Another RX-7 addition...
08-01-08, 01:22 PM
#1
Another RX-7 addition...
Well I'm going to pick up yet another RX7 this weekend. This will be my third 7 within a year's time. Here are the specs:
1991 RX7 Convertible
Black/Black
137,000 miles
Rebuilt motor 2 years ago(minimal miles since)
Automatic tranny is toast
Car has no stereo in it.
Has slight body damage on the driver side rear corner(enough to mess up the body about the height of the tailight and broke the tailight)
The passenger side rear view mirrow was ripped off of the car by a falling limb. Other than that the body is pretty much flawless. It even has some mods: RB Race header, RB Full dual exhaust, and some type of aftermarket air cleaner.
The trouble is, that I currently own an 87 base model that I would really want to make into a track car. I love the wheels and the 4 piston brakes and whatnot from the convertible, so I was thinking about putting all of that on my base. But I know that if I did that I would pretty much be parting the convertible out. So I don't know if I should part it out, or just fix the auto tranny and replace the mirror, and put a stereo back in the car and see how much I can get for it.
If I do part it out, I wonder if it would be worth doing an engine swap for the extra few hp that the later 13B's had?
As a still somewhat of a newbie I need some good advice guys!!!
-Vincent
1991 RX7 Convertible
Black/Black
137,000 miles
Rebuilt motor 2 years ago(minimal miles since)
Automatic tranny is toast
Car has no stereo in it.
Has slight body damage on the driver side rear corner(enough to mess up the body about the height of the tailight and broke the tailight)
The passenger side rear view mirrow was ripped off of the car by a falling limb. Other than that the body is pretty much flawless. It even has some mods: RB Race header, RB Full dual exhaust, and some type of aftermarket air cleaner.
The trouble is, that I currently own an 87 base model that I would really want to make into a track car. I love the wheels and the 4 piston brakes and whatnot from the convertible, so I was thinking about putting all of that on my base. But I know that if I did that I would pretty much be parting the convertible out. So I don't know if I should part it out, or just fix the auto tranny and replace the mirror, and put a stereo back in the car and see how much I can get for it.
If I do part it out, I wonder if it would be worth doing an engine swap for the extra few hp that the later 13B's had?
As a still somewhat of a newbie I need some good advice guys!!!
-Vincent
08-01-08, 02:06 PM
#3
Well, I have alot of work in my s4, and I'd hate to see it go to waste if I focus all of my efforts on the vert. Plus, I'm not real keen on convertibles...I never have been. I was thinking that the chassis would not be good for road racing because it was a convertible. I like my s4 because it doesn't have a sunroof and the fact that it weighs slightly less than an s5...
I'm so confused!!!
I'm so confused!!!
08-01-08, 03:10 PM
#4
Don't use the vert as a track car. They are much heavier than your 87 base. The s4 base is the lightest FC, and the s5 vert is the heaviest.
If you are serious about the track car, I would swap over the 5-lug setup and the intake from the vert. There is very little difference in the s4 and s5 engine (slightly lighter rotors, slightly higher compression) neither of which make very much of a difference. Basically all of the power gain, as well as the increased redline, come from the intake manifold, namely the VDI. You can pull off the s5 intake and swap it to your 87 without a whole lot of work, just a bit of grinding. There is a link on how to do the swap here: http://howto.globalvicinity.com/gv_w...i=63&co=1&vi=1 Please note that you do NOT need to use the s4 LIM. It really doesn't net any performance, and is a huge pain in the *** to make work.
Edit: According to Mazda specs, your vert weighs a full 400 pounds more than your 87 base, and probably more like 450-500.
If you are serious about the track car, I would swap over the 5-lug setup and the intake from the vert. There is very little difference in the s4 and s5 engine (slightly lighter rotors, slightly higher compression) neither of which make very much of a difference. Basically all of the power gain, as well as the increased redline, come from the intake manifold, namely the VDI. You can pull off the s5 intake and swap it to your 87 without a whole lot of work, just a bit of grinding. There is a link on how to do the swap here: http://howto.globalvicinity.com/gv_w...i=63&co=1&vi=1 Please note that you do NOT need to use the s4 LIM. It really doesn't net any performance, and is a huge pain in the *** to make work.
Edit: According to Mazda specs, your vert weighs a full 400 pounds more than your 87 base, and probably more like 450-500.
