This summer i will be working alot and that means alot of cash for the 7. I know the 7 is a made for handling so why not max out its handling? but all my friends care about is horse power and going in a straight line.

Basically if i got mainly suspension upgrades it would be fun for me in free time as i live in wv there are PLENTY of curvy roads.

If i got horsepower i could smoke all of my friends but prolly not as fun as a sweet riding 7.

what do you guys suggest. Below are the things i can buy, I cant get both cause i need to save some of it for other things.

Handling
RB suspension package( rear sway bar, 4 springs etc)
All new energy polyurthane bushing
Tokico Blues (or koni)( or even kyb if there not too bad)
Strut bar


Horsepower
Racing beat intake
Rb header
maybe holley carb
not awhole lot any other ideas>

 

Your suspension needs work if you like it or not. You'll be much happier to get it out of the way first.

 

I agree, do the suspension first. Then work on the powerplant! Don't forget brakes!

 

simple no brainer..... you can have all the HP you want. But if you can't put it to the ground whats it going to do for you beside give nice Dyno sheets

 

I did a full suspension upgrade before I even thought about my turbo swap.

 

i Concur with the previous statements

 

suspension all the way...

 

Suspension definately. Then get the power. I'll do this with my FB, though, I went the other way with the FD as it started in pretty good shape suspensionwise. Though, there is always room for improvement!

 

I went ahead and did my engine before my suspension. In a straight line the car is intense, but when it comes to cornering, the stock suspension isnt up to what a modified 12A can do. I can definatley tell you that, also the brakes are plenty sufficiant to stop your car. Even if you have rear drums, although it isnt as scary when you have all wheel discs with a good name set of pads on them.

Its either be able to rocket in a straight line ( and have questionable handling and unpredictable braking)

Or handle like your on rails (and lose to Civics)


..... Either way, one wont make you happy until you have the other.....

But as of now, I have both sufficiantly upgraded and I love it. Take your time and do whatever you want to your car, just take your time and pick your mods wisely.....

 

why not do a little of each, and work your way up from there? That's what I plan to do

 

my 2cents ...like LokiRx7.1 i did my motor 1st and my car is just for st8 lines...if i where you i would do everything you said in the handling sept dont get the strut bar..get the RB header insted and free up your exhaust..its not going to make you ALOT faster but it will help..adn your motor will thanks you for letting it breath

 

I'd have to say that suspension should come first. That said, even the most modest RX-7 should have a header and a free flowing exhaust. It's the cheapest power upgrade available and nets a very respectable gain. That's all I have done, power wise. I bought a second-hand RB header and presilencer for $125 and a Magnaflow muffler and silencer for $150. Throw in some tubing and you've got a system that will out flow the RB kit for hundreds less.

 

I went the power route-admittedly the car is fun, but it's not really an RX-7 if it can't handle, and the 22 year old suspension is REALLY tired. Right now I'm waiting on a new suspension to arrive, I can't wait...

 

hehe if by 'interior' in your poll you mean strip it! definitely

I vote suspension because that will open you up to many other upgrades which you will then be able to gain immediate benefit from. Whereas if you go the power options now you can't fully utilise those until you get suspension.

Suspension now = it will handle great, even if its not as fast as you would like it to be, at least you dont have to wait around to be able to use what you have installed

Someone mentioned doing a bit of both - that could be done i think. rotaries do need to breathe. you just need to look at the options with how much $ you have.

i might look at going for just the 4 springs and shocks, new bushings and then rb header and perhaps carb for a balance if you want a bit of both. you can DIY some sort of intake and depending on wheels and profile of tyres removing the stock rear sway bar can help.

 

Suspension. I see in your list that you included a rear sway bar, well I would say skip that for now. A larger front sway bar will make a big difference, but a rear is just a waste of money at this point. Start with your suspension, as long as your brakes are in excellent condition...

 

i say %25 engine=alternator and stuff 75%suspension=whatever they say, im nopro.


come on, we cant have it all.

 

Handeling then Horse power. If you have horsepower and no way to controle it. It's no damn fun...

 

I agree the brakes are the most important. I would do the suspension up pretty well before spending money on the engine. Most 1st gen cars just don't handle like they did when new because so many parts are just tired!

But it would not cost much to install a RB header. For over 20 years, everybody I know in the rotary business has always said, if you are only going to do one thing to increase power, install a good header. The RB header is probably as good as anything out there. I think you would get noticeable benefit with the header, even if everything back from there is stock, including the muffler.

Brakes, header, suspension upgrades - go for it!

Later, when you have more money to spend, look at wheels and tires.

 

at least do brakes and bushings. polyurethane bushings are the cheap and 20 year old rubber ones are totaly crap. i did all my bushings first thing as well as put in konis and rb springs. and also good tires are a good investment. yokohama es100 is what i got and they are cheap 300 for 205 and 195s from tirerack. next thing on my list is the brakes they have new pads now but i wanna fab some 944 porshe 4 piston calipers in the front. then i will do horse power altho slapping a header and taking the cats out is so cheep i did that right away too.

 

GET NEW FRIENDS! (j/k)


I think you answered your own question right there:
"it would be fun for me in free time as i live in wv there are PLENTY of curvy roads."
"...but prolly not as fun as a sweet riding 7."

Bring it back to stock or better suspension (springs/shocks/bushings) and it'll be more fun than any bouncy high HP car...

...a slow car thats fun to drive is far more rewarding than a fast car thats a pig to drive...

...besides, your friends may only like straight lines, but with plenty of curvy roads they won't be able to keep up with your 7 with their straight line cars...

(Plus, horsepower/speed without handling is just dangerous...)

That being said, you could always invest in a header, fairly cheap part, and your engine will be breathing better

 

about the brakes i dont know if u guys remember but i made thread on how to do your brakes and basicaly i have some sweet crossed drilled brake rotors with new pads which work very well!

 

Handling? What's that?

Point the car in a straight line, plow the accelerator, let 'er rip!!!

Kev (Being involved in drag racing since 14 does this to you)

 

All the handling in the world won't help you if you can't motivate the car fast enough to go through the corner as fast as possible.

My vote is to jsut do basic suspension, new springs (all the stock replacement springs are very soft), a sway bar or two, and new bushings. Install nylock nuts on the rear suspension to help prevent binding. Then use the rest of your money to upgrade the powerplant. I'd say stop a nice conservative 200hp to the ground. If you still have cash (and I'd envy you at this point) then Weld on some coilovers with a suitable spring rate, 5 way tokicos, camber plates, monte carlo bar, and If you still have cash then put in the tri-link and panhard bar. This should be a pretty nices 7 that you can track and not be embarrassed. Watch out for walls

 

where do you pick those up? and where do you install them?

 

Im down for control than HP. I don't regret spending $$$ on suspension and brakes upgrades since i drive my 1st gen everyday, then a good streetported engine to have some fun