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

NA vs. Turbo

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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:11 PM
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Question NA vs. Turbo

I have been considering the FC3S a long time. Now the NA version ( usually gxl) runs for around $4000-5000 Cad. The turbo is usually $2000-3000 more. Now for a price for a turbo + $1000 I can get a '95 240sx. I know a lot of people here love the Rx 7 but please don't be biased. So question is, will I be able to upgrade the NA easily to the turbo's output (around 200 hp), because I love NA but it is really expensive, or will it not be worth the trouble? My final target is a reliable 250-300 whp and really good neutral handling for twisties .
So question is, NA and upgrade, Turbo, or just go with newer 240 sx. Thx.
ChAoS out .
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:16 PM
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No, the N/A is hard to get fast once you hit around 180-190rwhp. However the turbo you can go right on up, 2-300rwhp much easier. I would go with the Turbo because it has much potential and the FC is a blast to drive, and to own.
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:16 PM
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I think I'd lean more toward a Turbo car. I have an N/A that runs pretty decent though. I can't keep up to my friend's turbo Supra.
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:20 PM
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From: KC MF MO
i bought my 88 base for 500... and a gxl for 1800... i've never paid even close to that...
and you can make any rx7 fast relatively cheap... it all depends on how much you know about cars... especially rotaries...
edit you said canadian... but still thats hella *** high...

Last edited by powrdby13B; Nov 24, 2004 at 10:23 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by powrdby13B
i bought my 88 base for 500... and a gxl for 1800... i've never paid even close to that...
and you can make any rx7 fast relatively cheap... it all depends on how much you know about cars... especially rotaries...
edit you said canadian... but still thats hella *** high...
Its probably an S5......and thats only around $3,000(american).....Same as really clean S5's here
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:31 PM
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Well I'm talking about good quality, 80-120 k, no rust good shape, and this is B.C. ( stands for Bring Cash) so has pretty expensive cars. I'm a little sheepish about the turbo because of reliability issues, I will love my car and take car of it, but I need it to be able to run strong for like 3 hour runs, steep hills and drops and at the track. And turbo is so much harder to find.... But id it's worth it, I will so go for it...
ChAoS out <----- I will do this every time, don't bother asking...
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:34 PM
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Turbo's are reliable, if you are you take care of them. There are tons of threads of "looking to buy an FC, is it realiable". Bad owners give Rotaries bad names.
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:42 PM
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The 240 would have to be turbo as well it get 250-300 whp. A matter of personal preferrece. I personally like the styling of the FC much, much, much better. As in I don't like the 240's. The 240 would be much more $ to get to your goal, but would be more reliable simply because of the FC's age.
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Old Nov 24, 2004 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 6gears2love
Now for a price for a turbo + $1000 I can get a '95 240sx.
The FC turbo will SMOKE the 240SX, period.


I know a lot of people here love the Rx 7 but please don't be biased.
You realize you're posting on an RX-7 forum, right?


So question is, will I be able to upgrade the NA easily to the turbo's output (around 200 hp), because I love NA but it is really expensive, or will it not be worth the trouble?
No.


My final target is a reliable 250-300 whp and really good neutral handling for twisties .
So question is, NA and upgrade, Turbo, or just go with newer 240 sx.
The NA is not going to hit those kinds of numbers.
A KA 240SX isn't either short of an SR20 swap.



-Ted
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Old Nov 25, 2004 | 12:12 AM
  #10  
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From: KC MF MO
you can make a 300 rwhp na rx7... LoL.. that means its doable... LoL.. The difference in cost isn't that much... but rx7's are a hell of a lot cooler...
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Old Nov 25, 2004 | 12:28 AM
  #11  
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I also had my thoughts back in the day when i got my GXL . I was debating in a GXL or late 240sx.

Overall if your looking for an NA very very realible will be the 95 and newer 240sx . becasue its newer and those truck engines are built quite strong. Now power wise you wont really get anywhere past the 180- marc without tons of cash '' OR '' going turbo. Then your other options is dropping in the pretty SR20det but there goes your truck engine reliabilty and up go your bills.

So if its power a nice Stock T2 S5 will be great.

Well i dont know if that made alot of sense. Its a bit late i should continue sleeping.
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Old Nov 25, 2004 | 10:08 PM
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[QUOTE=RETed]The FC turbo will SMOKE the 240SX, period.



Wellllllll not necissarily. A friend of mine has a 1991 240sx with an s14 silvia motor...gt28 turbo (very small upgrade from origional) 300zx tt fuel pump...s15 injectors...thats it. He smokes me, and runs 13.4 at our elevation here. I love my rx7 simply for the car, and the fact its rotary. I wouldnt have a piston motor as a sports car ever again. Silvias are pretty quick tho. Also...a 240sx weighs only about 30lb more than fc. Dont buy an rx7 just because its fast...buy it because of what is is....a very individual, interesting car.
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Old Nov 25, 2004 | 10:51 PM
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Rx7's look better, are very unique, perform better around a track, are cheaper to buy, cheaper to make fast, and cheaper to buy parts for (although probably not QUITE as reliable). If you maintain it, it'll be awesome.

Get a TII!!!
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 12:54 AM
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My advise is to drive each car and see which one YOU like best. Also buy the best car you can afford, you'll end up spending that money on the car sooner or later, but if you get a newer, better one, it'll have more resale value and it'll be more reliable. I picked up my 91 n/a at a dealership in Vancouver (City Gate Motors) for $8200 Canadian. I know it's alot for an FC, but I looked at alot of other RX-7's and I think the premium you pay for a really good one is worth it. My car had had it's motor ebuilt by Mazda 3000km's earlier, a new clutch, pressure plate, and it had only 150K on the odometer, a good interior, good paint, no major accidents, and I've never regretted it. The Mazda bill alone was like $5500 alone. TII's are hard to find, especially S5's (I looked). Any FC will be quick around the track and the NA's are lighter.

