Hi guys, my name's Cody, and I'm new to the world of RX-7's. I've seen plenty of them zooming around before, so I know full well how good they look and how fast they are. Now here's my story:

For a while now I've been wanting to build a 3400 Cavalier Z24, but haven't been able to find a decent 5 speed Z24 to put the engine in and repaint. Most of them around here are rusted out or are beat on. A couple months ago I found a 89 RX-7 limited edition sitting alongside a import repair shop. It's a 5 speed, and it's go some surface rust on it and a few dents. The interior is pretty nice and the car runs pretty good. I figure I could pick it up for a couple hundred and fix it up to be a fast and nice-looking car. It's non-turbo I believe, but from what I've found on Ebay, parts are pretty cheap for it.

Now here's my dilemma. How good are the engines in the 89's? Are they worth upgrading and adding things to them or is it better to swap engines? I've read that many different engines will fit into the car but I'd like to keep the stock rotary engine cause I love high reving cars. Also, how bad are these cars for rust in the body and underbody? Is there any things these cars are known for that's bad? I'm really just wondering how much work it would be to fix the car up and what major problems I'd be running into. I would love to turbo the car and make it really fast, cause it seems to be a cheap thing to do. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

There's no such thing as an '89 limited edition.

Please read the FAQ regarding newbie issues.

(And why oh why would someone actually choose to "build" a Cavalier?)

 

You said parts are cheap? Some are and some are not. I have about 3K in parts and labor into my stock 87 FC. Check the compression unless you are ready for a rebuild.

You didn't say how many miles on it?

 

I'm pretty sure the car is an 89, and it says Limited Edition on the back of the car by the taillights so maybe it's a different year?

What's the normal compression reading on the cylinders then? I've read numerous things on doing a compression test but I figure most cars are different for the PSI. If I remember right, it's around 180 or so is normal?

I was going to put a 3400 engine into a 91 Z24 because when you do a small amount of work to the car, they usually run 14.9's in the 1/4 mile with a 5 speed manual. That means all you'd need to run 14.9 with a Cav is a 3400 and a small tune up which I think is pretty decent. 3400's have 190 HP and 210 Ft. lbs. of torque. Plus I just like how Z24's look.

If I remember right, there's 90,000 or so miles on the car. I can't remember for sure though.

 

180 would be one hell of a rotary lol.

125 is brand new
115-120 is expected from a rebuilt

If you want to run easy 14's, get a turbo ii, the n/a will require a few mods.

These cars are not bolt on and go, some are, some like to be bitches ( like mine )

 

please read the FAQ for FC sticky thread at the top of this section and the Standard and optional features sticky thread at the top of this section before posting!!!!

 

Sorry bro...but did you say cylinders? You do know that the RX7 does not have cylinders don't you?

-Joe

 

wait, I'm confused...you were going to do an engine swap to run 14's....

I'm...um...sorry?

 

Someone must have stuck the sticker on there.

 

lots of people do man!! its funny isn't it. But hey just a tidbit for that crapalier you were building, put a 3100 in it and build a custom riser plate for the intake manifold, to create about 5/8 of an inch rise. You'll be into 13's

 

I'm betting it's actually a XR7, not an Rx7.

 

OK guys, now we're starting to cross the line...Keep it friendly...

 

Yea, I definitely wanted a turbo to be my first mod. I figure it's gonna take the intake manifold, exhaust manifold, new ECU, and injectors possibly? If I remember right, that's what it takes most of the time. What makes them not bolt and go? It seems from what I've read, there's many bolt-on parts for the car. I read the FAQ about turboing the car, and from what I've read, it's a pretty involved process. How hard is it to do on a scale of 1-10?

I read the FAQ thing, and I didn't see anything about the models and such. I am damn sure nobody put that sticker on there cause it isn't a sticker, it's a emblem.

About the cylinders, my bad. I'm so used to talking to the Z24 guys and about V-6 engines that I didn't even think about the RX-7 having a rotary.

No I wasn't gonna do an engine swap to get into the 14's. I was wondering if it was worth doing any engine swaps for this car or if it's just better to build the stock engine up. From what I've read, it's better just to build up the stock engine because there's many parts available for it.

About putting in a 3100 with a high rise manifold, don't be an ***. I know what I'm doing and I know damn well that a spacer or any of that crap is worthless on a fuel injected engine. The best route would be to go 3400 engine. Most who do the swap are into the high 14's with a small tune-up which I think is damn good for a $300 engine with 40K miles on it. Parts are pretty cheap for the Cavs too.

Now I ask, build up the stock engine, or put a different one in there? I figure if it's only got 90K, it should be a great engine to remove, clean up, tune-up, and then start modding. Slapping a turbo on there would be a great start.

How about transmissions? Which ones will go into the car that would be better than my stock one reliability wise and gearing wise?

 

No. I said the options and standard features sticky thread: https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/specifications-what-did-2nd-generation-rx-7-come-w-options-standard-features-249616/
HA HA there is no such thing as "Slapping a turbo on"... These cars are not some silly FWD domestic or Honda.

