ramtookrazy

i am the car noob of all car noobs. seriously, i dont know anything about cars except how to drive, put gas, and umm... yeah. i just bought this car about two days ago. 90' rx7 gxl, and its an automatic. ive been looking for the same thing as a manual but i could never find one, dont have enough for it, OR its a convertable =\ (nothing wrong with em, its just not me) anyways, i want to start getting familiarized with cars (i prefer fc's) and i was wondering if i can fix up an automatic as good as any manual. i have thought about converting it to a manual but i dont even know how to drive one in the first place (but i can live with an automatic). would you suggest i convert it to a manual and then mod it or would i be okay with it as an automatic? if i stick with the auto tranny, how would you suggest i start off with the modifications? i will settle with the car at 200-250hp. so if anyone (or everyone ) can give me a small orderly list of how to start (something considerately for begginers to do) i would be very thankful.

AW11Rkt

Turbo2 swap .

They come automatic in japan .

200 N/A hp its gonna be alot at the wheels . If you just want ti to be quicker . Add a header , Catback , cat replacment pipe , Intake .

That will hold you over for awhile as the stock RX7's exhuast is restrictive to lower the sound level of the Rotary engine . and kill its emissions

Rotary Racer

ramtookrazy:

Welcome to the forum. The search feature is in the upper right hand corner below the featured car. Do a search on auto to manual swap you should find a lot of information on this subject. This might be the first thing you want to look into. Any other questions or want to get ideas on how to modify your car lots of advice is already out there just throw up a keyword or two and you can find some information on it.

Got any pic's of your new ride?

- Dana

andrew lohaus

welcome. fcs are great to learn about cars through. not so much because they are easy to understand, but more so than with just about any other car it is ESSENTIAL to have a good working understanding of how these cars work. otherwise, a simple problem will come up, you wont know what to and you'll give up and sell the car. or you'll unknowingly do something bad to the car.

they are a blast, but read up!
and welcome, agian.

Wallydog11

Convert it to a manual ASAP..no mods will ever make it go as fast as a manual unless you heavily mod it

ramtookrazy

thanks for the suggestions everyone. if i convert it, are there any shops that can do it for me? because i think doing that myself would be way too much of a risk considering ive never even changed the oil on a car before. this is my first car anyway. and my only =\ is there any way i can play it safe converting it or am i gonna have to try it myself, and/or with some knowledgable assistance present. look at my position as someone who has never opened the hood of a car before. i need help!

Fritz_X

iTrader: (1)

You are in for a surprise. This car is either going to teach you to HATE rotaries, or teach you how to work on them FAST. If you have the determination to stick with the car it will force you to learn about the mechanical aspects. These aren't exactly take to the shop / garage / dealership cars though. You are going to need to learn your stuff or find a nice rotary expert mechanic in town. Good luck!

--Fritz

ramtookrazy

lol well, would it be easier for me to convert it first before modding it, or would i be okay just modding it and learning some in the process, and THEN converting it to a manual tranny? or would that be very troublesome because of the additional parts or so. i hear that doing the automatic to manual conversion is very pricey, even if done yourself. i believe that if it will cost as much as ive heard, can i just use that on enhancing the power rather than using it on the transmission? I DUNNO!!! lol but thanks to everyone so far for the help and patience. =)

Wallydog11

yeah, unfortunately if you use a shop to convert from auto to manual it'll cost alot...like 1500-2000 for parts/labour....will be less if you do it yourself but it's tough..

hate to say it but it would be cheaper to buy a 5spd gxl...that's what i did and wow..the power is amazing compared to the automatic..it literally is an entire new car...

cezonetheillest

hey man don't get discouraged. when i first started with rotaries i didn't know the the engine from the back of a fat womans *** if she had it right in my face. just do some research. that is all it takes. yeah you will be scared but just get out into the community with other people that have 7's. i did a swap cause my engine blew about 2 months after i had the car and now it is a complete utter obsecion(sp). also check the for sale/wanted forum there are tII trannies going for like 200 plus shipping
also modding a auto is going to be so hard. just start your priority at a 5 speed swap and then mod from there.

ramtookrazy

ive come along way since i first started posting here. ive learned a lot more about engines but not how to mod them so i probly havent learned as much as i thought. i have a friend who says there are no cone filters made for this car (90 gxl [auto]) nor the tubing for them. i was a bit skeptical, but he said he will weld me one after he takes a look at my engine. is thos a good idea? or do i just keep looking for one to buy. hes doing it for free...

