1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

13b swap

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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 03:12 PM
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From: Madison
13b swap

Hi I currently have a 12a in my 83 rx7 I was wondering if a fuel injected turbo 13b with a trans and ecu will fit in my car also if I different trans is necessary or if modifications are necessary. Thanks in advance!
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Old Aug 22, 2015 | 04:29 PM
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It's better to boost prep the carb and use it with a turbo instead of converting everything over to fuel injection. I say this not only because that is exactly what I've done on mine, the whole boost prepped Nikki thing, but I also installed fuel injection in a friend's RX-7 and it wasn't as good in the end. I'm just trying to save you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours.
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Old Aug 23, 2015 | 10:41 AM
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
the later 13B's fit, the engine goes in pretty easily, the transmission can either stay the same or be switched to the FC turbo one.

converting to EFI is rather a big job, but its been done quite a lot.
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Old Aug 23, 2015 | 04:23 PM
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As far as, drivability and tunability fuel injection is not just hard, it's impossible to beat. I've had both and would never boost anything with a carb. Just my 2 cents

Of course, a lot depends on your goals, budget, etc.
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Old Aug 23, 2015 | 04:40 PM
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I don't like Holleys on a rotary either, but for other reasons. Cornering issues, expensive parts, poor quality parts etc. You end up making the same power as a properly boost prepped Nikki so might as well go with the Nikki and actually keep the ability to corner.

Last edited by Jeff20B; Aug 23, 2015 at 04:43 PM.
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Old Aug 23, 2015 | 05:20 PM
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It can be done, it takes a lot of time and money like j9fd3s and Jeff20B said. The driveshaft alone will cost 300-500$ alone. I'm actually doing one now, and I have been working on the wiring harness for about a month. But than again, I only get a couple hours a night to work on it.if you decide to do it, do a lot of research on it first, and definitely get the wiring diagrams for your car and what year your engine and harness is from
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Old Sep 1, 2015 | 02:13 PM
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Short answer, yes. Worth it? depends on what your goals are. If you are looking for more power then staying with a carburetor is easier and possibly more effective as Jeff20b said. If you are looking for dependability and ease of use for a regular driver, then fuel injection is hard to beat as 12abridgeport said.

Long answer. Going with fuel injection does require a fair amount of work and lots of hours pouring over wiring diagrams to do. The best way is to start with a complete donor car, if you can, so that you have all the little bits and pieces that will nickel and dime you to death. Either way it will require sourcing a GSL-SE front cover, oil pan, and oil pick-up tube so you can fit the 13B in with the 1stgen front cross member. You will have to figure out how to make the early wiring harness interface with the FI wiring harness (there are no ready made solutions to this, it's either make it yourself or pay someone to do it for you) as well as addressing the fuel system. Several ways to go about it, some expensive, some not so much. Transmissions aren't a problem as all the naturally aspirated transmissions fit. Depending upon which naturally aspirated transmission you use and which car (SA or FB), you will have to either cut the shifter opening further back or shorten the shifter on the transmission to keep it in the stock opening. Shortening the shifter is actually not all that hard to do on the FB and FC transmissions. The SA transmission would be a lot more complicated to shorten. Depending upon where you position the engine the stock driveshaft will work. The 13B is 20mm longer than the 12A so it means moving the engine and trans slightly forward to use the stock driveshaft. Some would rather move the engine back and opt for a custom driveshaft.

So it really depends upon what you are looking to do with your car and how much work you are prepared to put in to accomplish it.
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Old Sep 2, 2015 | 05:57 PM
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