ncfc3s

iTrader: (1)

Because its better than watching tv?

KhanArtisT

iTrader: (2)

This is all assuming that you have purchased a TII that has had every filter, mount, bushing, and any other worn out part already replaced which is very unlikely. When swapping the NA car you can replace all of this and know that its been done properly. Not only this, but because most FC owners are High School or college students with low paying part time jobs, we'd much rather own an NA FC and be driving it and learning about the car instead of having no transportation and saving money.

You're at the TII starting point then with the knowledge you have gained after removing and replacing your engine, transmission, rear end, wiring harness and anything else thats easy to replace while all thats out. This is all useful because while competing in any type of motorsport (even street racing) you are guaranteed to eventually wear out and break parts. If you had just bought a TII you would have instead spend all that time working at your crappy job and saving money. And yes, someone who has done a TII swap on an NA will be more knowledgeable of his car than someone who has just bought one. And you wouldn't be getting it close to a TII standard you would be meeting it.

I disagree, if cheap power was all we were after, we would all be driving 5.0 Mustangs.

insenothepunk

One word INSURANCE. I pay $35 a month for insurance on my s4 NA. Now why would the insurance company ask me if I swapped it over to a turbo?

Rotary13B1

iTrader: (8)

NA + TII =

Apathy

In my area, they are selling questionably running T2s for $4-6k and decent ones for $6-10k... Honestly its not worth it in my opinion...

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Nonrunning NA w/a descent body (no major dents/rust) = $100-500

DIY engine rebuild using bare minimal parts (being sure that everything is w/i spec.) ~ $1k

New carpet for the whole car = $300-400

New rims/tires = $500-1500

2 fleabay bucket seats = $200-500

Maaco economy paint = $300-600

Used RB headers w/ custom exhaust ~ $200-500
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Its so much cheaper to build an N/A.... Also, if you want it to be boosted, then you only need to add

JDM 13BT or 13BRE~ $800-1500 (rebuild will be around the same price as above.)

T2 tranny-> $100-200

Turbo->NA driveshaft->400

LSD-> $300-600
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Keep in mind that these are rough estimates being done remembering the average prices that I have encountered when doing these swaps....

rx-7 obsessed

i like to because you know what you are getting. you will know alot more about your car. if something ever goes wrong(and it will) you know what how and where to look. and besides who does not want to do it really. a turbo costs 8k for a nice one i bought my N/a for 300$ and my turbo for 1000$ 1300$. i would take a 1300$ t2 any day. o and its not in bad shape the N/A had a blown motor. one of the nicest 7's i have seen in my area

nebraskarx7

it could be cheaper for instance i traded a 72 chevy pickup for my 86 na or it would have been $1000 and i could put a turbo in for roughly $800 and i will have more boost than a stock turbo 2.

87FCBrett

i have a N/A and they say that with a single turbo add on, these cars have more power then the turbo 2's ever will with a turbo swap out

introVert

QFMFT.

But I went a different direction (see sig VV)

myersprostatus

iTrader: (2)

3-5k? for a swap? where are you getting these figures?
if you are an ebay user theres no way it costs that much. i did a sseries swap and it wasnt even that much.
NOT to the mention not that i did my swap i know every inch of my car! i could take everything apart and put it right back together. i know what everything does now too. It was a good experience for me(being 18years old). although it can be a pain in the *** it truely is the most knowledgable way. I love telling techs with 20+ experience on car what which part is and how it works etc etc.
That is why i continued my swap

myersprostatus

iTrader: (2)

not to mention i bought my n/a for 500 bucks and my motor+trans for 1300

AmviciousRav

iTrader: (5)

Yea I tried to avoid it the most, so I just waited it out for a turbo II (took 3 years haha)

Chris Boots

In my case it is the never ending quest for a more powerfull rotary. Years ago I bought my 88 NA RX7 for 800 with the engine in pieces. Before this one I had a 82 RX7 so I knew a little bit about the rotary. well I rebuilt my 88 NA engine and afterwards knew every part under the hood then the swaps began... a year after I went with the S5 NA and learned how to swap in an S5 engine in an S4 car, that was fun i guess. Then after enjoying about 170 hp of NA fun I drove my friend's built TII. Next swap was a custom turbo swap. By now I knew everything about building rotary engines and things I can do to make them better so I made my own custom turbo engine with S5 internals RX8 shaft lightweight flywheel S5 intakes, Hybrid S5 turbo, mazdaspeed clutch, J spec TII trans with short throw, FMIC, blah blah blah the knowledge came through for me and now I have one bad *** RX7 that looks like an NA but has the power to stand up to many 3rd gen RX7's and enough power to keep you in your seat when you floor it.