With all the possible bolt on's/easy mods and a little tuning you should be able to get about 160rwhp. That's probably about 200fwhp. To get any more you really need a ported motor, FI, or NOS. If you can find a good NA get it, you can always throw in a TII engine/drivetrain later, go for quality of the body.

If you let Eunos (www.eunos.ca) know that you're looking they can probably point you to a few cars and let you know when one comes up for sale.
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Black91n/a
My advise is to drive each car and see which one YOU like best. Also buy the best car you can afford, you'll end up spending that money on the car sooner or later, but if you get a newer, better one, it'll have more resale value and it'll be more reliable. I picked up my 91 n/a at a dealership in Vancouver (City Gate Motors) for $8200 Canadian. I know it's alot for an FC, but I looked at alot of other RX-7's and I think the premium you pay for a really good one is worth it. My car had had it's motor ebuilt by Mazda 3000km's earlier, a new clutch, pressure plate, and it had only 150K on the odometer, a good interior, good paint, no major accidents, and I've never regretted it. The Mazda bill alone was like $5500 alone. TII's are hard to find, especially S5's (I looked). Any FC will be quick around the track and the NA's are lighter.

With all the possible bolt on's/easy mods and a little tuning you should be able to get about 160rwhp. That's probably about 200fwhp. To get any more you really need a ported motor, FI, or NOS. If you can find a good NA get it, you can always throw in a TII engine/drivetrain later, go for quality of the body.

If you let Eunos (www.eunos.ca) know that you're looking they can probably point you to a few cars and let you know when one comes up for sale.
Thats the going rate where I live, for some reason, canadian FC's are a shitload of money! I hear people here in the states are picking up excellent conditions FC's for like 2 g's. I payed 1800$ for mine cndn! It had its share of problems though
-shitty injectors
-body damage
-bad tps
-CPU solder point problems
-shitty interior

Overall I consider this a project car, and when im finished (prety damn close) it'll be up there in the resale value. I don't plan to sell really, this car is gonna keep me goin a long ways i hope
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 01:44 AM
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Originally Posted by RETed
The FC turbo will SMOKE the 240SX, period.



Wellllllll not necissarily. A friend of mine has a 1991 240sx with an s14 silvia motor...gt28 turbo (very small upgrade from origional) 300zx tt fuel pump...s15 injectors...thats it. He smokes me, and runs 13.4 at our elevation here. I love my rx7 simply for the car, and the fact its rotary. I wouldnt have a piston motor as a sports car ever again. Silvias are pretty quick tho. Also...a 240sx weighs only about 30lb more than fc. Dont buy an rx7 just because its fast...buy it because of what is is....a very individual, interesting car.
dude i think he meant stock FC T2 vs stock 240SX Ka24 Turbo
not a stock FC T2 vs a modded 240 turbo

Last edited by EDiddy; Nov 26, 2004 at 01:48 AM.
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 02:27 AM
  #17  
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Cool

Originally Posted by 6gears2love
I have been considering the FC3S a long time. Now the NA version ( usually gxl) runs for around $4000-5000 Cad. The turbo is usually $2000-3000 more. Now for a price for a turbo + $1000 I can get a '95 240sx. I know a lot of people here love the Rx 7 but please don't be biased. So question is, will I be able to upgrade the NA easily to the turbo's output (around 200 hp), because I love NA but it is really expensive, or will it not be worth the trouble? My final target is a reliable 250-300 whp and really good neutral handling for twisties .
So question is, NA and upgrade, Turbo, or just go with newer 240 sx. Thx.
ChAoS out .
Any thing is possible if your money is right.My dad went 12.00's with a blown engine full body car and street tires in the early 1990's with 320 horsepower it was N/A but today there is turbo wich you can do more slightly cheaper. I know someone who has a turbo II and wants $1300. clean ready to go or you just can buy a turbo engine from me and put it in whatever you like.I got a 12a turbo or a 13b turbo II engine so who says you cant get 300 from all motor think again. its been done :
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 03:22 AM
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From: n
Originally Posted by gotrotors?
Wellllllll not necissarily. A friend of mine has a 1991 240sx with an s14 silvia motor...gt28 turbo (very small upgrade from origional) 300zx tt fuel pump...s15 injectors...thats it. He smokes me, and runs 13.4 at our elevation here. I love my rx7 simply for the car, and the fact its rotary. I wouldnt have a piston motor as a sports car ever again. Silvias are pretty quick tho. Also...a 240sx weighs only about 30lb more than fc. Dont buy an rx7 just because its fast...buy it because of what is is....a very individual, interesting car.
Dude, don't let me go over there and bitchslap you...
Reread my quote: "The FC turbo will SMOKE the 240SX, period."
Did I say SR20? No.
Last time I checked, the US-spec 240SX came with a KA24D or KA24DE.
The 240SX did not come with an SR20 from the factory.
The J-spec 180SX and 200SX came with CA18's and SR20's respectively.
Just because I just said "240SX", you cannot assume it's an SR20 swap automatically.
If I wanted to talk about an SR20 240SX, then I would've said so.

So, just for you, an FC turbo will SMOKE a 240SX with a stock KA24D or KA24DE.


-Ted
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