Project Pay2Play: My Eunos Cosmo has arrived!

[Antoine]

Man...So you're having tire troubles as well...Sounds like someone or something took out BOTH your tires! (eek2) Did you find out what happened?

Speaking of tires...Here's what took out mine...Luckily the rim and wheel well are fine but you can see the damage done to the FRACKIN thing!

* The nail was not in my tire...It's just there for size comparison

Turns out it was not a nail but some heavy duty wire that must have dropped off a truck or something and shot directly into the center of my rear tire!

After discussing my options with my friend from the Mazda Dealer...I decided to replace both rear tires with some serious rubber...

Bridgestone Potenza RE050 in size 255/35R18

Here's some interesting info on this tire from Tirerack...The Potenza RE050 is a Max Performance Summer tire designed to complement the performance of sports cars, sports coupes and sport sedans. While the Potenza RE050 is used as Original Equipment on the supercharged Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG sedan, a Potenza RE050 Scuderia version is used on the 12-cylinder Enzo Ferrari supercar, and a Run Flat version is used on the BMW Z4 sports cars and 5-Series sedans. (cool)

The new tires should be on by Friday...While I was at the Mazda Dealer to sort the tire situation out and discuss the final details for Stage II...I saw my rear rim off the car and sans tire...It was very easy to lift with one arm and I was pleasantly surprised how light it was which is awesome because I know how much rim weight can alter braking etc...(2thumbs)

I can't recall the exact rim type now but I know they are VOLKS/RAYS and most likely forged...

More updates coming soon...I'm going to post about the Cosmo's performance during the trip and about the progress with StageII + III...Stay Tuned!

 

[wannabe]

its also standard equipment on the mazdaspeed6. too expensive for a repeat performance for me.

 

[Antoine]

Now for a recap on the trip...Before departing, I picked up the Cosmo from the Mazda Dealer...



It had been there undergoing Stage II mods and I was eager to get back in the Cosmo, drive it and test out the latest upgrades!

I had two passengers with me this time...Although it is a bit tight in the Cosmo...Everyone was comfortable. The trunk is quite small by today's standards but I was able to stuff my car cover and all our stuff in there with space to spare.

As you can imagine...Weather wise...It's summer in Japan which means...Hot & Humid...Thanks to the Cosmo's powerful climate control system...Everyone remained cool and even with the air con on...I had ample power at all RPMs.

Now...all was good in the world when suddenly we noticed through the wide panoramic-style windshield that there were massive storm clouds in the distance and we had no choice but to head right into them...The Cosmo was a real trooper...no loss of control...no mechanical problems...despite heavy rain.

After making it out of the downpour...We were almost at our destination along the Japan sea in Kyoto...From this point, it was ALL curvy country/mountain roads which would normally be a lot of fun to drive through but because of the rain...These small roads were very wet and very dirty...I was able to pick up the speed a bit and enjoy the drive a little more but I still had to keep it safe...Unlike today's cars...The Cosmo doesn't have 8000 computers that keep you from falling off a mountain road to your death or doing a 180 if you hit a patch of water...What it does have is soul & spirit...It expects you to know how to drive and rewards you when you do!

Fast forward to the next day when the weather had improved...We were ready to head back and I got a chance to cruise along the coastal roads in the area and I have to say...It WAS AWESOME! The Cosmo was an absolute pleasure to drive on those smooth and curvy roads along the coastline and to have beautiful views of the ocean to one side and the mountains to the other was simply amazing...Everything came together in that moment...Power, speed, handling, comfort, and beautiful scenery...I was having a real "Cosmo moment"...

For the final stretch home...We hit the highway and luckily the weather was in our favor...NO RAIN! I was able to really test the Cosmo's long-distance cruising ability and man did it perform!

Fortunately, there wasn't any traffic on the way home so I was able to remain in the "fast lane" the entire time. I have to say that even at speed...I never needed to go above 3000 rpm...even with the air con on and two passengers...Power was always available and quite instant!

One of the many things I love about the Cosmo is that you can drive in total comfort and control at speed.

Take care of the 20B and the 20B will take care of you...Power delivery is so smooth and progressive now...even more so than before thanks to the recent mods...I love the sensation that the 20B and sequential turbos provides...and now I know...I've definitely joined...THE DARK SIDE (laugh)

In my next post...I will go into more detail about the recent mods and upcoming plans!

 

[Antoine]

its also standard equipment on the mazdaspeed6. too expensive for a repeat performance for me.

I hear ya...and they cost even more in Japan...I opted to go "premium" now because let's face it...Tires are vital for performance and apparently the price for a lot of goods like tires, oil and batteries etc is going to go up in Japan next month due to the current economic situation.

