240sxGUY

well i was planing on getting a 240 fastback w/sr20det, and i started to look at the FC's i was wondering how they handled and performed. 85-92 is there any major differences. i want to autox and drag race
(more of autox)
what is the most common motor that is swaped into it?
a new rotary? and how much do they usually go for? i saw a couple for like $2500 but am not sure how accurate that is, any help would be thanked..



thanks

-sonny

Rx7Nub

commonly a street ported rebuilt motor is swapped into them, they came in both turbo and na, turbo has (1987-1988)184hp, and (1989-1991) has 200hp, but the later model turbo's were a bit heavier, by about 200 punds i think... na's have somewhere around 145(1986-1988) and 160(1989-1991)... i belive, dont quote me on that though. All Rx7's handle amazing with the low center of gravity and 50-50 weight ratio.. they can go from anywhere around $1000 and $7000 depending on turbocharged or not, and if it has been rebuilt and the condition of it.

240sxGUY

which rx7 would you get and which do you have?
and thank you for the information. how much does a street ported motor go for?

DC350

Hey, i have an N/A Rx-7 87 and the rx7 that i want will be a series 4 (86-88) Turbo II

JerryLH3

iTrader: (11)

It all depends on your tastes. And most of us might be biased towards which type of FC we own.

If you're going to want to add a LOT of power, go with a TII. If you want all the handling with not as much hassle, go normally aspirated.

As far as 86-88 vs. 89-91 that really comes down to personal preferences. The power differences are minimal, also the ones with more power got a little heavier, so it's still a near draw.

88IntegraLS

The second generation RX-7 handles like a race car and is awesome for road racing and autox, but not as well suited to drag racing according to most of the opinions I have read here. Not that the 240sx is not good at this itself, but isn't it a front drive car? RX-7's are "front-mid engine" meaning that the mass of the engine is completely behind the front axle location and very low in the car. It is also rear drive with the option of having a limited slip differential. High speed cornering is what the RX-7 was designed for as was being very fun to drive. Second generation cars are also a serious bargain compared to what you would have to buy to equal the driving experience had with one.

Look at how cheap the second generation RX-7s are! But I would recommend learning how to work on them, because most mechanics and especially Mazda dealerships have little to no experience with the very different rotary engine. If cared for, the stock second gen. cars can be very reliable. The 240SX might be quicker than a N/A second generation RX-7, but the RX-7 probably has more potential as a autox or road racing car.

Go test drive one and wring it out on a curvy road. You will love it!

vaughnc

RX-7s handle better than the 240s. They're a 100% purist sports car with the handling, power, suspension, low drag, excellent throttle responce, etc.. to match.

The 8000 rpm redline, perfect gearing, and soft clutch make them a blast to drive in the city.

Of course you know mazda has 4 racing series based on the rotary engine right? So you've got a TON of upgrades to choose from for autocrossing. Mazda regulary get's "baned" or "sevearly limited" from various races & classes because of the engine & chasses give the owners a serious advantage over the competetion

The rx-7s & rotary cars have a HUGE following, so that means lots of new & OEM parts, salvage, performance bolt-ons, upgrades, accessories, etc..

Here's a quick welcome package with more details.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey welcome to rx7club.com.

The best thing about rx-7s is they're 100% designed as TRUE uncompromising sports cars - not a "sports coupe" or "sports sedan."

The Turbo II model is a SUPERCAR and is the tuners DREAM CAR. Mazda designed the car's drivetrain with 450HP in mind but detuned to 200bhp. What that means is you can GO NUTS building an inexpensive Porsche killer. And unlike the American entry level "sports cars," the Turbo II is designed as a track car with MUCH better handling.

The rotary engine is PERFECT for a sports car and Mazda designed the rx-7 to take 130% advantage of it.

High RPMS, wide & tall powerbands, near unlimited revving, lightweight engine, perfect 50/50 balancing, and low drag, are just some of the advantages the rotary engine provides.

Handling is the BEST part of the rotary experience. The chassis has rear steer found on some Porsches, so you can kick some serious butt around the corners. The car handles & drives so well - it inspires you to push the car beyond what you think it's capable of

Best of all, the rx-7s have an international following from tuners, manufacturers, enthusiast, and Mazda. That means you have a wide selection of performance upgrades, engine upgrades, accessories, bodykits, coffeytable books, toy models, gas powered rotary R/C cars, and knowledgeable people.

The RX-7 community is really that large

a few pictures:

vaughnc

240sxGUY

would you happen to have any interior pictures? i hear there are different version of the interior. also what year does the turbo II come in?


also the 240sx was a RWD car, and the sr20det is a 200+ hp turbo engine.

240sxGUY

that JDM rx7 in that last picture is sweet. (orange one)
the whole car is soo smooth and flows well, and the fornt end is very agressive. the second generation is nice but the front end is lacking IMO

Ryde _Or_Die

If you are interested in drag racing, then get a TII. They were made from 87-91. In stock form they run basically a flat 15. With a strong engine the power is virtually unlimited, getting close to 12s or in them with full exhaust, intake, and proper fuel.

240sxGUY

how can you tell the difference between TII and the others.

Ryde _Or_Die

It says Turbo II on the sides, has a hood with a scoop in it. Under the hood theres an intercooler on top of the engine. All TIIs are 5 speeds so you know. Oh and they have aero mirrors with holes in them. Plus drive it

240sxGUY

are the tII rare? ive looked on the trader and havent seen one.

Ryde _Or_Die

Ya they can be pretty rare, depending where you live. Look at www.thepartstrader.com the classifieds on here and on www.teamfc3s.org/forum

vaughnc

Extend your search to 300 or more miles in autotrader. You can also buy from www.thepartstrader.com or check this websites forsale section. Also post in the regional section on this website with "looking for TII" and you'll get some responces.