08-01-08, 03:34 PM
#5
Wow! Thanks for the information, very informative. I knew that the convertible would weigh more, but I didn't think it would weigh THAT much more. And that's good that all I need to swap is the UIM. How much power gains would I see with that and the RB header/exhaust? I run a 2.5" catless single exit system now on my car with a magnaflow muffler. Now my other question is that if I swapped the suspension between both of the cars, could I still sell the vert-if I just left it auto and changed out the tranny? I mean my s4 has phone dial wheels on it now and I think they would look funny on the vert...lol.
Keep the suggestions coming!
-Vincent
Keep the suggestions coming!
-Vincent
08-01-08, 04:06 PM
#6
Honestly, I have never seen anything on putting the 4-lug onto a car that had a 5-lug setup, so I'm not sure about that.
As for the power, the s5 intake will net 10-15 HP on its own. I think there is a dyno graph on the link I posted. With the s5 intake and RB header/presilencer, I would guess you could get 150-160 at the wheels, maybe more if the engine is in good shape. I'm assuming this is a stock port motor, right?
If you go standalone you can get even more than that. There have been people in the 190's with a streetported motor, s5 intake, and full exhaust.
As for the power, the s5 intake will net 10-15 HP on its own. I think there is a dyno graph on the link I posted. With the s5 intake and RB header/presilencer, I would guess you could get 150-160 at the wheels, maybe more if the engine is in good shape. I'm assuming this is a stock port motor, right?
If you go standalone you can get even more than that. There have been people in the 190's with a streetported motor, s5 intake, and full exhaust.
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08-01-08, 04:55 PM
#8
LOL!!! I just sold my TII a few months ago...I had an 89 GSL-LE that had a JDM swap in it and Megasquirt. It was a fun car...but unfortunately I needed the money badly at the time so I had to sell her. But the guys that bought it from me are suppose to do a full restoration on it, so it should be badass when they get through with it.
08-01-08, 05:01 PM
#9
Honestly, I have never seen anything on putting the 4-lug onto a car that had a 5-lug setup, so I'm not sure about that.
As for the power, the s5 intake will net 10-15 HP on its own. I think there is a dyno graph on the link I posted. With the s5 intake and RB header/presilencer, I would guess you could get 150-160 at the wheels, maybe more if the engine is in good shape. I'm assuming this is a stock port motor, right?
If you go standalone you can get even more than that. There have been people in the 190's with a streetported motor, s5 intake, and full exhaust.
As for the power, the s5 intake will net 10-15 HP on its own. I think there is a dyno graph on the link I posted. With the s5 intake and RB header/presilencer, I would guess you could get 150-160 at the wheels, maybe more if the engine is in good shape. I'm assuming this is a stock port motor, right?
If you go standalone you can get even more than that. There have been people in the 190's with a streetported motor, s5 intake, and full exhaust.
My oil lines are leaking on it though so I definately need to swap those out with the vert's. It would be nice to find an aftermarket oil line set that you didn't have to modify/rig to make work on an FC. All of the aftermarket ones I saw just give you a length of hose and some fittings that don't even look like they match up to what I have now.
Yeah I need to do some research on the 4 lug swap on a 5 lug car...that should be interesting. What about putting the s4 UIM on the S5 motor? Can that be done without having to buy alot of parts? I would like to keep the vert running so that maybe I could find someone local who wants it. Or I may selling it to my roomate...she needs a car. And my 4 lug **** is in good shape...new pads, rotors turned, and new front calipers.
-Vincent
08-02-08, 03:07 AM
#14
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If the vert body is fixable, please don't chop and part it. The coupes are a dime a dozen and all interchangeable.
The vert is a heavy hunk of metal and not a good track car but come on, it's a convertible.
I am a total speed junkie but I love my fat pig 91 vert auto trans. It can't pull a wet fart out of a squirrel but it's great to cruise down the highway on a cool night with the top down.
Maybe I am getting older at 34 but after having gone 170mph in my modded 944 Turbo and 185mph on my Kawi ZX7R, I can say from experience, there's more to life than just full throttle. Smelling the roses can be nice as well
The vert is a heavy hunk of metal and not a good track car but come on, it's a convertible.
I am a total speed junkie but I love my fat pig 91 vert auto trans. It can't pull a wet fart out of a squirrel but it's great to cruise down the highway on a cool night with the top down.
