Singer RX-7, refined
11-18-14, 09:30 AM
#26
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Don't even know where to start with the engine but I bet it would still be TT in keeping with the spirit of the car. Definitely the later turbos. I'll tell you this, a Singer RX-7 would not be too loud to drive, it would not smell of exhaust fumes, and it wouldnt buck on decel or have hesitation anywhere in the RPM range. Probably the best aspects of the stock and aftermarket ECUs, so get to tuning..
11-18-14, 10:18 AM
#27
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Yep
I have a simplified TT car right now that I'm trying to improve upon. These cars are really hard to beat when making about 300 plus HP and weighing 2600 pounds or so and with just basic bolt ons and some simplification they are super reliable.
Plan on adding the SMB DP and MP which will help with the gas smell and give it a quieter more refined exhaust note.
I'm also having trouble with the turbo control solenoid sticking when I boost over 12 psi so I need to have the baily's solenoids installed.
Once the above two mods are installed it's pretty much the perfect TT street car in my book.
Here's the current mod list:
Susp:
Tokicos in good shape with new Tein S Tech springs
Racing beat front sway bar
Rotary extreme upgraded front sway bar mounts
Exhaust:
M2 down pipe
Racing Beat SS mid pipe
Racing Beat single tip catback
Engine:
OEM original factory engine that pulls hard. PFC tuned by Ray at PFS and dynoed 343 at 14psi on dynojet: rear main seal replaced, oil pan resealed with oil pan brace
99 twin turbos (less than 10k miles at this time)
New coils, wires and hks twin power
Lots of misc hoses sensors and controls replaced
Rotary Extreme light weight battery kit
Cooling:
M2 medium smic
M2 carbon fiber intake
r1/r2 dual oil coolers
Davis/mazdacomp radiator
Fuel:
1300cc secondaries
Supra TT pump
FPD deleted
All fuel lines replaced and upgraded (absolutely NO LEAKS)
Interior:
Overall very good condition 8 out of 10
AC is ICE cold
Nothing missing or broken (map pocked repaired) everything working as it should
99 steering wheel
94 consoles
New OEM shift ****
Nice Kenwood stereo system
Defi boost and water temp gauges in a dual center channel pod
Exterior:
R1 front lip
Shark tooth mod (see picture)
aluminum door handles
Reliability:
Simplified sequential so now there are only 4 solenoids including both turbo control (pressure and vacuum) in the rats nest along with the turbo control wastegate and wastegate precontrol. I think that's 4 deleted solenoids. EGR, AWS, ACV all removed and blocked off. Double throttle removed and blocked off. The upper intake manifold can be removed in less than 5 minutes and from there everything is easy to get to so any needed solenoid, coil, OMP lines (SS OMP lines in place) repairs etc... are seamless. AST delete and done the right way with the nipple and line on top side of fill neck. LOTS of hours are put in to these mods to make it so much easier to work on and diagnose any future problems.
I have a simplified TT car right now that I'm trying to improve upon. These cars are really hard to beat when making about 300 plus HP and weighing 2600 pounds or so and with just basic bolt ons and some simplification they are super reliable.
Plan on adding the SMB DP and MP which will help with the gas smell and give it a quieter more refined exhaust note.
I'm also having trouble with the turbo control solenoid sticking when I boost over 12 psi so I need to have the baily's solenoids installed.
Once the above two mods are installed it's pretty much the perfect TT street car in my book.
Here's the current mod list:
Susp:
Tokicos in good shape with new Tein S Tech springs
Racing beat front sway bar
Rotary extreme upgraded front sway bar mounts
Exhaust:
M2 down pipe
Racing Beat SS mid pipe
Racing Beat single tip catback
Engine:
OEM original factory engine that pulls hard. PFC tuned by Ray at PFS and dynoed 343 at 14psi on dynojet: rear main seal replaced, oil pan resealed with oil pan brace
99 twin turbos (less than 10k miles at this time)
New coils, wires and hks twin power
Lots of misc hoses sensors and controls replaced
Rotary Extreme light weight battery kit
Cooling:
M2 medium smic
M2 carbon fiber intake
r1/r2 dual oil coolers
Davis/mazdacomp radiator
Fuel:
1300cc secondaries
Supra TT pump
FPD deleted
All fuel lines replaced and upgraded (absolutely NO LEAKS)
Interior:
Overall very good condition 8 out of 10
AC is ICE cold
Nothing missing or broken (map pocked repaired) everything working as it should
99 steering wheel
94 consoles
New OEM shift ****
Nice Kenwood stereo system
Defi boost and water temp gauges in a dual center channel pod
Exterior:
R1 front lip
Shark tooth mod (see picture)
aluminum door handles
Reliability:
Simplified sequential so now there are only 4 solenoids including both turbo control (pressure and vacuum) in the rats nest along with the turbo control wastegate and wastegate precontrol. I think that's 4 deleted solenoids. EGR, AWS, ACV all removed and blocked off. Double throttle removed and blocked off. The upper intake manifold can be removed in less than 5 minutes and from there everything is easy to get to so any needed solenoid, coil, OMP lines (SS OMP lines in place) repairs etc... are seamless. AST delete and done the right way with the nipple and line on top side of fill neck. LOTS of hours are put in to these mods to make it so much easier to work on and diagnose any future problems.
