2008-07-17T21:31:56Z")
> [@OsoiNA6](#): > > Holy steering angle man!!! > > Not only will you be able to countersteer your way out of anything, it should be a breeze to parallel park this thing in the big city… ;D and if you dont know how to parrallel park, well it should be VERY easy now. archie, that would be great on your van. :lol [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/red-rocket-vs-hometown-hero/236537.md?page=4)