'85 GSL 302

Yes, I'm in the Clemson Sports Car Club. I didn't get to go to GRM because I was broke like nobody's business, but I've been president of the club for three years.

Second, the motor is finished, the engine is sitting in the car, and I have a new list of crap that needs to get done. I'm in the middle of exam week, and I now work for BR Performance supercharging Miata's and S2000's, plus I have a ton of races coming up this summer. I think I'm going to buy another FB and swap everything over with my old mounts for now, and work on the hybrid chasis when I have more time. I'm already cutting corners on the car that I shouldn't be.

I just figured out that I need to cut up the FC cross member more to make the headers fit, and I have to get creative with the alternator mounts since the engine plate is in the way. I can swap everything over into a stock FB in less than a day. Plus I'm out of money for a little while and I have a ton of races and drift days around the corner.

What ever happens, expect pictures soon. Maybe a video of me breaking in the motor on the dyno.

QuagmireMan

Hope to see some pics

pimpncuba

did you drive the green miata at vir in feb? i'm one of the bastard child rx-7 owners of mm

toxic_d

Bump

rrluthi

this car was on ebay a couple of days ago. it was never finished.

toxic_d

rough... thanks for the update

OneRotor

iTrader: (3)

haha, i didn't even look at where he was froim until you said that. i can't imagine a FB as a convertible. I hate the way that convertibles look, but to each his own i guess

1noblerider

v-8 moter and rottery moters dont compare. They are differant beast infact rottery moters are in there own class. Make up the Ratios any way you want and you will see the rotery kicks but, no disrespect. It is a very light motor. If you made the rotery equal in gears, CI. or HP. the v-8 likly would not dominate. It is a strange thing. You can compair the two and wow but, steel is not aluminum and aluminum is not steel. They are both great metals. Well have fun that is important also.
It is also an interesting thing that because the rotery motor is small and sits back so far the cars technicaly are classified as mid ship cars .
The first car I ever drove and fell in love with was my parents red and black 1970 V-8 Toreno cobra jet with shakerhood however, I also have an appreciation for rotery moters.

'85 GSL 302

BACK FROM THE DEAD!!! :-)

Here are some pictures of the current progress. Rear and front suspensions are both finished, just some clean up work to do on both. The motor mounts still need to be worked on, and some other small issues like the clutch, differential front mounts, exhaust, and driveshaft. My goal is to test drive the car at Road Atlanta in March. I might make it......

Arockrx7

awesome project. glad to see you getting closer.

Lee Lyons

ya was just wondering what happened to you...glad to see you got more done...hey want to sponsor another canadian to finish his car...eh...eh...how bout it...looks good can't wait to see the finished product

TheOnesAndTwos

The problem with swapping in a V8 is handling. Why take a car that's set up 50-50 (or close to it) and then introduce a tonne of extra weight in the front. If you're drag racing then I can see how it wouldn't matter, don't need to steer to go straight. But if you're interested in turning at speed you really can't beat the way it comes from the factory...and that includes the small rotary.

Just my thoughts.

Brendan

Phiber Optik

iTrader: (2)

It all depends what V8 you choose and mainly where you put it

You can get an all aluminum caddy or gen3 gm small block and put it closer to the firewall then the rotary was, and preserve or improve the handling.

I guess you never saw the ls1 fd autoX video where the guy took a die hard rotary fd autoX driver for a ride and he was very impressed to say the least. and the ls1 fd weighed less then the 13btt fd!!!

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Just outta curiousity, had you ever looked into putting an FC rear subframe in for the IRS and differential? If so, why did you move to the Miata?

IIRC the FB was the test bed for the FC rear suspension, so it might be easier to install.

'85 GSL 302

Sigh, I thought these discussions were finally over. I guess I've been gone for way too long.

For starters, do you have any idea what the motor's weigh, or what the balance actually is, or are you just talking about what you heard from your friends uncles sister? The weight balace with the 302 is almost identicle to the GSL-SE, which is not 50/50. BTW, you can name the number of supercars with 50/50 weight balance one one hand.

This isn't my first 5.0 RX-7, the last one ran for over a year and the handling was fantastic. The little bit of weight on the front is very benifitial, it helps the car rotate.

As for the Miata IRS, I had one laying around, so I did it. I have a few FC's sitting around now, I'll take a look at the IRS but I can tell you now that any kind of FC IRS swap would be very involved and extreamly complicated. I'll let you know what I find. Remember, just because the factory did it, doesn't make it easy. There are plenty of V8, AWD Ford Focus's made by the factory, and very few if any made by people outside of Ford. Remember, factory efforts have factory money and factory engineers.

seanrot

iTrader: (2)

Hey nice to see your still making progress. Thought I saw a Rx7 like yours on ebay a few monthes ago. Was afraid you gave up, that happens now and again on big projects. Keep up the good work, lookin gforward to new updates.

'85 GSL 302

Yeah, I was eager to move on to something I could competivly race such as a Spec E30 or CMC car, but no one wanted to pay for my half finished project. As soon as it's done it's getting another for sale sign and if it sells, great, if not, I'll happily keep it. I can run it in SU and it'll be a fun Hill Climb car, so it won't be a total loss. The end goal is a car that will get me on the track so I can finish my competition and instructor requirments. Plus I'm still having fun with the project. It just sucks that my only other car is an Explorer Sport. (Which has been around Road Atlanta at speed BTW)

'85 GSL 302

'85 GSL 302

Hmmm, remember me? Car's almost finished. Turns out NASA has created a new class for next year called Super Touring. Go figure the RX-7 fits perfectly into it, so I'll be keeping the car after all.

Oh yeah, and I started the car up last night. Look for it on the road by the end of January. Racing starts in Feb at CMP followed by VIR. I can't wait.

http://clemsonscc.com/Gallery/mediao.../b_rx7runs.asf

89FCVert

Signing up for some updates here

Naegleria_Fowleri

I am signing up for updates as well.

rrluthi

nice to see the megasquirt!

openshot

on the second page the vary first pic i like the headlights

dbragg

iTrader: (7)

after i heard you gave up on this a while back i tried forever to find you and try to buy the car. im glad to see youre finishing it up. i think i may have sent you a message on the clemson car club forum. good work man.

Hyper4mance2k

iTrader: (40)

can't wait to see it complete...