I have a stock 79 RX-7 and a goal of 160 hp or better, while still maintaining good fuel economy, for less than $2000. I would like to keep it as streetable as possible, just a little get up and go. So far all I can come up with is:

Racing Beat full exhaust - $665
Holley 465 CFM kit from Racing Beat - $770

Ignition?
Fuel Pump/Regulator?
Fly Wheel - Racing Beat - $327

what do I need to hit 160 hp?
what would it take to hit 200 hp?

 

Swap in a second gen Series 5 13B engine - 160hp stock

...dunno how much it'll set you back though...

either that, or swap in a second gen 13BT engine... (Series 5 - 200hp stock)
-engines available for ~$1300

 

just do a TII turbo on it...have a manifold made..get a brand new boost prep carb from rotary shack..do a custom 3in exhasut and there you go you have 200+ hp for less then 1500 if you get your parts from the right places

 

how about the above mods along with street porting
i have every mod described above and the next will be porting

 

i would change that $800 holley setup and do a nice 2 barrel delorto or mikuni setup for $3-500 on ebay.

 

I modified and completed your list for ya. This should easily get you 150hp flywheel, give or take 10hp

Racing Beat full exhaust - $665
Sterling Carb - $350

Ignition? - DLFI Box and FC leading coil - $60
Fuel Pump/Regulator? Carter pump $100, any 5psi and lower regulator
Fly Wheel - Racing Beat - $327 (if you want, not really needed)

TOTAL: $1502

Spend the remaning $498 on the Racing Beat suspension package which is $450 for springs and sway bars, and then spend $150 on Tokico shocks. Then you have all the suspension you'll need for the street.

 

Where are you getting a set of Tokico shocks for $150?

oh and by the way that power setup you described is EXACTLY what I have (and so far I chose not to go with the flywheel). It is untuned but still awesome. I'd recommend it.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...spagenameZWDVW

Good enough answer?

And I agree that the flywheel is unneeded. That's $350 for other mods.

 

I would spend the money on brakes and bushings before I bought a light weight flywheel.

 

works for me

and I agree, bushings first. thats my next step.

To get more than around 150hp you're going to have to do alot though. From what I've seen that 150hp range is the max on a stock-port naturally aspirated 12a. You're going to need porting, forced induction (turbo/supercharger), or nitrous to get any more. Or you can do an engine swap, but thats a whole different story.

 

if you come up to arkansas ill sell you a stock fc motor for 400 if you take i out lol.

 

Are you open to an engine swap?

Everything said so far in here is spot on IMHO.

Went with Mikuni carb myself, but Sterling is a great option, especially if you need to look stock.

 

*cough* Chevy 350 V8 swap for at most $2000 including engine */cough* (mods: if this is too counter-culture, feel free to delete)

 

You can find S4 motors for pretty cheap, especially if you shop around. Find a used (enter your fav. carb. here, Id pick a Mikuni 44 or a weber), used RB header, E-fan, the three coil direct fire setup, full "custom" exhaust shop exhaust, a walbro 255 with a real nice risig rate fuel pressure regulator, bigger fuel lines. Thats all under 2K by quite a bit. My freind had a car with those exact mods, plus urethane bushings, tokicos, and RB springs, and that car ripped. WAY faster than an FC with bolt ons.

 

why would you ever say something like that....(at least you said chevy).. v8 swap is a waste of a rx7 get a vega if you want to do a v8 swap........slap a turbo on the 12a and kill v8's.........................

 

I can totally agree with this statement. I managed to pick up a complete parts car with running streetported 88 N/A engine in it ready to be swaped to my car for $700 CND. That was about $450 american at the time I bought the car. I also got a good set of tokico blues with RB springs and a set of rare american racing outlaw 1 wheels with center caps in the 4x110 bolt pattern. Not bad for $700.