11-18-14, 10:17 PM
#28
Fritz, I agree with keeping the mods reasonable to make the car fun to drive and reliable. I've pointed people to your posts about what you consider a nicely modded FD.
I've modded my CYM for power about as much as I want to now.
PFC, M2 med IC, RB dual tip, DP, HF cat, 4.30 gears, shocks springs, front bar, ACT lightweight flywheel and street strip clutch. Really fun setup for the street and autox.
I'm working on making the inside nicer now too. I really like the redline leather shift and ebrake boots.
More to come. ..
I've modded my CYM for power about as much as I want to now.
PFC, M2 med IC, RB dual tip, DP, HF cat, 4.30 gears, shocks springs, front bar, ACT lightweight flywheel and street strip clutch. Really fun setup for the street and autox.
I'm working on making the inside nicer now too. I really like the redline leather shift and ebrake boots.
More to come. ..
11-19-14, 09:49 AM
#29
I'm a little schizo on my mods... it's a track car w/ no A/C, no stereo, and 800# springs, and I removed the sunroof, and headliner, but it still has a full interior otherwise and I just did an alcantera center tunnel, a-pillars, and shift/e-brake boots and e-brake handle and a polished e-brake button. I wish I could have two. One is a tough balancing act.
The only thing I'd REALLY put back is the A/C. I can deal with the ride, the rattles, the stink, the lack of tunes, and the race seats, but I'd REALLY like A/C in Virginia.
The only thing I'd REALLY put back is the A/C. I can deal with the ride, the rattles, the stink, the lack of tunes, and the race seats, but I'd REALLY like A/C in Virginia.
11-19-14, 10:26 AM
#30
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I'm a little schizo on my mods... it's a track car w/ no A/C, no stereo, and 800# springs, and I removed the sunroof, and headliner, but it still has a full interior otherwise and I just did an alcantera center tunnel, a-pillars, and shift/e-brake boots and e-brake handle and a polished e-brake button. I wish I could have two. One is a tough balancing act.
The only thing I'd REALLY put back is the A/C. I can deal with the ride, the rattles, the stink, the lack of tunes, and the race seats, but I'd REALLY like A/C in Virginia.
The only thing I'd REALLY put back is the A/C. I can deal with the ride, the rattles, the stink, the lack of tunes, and the race seats, but I'd REALLY like A/C in Virginia.
You have a mod addiction/tinkering problem like the rest of us and messing with your interior is all you have left to think about; ASIDE FROM SINGLE TURBO
11-19-14, 10:29 AM
#31
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Fritz, I agree with keeping the mods reasonable to make the car fun to drive and reliable. I've pointed people to your posts about what you consider a nicely modded FD.
I've modded my CYM for power about as much as I want to now.
PFC, M2 med IC, RB dual tip, DP, HF cat, 4.30 gears, shocks springs, front bar, ACT lightweight flywheel and street strip clutch. Really fun setup for the street and autox.
I'm working on making the inside nicer now too. I really like the redline leather shift and ebrake boots.
More to come. ..
I've modded my CYM for power about as much as I want to now.
PFC, M2 med IC, RB dual tip, DP, HF cat, 4.30 gears, shocks springs, front bar, ACT lightweight flywheel and street strip clutch. Really fun setup for the street and autox.
I'm working on making the inside nicer now too. I really like the redline leather shift and ebrake boots.
More to come. ..
And the 4.3 is another great mod that I should implement
11-19-14, 10:29 AM
#32
Track cars are different if you use it on the track. I'm drifting away from a track setup more to a nice street setup.
Here is a pic of my engine bay. I'm switching the IC couplers from blue to black. Notice tucked wiring. I want to have the cleanest engine bay with twins, AC and PS.
Fan relays tucked
Center airbag sensor wiring tucked
MAP sensor relocated (have to make the mounting bracket)
Here is a pic of my engine bay. I'm switching the IC couplers from blue to black. Notice tucked wiring. I want to have the cleanest engine bay with twins, AC and PS.