This is the first time I've replaced any of the tires since I bought the car...The Bridgestones will be replacing the Yokohama rears and hopefully the front Yokohamas will need replacing in the not to distant future (but long enough for me to save more dough!) so that I can keep my tire setup fairly consistent with the same brand and type.

Props to the reliable public transport system here in Japan...allowing me to keep the Cosmo for pleasure only...not for sitting in traffic everyday trying to get to and from work...

 

[LordWorm]

I opted to go "premium" now because let's face it...Tires are vital for performance

Tires are also the ONLY Part of your car in contact with the road (obvious i know, but it always surprises me the number of people who don't think of tires this way...).... I'd never skimp on a set of tires for this reason Especially when you have as much weight, and power that your ride has...

 

[Austerror]

Sounds like you had lots of fun Antoine!

Turns out two of my tyres were punctured with an icepick or a similar sharp pointy device. Vandalised, by some random, or maybe someone I know. Brand new tyes, so the tyre guys patched the holes as they were very small and on the side wall.

Thus hopefully the tyres can still be used.

Not happy about it. On the up side, I will be taking the Cosmo up to the snow soon (the Cosmo won't be skiing, but the drive will be good).

 

[glyph]

those re050s are awesome. I'm running their smaller (slightly less capable brothers on my car). I like the Potenzas.

Austerror: that stuff just torques me off. Why are people so evil? I once had someone steal some cheap little valve covers I had on my tire valves. Seriously, WTF? At least mine was far less damaging.

 

[Antoine]

Tires are also the ONLY Part of your car in contact with the road (obvious i know, but it always surprises me the number of people who don't think of tires this way...).... I'd never skimp on a set of tires for this reason Especially when you have as much weight, and power that your ride has...

(mswerd)...Doesn't make much sense to spend a lot of dough on performance parts...even nice rims and then skimp on tires...but for those just replacing the factory provided tires...I can see how that could be painful...(eek2)

That said...You've got to "Pay2Play" and this is just another example...I'm looking forward to breakin' in those Potenzas!

Sounds like you had lots of fun Antoine!

Turns out two of my tyres were punctured with an icepick or a similar sharp pointy device. Vandalised, by some random, or maybe someone I know. Brand new tyes, so the tyre guys patched the holes as they were very small and on the side wall.

Thus hopefully the tyres can still be used.

Not happy about it. On the up side, I will be taking the Cosmo up to the snow soon (the Cosmo won't be skiing, but the drive will be good).

Man that sucks...Seemed like it must have been Vandalism...I hope the patched tires hold up for ya...Let us know how the drive went!

those re050s are awesome. I'm running their smaller (slightly less capable brothers on my car). I like the Potenzas.

Austerror: that stuff just torques me off. Why are people so evil? I once had someone steal some cheap little valve covers I had on my tire valves. Seriously, WTF? At least mine was far less damaging.

Glad to know!.."Torques me off" too (argh)

 

[Antoine]

Bust out a COLD ONE (cheers)...It's UPDATE TIME!

Starting things off with some quick sneak peek pics of the Stage II Mods...Enjoy

RE-Amemiya steering column gauge pod (painted to match custom navi/aircon face plate) + 52mm Defi "Racer Gauge"...Note my point & shoot is focused on the background making the Defi gauge appear a bit fuzzy but trust me...It's really sharp and the contrast is amazing!

Shot from the driver's seat...Here you can see the Defi-Link Display partially mounted...The plan is to find a way to have it sit inside the ashtray allowing for the pop-open top to function like stock...It's a really cool idea and very "stealth" but it's also proving to be quite difficult...The Pro Audio guy is currently working up a plan to make it work...Stay Tuned

You can also see a preview of the custom Defi/Blitz glovebox setup...Although the current setup is super sweet...There are still some details I'd like to workout before giving the (thumb)...Notice the Defi & Blitz units are slightly angled towards the driver for easy viewing and access...(2thumbs)

Sorry about the fuzziness...I didn't want to use flash ...Here is a close up of the Defi-Link Display in action...So far I've got Water & Oil Temp sensors hooked up...I really like this unit...It's very easy to read day or night and the info it provides is invaluable!

Sportin' new Bridgestone Potenza RE050 in size 255/35R18...(woowoo)

The tried & tested Blitz dual solenoid unit mounted near the AutoExe CF RamAir Intake...
Making the most of those sequential turbos...(laugh)(laugh)

Below is the AutoExe "Earth System"...Making sure the Cosmo is well grounded and flowing maximum juice throughout the electrical system...
Quality part and clean installation...(2thumbs)

The new Amemiya/Defi setup came out really nice...I can imagine it being a Mazdaspeed factory option from the Dealer back in the day...Plus it's great knowing what the twins are up to at any time...(boobs)

Straight up SEXY!

