pikawel

I've read that a turbo places a pretty heavy load on the engine as far as heat goes... well, I'm looking to buy an RX-7 (as I've posted wayyy too many times on here :P) and I'm looking for a daily driver that kicks ***.

There's a turbo in the paper for $2100... naturally I'm skeptical; something must be wrong. I'll call the guy tomorrow and ask some questions that people have recommended me to ask. And I suppose I'll front the bucks for the compression test since SOOO many people emphasized that...

Anyway, TII as a daily driver? Good idea?

relvinnian

A T2 selling for $2,100 is going to be a project car... something you are going to need to keep your eye on. It may run strong, but most likely there is going to be some compression loss. With that said, a perfectly running T2 should not be subject to the abuse of being a daily driver. Stop and go traffic causes heat fluctuations in the cooling system, which causes excessive wear. You will especially have to keep your eye on this. I'd say it all depends on the amount of driving you do, as well as the amount of required maintenance you are willing to religiously perform. Anything can last if maintained correctly, but a daily driven T2 is going to need alot of TLC, trust me =). You make the decision...

-Brian

vaughnc

pikawel,

I think the GTU or Convertible with a supercharger would be the ultament daily (my next car hopefully).

The turbo can be a good daily, but you'd better adopt a stricker / shorter maintenance schedule for that stop & go traffic.

So long as you kept it OEM (no mods), it should work fine though. I'd seriously look into premix though to help out.

pikawel

I think I'll probably just look into the GTU for my first one to avoid heavy maitenance. I should probably get a feel for the no frills version (not to say it doesn't rock your ***** off) before I delve into the turbo front. Thanks folks.

vaughnc

I'd get the convertible stickshift myself. I think adding a supercharger would rock your world

And then you'd be like - hmmmm... convertible turbo II.... yeah....

turboedRX-7

I have a 88 T2 that I use as my daily driver. I love it! What heavy maintainence? Ah...oil changes? 2500-3000 miles, spark plugs...Whats so heavy about that? I bought mine for $1900 with 111k, it didn't have a stereo in it, and wasn't boosting as well as it should, but after replacing the TID and making the exhaust much freeier flowing, it runs great! Now at 115k and counting...Everything else works great, cold AC, Leather interior, I will be replacing the tires to Z rated soon and it could use the shocks replaced. but I think its one of the best values out there! I have loved my GTU's and I have had 2 verts (88 & 91) and while they were good cars, they were just too slow for me! Put me down as "Boosted" & lovin it!

pikawel

What's a TID? I'm yearnin' for knowledge!

vaughnc

turboedRX-7,

Hey haven't seen you around before. Sounds like you got an excellent deal. Post some pics of all 3 cars and what you're thinking of doing with the TII.

The Supercharged NA driver's I've talked to said the NA and supercharger make a great streetable combo, especially on the convertible. Your correct the TII can do just as well as an NA for daily driving. I just think you need to take extra precautions for the extra wear and tear - but will get the same reliability.

We all know overall the TII runs a premium over the NA in both inital costs (assuming good-prestine shape), longterm engine miles, etc..

For my next daily I was thinking of getting a dirt cheap stick shift convertible with a blown engine, picking up a steet ported 13B, a supercharger, and upping to the TII fuel system for about 230HP.

pikawel,

TID i believe is Turbo Inlet Duct. Allot of people substite an engine management system to increase/control boost and instead max the stock fuel delivery and straightening the TID for more boost (I think that's how they do it).

turboedRX-7,

Here's a little about mine:

I've been restoring my TII so far. I've found the leather seats & door panels from salvage, gotten a new front lip (OEM areo bodykit package), gotten a new OEM hatch/luggage cover (I love that thing), replaced the OEM speakers & head unit, add a 50x4 Profile amp with bass boost circutry, added a new OEM moonroof windguard, replaced the cracked nose & rubber ribbon, redoing the cracked fog lamp surround, replacing the plastic H frame behind the nose, replacing the missing underbody rock guard in the cornerpanel and engine cover.

Car came with a performance catalytic converter & rice pack mufflers (uggg). I'll be doing stage 1 of performance upgrades soon including a Mariah Motorsports cold air box & stamped headlight cover, K&N perf. air intake, knighsport "corner panel" gague cluster (just got that in), knighsport "mickey mouse" gague cluster, aerodyne industries cold air panel, some gagues including air/fuel, exhaust temp, boost, and coolant temp (haven't decided on which manufacture yet) etc... Still haven't decided how I'm going to control the boost creep resulting from the performance exhaust and intake.

Still haven't decided on the FMIC (front mount intercooler). Figured if I got that, then I'd need a perf. radiator to cope with the reduced air flow hampered by the FMIC. I might put that in stage 2 which I'm still thinking about.

That's all for now. Love to hear what you've got planned.

turboedRX-7

Vaughnc: I have been posting here for perhaps a year & a half. Starting with a 91 vert, sold that to get a real pristine 87 T2, after some mods it was done in by someone pulling out in front of me. So while looking for a deal on another T2, I bought and have sense sold a 88 vert. I post from home here as turboedRX-7 while at work its 87jap951 (In reference to my old 89 Porsche 944 Turbo S)
So far on this one (88 T2) I have just done the basics, intake, Bonez DP & MP out to a single SS Racing A muffler. I removed the airpump & put on the dual Alt. pully. Other than that just getting it back in shape, lots of TLC detailing, sythetic fluids in the gear & tranny, flushed the coolant. The car is a sharp black beauty, but nowhere near as flawless as the ole 87 was...It is a daily driver, that is until the winter snow flies. It looks alittle different than other T2 as I have taken out both FTP lenses.
I have been meaning to get a pic posted, but am not sure how to change my sig.
It sounds like you have one sweet ride, with much planned, sounds cool! I can't wait to hear how it comes along!
Happy motoring!