I was 19 when the convertible Rx-7 came out and have wanted one ever since. I finally found a nice one but was disappointed in its performance. Great cruising car but a little slow if you know what I mean.

I started buying miscellaneous parts for a swap but decided that would take forever so I started looking for a front clip package. After getting screwed out of a nice one I finally found a TII swapped convertible, a complete running donor car. It had a lot of go-fast parts on it but was put together wrong and subject to overheating. Here's pics of what I started with...

 

After getting the donor car home I decided to pull the jspec in it and have it ported. I kinda went a little nuts and bought the big turbo, WG, and BOV. I got 1680 secondaries and a K2rd fuel rail, custom manifold, blah, blah, blah. I was stockpiling high HP parts while my engine builder was turning the motor into junk, but more on that later. Here's some bling pics and a pic of the shop...

 

The guys helping me with the project left town after getting the motor back to me and we never got either car running. I got depressed and let everything sit for around a year before getting my fingers dirty and getting the red vert with the stock drivetrain running. Then I met a guy that was willing to help me out a bunch and he does GREAT work. In exchange for the red vert he welded the downpipe and WG, put together a custom intercooler (so I could keep all accessories and A/C), put in an alkycontrol unit, and generally get the car put together the right way.

 

damn! you don't know how jealous I get when I hear the words turbo and vert in the same sentence and then when I see one as nice as yours I die a little inside j/k but damn that is one nice ride that is being done correctly. TAKE NOTE NEWBIES!

 

The engine pic above is of the second rebuild, after getting the rest of the car done we had a hard time getting it started. Turned out the side seals were all bent and the housings had been wrecked by something inside the motor, most likely leftover metal from the first port job. After ordering ~$2000 worth of new parts and rebuilding it we got it running a few weeks ago. No smoke, idles good, makes good power...NOW we're rolling! Here's pics of the alky install-fuel cell, pump, gauges and controller and intercooler...

 

The car was tuned immediately after installing the alky kit, smoking tires like crazy at 19lbs boost before we noticed my ACT street/strip clutch is way too weak for this setup. In 3rd and 4th it slips so bad we're calling her done until I can do something about it. Here's some pics of how my "infini clone" looks with the TII hood and sideskirts, front lip, clear corners and 16" Infini wheels. Not too shabby but she still needs something...

 

In the above pic you can see my illuminated 5-sp Rx-8 shift ****, one of the coolest mods, I think. I solved my traction problem with some great big heavy eBay HP Racing Evos, I think when I can lower the car a little bit it'll look killer, what do you think so far?

 

I still have a couple of things to work out like my narrow-band oxygen sensor not working and forgetting which interior screws hold what trim on but so far I'm in love with this thing! Maybe someone can turn me on to which clutch to buy, with these heavier wheels it slips in 2nd now instead of just 3rd/4th. Until I fix that I won't be able to dyno but it sure is fun giving people rides and letting them guess how much hp is really there, lol. I'm also running out of injector at this boost level-if I increase the size of the primaries (stock) or put a bigger methanol nozzle on I should have no problem hitting 500rwhp. Not that I should or anything, it already feels like the rear end is gonna twist off when I floor it in 2nd, heh.





I need suggestions for a clutch and suspension. I like the stock feel of the S/S but obviously need something beefier-what would be a good choice seeing as this is mostly a street/show car at this point?

I also like how the stock suspension rides on the street but need to lower it. I wonder what the best way would be without completely killing the ride? Let me know if you have any questions, comments, etc. I learned a lot during the 2.5 years it's taken to get this far and would have given up if it weren't for other forum members/rotary addicts like myself!

 

very nice! unique with it being a convertible i dig it man! hehe

 

Thanks for the compliment, I'm glad I stuck with it! You have no idea how close I came to giving up and selling everything for a V8

When I decided to do it "right" I also decided it didn't matter how long it took to finish. I'm just happy I can finally drive it again!

 

That is absolutely gorgeous !!! I like it alot. Everything is so clean and done right.

 

Sounds like you might want variable rate coil overs, and/or tein flex (with the EDFC). I've only heard good things about those. But might want to get others opinions about that.

 

I've heard good things about the Tein too, I'm going to try to talk with others who run them. I think there's a guy from Chicago with a high-hp vert running the EDFC, I'm not sure if his car is running yet, though. I guess all of us run into lots of setbacks while customizing these things

Here's a link to my vb garage on nopistons, it explains the car in great detail for anyone interested: http://www.nopistons.com/forums/inde...w_item&CID=316

 

That is the first vert ii have ever liked... very nice build. I envy your shop.

-Ben

 

HOLLY COW!! that vert so clean! Great job!! Enjoy that car!!!!

 

I think the car is pretty damn'd gnarly in person.

Thanks for the ride by the way Mills.

 

I'm wet.

How about going for a 6-puck sprung clutch? I think ACT makes one.

James

 

Great looking Vert, what are you using to control everything?

 

Im in love with this thing.
I used to have a vert and it was black.
I wanted to do this soooo damn bad, but i had an accident and gave up on it, obviously.

I give madddd props to you my friend.
This thing is soo damn clean and nicely done.

Clutch
I would just look at the ratings for the clutches.
Something Stage 3 or up.
Get one that is rated for more than you have, so if u ever step it up .

GL with everything and keep it clean.

If you want it lower, not a track car, just buy some springs and struts.
I run Tanabe Race Springs (WAYYY LOW) and Tokiko White Illumina Adj.
These work very very well. And make it sit very very nice.

All I can say is SWEETTT!!

Jon

 

Amazing job man... amazing~

 

damn freaking clean looking sleeper

look into the stance coilover
for a clutch i had one i got from www.horsepowerfreaks.com back when i had a t60-1 car, go check out their site
i dont really like Spec personally

have fun with ur car

 

You have just blown my Turbovert project right out of the water.

*****.

(I is envious )

 

Nice!

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate your info and opinions! I'm using a Haltech E6k ems. So far I like it, it can be driven smooth like stock or completely nutz with flames out the exhaust and the whole bit when floored

I'm running stock primaries with 1680 secondaries and one M15 (15 gal/hr) nozzle for the methanol. After replacing the clutch it'll be interesting to see where it ends up numbers wise. Do they make a 20 gal/hr nozzle? lol

 

wow very nice!!!!