itzweapon

woopz..
5th gear :]

mperformance

you try to hit 145 mph on a first gen with only 180hp you need all the help you can get. that is basically what I wanted to say...not really unstable...but it was more stable or at least it felt that way with the front spoiler /airdam and the couple of mph more proved it. I think the car is well capable of 200mph. I wouldn't do it but it is possible with enough horsepower.

I think if I'm not mistaken that the second gen was actually better than the first and the third gen at high speed. Didn't a 3rd gen flip over during a high speed trial?

peace

mperformance

ahh yeah I reread the post. Yeah so the 3rd gen did flip. Wow!!! yeap it's all about aerodynamics...

peejay

Yeah, they designed the aerodynamics for going FORWARDS, not sideways or in reverse

Wattz

Yeah it must've sucked *** to be in that FD when it did that...

riffraff

just got to hope that he had a roll cage

peejay

ROLL CAGE?

Heck, that wasn't an FD, it was a purpose built race car that looked kinda like an FD on the outside. The writeup in Car and Driver mentioned something about a 3-rotor, probably a 13G (IIRC it was a big single turbo, peripheral port) and a huge water-air intercooler with practically the whole back end of the car full of the water storage tank. Weight is a good thing at Bonneville - aids traction and keeps the car on the ground. Well, MOST of the time...

riffraff

okay.. so this was a bonneville thing.. i have not seen the article, and was imagining that this was someones street car

Blitz0309

riffraff, what mods do yo have to you car that let you get up there... hell, i dunno i my rex wil go much above 100.

riffraff

mild streetport on my 4-port 13b. stock niki carb. rb dual exhaust (the one with the presilencers). carter fuel pump and holley regulator (running way to rich). i just added some msd blaster II coils and jacobs energy wires. i have not really done that much to my seven yet.. i am even still runing on the stock rims with dead rubber

i am expecting a big improvement when i get a new intake (both manifold and carb) and switch over to direct fire.. also want to get an electric fan

itzweapon

I have the video.. of the 3rd gen flipping over.. man its something to see.. but she was hauling ***!!!!! she went sidewayz first.. like she lost traction.. then the air got under her and thats all she wrote.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

oooooooo oooooooo, put it up. i want it.

ATC529R

bringing this back from the dead.

my interpretation. 16" wheels make it more stable, roll up the windows at high speed, and duct the hood to release air.

am I missing anything?

I know I've run mine to 120+ (no speedo, but 5th is 125mph based on my setup/gears/tires/tranny) and it feels very stable at that speed.

I was just thinking of a small front lip and vent the hood and I am good. I do have a rear spoiler, but it's one I made and not as aggressive as most.

midnight mechanic

I did 130 mph on old tires, it felt like it was about to blow up

Then did 130 with out noticing it on new tires. I didn't mean to.

Either way, "well this was stupid".

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

Just checked my lap timer app that uses GPS, not the most accurate, but better than relying upon the speedo. I’ve been on most tracks in the Northeast with a stock port 12a completely stock aero with only RB springs, front sway bar and 100tw tires. The car hits a brick wall at 100mph and the highest speed I have clocked is 106 mph at Palmer Motorsports park (CCW) and I’m pretty sure I was tailing someone on that lap.

kurtf

iTrader: (3)

For a some reference, Darren Dilley, in a GT-2 13B PP, tube framed, winged, Goodyear slicks, lightweight full race chassis did a 149 top speed at Indy runoffs in 2017.

Anywhere over that speed in street car with mild improvements I would consider pretty spectacular. Or dubious.

lwrobins

Somone's probably mentioned this, but a front air dam like this IMSA cure's the high speed front end float.

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I see a lot of IT7 guys run that, It seems pretty no brainer if you are out there attacking lap times that you need to address the front end aero. No competitive race car will have a shark nose front end.

Although it seems racing beat didn't bother back in the day.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

its dubious!

MTheoryInc

iTrader: (3)

From the article about that rx7.
For the 1978 Bonneville event, Racing Beat developed this first generation RX7 (again with the help of Car & Driver Magazine). Thanks to the sleeker body of the RX7 and improved engine tuning, this car set a record of 183.9 MPH with Car & Driver editor Don Sherman behind the wheel.

ATC529R

183 is sick on a fairly stock 7 back then. and no spoilers etc.

I have the same lower front lip on my car.

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, the lip I think is stock Series 1 but Series 2-3 redesign is missing it. I've been tempted to put a lip on my Series 3 but the common one available today covers up the brake ducts and I don't much care for the IMSA lip. Trying to find more picks of the Racing Beat car just to see if they covered up some of the frontal area or anything.

ATC529R

yeah, I don't care for just about any of the aftermarket air dams (or body kits for that matter). They mostly come down flat in front. That would leave HUGE amounts of wasted space IMO. you could get brake ducts and cold air intakes in that much room I would think. I would much prefer the style above (vented for intake or brake ducts or just less lift) and a couple side flares in front of the front and wheel tires for downforce and vent the hood. call me crazy.

Benjamin4456

The front end float is certainly what keep my speeds down. Granted it's just a street car, but above 90 and the front end on my SA gets pretty floaty - top speed I've hit was ~106 and it wasn't much fun. I'd love some better front aero, but I wish it didn't come at the cost of losing the stock front end design.

Maxwedge

iTrader: (1)

I've had 2) '85's and they both go up to 120 and stop there. Stock trannies and rear gearing. I assume 120 is as fast as the stock aerodynamics and gearing will let them go.