Rpat312

Hey everyone im some happy i just wanted to stop in here and express my utter joy of today. First lets start off with it was beautiful today just the kinda of day u need a convertable. . And since i didnt have one i decided to go get one.
I had check out this 1988 vert last friday and told myself i really want another 7. I i went back today to compression check the motor and all the reads were fine and i was able to tet drive it today cause the owner was there today ulike last week. The car pulled so nicely off the racks of the shop and into the sun. Even with all the dust, red paint faded a bit and a bra on the front it still was beautiful to me and that little voice in my head screamed its a must have for the collection. so we hop in and we start the test drive everything is working we have the top down and the car is a bit sluggish compared to my fd but pulled smoothy to red line in each gear and i hear it wants to backfire upon shift but the new cat is consuming the flames the dragon breaths. The car handles great and just feels smooth unlike the harsh ride from my other 7. We turn another and go ack to the shop and i turn the car off and start it back up to test the hot start, started right up. The car is all factory execpt for the centerforce clute and pressure plate and aftermarket headunit. Another great thing is everything has been replace strust/springs, rad., hoses, A/C compressor, brake rotors and claipers brand new tires and a whole lot more. there is one small tear in the top but no big deal. At this point i have a nice sized smile and we begin to talk about price. (not goin to say the price but if u would like to guess thats cool and ill tell u if ur near it)
We exchange cash for title and keys and i say thnx and i go on my way.I get in and drive away, off to my job in my new toy down top and the wind in my hair i grabed my dads aviators before i got the car and had them on feeling like some 80's moviestar. i get to work and let it sit outside untill it dies down enuff for me to wash her. after the bra was removed and she was washed up she didnt look to bad the paint wasnt as in a bad condition as i thought i was and for a being cheap factory mazda paint its not bad. As so the maddness beings with a new 7 and alot more parts, and forum sections to be lookin at.

Juiceh

iTrader: (4)

Welcome to the Vert club! LoL yeah the s4 NA vert will feel sluggish compared to an FD. A TII swap that will take care of that though!

Rpat312

any suggestions on what to upgrade first???? i want to stay n/a to see the kinda fun i can have with it cause it will last longer then it being turbo'd plus i already have a Fd for the all out speed. i am think half bridge port and exhust and intake some new racing seats and that roll bar.

Sideways7

iTrader: (7)

If you are tearing the motor down, I would just get a healthy street port and s5 rotors/intake. That will be plenty of power since you already have the FD for speed. A half bridge would just add too much trouble and expense (standalone, etc.).

Rpat312

whats different about s5 rotors and ther intake

Sideways7

iTrader: (7)

s5 rotors are higher compression, and the s5 intake was redesigned, both of which yielded more power.
And read the FAQ sticky at the top of the 2nd gen tech section. It will have answers to all of your basic questions, and lots of good info.
Also, before you decided to rebuild the engine, I would get a good exhaust setup and do all of the new car maintenance - change fluids, filters etc. For the exhaust, I would recommend either the Racing Beat N/A downpipe or header and the RB presilencer. That will allow your auxilary ports to continue working without electronic activation. After that, its the catback of your choice. They all have similar power yeilds, so go for the sounds you like.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

The s5 rotors have higher compression and are better balanced to allow an 8000rpm redline. The s5 intake is outside the engine. Together they add 14HP.

A street port will add a lot more power with minimal loss to mpg and low-end power. In fact, I've read an FD is already "street ported" from the factory - an FC benefits from a street port a lot more than an FD does. A bridge port will increase top end power even more but kill mpg and worsen low end power. It's not recommended for street use but it is driveable.

Handling: I imagine you want to keep that soft ride. Get racing beat springs + tokico shocks, or another mild combo. If the shocks are in good shape, you could just leave it as-is for now. New suspension bushings could help too if the old ones are worn out.

Power: First upgrade the cat, the cat-back, then cone intake, then a cold air box around the intake. The s5's VDI (variable dynamic intake) will help too.

When you upgrade the exhaust, make sure the 6 port induction system will still work (do a search on it before buying an exhaust). Otherwise you'll lose power instead of gaining. It uses exhaust backpressure to open 2 extra intake ports at high rpms to provide good top end power. It closes them at low rpms for good mpg and low end power. It is similar to VTEC. VTEC opens the intake valves earlier and longer at high rpms.

Rpat312

Well i have been readin it and it seems since the motor is good i will be holding off on the port jobs for right now that is. And seems that i will be doing I/H/E and change up the body and tail lights cause i dont like the s4 ones. maybe s5 front with a lip, side skirts, rear bumper and a t2 hood or maybe sumthing esle to make it have clean lines. any pics of a vert with this instead of me going through 120 pages of pics. or any other clean verts. Yeah i already changed the fluids. And for exhust i like the RB but i also like the n1's