The 87-88 Turbo IIs and the limited edition "10th Aniversary Turbo II" are pretty common. While only 180HP from the factory, they can easily push 250+HP with minor upgrades.

The 89-91 Turbo IIs are a bit rare but have 200 OEM HP. I'm pushing 225HP just with exhaust upgrades on my 1991 TII.

The orange one in the last picture is the 3rd gen rx-7. THey run $8000 - $18,000. The 2nd gens of course are much more affordable, so you can sink your money into upgrades faster.

There are several "mult-challenge" competitions where the rx-7s regularly take top prizes. They're ususally "drag race, roadcorse, offroad/rally" type events where you have to balace the car for all 3 events to win. The 2nd gens are a very versitle car.

As far as raw #s, the 2 rotor TIIs can push 250-450HP fairly reliably without sacrificing too much engine life. The 3 rotor is good for 350-650HP, but takes a bit of $$ to implement properly (but beats most anything out there when done right).

The "daily & dragster" built TIIs can hit the magic "10s" by swapping on drag slicks, changing the rear diff's gearing, large turbo, fuel & ECU upgrades, etc..

The fastest "drag only" TIIs are in the 7s usually, but they run alcohol and a 2 or 3 rotor engine.

There are faster "big block" non sports car "muscle cars" out there, but they would suck on the track compared to the RX-7. In fact the supra & rx-7s challenge each other as the rx-7 is all about low weight & high power ... whereas the supra turbo is about huge power but huge weight.

Mazda does take home more trophies in the end and has a much bigger racing circuit. They build their normal cars with sports car handling & suspension (mazdaspeed protege', protege'5, mazda 6).. so imagine what happens when they build a sports car

RX-7s have worldclass handling, win trophies, supercar power, and cheap pricetag - can't beat that

RexRyder

iTrader: (10)

u can get a tii jspec engine for 750, and if ur lucky (like me) u can find some pre-ported housings for 200. Or racing beat does porting (like 500 i think) for 1250 u can have a nice ported engine pushing 250hp, hmm not bad.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

Also see http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/buy1.htm

240sxGUY

what about the FD's, would those rotaries you speak of swap into them? and how much is labor usually? is there a certin amount of miles i should stay under when looking for a 7? and what years should i try to get? or not get.

thank you. this forum has been a lot of help and you guys posted sooo quick. haha

thanks again
-sonny (95 240 owner) hopefully an 7 or a sr20det will come haha

787B

an FD engine into an FC really wouldnt be worth the cost. And speaking of miles, there are two ways to go when getting a TII. I would stay away from a TII with over 100K on the original engine. Its not that they cant handle the mileage, its just a good chance the previous owner took bad care of it. So look for a TURBO II with under 80K or so and then go with a few mods, or go ahead and get a jspec engine or rebuild from www.fc3s.org

this is a good way to go b/c you have a fresh engine that can take a lot of mods and will be a lot less headaches one you get it in.

240sxGUY

no no no, sorry for the misunderstanding on the last post, i meant about the FD it self. should i follow the same steps when looking at these cars? do they have teh same problems? also if i blew a FD engine would it also cost the same as what he said..."u can get a tii jspec engine for 750, and if ur lucky (like me) u can find some pre-ported housings for 200. Or racing beat does porting (like 500 i think) for 1250 u can have a nice ported engine pushing 250hp, hmm not bad."

Suds7

How about a rebuild from Pineapple.

And to the guy with the 240, an sr20 would be a sweet setup.

AreExSeven

If you wanna get an FD, be prepared to fork over quite a bit of cash. I think they run anywhere from $12k to $18k nowadays, and have their share of common problems. Alot of them electrical I believe. The engines in FD's are stressed more, and will more likely break before an FC (N/A), and possibly a TII.

Upgrade parts are also a bit more expensive, however, the availability of them is much more than FC's (they are getting too old to develope new markets)

240sxGUY

well, how well does a SILVIA compared to a FD rx7. anyways i currently own a 95 240, and i am either going to get a s13 fastback (180sx) or a s14 (97-98) but its soo hard to find a 97-98, if anyone knows of one for sale in the S. cali area tell me

thank you


-sonny

vaughnc

The 3rd gen / FDs ARE WAY ABOVE any other car out there under $40,000. They are at the newer porsche 911 turbo as far as handling, power, & suspension.

We recommend the 2nd gen turbo IIs because they have less maintenance & cost associated with keeping them in tip-top shape. Plus the 2nd gen Turbo II is a "tuners" car in that you can sink more money into upgrades and not the car itself (purchasing, repairing, etc..) The RAW amount of reliable HP you can squeeze in the 2nd gen TIIs will amaze you. Plus you have a track capable car "right out of the box."

On the 3rd gens, Mazda went beyond the mid level sports car market and wanted to compete against porsche, blow away the supras, etc..

The 3rd gen rx-7s are phenominal, but you have to know how to take care of them. The engines need to be broken down every 75-100K miles or so and new seals installed. You need to have all the turbo tubes under the manifolds (all 200 of them) replaced & redone every 50K miles. An aftermarket ECU and radiator upgrades should be manditory before any HP mods. Keep in mind though the stock setup is good for 80-100HP above OEM HP levels on the stock setup (350HP) whereas the 2nd gen turbo TIIs are good for 50-75HP above OEM HP levels on the stock setup (275HP).

But believe me they are worth the effort as they're SOO exotic, powerful, and are considered the TOP car in the import seen. If built right, you can run the car on the track all day long with 0 reliability problems.

So that's why we say either sink your $$$ into keeping a 3rd gen runing smoothly or put your $$$ into upgrades to reliabily squeeze 250-350HP out of a TII right now.