Thanks for taking a look...Grab another cold one...(cheers)

Update part deux is coming soon!

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

oooooh Dayum with the RE050s!

 

[Reitrof]

Looks great Antoine. Keep the updates coming.

 

[aMaff]

Just out of curiosity, why not go with the RE-11?

 

[Austerror]

Sounds like you had lots of fun Antoine!

Turns out two of my tyres were punctured with an icepick or a similar sharp pointy device. Vandalised, by some random, or maybe someone I know. Brand new tyes, so the tyre guys patched the holes as they were very small and on the side wall. Same tyres as you just got, except mine are 275mm wide 19inchers.

A couple of days later the rear tyre was punctured again with the same device.

I got that 2nd puncture repaired and now I have moved the Cosmo to a parking spot that is around the corner and belongs to a different house. In its place I have put my MX6 there.

So far no more punctured tyres. But its only been a couple of days. No points in replacing tyres if it is going to happen again.

Anyway, your drivers seat is looking real nice! excellent setup you have there (and developing). Have you had the Cosmo on a dyno yet?

 

[Antoine]

oooooh Dayum with the RE050s!

Looks great Antoine. Keep the updates coming.

Will do...Thanks guys!

Just out of curiosity, why not go with the RE-11?

Good question...I was originally thinking about going with the RE-11 but after doing a bit more research on the Bridgestone lineup...I discovered the RE050 which seems to be in the same family as the RE-11 but it's a much more balanced tire for premium high performance cars.

Along with awesome grip and handling capabilities...The RE050 has a longer tread life...produces less road noise...provides a more comfortable ride and has better wet weather traction than the RE-11.

I'm trying to upgrade the Cosmo with mods that are not only high quality and high performance but also feature high durability and reliability. (thumb)

 

[Antoine]

Sounds like you had lots of fun Antoine!

Turns out two of my tyres were punctured with an icepick or a similar sharp pointy device. Vandalised, by some random, or maybe someone I know. Brand new tyes, so the tyre guys patched the holes as they were very small and on the side wall. Same tyres as you just got, except mine are 275mm wide 19inchers.

A couple of days later the rear tyre was punctured again with the same device.

I got that 2nd puncture repaired and now I have moved the Cosmo to a parking spot that is around the corner and belongs to a different house. In its place I have put my MX6 there.

So far no more punctured tyres. But its only been a couple of days. No points in replacing tyres if it is going to happen again.

Anyway, your drivers seat is looking real nice! excellent setup you have there (and developing). Have you had the Cosmo on a dyno yet?

Sorry to see that someone has it out for your Cosmo ...I'm glad to know you got the same tires (maybe "us" Cosmo owners think alike ) but at 275/19 they must be really PRICEY!

Even at 255/18...Mine cost a pretty penny. (eek2)

Thanks for the props...I'd love to hit the dyno now that I've started to get the SBC dialed in on the "butt" dyno...This magical unit is totally capable of altering the attitude of the 20B entirely (via those demonic turbos)...Just by changing a few settings...Amazing and very engaging (2thumbs)

I'm starting to get a bit of the "tuning" bug...at least boost-wise...Deeper into the DARKSIDE I go...Muhahahaha (laugh)

I've still got to post up the latest updates and my boost findings...Stay Tuned!

 

[glyph]

when will we see a dyno sheet?

 

[Antoine]

when will we see a dyno sheet?

In good time...Although, I'd love to hit the dyno and get some hard numbers...It's not really a priority now as I'd like to get back on track with previously planned mods.

I will say that I'm almost certain that my HP/TQ numbers have improved quite a bit since installing the Blitz SBC and even more so after a little tuning with the unit.

I would hope that my Cosmo is pumping out around 280 ~ 290 whp (at the wheels) in its current state with really basic mods and conservative boost settings...Of course, this is only an estimate but I've read up on other 20B Cosmos easily pumping out 300+ whp with the same basic mods but more boost, an upgraded intercooler and in some cases a chipped ecu.

Replace the turbos with honkin single or dual high flow units and run an aftermarket EMS system (along with some other supporting high-po mods) and the sky is the limit...literally...400 ~ 800+ whp easily if you know what you're doing or if you have an experienced Rotary Tuner on hand...

My goal is to make the Eunos Cosmo a balanced supercar...Always unique but also able to perform really well in all aspects of performance and at the same time remain luxurious, comfortable, reliable and drop dead sexy!

Now for more updates...

Stage II

Current
Summer is just about over and I plan on bringing in the Cosmo to the Mazda Dealer this week. I've got a laundry list of small issues that need to be addressed before Stage II can be officially complete.

Last Meeting: Early August

Next Meeting: Unknown

List-o-small issues...