Fan relays tucked
Center airbag sensor wiring tucked
MAP sensor relocated (have to make the mounting bracket)
11-19-14, 10:55 AM
#33
I'm working on cleaning up my engine bay too... I converted to black couplers, I had the pipes and manifolds coated, converted to allen bolts here and there. I eliminated both of the plastic tanks behind the oil coolers (for brake ducts) and that actually looks a lot cleaner.
I've been looking at a lot of high-end "track cars" stuff like GT3's, special edition Astons and Ferraris, etc., and they are minimalist, but not exactly like true race cars, there's a lot of fine finishing and materials still... it's sort of a "race car chic" that I'd love to pull off in my car, since it's a street car too.
I've been looking at a lot of high-end "track cars" stuff like GT3's, special edition Astons and Ferraris, etc., and they are minimalist, but not exactly like true race cars, there's a lot of fine finishing and materials still... it's sort of a "race car chic" that I'd love to pull off in my car, since it's a street car too.
11-19-14, 11:24 AM
#34
I like the chromed end-brackets and color-coded shock tower brace. I'm certain that looks way gooder than the red one did. At the price that MAZDA was asking for these cars in the showroom, I always wondered why the braces weren't painted body color.
Hell, you even color matched the battery.
Hell, you even color matched the battery.
11-19-14, 11:58 AM
#35
Track cars are different if you use it on the track. I'm drifting away from a track setup more to a nice street setup.
Here is a pic of my engine bay. I'm switching the IC couplers from blue to black. Notice tucked wiring. I want to have the cleanest engine bay with twins, AC and PS.
Fan relays tucked
Center airbag sensor wiring tucked
MAP sensor relocated (have to make the mounting bracket)
Here is a pic of my engine bay. I'm switching the IC couplers from blue to black. Notice tucked wiring. I want to have the cleanest engine bay with twins, AC and PS.
Fan relays tucked
Center airbag sensor wiring tucked
MAP sensor relocated (have to make the mounting bracket)
11-20-14, 03:24 AM
#39
If you're retaining the ABS, you could do something like I did to mine (Although I didn't use it in the end..).
IMG-20130915-01006 by Tom Kinsman, on Flickr
Also all the random metal brackets in the interior and bay are green on the FD. I chrome plated all of these, which gives a quality feel and there isn't too much to make it overly garish. Same goes for all the brake line fittings and clutch master fittings.
IMG-20130915-01006 by Tom Kinsman, on FlickrAlso all the random metal brackets in the interior and bay are green on the FD. I chrome plated all of these, which gives a quality feel and there isn't too much to make it overly garish. Same goes for all the brake line fittings and clutch master fittings.
11-20-14, 08:34 AM
#40
If you're retaining the ABS, you could do something like I did to mine (Although I didn't use it in the end..). IMG-20130915-01006 by Tom Kinsman, on Flickr Also all the random metal brackets in the interior and bay are green on the FD. I chrome plated all of these, which gives a quality feel and there isn't too much to make it overly garish. Same goes for all the brake line fittings and clutch master fittings.
11-22-14, 12:02 PM
#43
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Great Thread, this is exactly what I think is the way all FDs should be modded, it kills me to see people take one of the most beautiful cars and try to change the character of the car.
12-03-14, 10:32 PM
#45
Even though I don't like the rear seats, I prefer the leather over the plastic bins. Sometimes I imagine leather wrapped rear bins...
I also like the s2000 push start button in place of the cigaretre lighter.
Nardi steering wheel with Nardi shift ****...match the passenger grip handle, shift boot and hand brake leather with the nardi leather
High Quality carpets
JDM trunk luggage strap
Upgrade the trunk hatch light to LED
Recaro bucket seats in custom leather
If you have additional aftermarket gauges, they often don't match the oem fonts, color and backlight color....so there is a inconsistency, like a over-decorated christmas tree. I often think about converting all my gauges (cluster and other additional gauges) to Speedhut Revolution. Have them all in the same font, color and style, makes it look much more professional.
I also like the s2000 push start button in place of the cigaretre lighter.
Nardi steering wheel with Nardi shift ****...match the passenger grip handle, shift boot and hand brake leather with the nardi leather
High Quality carpets
JDM trunk luggage strap
Upgrade the trunk hatch light to LED
Recaro bucket seats in custom leather
If you have additional aftermarket gauges, they often don't match the oem fonts, color and backlight color....so there is a inconsistency, like a over-decorated christmas tree. I often think about converting all my gauges (cluster and other additional gauges) to Speedhut Revolution. Have them all in the same font, color and style, makes it look much more professional.
