Well I am starting the TurboVert project today, I think Jef Card is going to add a section on his website with the details as we go.. right now this is what I have ordered http://www.goldcoastinspections.com/...d/buddyrx7.htm all items have been ordered and most should be here by tuesday at the latest, engine gets pulled today.. whoohoo


Is there anything I am missing on that list?

 

Cool, thats my next project as well. The only difference, is I just got all the stuff to rebuild the Jspec before its going in mine.

Hey, you may not need to motor mounts, most of the Jspecs I have seen already have them attached.

 

YEP!!!!

Just picked up an 89 White vert to eventually have the TII conversion done - except superchared.

I will be watching your project very closely

Link/website is down right now though

Did you find a smashed TII to pull from? That's my biggest challenge.

 

That doesn't make any sense, a turbo II that you supercharge. I don't think that's possible. IF somehow it is possible there is no logical reason to have a turbocharger AND a supercharger. If you are just going to put a supercharger on I would advise against it because for these cars they are WAY expensive and turbo is cheap and they do essentially the same thing. (Force air into the intake manifold.) If you want to do it right spend all the money on reliability equipment and a jspec turbo engine. Here is a list of the prices of all the parts I got in ONE WEEK.
jspec engine Fc3s.org $$$
greddy turbo time & harness 70 shipped thepartstrader.com
Generic o2 sensor 17.77 nopi
apexi SAFC $205 the partstrader
Walbro 255 fuel pump $135 K2RD
88 t2 starter $45 shipped thepartstrader
ECU $39 shipped the partstrader
Throttle cable, boost sensor $50 shipped thepartstrader
Mass air flow sensor $85 shipped Dave Gibson Fc3s.org
Blitz SS BOV 100 shipped thepartstrader.com
2 720 CC injectors $240 RX7.com
Jacobs 8.5mm wires $40 rx7.com
Motor mounts $60 Mazdatrix (Needed special convertable ones)
Pilot and throwout bearings and seal. $52 Mazdatrix
Turbo II oem decals $23
Thermostat $15
Racingbeat midpipe/downpipe $245 rx7store.net
Apexi N1 single catback $420 "
Autometer AF guage, boost gauge $77 JCwhitney
Dual Apillar pod $33 Rx7store

So if you add up everything your at about just under 3 grand for the whole swap. Not bad for a 300 horsepower convertable huh?
-Now I have to figure out how to clean my damn carpet.

 

*PLEASE* Take lots of pics, and document everything you can.. I want to do a t2 swap, and i'm gathering up all the info I can. Which driveline are you using?

-Tesla

 

here is the link, it will be updated tonight

http://www.goldcoastinspections.com/...d/buddyrx7.htm

 

link still doesnt work

 

Haha. Sorry Buddy. I didn't mean to mess up the link. They should both work now.

 

and heres an idea, do a sort of offset shadow like the GTUs badges where, but have it made of white and have it cut on a vinyl cutting machine to say Tubo Vert or whatever you please.
I always loved the GTU and GTUs writing

 

Diddo tesla042's comment - document for everyone please

BuddyRX7,

Only supercharged. Yep - everyone advises against it but this is my 2nd FC (have a 91 TII already) and I though I'd be different. I like what I've read about the superchared GTU-S and how it makes HP.

My main focus is with the convertible will be max streetable power (ie docileness). Instant boost & better low end torque is a BIG plus on that focus. I believe the supercharged GTU guys use TII headers/exhaust - so why not go all out and use the TII EVERYTHING (minus the turbo). I'm not planning on importing a TII automatic trans though

Looking for a smashed TII to save money overall. Essentially I'd like to overlay the convertible shell on the TII (logically speaking).

Well - nuff said.

Tell us a little more about your drivetrain mods / changes. The trans & suspension can be optionally swapped right? From what I heard it's the little differences that are impossible to plan for.

