New Future RX-7 Owner Questions
 

I'm going to buy a used 87 LX quite soon. I'm not sure on some things about what I will do. First of all, the clutch in it is gone, smoked. I want to rebuild the engine with a 6 port street port. I'm planning on getting a header and a cat back system with a straight pipe in between them seeing as there are no emissions tests here. Pre silencers and high flow cats are way too expensive for me. Besides that i'm probably going to get thicker wires and a new coil and a fairly generic intake sytem and remove the emissions systems except for the air pump which I plan on setting up for use of turning on the 6th ports. Now, my question is, with this street port or perhaps a slightly larger street port, will I be making enough power to make a stock replacement clutch slip or will it be fine? If not, will an ACT organic disc and a street pressure plate hold? Or would you reccomend a different clutch? I'm trying to keep things inexpensive.

Besides this i'm planning or swapping in the 5 lug spindles and using TII wheels with some nice 225 50 R16s. I was thinking Suspension Techniques sway bars (i'm hoping the larger diameter rear bar will contribute to better steering) Eibach Springs and Koni shocks. I know i'm going to eventualy get slotted rotors, but should I stick with stock pads or kevlar ones? Would anyone reccomend different struts or springs?

I'm sorry if all of these questions are newbie like. I'm also going to repaint it, anyone have any reccomendations on who I should go to? Its metallic maroon (3A). I'm going to be getting S5 tail lights as well.

The seat recliner on the drivers side is toast, doesnt work, just falls backwards. Should I try and fix it, replace it with the same stock seat, a racing seat, or would FD seats work well? I'm open to many opinions.

Lastly, what other good street ports are there that I can do myself. I'm hoping to be able to beat many stock NA cars. Supra, Celica, 240SX, 300ZX, Camaro, Mustang, S2000, RSX, Prelude. And some lower powered turbo 4 cylinders.

I'm sorry about asking so many questions, but i'm on a budget and I want to do it right. BTW, i'm planning on doing an Atkins Rotary 2 MM Rebuild, option B. Would the FSM and the Video suffic for rebuilding? I havent done anything this advanced before, my dad has worked on cars for a very long time, but no experience with rotaries as far as I know.

Thank you.

There was an LX model?!?

That ACT clutch will be MORE then sufficient to hold the amount of power you MIGHT make.


1986 Mazda RX-7 GXL 8.5 16.5
2005 Ford Mustang GT 4.6L V8 5.1 13.5 (MT Jan 05)
1998 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 5.2 13.7
2004 Honda S2000 5.8 14.2 (MT Mar '04)
2003 Acura RSX Type S 6.7 15.1


My advice to you, dont get your hopes up. That N/A will be a blast to drive, but its not going to beat stock Mustangs or Camaros unless you are ready to throw down some SERIOUS money.. And for that money, you could go turbo.

Rat

Yeah, there was a luxury package. It's shown in the 87 Brochure. I doubt I could beat any newer Mustangs or Camaros, I was thinking maybe I might be able to beat a couple of earlier models. I don't really know what their numbers are, but I hope with some lightening and these power upgrades I might beat some.

There was a Luxury model, but it wasnt given the moniker "LX".

Do me a favor and read some of the 1/4 mile times posted by people in N/A FCs with mods. I am not in any way trying to dissuade you from modifying your FC, I just want you to understand that its not going to be as fast as you think it is.

Remember that with any header and no presilencer or cat, this car will be very loud. Search my user name for "Corksport exhaust note", it'll give you an idea on how loud an RX-7 can get (with a RB presilencer ;O!) I say go with a presilencer or Bonez cat, even a Borla XR-1 ($179).I'de remove the air pump and wire open the 5th and 6th ports, or remove them completely during the rebuild (I hate the stock air pump). Or just keep a highflo cat or presilencer to keep the ports contantly activated.

ACT organic clutch will be fine. RP sells a slightly better stock clutch if you're going cheap (10% more holding power). It also depends on how large/efficent the port is. Some streetports don't make alot for extra power.

Semi-metallic pads should be adequite for a street car.

Search locally for a good painter/body shop.



FD seats I've heard are a bitch to get working. I say replace it with stock (you said you're going cheap yourself, a "good" racing bucket wold cost around $500 and another $70 for a slider).

Kahren Stage 1 NA ports seem to kick ass, but if you want it done perfectly, or close to the dyno you'd have to send the irons to him. Then an ACT clutch would be your choice. Alot of those cars will take you out, depending on your modifcations and port size.

Just make sure you're using everything that is inspec. FSM and video would be great to help with this project. As with this forum.

Good luck!