(OTHER) upgrading my GSL-SE????
 

Ok, my plan is to get either a 84/85 GSL-SE with between 70-100k miles. i want it to last me a few years, i want it to be reliable, and i want it to go fast. It will be mostly used for some day to day driving, but i like speed, dont we all? I dont know much about 7's, and any advice you give me would be appreciated. Any books, magazines, webpages, articles you could reccomend to me would be good. This is what im thinking...
Intake (maybe KN filter, and an adaptor)
Exhaust
Porting
NOT turbo
I need to know how these will help me, what kinds you would reccomend, where to get them, how they affect the reliability of my car, and how to make up for this. ALso, what about other mods such as drive train, suspension, tires, ignition, etc. what would you reccomend?? in order of importance please
Thanks
Jonathan

Heres just some ball park ideas, make of it what you will ;)

Performance:
The most restrictive part on a stock 1st generation RX-7 is its exhaust, ditch it for a full new setup, headers, high flo cat if needed or to a good quality muffler (read: RacingBeat.com)
An exhaust will def give you a good seat of the pants perf boost and should make you happy, giving you about 10hp+ if you go with a headers type system

not sure much about other perf. stuff with GSL-SE's but i know the exhaust is def the #1 restriction

As for suspension Tires will always give you the most noticable, on these cars the susp. by now tend to be shot which meens youll also notice a difference from new struts springs, and also poly bushings are a nice touch

Like Serzy said, get a nice exhaust setup. I swapped my cats out (which were pretty far gone) and tossed in a Bonez high flow cat. Definatly a difference. Top end in 4th went from 115MPH to 120MPH (don't ask how I know). Get some nice tires, the car came with V rated rubber, but you can't get V rated rubber in 205/60/14, so you can either drop to H rated, or step up to 15" rims. (which I'm planning on doing) An intake won't help too much, your best bet is to get a K&N drop in for the airbox. Get a new set of shocks, struts and springs. Stock on the GSL-SE is very good, but Tokico Blue's and Eibach's are pretty common, if you like adjustability, get the Illuminas. Go check Max7's site for the MSD direct fire conversion. For ~$200 it's a good way to improve your gas milage and make the car idle a little better, as well as provide some throttle response. If you don't wanna do that, make sure you've got new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coils in there, since they'll probably be aging. Toss some good synthetic gear oil in the tranny and the rear end. Mine had never been changed in the life of the car, and was pretty nasty. Find Denny's reccomended MMO treatment, and use that and I'm sure your -SE will see plenty of miles. You can't beat a N/A rotary on reliability and fun to drive factor.

good luck,
--matt

I have a '85 SE I'm in process of restoring. I've done or have the parts to do pretty much everything thats been listed. Most everything you can do has been said ........ except one thing.

Improving "go" is a matter of making it easier for your car to "breath in" (air intake) and breath out (exhaust). All the things you do is some variation of dealing with these two issues.

If you going to stay pretty much stock with bolt on's like I am, the only thing that you can do that hasn't already been listed is to adapt a 86-88 air flow meter to your SE. This is on my to do list if my friend ever gives me the URL that talks about how to transfer and map the electronics from my SE Air Flow Meter to the 2nd Gen one.

This recognizes that the SE air flow is managed by a single door whereas the 2nd Gen air flow is managed by a double door. Double door, easier breathing, better air intake.

Check out Racing Beats cataloge as to high performance exhaust designed for an SE. Thats the way I'm going.

2nd Gen Air Flow meter into GSL-SE
 

Ok, here's the link. Turns out this is still in the testing stage and not proven out yet. So, unless your a techno wiz, probably best to wait and see on this one.

Sure makes sense and well thought out research so far.

http://max7.rx-7.org/mods/mod-afm.htm

did anyone here wanna mention the electric fan & lightened flywheel. The fan I can speak for and it makes 1&2 more enjoyable. The flywheel I can only imagine. Well just wanted to add to the fray.

More things
underdrive pulleys and the remouval of the airpump.
Also u can adjust the timming for more power , mazda detuned it for those DAMN EMMMISIONS

And what about NOS it ill give power when u need it.

Oh ya i forgot about an other mod a stand alone EFI system like a haltech or TEC2. this will increase ur power and reliability,but is quite expesive.

does anybody know if u can street port a six port 13B

laycock certainly found the best places to ask questions. Good luck with it man!