mine is the same way, last year was just hectic....

 

Here we go... again.

I just spoke to Dave at KDR (Speed 1) and my engine is back in the car. Car will be dyno tuned and available for pickup this week. The weather has been beautiful and I can hardly wait to break it in and get back on the track.

 

Good luck with the rx-7. Your beast is beautiful and it seems like you have plans for a faster future. I am living vicariously through your posts! Thanks for all the eye candy.

 

Thanks Grumpy!

Due to an oil leak, pickup did not happen last weekend and has been pushed to next weekend as I only have time on Saturday to go up there.

Meanwhile, I'm upgrading my DD 335i from the Dinan stage II to the stage III which requires an upgraded intercooler and oil cooler. I will keep the stock factory parts in case there is a way to use them on the RX-7.

 

I have not been here for a while as I have been working, traveling, getting some certifications, and going back to school to get my master's.

I realized that I never posted pictures of the completed result so for those who have paitently waited, here goes:



Here you can see my two DD's in the background the 335 and the Mini Cooper S















And there she is.

 

Dear mother of god.

 

I like the 335. I like the Mini too. I LOVE the FB. Looks great man.

 

Glad that you like it. It is good when your vision comes together.

 

The car came out great Mikeric! Always good when a vision comes together and one finally enjoys. Now go out and drive that bad boy!!

-Bern

 

You have done well my friend. Car is really looking great, hard to believe the results when I know what you started out with.

As always, if you're ever in the area give me a shout.




.

 

Thanks! Going back to school has killed my racing budget for the next coupe of years but I still terrorize the local I-95. I get a lot of crazy looks as people try to figure out what the hell it is. A FB is rare enough around here but this thing is in another category. I have had a couple of people tell me "nice Porsche". Of course taking all of the emblems off only adds to the confusion.

 

So, a month or so ago I had my car on the dyno at Speed 1 for tuning since I had just broken in my engine. Car is barely at 300 horses at low boost and it looses compression. WTF! Dave had overbuilt this engine and he too was perplexed.

Dave was frustrated as he had this happen to a few engines both turbo and NA. Once night he started gauging all of the components and found out that the Atkins corner seals were out of spec and the croove was not centered causing the apex seal to drag and eventually lose compression. He had to tear out a few new engines awaiting tuning and mine and rebuilt with new apex seals and stock corner seals.

I just picked up the car this Saturday and have yet to drive it as I need about 100 miles to properly seat the seals as the engine is very tight and starts hard. I also discovered that my FD altornator is puting out barely 12amps so I need to source another one and my stock radiotor has come unsoldered at one of the mounting brackets--so it is time to change that out too.

Any suggestions on the radiator and the altornator? Mazda wants $147.38 for the alternator and the radiator is discontinued. I have had only bad luck with ebay and the local parts stores.

 

Called Mazdatrix to see if they per chance had a FB radiator. They did not but recommended the Champion 3-row sold on eBay so I ordered one of those and will let you know how it works out.

 

Definitely interested in your thoughts on the radiator, stuck with an aftermarket right now and it definitely "exceeds manufacturers specifications..." by about an inch on the lower radiator outlet

On a side not sorry I never had the chance to catch up with you while i was finishing graduate school in philly you better go to the new rotorfest at atco raceway!

 

That is exactly what I installed. Pure awesomeness.

 

Dont get the 2-row tall rad. The lower pipe will hit the steering rack. I had to get Sam to cut and reweld mine to make it fit. Also my fan motor sits maybe 5mm from the water pump pulley. It's all very snug in there now. Otherwise they are decently made and mine seems to do the job well enough for the few times I've driven the car this year.

 

No, I purchased this one:

1983-1985 MAZDA RX-7 ALL ALUMINUM RADIATOR 3 ROW | eBay

I have the Re-Speed steering rack so we will see if that is an issue. I run a slim electric fan so the distance shouldn't be a problem.

 

Mike,

That's the one I've got. Fits nice with a 12a and efans, but you might be real snug with the 13b in there. I can't remember, but Orion might have the Respeed rack as well.

Good luck, I hope you can make it fit. I'm very happy with mine.

 

Girlfriend just told me that it arrived today.

Now I just need to find a good replacement alternator. I have been running an FD alternator that I purchased at PepBoys (and already retuned once). Mine is barely putting out 12V. Where is a good, quality source for less than Mazda (which charges $250)?

 

I found a new Bosh for $187 here

PartsTrain.com - Hard to Find Auto Parts and Truck Parts - Alternator - For

They also have remanufactured Denso for $171 +$42 core deposit which is a pain in the a*s to ship back. I'm also sick of crappy remanufactured alternators as I have had no luck so far.

Does anyone have any experience with Bosh Alternators?

 

looking real good.great job...

 

Ignore this

 

Been a while since I posted here. Car was put away for the winter.

The radiator didn't fit due to the ReSpeed rack so Dave did some custom work to move the return pipe to the side. Lots of manhours but it ended up looking good.

I brought the car home a couple weekends ago but never pulled it off the trailer. Since it is supposed to be great weather today I had planned to drive it to work as I still need to break the engine in in order to do the final tuning. However, the V-band clamp on the hotside of the turbo had come apart and I need to get that replaced before running it.

 

Installed new 3" V-band clamp installed and problem fixed. Took it for a spin and I have to say that even though this is not the final tune and the boost controller is off. This is the best and smootest tune I have had so far maybe it is the 22000cc secondaries but this thing idles perfectly and pulls like a bat out of hell--and that is at 10lbs. I can't wait to get the engine broken in and get the final tune.

About time this thing came together.

 

So, life changes things and it is with great sadness that I need to put my baby up for sale.

I am buying a house and getting married and the RX-7 just does not fit into the picture now and I have not really driven it much or been to any events in the last two years due to work and other demands. I can't justify keeping it.

If anyone knows anyone interested in a rip-roaring first gen that is ready to take on just about anything, let me know. I estimate with differentials, engines, turbos, transmission, seats, widebody, paint wheels etc, I have probably put about $24,000 into it.

I think $10k is a fair asking price based on what I have seen other RX-7s go for. Thoughts or comments?

I will also be asking for $1K for the trailer.

Discuss.