After six years I finally bought R. Truax's GTUS!!
06-18-07, 01:39 PM
#1
After six years I finally bought R. Truax's GTUS!!
I have been stalking this car for six years and am now finally buying it. It is a one owner 1989 RX7 GTUS, 49k miles, one owner, Mesa, AZ car. Always garaged and ultimately cared for. This feels more like an adoption than buying a car. The car is mint and immaculant.
My questions involve the fact that it has a Nelson/Paxton supercharger. This is on the non turbo engine. I am taking it to Gotham Racing and we are going to do a Haltech. The supercharger is the upgraded version. But it will only put out 9psi, no more period. Right now it dynos 223 rwhp. I want to try to get as much out of this with the haltech and what ever other little things I can do. This is where I am asking for suggestions. I know NOS but other ideas please. In the mean time I am starting to build a single turbo engine to be installed sometime next year. I just wanted to see how much 9 psi and a haltech can get from a N/A. Any suggestions are appreciated. Hey RETed.......
By the way I have both sets of wheels which will be for sale. The ones in the picture and the Zigens that are on the car now. The files for the current pictures are to large to upload and I don't know how to make them smaller.Thats for another thread anyway.
Upgrades:
Nelson/Paxton Supercharger SN2000 HO Blower with B&M Racing Cooler
Mariah Motorsports Naca Duct Headlight Cover
K&N filter in a Mariah Motorsports Cold Air Box
High Pressure Fuel Pump
Mazda RX-7 Turbo II Fuel Injectors
Corky Bell adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator
Jacobs Spark Plug Wires
HPC coated Mind Train Header
A'PEXi GT Stainless Steel Exhaust
Zigen Typhoon Wheels – 17 x 7.5 Front, 17 x 9 Rear
New Kumho Tires
MazdaSpeed adjustable coil-over shocks
Suspension Techniques Sway Bars
Racing Beat end links
Mazda Competition Adjustable Rear Camber Link
Hawk Brake Pads with
Mazda Competition Stainless Steel Brake Lines,
Mazda Competition Motor Mounts and Transmission Mounts
C’s Short Shifter
Tri-Point Engineering Air/Fuel Ratio Meter
Optima Battery Relocated to passenger-side rear storage compartment
My questions involve the fact that it has a Nelson/Paxton supercharger. This is on the non turbo engine. I am taking it to Gotham Racing and we are going to do a Haltech. The supercharger is the upgraded version. But it will only put out 9psi, no more period. Right now it dynos 223 rwhp. I want to try to get as much out of this with the haltech and what ever other little things I can do. This is where I am asking for suggestions. I know NOS but other ideas please. In the mean time I am starting to build a single turbo engine to be installed sometime next year. I just wanted to see how much 9 psi and a haltech can get from a N/A. Any suggestions are appreciated. Hey RETed.......
By the way I have both sets of wheels which will be for sale. The ones in the picture and the Zigens that are on the car now. The files for the current pictures are to large to upload and I don't know how to make them smaller.Thats for another thread anyway.
Upgrades:
Nelson/Paxton Supercharger SN2000 HO Blower with B&M Racing Cooler
Mariah Motorsports Naca Duct Headlight Cover
K&N filter in a Mariah Motorsports Cold Air Box
High Pressure Fuel Pump
Mazda RX-7 Turbo II Fuel Injectors
Corky Bell adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator
Jacobs Spark Plug Wires
HPC coated Mind Train Header
A'PEXi GT Stainless Steel Exhaust
Zigen Typhoon Wheels – 17 x 7.5 Front, 17 x 9 Rear
New Kumho Tires
MazdaSpeed adjustable coil-over shocks
Suspension Techniques Sway Bars
Racing Beat end links
Mazda Competition Adjustable Rear Camber Link
Hawk Brake Pads with
Mazda Competition Stainless Steel Brake Lines,
Mazda Competition Motor Mounts and Transmission Mounts
C’s Short Shifter
Tri-Point Engineering Air/Fuel Ratio Meter
Optima Battery Relocated to passenger-side rear storage compartment
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06-19-07, 10:56 AM
#14
I think the kit was around $3500.00. They had a problem with the fact that the SC was over spinning so they offered a replacement Paxton unit. They are no longer available. I think Mariah use to handle them long ago.
After speaking to RETed I am in sort of a quandery. I like the uniqueness of the SC and the n/a engine but I just want to be in the 420rwhp range. This is going to be a street car 98% of the time. I wonder if I did some pretty wild porting but streetable and the SC along with all other possible improvements where I could get to in rwhp? Just putting another TII engine in kind of takes away some of the uniqueness.
After speaking to RETed I am in sort of a quandery. I like the uniqueness of the SC and the n/a engine but I just want to be in the 420rwhp range. This is going to be a street car 98% of the time. I wonder if I did some pretty wild porting but streetable and the SC along with all other possible improvements where I could get to in rwhp? Just putting another TII engine in kind of takes away some of the uniqueness.
06-19-07, 11:23 AM
#15
Rotary Enthusiast
I think the kit was around $3500.00. They had a problem with the fact that the SC was over spinning so they offered a replacement Paxton unit. They are no longer available. I think Mariah use to handle them long ago.