In the end I took my first 2nd gen and put every gen engine in it while keeping it looking stock. I will say Money had a lot to do with it. I wasn't making a whole lot when I bought the 2nd gen so I did what I could with what I had. Its kinda like getting a loan for a TII where you don't pay 5000 all at once, you pay it over time which in my case was much better AND I know every nut and bolt on that car front to back and the solution to every problem it might have because I practically built it, mazda provided the parts. The pride I have in that car is un explainable too. To know that you built the engine and everything around it and have even bled making it all happen is something.

I'll say I'd rather do a swap to an NA and then know everything about it then going out and busting my bank on a rebuilt TII.

rebuilt good condition TII's are rare and expensive, Great NA's are cheap, puting a TII engine in it is still cheaper than buying a TII.

ECKO1980

I bought a flipped TII that ran and I could kinda test drive lol for $1200

Found a super clean 88 GTU with a popped motor for $900


It took one weekend to rip every thing out of the cars and put TII EVERY THING in the N/A

I then sold off a bunch of left over parts rearend, tranny, wheels, seats etc and made about half of my money back


Not saying every one could do this this is just my story. After all the little things and painting the hood to match the other car etc. I had a really nice TII for under or right around $2K

I guess it sounds like alot of work but it only took a weekend in my garrage to swap every thing out and I learned alot about every part of the car.


This was quite a while ago about 5 years and I no longer have the car just wanted to share

Wh1t3 C0m3t

all the t2s around here were either beat or series 4. i bought a bone stock MINT s5 gxl and im swapping it cuz the chassis im starting with is in amazing shape. and too me its much easier to swap an engine and do that work then do body work and rust repair

ZeroDrift

iTrader: (1)

I wanted a Turbo Sport... Now I have one, and its bliss!

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Ya you can do a "turbo swap" for a grand but you can also buy a "T2" for a grand. Both usually need over 3 grand to fix. 3-5k is probably more reasonable for a swap that works without a great deal of luck.

I think people do it either because they're cheap and don't realize what it'll cost them later or they do know what they're getting into and just like to work on cars. Also, turbo vert.

dawicka2

Not at all expensive. I was given my 1988 se by my cousin. Corksport luce engine (t2) 1700.00, clutch, sensors ebayintercooler , bla bla bla 600.00. That looks like a well running bootleg t2 for 2300.00. Pulled na engine, installed t2, and wired it in about a weeks time over the summer. I could have done it a lot quicker if i wasnt helping my dad with his garage. I have just about approaching 4 grand total in my car. Still a lot cheaper than purchasing a "stock" high mileage t2.

Oh ****....boost lee thread.......thanks again for the wing, man.

john ny

AGreen

iTrader: (11)

Holy old thread batman!

But to add some .02,
Not everyone can find TII's. In my area, Rx7's are rare. Doesn't matter what gen. And finding a TII here that someone wants to actually sell? Forget it.

dawicka2

^^^^^Yeah....i figured the same thing, might as well comment.

john ny

Mutaku

My reason is rather simple, I just wanted to buy a car in the best overall condition. Then do whatever I can to make it that much better. Eventually its going to boil down to I want to slap a turbo on this thing, because lets face it, some of us just got that turbo itch. Yeah I could probably sell this and get TII but then I wouldn't know whats been done and if everything is in the best condition. I guess its about knowing my car so to speak, and knowing that any work done to it is done by me.

My last 7 was a TII and I ended up having a few people do work on it for me and it just doesn't sit well with me. I like to do things myself. So even if it gets messed up I know its my fault and I learn something from it. It really boils down to circumstance I think.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Lets add to the Dust on this thread.Have you ever Seen a Good running TII that is priced about 500 Bucks?.Not unless you have a Golden Horse-Shoe up your Keester.Most TII's have already had the Crap driven out of them,so What's left of them after that?
On the other hand,you can get a Good running N/A,that would last for YEARS.You get to drive it around,redline it,find out what makes it Tick,then Suddenly IT hits:the quest for more Power,More Speed,More MONEY!
So you take your Wallet,spread it to the Wind and Pray to the Rotary Gods.give me a Rebuilt TII keg.Give me a Big *** Snail and a standalone,front mount intercooler and so many Gauges so I can't see the Road!!...Thanks GOD,I did IT.I Built a TII!!
Yeehah!..Does that answer the question???..what was the question?..LOL!.Cheers,STYX~

epic

iTrader: (3)

n/a u get the spend the time to get to know ur car inside and out and once the engine blows u can spend all the time in the world working on the car and doing the tII swap and gaining more power. but imo i stayed N/A when my engine blew.

NCross

iTrader: (18)

If you ask me it turns out to be cheaper in the long run to just buy an NA and do a turbo swap. Drive the NA while your building a brand new engine. You may spend $1500 building your own engine, but it will be a great learning experience and it will be a new motor.

$3-5,000? I would never pay that for a 13bt with 100,000+ miles.

SmogSUX

iTrader: (12)

The same reason someone wouldn't buy a TII with everything already done to it for 9k and would rather pay a shop 15k to make their car just like that TII...