1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Why are rx-7's so fast?

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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:16 PM
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Question Why are rx-7's so fast?

I was wondering this the other day...

how is it that an 18 year old, 100HP, 1.2L car can be so fast?

I mean, i'm keeping up with new 180HP civics...

How light is the RX-7 compared to the civic (Ex model)

thanks... Now when my idiot civic friends at school talk crap about my 7, I can tell them why it's fast (because I really don't know)
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:26 PM
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Power to weight ratio...

Stock, our SA/FBs have around 23 pounds per horsepower (if you figure approx 2300 pound weight). Add a good exhaust and a few more goodies and you're lookin at 18-19. Jump up to an aftermarket carb and now you're talkin 15. Lose a bunch of unnecessary heavy stuff and now you're in the neighborhood of 13-14.

Consider that a stock TII has a power to weight in the 15s, a stock NA FC has a power to weight in the 18s and a stock FD around 11. You can easily start to see how our little FBs can make a whole lot out of a seemingly small amount of power.
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:27 PM
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Well for one thing, I doubt the civics really have 180hp... unless that's 110hp + 20hp from the exhaust + 15hp from the intake + 15hp from the plug wires + 10hp from the special spark plugs... (in other words, 110hp )

They're not really that fast stock... many minivans would demolish a stock 1st-gen in the quarter mile.
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:33 PM
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Well.. that civic kid is a dumbass anyway.. he's convinced that premium gas adds 5 HP, air fresheners add HP, and what was that other thing.. oh, the new Civic performance ash tray.. like 20HP...

I'm stock for all I know.. the car had one owner before me, and I have most of the records. No performance stuff in there, but some decent aftermarket replacement parts.

Oh.. btw.. at what rpms do your secondaries usually open?

Last edited by .:Adam GS:.; Apr 18, 2002 at 10:36 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:39 PM
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don't thry open at 3500? (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

I do know you can shorten the spring that opens the secondaries. so, you have them open sooner. people usally do that because over a period of time the spring becomes less stiff causing the secondaries to open a later rpms
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:42 PM
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if you shorten it, be careful you don't go too far at first - cutting off about 1/3 is what most end up with... just go a little bit at a time and try it out
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:48 PM
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also don't forget that rx-7s have a lot more torque because our engines are larger. (equivalent of 2.3l, versus a 1.6l) and we're correct wheel drive so we have more traction
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 10:52 PM
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It ain't real torque until you're talkin' 400 ft-lbs at a paltry 2500 RPM...oh, sorry, wrong marque.... where's our '80 big brake brackets so we can run Wilwood 4-pots, peejay??
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 11:04 PM
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Originally posted by .:Adam GS:.
Well.. that civic kid is a dumbass anyway.. he's convinced that premium gas adds 5 HP, air fresheners add HP, and what was that other thing.. oh, the new Civic performance ash tray.. like 20HP...

I'm stock for all I know.. the car had one owner before me, and I have most of the records. No performance stuff in there, but some decent aftermarket replacement parts.

Oh.. btw.. at what rpms do your secondaries usually open?
I know my voodoo shift know added "50hp"!
No such thing as a 180hp civic. The new SI they are coming out with is only 170 and is the highest HP I have ever seen in a civic. I think the integras had 170hp (Type R). One thing for sure though, civics are light just like us. They might be slightly bigger, but the doors are thin as well as the rest of the large body areas.
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 11:50 PM
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donot forget the stickers.. that adds an extra 5hp per
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Old Apr 18, 2002 | 11:55 PM
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Originally posted by Jason Guthrie


I know my voodoo shift know added "50hp"!
No such thing as a 180hp civic. The new SI they are coming out with is only 170 and is the highest HP I have ever seen in a civic. I think the integras had 170hp (Type R). One thing for sure though, civics are light just like us. They might be slightly bigger, but the doors are thin as well as the rest of the large body areas.
I thought the new Si had the 160hp K20 RSX base engine? Anyway, the most powerful US-market Integra was the 195hp Type R. (Sorry, recent Honda convert)
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 12:08 AM
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my dad drives a 200hp mini-van and it will kill the FB every single time.....I hate it
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 12:25 AM
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This:



+ this:



= quick
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 12:29 AM
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Originally posted by firstRX-7
my dad drives a 200hp mini-van and it will kill the FB every single time.....I hate it
Which mini van is that?

If I ever had to get a mini van I would buy a Honda Oddessy, 240hp yessssss 16.5 on the 1/4, 8.1 0-60
Ah well not bad for a mini van
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 12:37 AM
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I think that nifty one-wiper mod adds at LEAST 75 hp.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 02:38 AM
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they get goin' alright 'cause they have a good wide torque spread. from 3500 up till about 5500 or so, they have a good amount of torqe. a 1.6l honda engine has like 110 ft lbs of torque at most, and that's all the way up at like 6k rpm.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 05:30 AM
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you have to also remember, our horse power starts to kick in around 3000-4000 and runs and increases till like 7000 or higher, while theres don't kick in till about 6000-7000, their redline.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 05:31 AM
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the way i waist integras is not shifting till after you see him shift, hold it longer, don't cut the gears short.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 08:10 AM
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my caravan iS MaD qUick Yo!
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 09:49 AM
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The Si will rev to 8500 rpm. It makes 160 hp and about 120 lb-ft of torque I think. I think the torque peaks around 5500 rpm. The new Si makes the same hp, but more torque. It also peaks at a lower rpm.

The Integra GSR makes 170 hp and the Type R 195. Exhausts and intakes don't do a lot for those cars because they are already making around 100 hp per liter. You can't improve a whole lot on that.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 10:12 AM
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Originally posted by peejay
Well for one thing, I doubt the civics really have 180hp... unless that's 110hp + 20hp from the exhaust + 15hp from the intake + 15hp from the plug wires + 10hp from the special spark plugs... (in other words, 110hp )

They're not really that fast stock... many minivans would demolish a stock 1st-gen in the quarter mile.
yeah I had a buddy with a new Dodge V6 mini van some years ago, and he'd waste my ***! Untill he addded some 32 speakers, 10 amps, 9 batteries, 2 alt's, LOL Then it was slow as ****... But louder than HELL!
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 10:32 AM
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here in murray there is a maroon caravan with all that speaker crap, aluminum hatch spoiler, 17 or 18 rims, custom painting and emblems, tint, etc. it's bling bling bean.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 02:33 PM
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ive seen a video of a souped up dodge caravan absolutely destroying a z28 camaro...it had to be the funniest thing ive ever seen.
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 02:56 PM
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that guy has the turbo version that he "massaged". that thing is quick for a minivan. i might sell my 7 and hook my van up. what do you guys think?
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Old Apr 19, 2002 | 03:16 PM
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you know what else those clear tail lights are worth at least 25hp & you know what else the bass they install.
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