rx7dawg

Hey guys, I have a 79 Rx7 with electric ignition upgrade, racing beat headers and K&n with Bonez intake. Im just curious as to what our cars with mild upgrades can compete with these days. Im almost afraid of getting spanked by something like a pt cruiser, lol. If you guys have this problem or think I just dont know what the heck im doin, let me know. lol. I just wanna know what you guys have and wont tangle with.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Why are you asking? Go race someone . Every race is different. Some people cant even drive, you could beat a Ferrari if someone that cant drive was behind the wheel...Just go try and bet some people. Form your own decision .

~T.J.

PS - I out ran a 98 Vtec Prelude on the highway the otherday...You and I both know I should NOT have been able to do that (I dont think) .

rx7dawg

Well Im sayin if the driver is competent and the car is late model. I can drive my 7 but i havent pushed her in a long time. Nice kill on the Prelude.

rx7dawg

Oh yea Im still lookin for suggestions of the what the 1st generation Rx7 can compete with. thanks.

Redwood

Well, assuming both you and the other driver are both good, you should be able to hold your own with most cars out there. Not saying you're going to take a WRX or something, but you will surely beat a PT cruiser (Those things are way underpowered, at least until they get that turbo engine in a few years. Finally, Detroit is learning how to make efficient power, turbo 4 baby oh yeah )

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

You can beat Yugo's and Geo Metro's.

Felix Wankel

And the occasional Daewoo.

yayarx7

Stay away from kia sephias. They have the 1.8 DOHC mazda motor, that with the right driver can hurt a mildly modified 12a..... do not ask me how I know....

Suparslinc

you can take compact pickup trucks and economy cars. Stay away from any midsized sedan from the '80s.

these cars are not free-way drag racers. You can still hang with alot of modern cars in the corners, but in a straight line they are lacking.

peejay

Modern cars can't compete with the simplicity of an SA. Modern cars have computer module controlled EVERYTHING. Instead of a light switch turbing the lights on, the light switch sends a signal to a computerized module that decides if the lights should be on or not (whther or not you have the light switch on in the first place).

One of the most ANNOYING cars I have ever been in was a new car. It was cold out and I had to use the windshield spritzer to clear some muck off. I hit the spritzer, it wetted the windshield. One swipe. (Windshield getting clean). Two swipe. (Windshield is clean). Three swipe (Windshield is smeared and instantly gets covered with a thin layer of ice) AARRGGHH!!! The computer control REFUSED to do less than three swipes after the spritzer stopped spraying. Two would have been sufficient. In fact, two would have been perfect and three would have been too many. But I had no control over that. I ended up hitting the damn washer for 10 miles just so I could see well enough to drive.

I have no problem with technology. I have a problem with excessive use of technology. No need for a computer to do what a switch does even better. If I leave my lights on, or forget to turn them on, then the consequences are my own damn fault. Likewise, the computer doesn't know best when it comes to driving down the highway at 70mph when it is 30 degrees (F, sorry my Metric friends... okay, -1c) and clear.

Modern cars simply cannot compare to simplicity. I'd much rather operate a machine than be coddled by a nanny!

nosajwrx-7

I have an 83 with a stock 87na 13b under the hood, the car is pretty rough, but still quick. It is going under the knife soon for enging and suspension mods. I beat a WRX with it! (my secret is my wife was driving the Suby)
Otherwise I would never attempt it!

Maguire

iTrader: (1)

My step brother beat a WRX at the track once, in his 16valve twincam swift. For being a POS it sure was fast. doubt i could take it.

4ohfour

wow, a 16 valve twin cam swift! that'd be awsome and a great thing to add to the conversation had it not been for the glaring line "WHAT CAN A FIRST GEN BEAT?"

cheers'

nosajwrx-7

Doh!

DJ Rotor

Why don't you just take it to a drag strip, get some hard numbers, and then you will know? No point in speculating.

851stgen12a

Well at the auto-x this weekend I killed all the stock and mild CSP 5.0 mustangs, The new Acura RSX, and a new Mini Cooper. I think its all in the driver

Maguire

iTrader: (1)

:quote:
wow, a 16 valve twin cam swift! that'd be awsome and a great thing to add to the conversation had it not been for the glaring line "WHAT CAN A FIRST GEN BEAT?"

cheers'
:quote:



OH! sorry!!! I forgot the strict rules of posting. Thanks for reminding me. i wont forget next time i promise.