 

Alright, I read through that sticky and I think I'm gonna print it off and take it over to check the car out some more and see exactly what the hell it is then. I wonder exactly what model the car is then. Also, from what I'm reading, I may not want a NA Rex, simply because of all the special features that the turbo model gives. I think I might look around the area and see if there's any turbo models, because I wouldn't wanna go through the process of converting the interior and body and everything over to turbo style. Maybe this "Limited Edition" model will have some special things in it or something.

I know you just don't slap a turbo on there, but it would be much easier to turbo the RX-7, compared to the Z24 which never came as a turbo model. It takes some custom fabrication to make a turbo Z24. But really, is there any engines that are worth swapping in or is it just better to build up the stock engine? I have a feeling that I'm gonna wanna get the turbo model also for the better tranny and such. That kinda blows, because I could have gotten that damn car for 100 bucks. Meh, at least I'll have a turbo now.

 

If you are looking for a turbo car, then from everything I have read on rotary forums. Everyone generally agrees it will be far easier for you to start off with a factory turbocharged RX-7 (T2). There is so much that has to be done to turbo a n/a RX-7 that the money it would take would be better spent buying and fixing up a T2.

 

don't mind these guys, just read the FAQ link at the top of the forum, it has alot of info and will answer just about any of your questions.



yep, to add a turbo is a pain and about $1000+ in average in parts to do not including labor time. the engines are not straightforward to build like a piston engine so that is something else to consider when buying a 7. but one good thing about rotaries is there is little limitation to how far you can go with the power so far as you do the upgrades properly and safely, you can pull about ~900HP out of a 13B if you know what you are doing but that is some serious work...

 

I thought so. From what I read, the interior is almost completely different, plus it comes with the extra body pieces and not to mention the tranny and turbo.

I went on ebay and looked around, and I saw some of the different models. I saw this anniversary edition Rex that came in white only with nice white leather interior and some other stuff. Also, it seems the best looking Rex's came from 89-91, interior wise and exterior wise. They made the trims of the RX-7's quite different. The convertable comes with a few options that the turbo doesn't, and the GXL comes with a few other options too. Also from what I read, it appears that the GTU is basically a Turbo model without the turbo because it has much of the same interior. From 89-91, did the turbo models have the same interior and exterior? It seems much of it stayed the same.

 

Ya know, this is a great forum. I've found lots of information after only being here for a few days and also you guys have been very helpful. Those FAQ's are really helpful also.

Yea, I know how rotary engines are not easy worked on by a weekend mechanic. Piston engines are pretty straightforward and easy to work on, nothing that hard to do. The bad thing about building up a Z24 is that there's few aftermarket engine parts for it, and also the parts that do exist for it are pretty damn expensive. I'm hoping by next summer to just have a reliable and perfect running turbo engine, with no upgrades: basically to have a brand new stock turbo RX-7. I have a feeling it's gonna be a bitch to find a cheaper turbo model around here, but it's definitely worth a try. Thanks guys.

 

check the for sale section, you can usually find one at a decent price if you don't mind travelling to pick one up.

 

Actually once you learn them, you will find they are 1000% easier to work on then a Piston engine.

People afraid of working on rotary engines, never have worked on rotary engines. They are so much simpler in design and operation than a piston engine; that it is scary that anyone wants to even work on Piston engines.

No valve springs to compress, no valves to adjust, no timing belts, no cam shafts, no piston rods... etc

 

Now that I think about it, you're right. You don't have to deal with timing or anything like that. I think I'm gonna start looking around for a turbo model soon. The one I was looking at is that gold color, so maybe it's a 90 or something? I still don't get the limited edition emblem on it. I'll take some pictures and show ya the car so you guys can tell me what you think. Thanks for the help.

 

well you do have to worry about timing but it is also much simpler than a piston engine, the CAS takes about 10 seconds to align up and install and timing the engine is simple.

i have pulled my motor 3 times but only because i overlooked things that are easily overlooked and not common problems, in those cases i had the engine out and overhauled and back in the car in a weekend. i started yesterday morning pulling the engine, had it out and torn down and the problem found by 3pm when i had to take care of an appointment to fix a customer's car, i came back at 4 and cleaned and prepped it for reassembly and had it together to allow the sealant to cure overnight by that evening, reinstalled it today and finished it up a few hours ago.

 

Sounds pretty good to me! I'm gonna start looking for a turbo model and see what I can find.

 

Alright, let me get a few things straight here. The convertable is quite a bit different than the turbo model because it basically has none of the special upgraded parts in it so that would be out of the question to try to convert one of those to turbo. The next closest model to the turbo that I see is the GXL, but the GXL still has none of the major peices of the turbo model, such as the transmission, turbo, upgraded suspension, or most of the interior pieces. The process of converting a GXL over to a turbo model would be a pain in the ***, because it didn't come with a turbo, and also because all the interior peices are basically different and it doesn't have alot of the exterior peices neither. So from what I see, it's out of the question to convert it over. Damn, thought I might get off easy and get that 89 for 100 bucks, and spend the money turning it into a turbo model.