 

Well the mods I'm making to the drivetrain are an LSD from an 88 turbo engine for $85 and a 88 TII transmission for $75 both from the junkyard. Also the suspension mods are Suspension technique springs and KYB non-adjustables.

 

Things you missed: TII driveshaft (same junkyard as the transmission and differential) and TII halfshafts (ditto) as well as a TII clutch slave cylinder. Also I suggest a new TII (stock or aftermarket) clutch, although you MIGHT get a good used one with your J-spec motor.

It's also easier to swap the entire rear subframe than just the differential and halfshafts... just a thought.

Yes, I've done the drivetrain portion already. On a 'vert, go for it!!!!

For you NA coupe guys, it's not worth it. Just buy a TII.

 

I will be actually making a video of the entire Jspec swap. If you are interested in a copy of the video I might either post it online or sell the copies of the tapes. It will include a severaly minute burnout running very rich. Just imagine a convertable RX-7 spinning around shooting a large flame continuously out the exhaust. For more info on this I will make more posts later. I need some more info now. My friend tells me that the differential is the exact same as in a convertable. If this is true I won't bother going out and getting that differential. Can anyone confirm whether or not the differentials are exactly the same. If they are different what exactly are the differences. Is the 1988 convertable diff. limited slip? Please only respond to this if you know for sure. I'm not going to bother getting the whole rear end because it is not necessary.

 

Other than springs, the suspension is the same as a turbo/88 GTU/89 GTUs, but the LSD did not come standard on the 'vert.

According to my Mazda factory book, only the rear pinion bearing and the differential mounting rubber are common, but according to Mitchell everything is common except the actual differential itself [although the housing is the same] and the drive shafts.

 

Where can I find this out officially and for sure because my friend says he is positive that my '88 vert has LSD

 

LSD did not come on any verts unless it was a mistake at the factory.
I've seen people that say they had them on their 'vert but who knows. All semi-factual info points to no.

 

and btw, how come it only cost $46 to ship the engine?
Did you just pick it up?

 

I got lsd on my vert.

 

I have LSD on my 91 vert and I'm also doing a TII conversion. IMO, if you're spending all that money already, why not just spend a little more and get the TII LSD. They're alot stronger and in the long run you're better off. For my conversion, I'm putting in the TII drive shaft and differential, which I think is a good investment. Besides, If you just want to use the TII drive shaft, you'll need to do some modification to your non-turbo rearend to get it to work, which I think is more trouble than just getting the Turbo parts. But I'm sure there are some people on the forum that will disagree with me and have done the conversion without switching out these parts.

Before you start, I suggest that you get all of the necessary parts first, it'll save you alot of headache. Anyways, good luck on the conversion.

 

to see if your car has lsd jack up the back of the car so both rear wheels are off the ground. put the car in gear and turn one wheel, if the opsite wheel spins the same direction, you have an lsd if it spins the opsit you don't

 

I plan on putting a t2 trans and t2 diff in my 89 vert and current have all parts to do so. There is a difference in the diameter of the halfshafts ... you will need the t2 halfshafts if you use the t2 diff, as well as the other items on your list ...

 

I have 2 88 verts, both came with LSD's from the factory. I have worked on a dozen more, all came with LSD's from the factory. My FSM shows that the LSD came on all of them. I have yet to see any vert not have an LSD.
But you will need to change the entire drivetrain for the vert to go TII.
www.rx-7.cc has more info online.
I am doing the sap myself on one of my verts right now.

 

right tools & facilities....

Phew ... I'm planning a restore in addition to the swap. Just thinking of what I'll need makes my head spin...

Engine puller, hydrolic lift, specialty tools, sand blast machine (frame repaint), used oven for powdercoating, powdercoating kit, speciality paint shop access (ie so the painting chemicals won't kill me), new bolts, ....

Guess I really need a weeks vacation and 24/7 access to a Mazda dealership for free

 

Oh yeah - don't forget to add that SWEEETTTT!!!! racing beat convertible bodykit to your list.

I'll try to get some pics up tonight