82transam

iTrader: (18)

What's up everyone?
I was wondering if anyone knows if putting a second gen rx7 rear end in a first gen is possible or am I just totaly stupid for thinking of this? I'm sure everyone knows the advantages of independant over live axle rear ends, that's what made me think of this in the first place. If it is possible has anyone here done it? any pics? Thanks

peejay

It's been done, and there's no gain other than the fangle factor.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Got any pics of it?

peejay

Nope, sorry.

eddierotary

iTrader: (7)

i ask the same question quite a while ago and the answer is no.

riffraff

i think that there would be to much custom work necessary to make it possible. and it probably would not be worth the trouble

peejay

nothing is impossible!

a friend of mine put a Thunderbird IRS under his '55 Chevy pickup, just made the brackets for the subframe, jigged everything up, and welded them to the truck's frame. He says it rides sooo much smoother than his old set-up, but then again his old rear suspension had extremely stiff leaves in the springs because it only had about 1" of up-travel before the axle hit the frame, not a problem with his IRS.

RX-7s would be trickier because the rear suspension on an FC isn't entirely contained to a subframe, and likewise there is no frame to attach it to on a 1st-gen... basically you'd be up to your elbows in mating sheetmetal. Not saying that it can't be done, but it would be a lot more work than it should be. To see how bad it can be, do a google search for "Project Suprang" - there's a guy out there slowly putting an early Supra front and rear suspension in a '65 Mustang. Involves lots of quality time with a plasma cutter and a MIG.

I'll hunt for the link... I swear someone has done it before, and found it to be no gain over a well set-up solid axle.

Barwick

how would it provide no benefit? Independent rear suspension instead of solid rear axle? Unsprung weight = bad. Solid rear axle = more unsprung weight.

riffraff

there would be benifit, but probably just not worth the effort.
you might as well save yourself the time and money, and through in a first gen lsd

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Just gotta do what my co workers say when I bring up some odd swaps.

Get creative with the power tools. (Plasma Cutter, Sawz-All, and Welder.)

peejay

You have to understand that in some ways, solid axles are FAR superior to IRS. You cannot get much more than 25% anti-squat with an IRS... you can readily get over 100% anti-squat with a solid axle, which really is too much for anything but drag racing!

I'd rather have a good solid axle over a IRS at the track anyday, any solid axle over any IRS (or even IFS!) for off-roading, for the street... IRS starts to show benefits

82transam

iTrader: (18)

yea I know the advantages of live axel for drag racing. IRS is way better for road racing, which is what I am looking to do, or just some illegal street racing who knows.

peejay

think about it... road racing is done on smooth streets... where's the benefit of unsprung weight? heck people tend to stiffen the suspension so much that it doesn't move, at that point you have NO suspension...

82transam

iTrader: (18)

All right peejay you're probably right, I still want to do it anyway cuase it'd be really cool, you have to admit

peejay

Yeah, the fangle factor is extreme I have a Subaru rear that would be perfect, but the only performance gain I'd get from it would be I could run pipes right to the tail with no bend over the axle...