Blasphemy

So, i bought me an 88 RX-7 with the intent of going small-block on its rotary ***. Then i fired it up and thought the rotary sounded pretty cool... So i sourced a transmission for 50 bucks at a salvage yard and here i am trying to get the old one off.

There seems to be three places where it has to come loose, the driveshaft, the mounts and the bell housing. I got the mount taken care of... Loosen four bolts and viola. But, i am looking at the driveshaft and it doesn't look happy at all. Do i have to push those pins loose? Or do i just remove the whole damn driveshaft from the diff. and drop the driveshaft/tranny unit from the car? Pulling the driveshaft means i have to pull the exhaust too. Anyway, what if the best way to do this? I know i need a manual, so dont tell me to go buy one.
-Aston

rx_7_driver

drive shaft has to be removed from car (including exhaust) just soak the exhaust bolts in some pentrating oil for a couple of hours first (u will thank me later for doing this)


-Shawn

Rxmfn7

iTrader: (4)

Yep, remove the exhaust, then the driveshaft needs to be removed. Then unbolt bell housing bolts, then tranny mount. Are you still going V-8 or are you sticking to the rotary now??

SureShot

Seperate the Y-pipe from the mufflers & leave the mufflers hanging.

Blasphemy

I really think the rotary is neat! I will go V8 one of these days, but for now i think i will enjoy it as a rotary.

Blasted, so the exhaust has to come off... Lame. Anyway, i will go ahead and start that process.

I am thinking i might get the body the way i want it while keeping the little 13b stock. CorkSport wide fenders (These are such a great deal, IMHO, 375/pair), decent rims/tires, new bumper/valence. I can shoot my own paint in my garage, so that is no big deal. Then, once it is looking nice, i will go V8 on it. I really like the idea of a full JDM looking car, but with 400-500HP worth of American muscle under the hood. Kinda like a 20B but without having to pay through your teeth, your kids' teeth, your full extended family's teeth... I can build a badass 400HP small block for way under 2 grand, and get it in the car and running for under 600 bucks....

But, since the 13b is so damn neat, and i am poor right now, i will stick to that and moding the suspension and body. Thanks for the tranny help!
-Aston

Rxmfn7

iTrader: (4)

I really think you should re-evaluate your budget on the V-8 swap. Go to www.v8rx7.com and ask around in the forums for the average cost of a V-8 swap. I think youll be a little disappointed. Its not *that* much, but Id say be prepared to spend around $5k, if not more. And no offense or anything, but if you get confused just trying to remove the transmission, your going to need alot of help on a V-8 swap.

JoeZoom

iTrader: (1)

I am converting mine to a complete C5 drivetrain, and I am NOT going to spend 5K!!! More like around $4000 when it is all done and finished. This includes the engine, torque tube transmission (t56) and covette punkin. Where do you get 5K??? Granted, I am doing all the work myself, but even so, it is not that high of a project to do. You can get a complete LT1 setup for under $1500 and buying the mounts instead of making them, you're still under 2K if doing most of the work yourself.
I have already completed a V6 swap into a 79 RX7 that cost me less than $1000. That included everything, T5 transmission, Chevy 4.3, Carb, driveshaft, mounts, etc!!!

I am not posting this to start another flame war about V8 swaps, but this needed to be corrected

Rxmfn7

iTrader: (4)

Heck, if i could convert to a LT-1/T56 Setup for ~$3k, Id be there in a heartbeat. I see your in Ohio.....do you do these swaps for customers, or just for yourself? Im not far away at all If I could drop my car off and a few grand later have a fully running EFI LT1/T-56, youd be my hero.....

JoeZoom

iTrader: (1)

I have done several swaps however, this will definitely be a custom job. When I get done with it, I will post a complete write-up with pics that show everything.
As far as doing it for other people, I really do not want to but I will be glad to offer any knowledge along the way if you decide to go the route of "The Dark Side"
I shopped around and got the rearend/tranny/tube for $1600, the engine LS1 (truck) for $850. Now this puts me at $2450 with around $1550 to stay within $4000 budget. Figure in the mounts for around $100 and misc work on the rear end another $300, exhaust around $300, this still leaves over $800 for odds and ends. Yeah, it will be under $4000 and be one heck of a ride, both straight AND autocross!!!

Blasphemy

I never stated that i was confused. This is the first time i have ever worked on an RX-7, and was wondering EXACTLY what is the best way to go about removing it.

I have swapped a tranny, done the belts, waterpump, seals on a Porsche 944. I have intercooled a Turbocharged Omni, and in order to do this you have to basically fabricate your own damn intake manifold, and remove the head + I/E manifolds. I am no stranger to cars, or wrenching on them. It is just that i like to ask questions to make sure that what i am doing is the best way to do something. I suppose when you don't know, you just cowboy it, right?

I suppose i should expect to spend around 5k to swap in a really nice LT-1 w/ a 6speed and everything. However, here in BFE, emissions laws are non-existant, so i will be going 350 + either B/W 5-speed or old fashioned TH-350. If it costs me any more than 2000 bucks to get 300ish HP + have it in the car and running, i will eat my steering wheel on film and post it on the forum.
Cheers!
-Aston

87racer

well.... its pretty easy once you get the exhaust and driveshaft outta the way. Next you should take off just the upper intake manifold. You dont need to remove the part that goes right to the engine but you should probably remove every other part of it. You may be able to take out the tranny without removing the upper intake but it will make it a PITA. i replaced mine 4 days ago and it should only take you like a few hours ecspecially with the upper itake off. Its only like 5 bolts to get the tranny off the engine. good luck and feel free to PM me if you need help.

scathcart

You've done all this custom work (made you own intake manifold), and you need to ask about something as simple as removing a transmission? God, it's not hard. It's one of the easiest things to do on a car.

Yes, I just "cowboy" it. I look at what would need to get done, and I do it. Just yesterday I swapped a B/W T5 out of a 5.0L. Just crawled underneath and set to work. Not everyone needs to have their hand held.

If you can't get your tranny out on your own, ain't no way you're going to be able to make your own driveshaft, engine mounts, fuel system, wiring, etc etc for $2000 and have the car not be a POS.
You're not even taking out your transmission properly. Trans mount is the LAST thing to remove. That's not an RX-7 specific thing, either.



It'd be one thing if you had asked and saying you were unsure, but here you are claiming to be a car expert capable of making your own parts and doing horrendous engine swaps for next to nothing and you can't even figure out how to properly remove a transmission? Something just doesn;t smell right. Reality check: you're not as hot with cars as you think you are.

Let me know how that steering wheel tastes.

Blasphemy

Also never said i was an expert. I just said that i have done a few things to some of the cars that i have owned. I am an 18 year old engineering student, i like to tinker with cars in my spare time, and i also like to ask questions on web forums about just WTF i am doing before i do it. And i do not appreciate it when people are obnoxious when i ask questions. I seriously do not think that the V8 swap is as hard as you say it is. You can buy mounts, you can buy a driveshaft, very little custom fab needed...

BTW, thanks for letting me know about the upper intake manifold, whoever that was!
-Aston