2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Which Is Cheaper For More Power..

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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 05:57 PM
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Which Is Cheaper For More Power..

Ok.. I am about to get the 1987 RX-7 N/A.

I want more power though. Not fun.. But power. Also, don't go saying V-8 Either, I already got a V-8 for a car.

So which would be better?

Getting An Engine Swap To A Turbo
If I were to do a engine swap, would it have to be a 13BT? Or could it be something else?

Or..

Putting A Turbo On The N/A?

Either way, I know I would need to have a turbo for more power.





Any help is appreciated.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:15 PM
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If you haven't bought the car yet then STOP!!!!

It'll be cheaper to just buy a TII than it will be to do a swap or turbo the NA car. It'll also have better re-sale value down the road if it's an original and not a conversion. TII's are rarer, but the wait will be worth it.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:17 PM
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:19 PM
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I would agree. Just hold out and try to find a TII. You'll end up with as much or more in going turbo than if you'd have just bought a TII to start with
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:25 PM
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Cheapest you can get doing anything is DIY and getting deals for the turbo you use, using megasquirt as your standalone, and fabbing as much of the stuff for yourself as you can.

But generally speaking as a powerplant, rotaries ain't cheap.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:26 PM
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Hrm.. What if the car is only $700?
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Akota
Hrm.. What if the car is only $700?
Read the thread entitled "how much did you spend on your turbo swap" thats posted a page or two back and see if that gives you some insight. Some spent over $4k in the process and that's not counting all the blood, sweat, and days the car spent in the garage and not on the street.

I believe the advice to just save and get a Turbo II is extremely well spoken if you plan on more power.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:38 PM
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if you got it for $700 drive it around as a beater. Do burnouts and drifts in it and stuff... who cares? it's a beater.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:44 PM
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My current car is a 93 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe SL. Its got the V6 3.1 Liter. Automatic. The Kelly Blue Book for the oldsmobile is $1,000. The value of the RX7 is $2,500. Its only got 121k miles on it, the engine is in good shape. The body is in good shape, needs new paint and interior. Other than that, its a good car.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by satanicmechanic
Read the thread entitled "how much did you spend on your turbo swap" thats posted a page or two back and see if that gives you some insight. Some spent over $4k in the process and that's not counting all the blood, sweat, and days the car spent in the garage and not on the street.

I believe the advice to just save and get a Turbo II is extremely well spoken if you plan on more power.
V8 swaps have been done for less, as much as a lot of people here hate to accept that. Ouch.

Im going ford 2.3T which for 4K said and done could make 400+ whp easily.

If you want to save money on a rotary... dont plan to make a lot.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 06:48 PM
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 08:00 PM
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swapping a turbo motor in to your car is a lot of work

turboing an N/A is a lot more work

neither are cheap, it'd be much better if you'd just get a TII.

but if you don't know anything about rotaries(and clearly you don't, judging by this thread), I'd say go get a 240 and do an SR20DET swap.

Or study for a while, then buy it.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 08:20 PM
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I don't know rotaries too well, no.. But $700 for this car seems like too good of a deal to pass up, don't you think?
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Nihilanthic
V8 swaps have been done for less, as much as a lot of people here hate to accept that. Ouch.

Im going ford 2.3T which for 4K said and done could make 400+ whp easily.

If you want to save money on a rotary... dont plan to make a lot.

Of all the engines in all the world, you choose an 80's iron block/head sohc ford inline 4 based on the pinto motor?

It's heavier then an ls1,......

.......

..........
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Akota
My current car is a 93 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe SL. Its got the V6 3.1 Liter. Automatic. The Kelly Blue Book for the oldsmobile is $1,000. The value of the RX7 is $2,500. Its only got 121k miles on it, the engine is in good shape. The body is in good shape, needs new paint and interior. Other than that, its a good car.
You can't justify buying that car and just doing a turbo swap or Turboing the n/a engine by what the blue book value is. Blue book fo an 87 TII is 3,050 private party value. 88 is 3,175. If you step up to Series5. An 89 is 3,475. Looking at what it has cost people to do the swap you would be hard pressed to get out for less than $3,000. You could buy a TII for what you'll end up with in the swap alone not counting what you paid for the car, even if it is only $700. If you really want an Rx7 and this is the only way you can get into one right now. Just go into it fully understanding the amount of money you will end up spending to go to a turbo later on.
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 08:27 PM
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1. No it is not heavier than an LS1!
2. THE FACT THAT ITS A TURBO MOTOR MAKES IT MAKE POWER CHEAPLY... well, cheap turbos. Hellooo Holset! Its also strong and has a hell of a cheap aftermarket because so many racers use it.
3. http://www.turboford.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi search it up and lurk, you'll see.
4. So what if its based off of a pinto. Wankles are used in lawnmowers, and still sound like them. LOL. Doesn't make it a bad motor, now does it?
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