* Fix & tighten lower steering column leather (it's a little loose in some areas)

* Order a new weatherstripping set for the trunk lid

* Change the current position of the ETC unit in the custom glovebox setup (I'm not too keen on the current location)

* Paint center piece (and possibly door pieces) around the shifter & handbrake to match the custom navi/air con faceplate using a scratch-resistant paint method?..Not sure on the details...More on this later

* Color match bodykit mesh areas (2 front & 2 rear) with the body color

* Make sure the glovebox closes tightly all around the edges

* Adjust the position of the Blitz controller unit in the glovebox slightly for even easier access and viewing from the driver's seat...Plus re-mount the unit for a more "flush" appearance

* Adjust the design and appearance of the custom glovebox interior to encompass more of the glovebox and better utlize all the available space

* Complete custom Ashtray/Defi mod (the Defi-Link Display has only been partially mounted as mounting it inside the ashtray has proven to be very difficult but hopefully not impossible)

* I requested that a color matched mini mesh grill be installed inside the center console/dash...Above the navi unit to create a stealth vent of sorts to allow more airflow for the navi unit...The mesh has been installed and looks as well as works great but I would like to see it flattened a bit more


On order...(ohsnap!)

* A complete Eunos Cosmo 20B badge & grill set (all new)! That's right...I ordered a front grill, a Rotary-style Eunos grill badge, a "3 Rotor RE" side badge, a rear "Cosmo" bage and a rear Rotary-stlye Eunos Badge...Why? For potential spare parts and as collectibles because some of those parts will soon be out of stock...FOREVER!


Upcoming plans for Stage III!

* I had this idea for a custom body-kit name plate mod to replace the current non-illuminated "Cosmo" name plate and after mentioning this idea to my friend and the Pro Audio Guy...They both gladly pitched in to help...The Pro Audio Guy has provided some really great ideas and has even called on a local sign shop to help out...So far the plan is to utilize an OLED back plate and on top of that place a custom decal which will be illuminated (I haven't decided on which color yet) when I turn on the headlights...I told my friend that I want my custom name plate to use the same style font as the orginal "Cosmo" name plate and while I was at the Mazda Dealer last time...The sign shop faxed over a sample of my custom name using the "Cosmo" style font...(2thumbs)...More on this mod in future updates!

* Repaint side-view mirrors

* Make sure factory body-kit has the tightest & cleanest possible fit

* Remove all paint scratches, scrapes and chips (the paint & body are in really good condition for a 13 yr old car but it's those tiny imperfections that really bug me...)

* Checkout the possibility of having the current rims cleaned, polished and coated...Price?

* Think about replacing the front tires to match the recently replaced rear tires (one of my rear tires got taken out by a nasty metal wire that appeared out of no where) so that I'm running the same tires on all for corners...Bridgestone Potenza RE050 FTW!

* Clean tail pipes!

* Window tint? Still undecided about this one...Note to self...Check the local laws regarding window tint

* HIDS!..At some point...(boobs)

* LEDs! I've been entertaining the idea of replacing all the interior and exterior lights with LEDs (for example turn signals, brake lights, door & reading lights etc) but A...I'm not sure if LED replacements are available for the Cosmo and B...I'm not sure how it will look and C...Would they perform better and last longer than traditional light bulbs (I believe they do but I'll need to do more research on this)

Woah...It's late...Time to hit the sack...Hopefully, I'll have time to take the Cosmo for a cruise tomorrow before bringing it to my friend...Have a good one guys...Night! (sleep)

 

[aMaff]

Replace the turbos with honkin single or dual high flow units and run an aftermarket EMS system (along with some other supporting high-po mods) and the sky is the limit...literally...400 ~ 800+ whp easily if you know what you're doing or if you have an experienced Rotary Tuner on hand...

How far can you go before the autotragic melts?

 

[Antoine]

I've heard the Cosmo's stock auto tranny is a very strong and durable unit...Able to withstand quite a bit of additional power over the stock setup with no need for modification...Although a heavy duty tranny cooler would be a good idea if you're pushing a lot of power and or doing some form of racing...

I wouldn't be surprised if you maxed out the stock turbos and had to go with more flow before having to even worry about the stock tranny in the pursuit for more power.

The Eunos Cosmo was designed to be an auto tranny car and although I enjoy driving "stick"...I'm more than happy with the Cosmo's auto setup...especialy in "POWER" mode which really revs up the 20B for maximum performance!

 

[LordWorm]

How far can you go before the autotragic melts?

AND there are plates to rig up ford C4 or GM turbo 400 transmissions to the 20B.....so if the cosmo box dies, he can go to something tough - or he could just put a liberty transmission on it and be done.....