Hillbillyag

iTrader: (2)

I am building an NA streetcar for max performance while retaining at least a modicum of driveability. I have the basics, exhaust and intake, already in motion. I am looking to make the wisest choice for the last of my current dough. Lightweight flywheel or Gearing are the options. I am leaning toward an aluminum flywheel for max performance over the lightweight steel one. The other option is 4.44 gears. I would prefer to not have to deal with the speedometer correction issue but if it will increase performance more I will sacrifice it. Oh yeah I have an 83 12a five speed. Any opinions will be much appreciated. Thanks

JIMMY54

iTrader: (2)

Really it will come down to how you want your car to act. Light flywheel with not really affect any driveability, just increase accel and decel... while the gearing will increase your accel but probably cut down your mpg on the highway since you'll be at a higher rpm.

i've got a lightweight flywheel (steel) and it was a good mod, Im happy with it. I'd say start with that for simplicity and then move on to gearing if you really need to.

RX-7 Chris

iTrader: (19)

I also have the lightweight steel flywheel. I would go with that and not the alluminum. I can def. feel the difference in the steel one. It does make it a little harder to start from a hill though. I DD my car so I really see the changes.

I wouldn't mess with gearing on a street car. not going to be really fun after a while.

Kentetsu

Can I get some more details on your car?

Carb:
Exhaust:
Suspension:
Ignition:

Also, you said you are going for maximum performance. Can you be more specific (drag, drift, autocross, streetlight to streetlight, etc.)?

Personally, a light flywheel would be near the bottom of my list of things to improve. But my goals may be very different from yours... My goal was a car that would handle like a dream, be quick as hell, kick butt in autocross, and still be able to drive it to work or across the state.



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Hillbillyag

iTrader: (2)

I have an 83 RX7 that I purchased in April. It had not run in 3 years. It now runs well and strong. It will be a weekend car and might consider autocrossing it once I have it where I want it to be.

Exhaust: Racing Beat RR header, straight pipes to magnaflow muffler
Intake: Sterling Carb
Suspension: Polyurethane bushings all around, hoping to find some
cheap used springs and shocks
Ignition: Stock

Most of the above mods are either in progress or waiting on parts. The Sterling will be ordered soon. Kentetsu, I know you are a big fan of DLFIDIS, but as of now, I see too much debate on it for me to spend my time on it yet. I am also going to upgrade my fuel pump and regulator before I start it up again this summer.

Hyper4mance2k

iTrader: (40)

Light wieght fly wheel. I ahve one on my car it's a 7 lb one I think and launching it from a stop up a hill can get annoying, but that's the only issue. 4.44's will have you cruising at 3800 rpm at 60mph with stock size wheels and FB tranny. I will put 4.44's in my car once I get a FC tranny since they have a fugging huge 5th gear.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i have always thought mazda's flywheels were just way too heavy, a steel flywheel feels like how stock SHOULD have been.

ive actually never done gearing, but flywheel is my favorite mod

thunkrd

iTrader: (1)

just grab a 2nd gen leading coil, its cheap, easy. and you can show off to boingers that you can take off your distributor cap and still have the car run ^^

will be doing flywheel soon.

Kentetsu

Alright, since you've already got the exhaust opened up, the addition of the Sterling carb should provide a very nice kick to your car. The fuel pump and pressure regulator will be needed, there is a writeup I did in the Archives on the installation of those items.

Polyurethane bushings are a nice thing to get too, they really tighten things up. If you don't already have them, check out www.re-speed.com The seem to have the most complete set, and the best price. Check out their shocks and springs while you're there.

You say you want to find some cheap springs and shocks, but you might want to save up for some better equipment if you want to autocross. I started out by buying about everything Racing Beat had, only to find out later that it just wasn't enough if you really want to push the limits. So then I had to remove all of the RB stuff, and buy all new stuff. It was well worth it, but I could have saved a lot of money if I had waited and done it the right way to begin with.

Anyway, good luck with your build. And don't wait too long to get your Sterling ordered if you want it by spring...



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PercentSevenC

Get the aluminum flywheel. It improves the "feel" of the car so much it's not funny.

OneRotor

iTrader: (3)

I'll agree with the RB suspension comment. I have RB springs and Tokico Illuminas on the front, Blues on the rear. I am running 185/70R13 BFG all season radials with a 400 treadwear rating. Check out the picture below for how it looked while at an auto-x. They are a great stock replacement for when your factory stuff wears out, but as far as performance, they leave a lot to be desired.

orion84gsl

iTrader: (5)

^ How fast were you going into that corner? I did an autocross and theres a video on youtube and my car barely had any roll to it. I have RB Srpings and sway bars and Tokico Blues all around and my car never rolls that much. You may want to look into an RE-Speed front anti-roll bar to tighten up the front end a bit more. Also to EVERYONE that is competing or building a performance street car on all season tires, well, just don't. Sumitomo HTR 200's are available in 13 inch sizes for less than $50US per tire from Tire Rack and are a huge improvement over any all season tires. They are great in the rain as well. There's no point throwing parts at your car if your tires can't handle it. Everything from power to braking to handling has to be put through the tires to the ground. Shitty tires= shitty performance, no matter what you have bolted on.

Hillbillyag

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the info. I'll keep you udated on the build.