Maybe I am getting older at 34 but after having gone 170mph in my modded 944 Turbo and 185mph on my Kawi ZX7R, I can say from experience, there's more to life than just full throttle. Smelling the roses can be nice as well
Last edited by 7 n 7; 08-02-08 at 03:14 AM.
08-02-08, 05:51 PM
#15
If the vert body is fixable, please don't chop and part it. The coupes are a dime a dozen and all interchangeable.
The vert is a heavy hunk of metal and not a good track car but come on, it's a convertible.
I am a total speed junkie but I love my fat pig 91 vert auto trans. It can't pull a wet fart out of a squirrel but it's great to cruise down the highway on a cool night with the top down.
Maybe I am getting older at 34 but after having gone 170mph in my modded 944 Turbo and 185mph on my Kawi ZX7R, I can say from experience, there's more to life than just full throttle. Smelling the roses can be nice as well
The vert is a heavy hunk of metal and not a good track car but come on, it's a convertible.
I am a total speed junkie but I love my fat pig 91 vert auto trans. It can't pull a wet fart out of a squirrel but it's great to cruise down the highway on a cool night with the top down.
Maybe I am getting older at 34 but after having gone 170mph in my modded 944 Turbo and 185mph on my Kawi ZX7R, I can say from experience, there's more to life than just full throttle. Smelling the roses can be nice as well
-Vincent
08-02-08, 06:34 PM
#16
I think fixing the vert and using it to fund a 5-lug swap is a very good idea. You can generally get a full s5 intake for 100 bucks or less. If you find a good roller at a junkyard (I know of at least 6 within 20 minutes of me, lol) then you should be able to get all the parts you need for a reasonable price.
While it came across like it, I really don't think its a good idea to part the vert if its fixable. I hate to see any drivable 7 parted out, especially a vert.
As for the oil lines, I know there are companies that make them. I think racing beat make a set of SS oil cooler lines, as well as corksport. I Mazda makes some as well, you can get them through mazdatrix.
Edit: The ones at Mazdatrix look just like the RB ones, but cheaper. The corksport ones look just like OEM, but stainless and are also by far the cheapest. I would go with these.
While it came across like it, I really don't think its a good idea to part the vert if its fixable. I hate to see any drivable 7 parted out, especially a vert.
As for the oil lines, I know there are companies that make them. I think racing beat make a set of SS oil cooler lines, as well as corksport. I Mazda makes some as well, you can get them through mazdatrix.
Edit: The ones at Mazdatrix look just like the RB ones, but cheaper. The corksport ones look just like OEM, but stainless and are also by far the cheapest. I would go with these.
Last edited by Sideways7; 08-02-08 at 06:40 PM.
08-02-08, 07:18 PM
#17
I hate to part out a car such as this as well. But my s4 has some body damage on the fenders and hood...and I could use them off of the vert. Also keep in mind that I paid very little money for this vehicle...so to me it really doesn't matter either way as far as funds go.
08-03-08, 08:22 PM
#19
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Um, while you are parting that out could you send me the steering wheel and all the interior trim for the rear section of the interior? lol Maybe the center console and wiper switch too?
08-04-08, 01:44 PM
#23
NA-BOOSTIN
strip it . if you didnt pay that much for it and its got some good parts take what you need and sell the rest. you could take the wheels cause they bbs ,5 lug, deside on the exhaust (take the rb), intake, s5 modding and bumper swap with fogs, etc anything that your base can gain from . then what ever is left sell it and sell the the shell . you still come out on top
08-04-08, 02:04 PM
#24
90 rx7 convertable
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My $0.02 is to fix it up. I have a 90 vert and it is so cool to drive around at night with the top down. But it seems like you would fix it and sell it anyway so whatever you think is better after all it is your car. If you do decide to part it out let me know because I need some parts.
08-04-08, 02:49 PM
#25
Thanks for the input everybody. Either way, I have to stay true to my dreams of a track car for my base. I chose the base model to start with because it was the lightest of all the FC models. The only option my base had from the factory was A/C, which still works. It has no sunroof, manual windows, manual door locks, the whole nine-perfect for building a great track car. But it also comes down to the dignity of the car, I have a clean title in hand and it does run and drive. But my running gear on the base has 268k on it and it's starting to show in some areas like the suspension(stock), and in the rear end(whines a little). And for some reason I love my base, even now being mostly stock. And I dream of the day when I install a higher horsepower engine and have nice, light, agile, road course car...
-Vincent
-Vincent