RotoHead

I know that the subject is what can a first gen beat, but I'll tell you what a stock 85 GS can't beat. I tried to race my friend in his MR-2, but he neglected to let me know it was a turbo model. Needless to say, the results were not pretty. I would think that with mild modding you should be able to take your everyday civics and most non turbo cars.

SilverRocket

With an aftermarket carb, exhaust and a few other goodies, plus as much weight reduction as you can possibly handle, an FB GS with no ac or anything like that (SA's are somewhat heavier, but I'd imagine results would be similar) will be running 15 flats or a little better.

I think that's around, or a little better than what a stock Integra Type R runs.

Realistically, most of those ricers out there are running mid 15's at best. I almost never have any trouble showing my taillights to any of them.

My experience is that my car is slightly faster than a stock Series 4 TII until highway speeds, and slower to accelerate at high speeds (where my light weight is less of an advantage).

So yeah, take heart, stockport SA/FB's can be competitive with some decent cars given a few mods.

Felix Wankel

My Protege has the same engine in it. Not too shabby for a 4 banger.

Keaponlaffen

SA cars are lighter stock, by like 500 pounds....


Jeff

PaulFitzwarryne

Why do you need to beat anyone while driving a claaic 20 year old car? OK, modification can make it go faster but less streetworthy.

If you want to beat a few modern cars, look on the Forum for the list of vehicles and 1/4 times then decide who you want to beat and show of your manhood.

My five seat family car does a 1/4 in the high 12 seconds according to the road test. It would take substantial modifications to my RX-7 to beat it. However it does not give me as much driving pleasure as the Rex.

There is a saying in sailing circles, the ldeal boat is the next sixe up to what you have [can afford!]. Is your ideal RX the one with the next level of modifications? Once you are there unfortunately the ideal car is once more the next step up. Result- continual frustration.

Enjoy your car as it is and dont care if on the Honda website someone boasts they beat a RX-7.

SilverRocket

Wrong. Check your stats.

The lightest of first gens are the 81-83 GS models.

SilverRocket

Paul, you have some interesting points, but speak for yourself. There's nothing wrong with modifying an RX-7; in my opinion, well chosen modifications enhance the fine points of the car and do not degrade the initial intention.

I feel like the modifications I have accomplished in fact bring out the true character and intention of the car, leaning out some of the compromise inherent in the stock setup.

I like my car much better now than when it was stock. Why? Firstly, it is a lot more fun. It corners much harder, accelerates much quicker, feels more nimble and generally nicer. It sounds *amazing*. My racing seat is considerably more comfy IMHO and serves my purposes better than the stock seat ever did.

Another very big advantage, in my book, is the great simplicity of the setup. No more jungle of unknown stuff under the hood. Just the motor, the carb, and the other essential components. The Dellorto carb is so much simpler to tune and fix than the Nikki, it's fantastic.

Know what comes of it? I have nearly no problems with my car anymore. Relatively no unexpected troubles, no hard-to-diagnose mysterious problems, etc. Why? Because a lot of what's under the hood has been rebuilt/cleaned/fixed/adjusted/installed by me. I know what's there, how it works, and that it's been done right. A lot of the potential trouble spots have been plain eliminated through sheer simplification and clarity of purpose.

So, you say modification renders the car unstreetable? I would argue the exact opposite - it's much easier for me to keep my car in good shape and on the road every single day than it was before.

Downside? It uses more fuel. That's about it.

Can you tell I really love my car?

EDIT - I forgot to mention, that the large amount of time I've spent modifying and otherwise working on my car has been some of the most fun ever. As long as my university student budget permits, I do a modication every spring after exams. It's kind of like my vacation... this year it was the rebuild/install/tuning of my carb, fuel pump and regulator. At the same time were wheel bearings and a new window regulator. The year before, it was my electric fan. I intersperse smaller mods throughout the summer as required

Anyways, what I'm saying is, a lot of the enjoyment comes from the process of modifying my car. As well, if I didn't do so, I probably wouldn't get the hands on experience of learning about every little detail of my car; see, you learn a lot when you start taking everything apart.

So yeah, don't diss it!

851stgen12a

AMEN SILVERROCKET!!!