12-05-14, 08:31 AM
#46
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I love a Singer Porsche, and to be honest, it seems like quite a lot of this thread is missing the point - it's not about just fitting jewelly parts, it's about making a 'best of' car and then adding luxury bespoke items.
Classic example: Singer fit roll cages to a lot of their cars. Simple, huh? Well, how many FDs are out there with leather clad roll cages?
It's OEM+ taken to it's natural conclusion. So you're not really talking off the shelf Nardi wheels, you're talking Nardi wheels retrimmed to match the rest of the retrimmed interior, which would be something like Spirit R buckets, but with high quality leather and extra padding.
Singer look at everything down to the minute detail, so they'd then turn their attention to the seat frames and start creating mouldings to cover the unsightly parts.
Look at sound deadening - not just slapping on a load of Dynamat/Second skin - we're talking mass loading panels, attaching acoustic barriers, filling voids.
It's not a case of looking at off the shelf shock/spring setups, it's looking to people like Ohlins and Penske. Make no mistake, doing a 'Singer' RX7 will in no way be cheap, ever.
It's real attention to detail, bespoke parts that blend seamlessly with OEM style refinement and compliancy
This is kind of what I've been trying to head for, but on a budget, so I think it's unfair to even start to draw parallels with what Dickinson and his team do. Ceylon did it very well until he sadly canned his project
He took the best bits, made them better*, with acute attention to detail, and then made them all work as a whole - it's that holistic view that makes a Singer a Singer.
*Except the inlet manifold...
Classic example: Singer fit roll cages to a lot of their cars. Simple, huh? Well, how many FDs are out there with leather clad roll cages?
It's OEM+ taken to it's natural conclusion. So you're not really talking off the shelf Nardi wheels, you're talking Nardi wheels retrimmed to match the rest of the retrimmed interior, which would be something like Spirit R buckets, but with high quality leather and extra padding.
Singer look at everything down to the minute detail, so they'd then turn their attention to the seat frames and start creating mouldings to cover the unsightly parts.
Look at sound deadening - not just slapping on a load of Dynamat/Second skin - we're talking mass loading panels, attaching acoustic barriers, filling voids.
It's not a case of looking at off the shelf shock/spring setups, it's looking to people like Ohlins and Penske. Make no mistake, doing a 'Singer' RX7 will in no way be cheap, ever.
It's real attention to detail, bespoke parts that blend seamlessly with OEM style refinement and compliancy
This is kind of what I've been trying to head for, but on a budget, so I think it's unfair to even start to draw parallels with what Dickinson and his team do. Ceylon did it very well until he sadly canned his project
He took the best bits, made them better*, with acute attention to detail, and then made them all work as a whole - it's that holistic view that makes a Singer a Singer.*Except the inlet manifold...
12-05-14, 08:47 AM
#47
100% with you SiH.
The closest example out there I can think of is Gordon Monsen.
Especially when it comes to interior, it was well thought out and executed with incredible detail:
https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...evo-gt-937174/
...that said, and like you said, we aren't Singer. We can only hope to achieve something that can be "influenced by" them.
Instead of just lighter, faster, more - something more refined.
...and I for one am open to ideas.
The closest example out there I can think of is Gordon Monsen.
Especially when it comes to interior, it was well thought out and executed with incredible detail:
https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...evo-gt-937174/
...that said, and like you said, we aren't Singer. We can only hope to achieve something that can be "influenced by" them.
Instead of just lighter, faster, more - something more refined.
...and I for one am open to ideas.
01-15-15, 11:44 AM
#48
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I am leading a thread on the Group Buy forum to purchase the Rigid Collar system that will improve rigidity and therefore setup, longevity etc.
If you follow this thread, this is a perfect way to improve the car above stock for less than $500...we need 4 more people to jump in so we can get a discount...
https://www.rx7club.com/group-buy-pr...r-kit-1074163/
If you follow this thread, this is a perfect way to improve the car above stock for less than $500...we need 4 more people to jump in so we can get a discount...
https://www.rx7club.com/group-buy-pr...r-kit-1074163/
01-15-15, 01:38 PM
#49
^^Same here Gordon. Not sure how I missed this thread up to this point. I like to think I'm a detail freak, but good taste is always somewhat subjective. Until today I had never heard of SINGER, so wow, yet another cool venue to explore for ideas. I've always admired Jeff and his work. His thread where he brought his CYM back from the brink is just epic! Just wanted to throw one thing that I've done into the mix. Custom 1.8 gal WI tank, mounted behind my rear hatch panel and totally out of view. I love super-clean cars with levels of well-thought-out detail. Kind of like the longer you look the more you're rewarded for your patience.