After speaking to RETed I am in sort of a quandery. I like the uniqueness of the SC and the n/a engine but I just want to be in the 420rwhp range. This is going to be a street car 98% of the time. I wonder if I did some pretty wild porting but streetable and the SC along with all other possible improvements where I could get to in rwhp? Just putting another TII engine in kind of takes away some of the uniqueness.
After speaking to RETed I am in sort of a quandery. I like the uniqueness of the SC and the n/a engine but I just want to be in the 420rwhp range. This is going to be a street car 98% of the time. I wonder if I did some pretty wild porting but streetable and the SC along with all other possible improvements where I could get to in rwhp? Just putting another TII engine in kind of takes away some of the uniqueness.
Looking at those photos, I see a perfectly maintained and assembled GTUs. Everything is there...suspension, ample power, and style to boot. You just paid a pretty penny for this car. WHY tear it apart? Seriously? Like you said, the car is unique. I'd even go as far to say that it's special.
420rwhp? If you want that kind of power, then you started with the wrong car.
The NA 5-speed and rear end will never handle it. So your not just taking about swapping engines anymore. You need the entire driveline. You're going to have to hack this perfect GTUs to bits to get that kind of power.
If your not happy with the car, then why did you buy it?
06-19-07, 11:25 AM
#16
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WoW... that car looks great. the previous owner really knew how to work a rex. i read above that you were looking for more power right???? well i would recommend first since you are new to rx-7 is to just drive and learn the car first. 230 rwhp is plenty enough to have some fun in. just my IMO
06-19-07, 11:32 AM
#17
I am extremely happy with it but you know the desire for maximum hp is always there. I am going to upgrade the driveline anyway. Hacking is a term I associate with a bad job. Anything that is done will be far from hacking up. I am thinking that I will wait to see how far Steve Kan can take it with a haltech and then see about opening up the engine for porting, balancing and strengthening. You know I think if I can see a good solid 300rwhp I can be very satisfied. By the way I am not new to RX7s. This is probably the sixth or seventh one I have owned. I have been out of RXs for about seven years. It is nice to be back. 
06-19-07, 12:11 PM
#18
I'll tell you from experiance. With a car like that I would keep it just like that. It's probably worth alot of money how it is and you don't want to take away from that ("upgrading" it does that). Also I wouldn't want to turn a car like that into a project car. Get a cheap tII and turn it into your project while keeping this one like it is for a comfort driver.
06-19-07, 01:42 PM
#20
Rotary Enthusiast
I am extremely happy with it but you know the desire for maximum hp is always there. I am going to upgrade the driveline anyway. Hacking is a term I associate with a bad job. Anything that is done will be far from hacking up. I am thinking that I will wait to see how far Steve Kan can take it with a haltech and then see about opening up the engine for porting, balancing and strengthening. You know I think if I can see a good solid 300rwhp I can be very satisfied. By the way I am not new to RX7s. This is probably the sixth or seventh one I have owned. I have been out of RXs for about seven years. It is nice to be back.
I might have been a little harsh when I said "hack the car", but you've got to admit that we see this kind of behavior every day in the 2nd gen forum. IE: "I just bought a mint non-turbo. I want to make 'mad' power, tell me what I need to convert to a turbo..." 9 times out of 10, the person has a goal that is bigger than their wallet and the project fails or comes out as a "hack job" since budget has so much to do with these cars.
I know it's not any of my business what you do with your car, but I really hate to see the soul of a GTUs ripped out of a mint car and replaced with a Turbo. I know other people will disagree, but for me a GTUs should always remain non-turbo. That's my personal opinion. The SC setup in your car is very unique. It appears to be installed well and all of the shortcomings of the Paxton SC seem to be addressed. Why not enjoy it?
Best of luck!
06-19-07, 02:37 PM
#21
I have owned three first gens and five second gen. Only two seconds where TII. I finally built a nice 1988 TII and blew up the motor and soon got out. I am also 43 years old and don't plan on doing anything half ***. My plans for the car are recaro's , kaaz, TII transmission with a good clutch and a big brake kit. Oh, upgraded half shafts. I think I have decided to haltech it and see what I get. Believe me, I have put a lot of thought into "Hacking Up" this mint machine. But I am no purist in anyway. Hell, I even like LS1s. But with this car I feel more of a steward than an owner. So nothing to radical will be done. Thanks for the input. Oh, as far as pictures I do have more I just can't figure out how to get them uploaded. The file size is two big. I guess I could put them on some external site. I will look into it.
07-24-07, 09:41 PM
#22
If it'll be a street car do you really need 420rwhp? Thats a ridiculous amount of power for a car that will never see the track...in my opinion of course. I'm going to have to go with wozzom on keeping the car the way it is. It seems to be perfectly balanced between horsepower and suspension/brake modifications. 300whp sounds good for a car that'll be driven on the street and opened up every once in a while. I have no idea what I'd do with a car that clean though, looks too pretty to track every other weekend. Either way I'm sure you will enjoy it, its a sick car.
07-24-07, 09:51 PM
#23
I will be totally happy with 300. Sometimes it is hard to not want more and more hp. I don't think this car will see much track time at all. If it does it will be just for fun on a track day. I will use track days just to dial in the suspension.
07-24-07, 11:17 PM
#25
Wow I never thought about a 20b N/A. Now that is an interesting idea. I don't know about the race port but that really might be a possibility. That would stay with the n/a heritage of the gtus. Oh no, time to start doing some na 20b searches. Just when you think you have a plan then something new and different comes up. Good idea.