redhotee

Hello to evreyone.
My name is Fraser i am 18 and live in canada and i currentley own a mx-3. I have am looking to build a race worthy car soon and i am thinking of buying a 89 rx7. My biggest problem is i dont know anything about them. in high school i took auto body and mechanics for 2 years and did well so i think that gives me some info on cars but i never learnt about the rotory engien.

let me fill you in on the car i plan on buying and my plans on what i think i may do to it.

89 rx7 it has an aftermarket twin turbo. i am more then sure it was not origanly a turbo model but i dont actuley know. it has minor rust dammages but i can fix that i know how.

my plans for the car are: strip all extra weight anything that can go will.
put in 2 nice raceing bucket seats with 4 point harnesses.
new suspention and struts
new engien and tranny
now origanly the guy who is selling it to me said to toss away the engie and get a v8 i dont plan on doing that anymore after reading about you'r posts.
i know nothing about the rx7 engien but i plan on getting a new one but i dont know where or how much ect
i am looking for info on about evrey thing i can do to this car to make it as fast as i can with real nice parts.
I plan on this project to take 2-3 years because of my life is full of things to take up my time.

niburu

iTrader: (1)

read the stickies at the top of this forum
learn to use "search" function

Icemark

There is not an aftermarket twin turbo for that car unless he had done some major and very very rare custom work, so chances are he is already mis-representing the engine.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

All the standard bolt-on upgrades apply to the rotary too. Just remember when tuning and upgrading the fuel system to be a little more conservative since rotaries are extra knock sensitive.

RX-7 specific issues: Do a forum search on DTSS, fuel pulsation dampener, OEM thermostat, logicon.

Racing: Check the class limitations. Don't add upgrades that bump you into a higher class unless that's really what you want to do. Also a good time to check the class rules to see what else you need (harness, etc.).

Engine upgrades: Most people get a street port. Search the forum for more info and other options.

87 t-66

iTrader: (133)

its possible...but highly unlikely

Evil Aviator

^ I would like to add to the above. Do not buy any car until you are sure that it is legal for the class in which you wish to race. It would also be a good idea to check with people who race in that class to make sure your car will be somewhat competitive. Next, do not modify anything until you are sure the modifications are legal for that class. I don't think you would be very happy to buy this car and spend 2-3 years and thousands of dollars building the car, just to find out that rotary engines, turbochargers, cars made before 1990, import cars, or some other aspect of the car is not even allowed to race.

Additionally, different race classes have different safety requirements, so you will need to choose your seats, roll cage, fuel cell, etc., according to the particular race rules. "Nice bucket" seats are usually not allowed in racing. Also, a 4-point harness may not cut it either, as most race events require a SFI/FIA 5 or 6-point harness. Keep in mind that there are usually VERY strict rules on how to mount seats and seat belts, so once again, don't do anything until you check the rules. Also keep in mind that some race organizations have an expiration date for safety equipment. For example, the SCCA only allows safety harnesses for 2 years, so that would be a bummer if you bought some now, only to need to buy them again once the car is finished in 2-3 years.

OK, last item... Racing is not cheap. Depending on the class, your car will end up costing $20,000 to $50,000. If you race regularly during the season, plan on spending about $10,000 each year for brake disks, brake pads, tires, fluids, random broken parts, hotel, and travel costs. I assume that you already have a truck and trailer, and have something figured out for a pit crew. There is a reason why you mostly see rich guys racing.

Craiger

iTrader: (1)

Good advice from everyone so far. For the engine, tear it down and see what your working with before you decide to keep it or buy another. You might find that you have a good block to work with.

Where in Canada are you? There is a small community of us rotor heads in most cities in Canada so you might be able to find people who can help you along the way.

redhotee

calgary alberta

Icemark

Fixed