JKM

My recommendation would be this: since you know very little of the workings of the car, don't rush into modding everything. Take it easy, get a feel for the car now. Do your research on these boards, and work on tuning it up to factory spec first.

Then, when it's running perfectly and you are more familiar with the car, explore your options.

*edit*

Just saw the cone filter question. I'm assuming that the air box for the automatics is the same as a manual, dont' see why it would matter...but on an S5 model (89-91) You can use a 3" cone filter on your car without any modifications. Just take the old airbox off, put the filter on, tighten the clamp. Easy.

However, if your friend is able to fabricate, as it seems he his, get him to see if he can make a cold air box for it. Do a search for cold air box for more info.

ramtookrazy

hmm... 3 months, an oil change, a spark plug/wire change later and im still in love with the car, but i feel horrible when my friends 03 v6 tiburon out does the hell out of my car :*( (i mean a lot) im thinking its only cause im driving an automatic, with the funny stuff my tranny does, i think i realize how important a manual conversion is if i wanna at least out do my friend. anyways, when i gas it, it isnt so responsive. maybe its not the responsiveness issue, but i was thinking that 10hp would be a lot more than what im doing right now. im sure theres some lose from the age though, is there any way to restore it to somewhere close? i know rebuilding helps but does that brings it to near factory condition? is not what will?

i think i just want better accelleration

spot_skater

dude, like everyone else here says, go for the manual swap
it WILL be an entirely different car
you will actually feel the power, plus manual transmission is just a lot more fun

get started brotha!
if you have questions do a search here, it's been covered many times

best of luck,
james

ramtookrazy

damn i wish i had the money and time for one, lol. and/or knowledge to do it myself.

DEZERTE

***DO NOT*** waste your time doing mods on the car if you arent going to do the 5speed swap. AFter you get the swap done, get a FSM, and try to do EVERYTHING your self (within reason). The car isnt worth modding if its going to stay auto.

ramtookrazy

yeah i almost bought an intake today. but i decided not to, lol. i guess i will wait then. i have a friend who reccommends i swap in a small block. sounds tempting, i know the pride of rotary is at sake though. i sooo want a turbo2 but theyre os hard to get. something id much prefer over the small block. but the thing is that its a lot cheaper and my friend says i can get it done for less than 1000 with his help (itll take a year though, at least). but if i do it ill feel like im selling out, lol... =\

flamin-roids

Hey I have a '89 GXL that was an auto and now it has a 5-speed. Believe me a 5-speed swap is the biggest upgrade you can do trust me. I picked up 2 and a half seconds on the 1/4 and 0-60 in about half the time. Its not that bad. It took me 10 hours and I dropped a TII trans in. If you decide to do it I can guide you through it.

igottafc

iTrader: (6)

you could swap in a small block but that would defeat alot of the purpose of the car. judging from some of the v8s that my friends drive, i definitly prefer the feel of a rotary, much smoother, easier to control. -alex

ramtookrazy

awesome. i found a 5-speed with a 95 fd engine, they said it needs an electrical coil and i gotta charge the battery or something. and shes only selling it for $1000. seems like a damn good deal but im worried that there might be more to the problem and that i wont be able to fix it. but it seems like a definite buy!!!! ergh... the thing is i dont have the money right now =( im worried someone else will pick it up.

flamin-roids

Don't buy anything that is going to be more work than you are ready to handle. Buying dead cars is ok if you have the means to rebuild the engine and the money to fund the whole project. Pick up a 5-speed 2nd gen thats beat to **** with a blown motor and pull all the 5 speed components and drop them into your car.

ramtookrazy

would s4 tranny parts be compatible with s5?

DerangedHermit

If both the S4 and S5 in question are N/A then yes, the parts are compatible.

ramtookrazy

sweet, ill definately consider this

Aesop Rock

i bought a parts car for 300 to do my manual swap.....why mod a car if all you can do is put it in drive?