rx slim

Great find. . .I say stick with the 13B and big single turbo. You will lack some torque, but you just can't replace that sound!!

swarm

That's great you wouldn't have bought this car. Thanks for the insight into your life.

I have no issue with dropping $10k into this car - they go for more than that when completed and done right. The repaint will be done free by a local friend who owns a very well known paint/body shop. Black interior pieces are expensive, it's true - but interior is worth it. It is where I will be spending most of my time.

I was not badmouthing the rotary. I love rotary motors. Was my low torque statement incorrect? Was I not stating true facts?

I was asking for opinions on what you guys would do with it to see what options I have.. I am not really biased either way.. I really like the idea of ls1 because I already have a high power turbo car (94 eclipse GSX, 6bolt swap, 550+hp).

Anyhow... thanks guys!

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Not to add any fuel to the fire: http://www.yawpower.com/tqvshp.html

Good luck on your project.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

I disagree. I think doing the engine bay and other not-so-easily-accessible areas first would indeed be a good idea, but that's ALL I would do first.

Then I'd finish the drivetrain COMPLETELY.

THEN I'd do the interior (which a good deal of which can get damaged/scratched etc during the process if done at an earlier stage).

Finally, I'd FINISH with the exterior. Doing the exterior any earlier leaves you with a very high risk of getting the car nicked, dinged, scratched, or worse, esp. given that the above mentioned work will prob involve many hands and many tools - all of which pose great threat to a freshly painted exterior. Trust me, been there, done that

~Ramy

PS: G'luck w/ the car; to get it to where I'd be happy w/ it, you'd need another $15K or so. Seems like a lot of time & effort lost/wasted when you can buy a 100% ready and well sorted out FD for only 2 - 3 grand more...

swarm

more of a project to keep my occupied. I needed a winter project... Sure I could buy someone elses racecar, but what fun is that?

swarm

Good info. I don't want torque so I can go 200mph. I want torque for fun street driving. Again, I already have a very powerful turbo car. The rx7 is going to be used NOT FOR A 1/4 MILE CAR.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

You ever see shows like Overhaulin' and such where they completely tear down a car and rebuild it? Do they ever get it running first before doing a full paint job? Nope.

Granted, those guys are professionals so why would we want to emulate them?

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

Mahjik very confusing but informative site.. and i would follow what fdnewbie said..hard to get spots/paint, clean it out, then make her drivable

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

just to add i would keep it a 13b or go 20b if u have the money.. just keep the right engine for the car

ehos

I've restored a few cars from the ground up before. The way I like to do it (just a preference) is to 'put it all together', ie have it all running/driving perfectly and all the little kinks worked out.

THEN, strip it all apart, fix anything else I missed. Do the rust repair, body work/paint. Then put it all together.

It might seem like it takes twice as long, but it's SOOooo much easier (and fun). And it's so satisfying just turning the key and VROOM, go. The biggest **** off ever is having a sweet sweet body, then oh shoot, gotta pull the engine because I forgot something stupid. Grrr. Or worse (much much worse, too many horror stories to relate).

SINxSELEKTAH

iTrader: (2)

congrats on the find & purchase



you planning on towing something? or drag racing it?

do as you will, it's your car. however with your statement "but TORQUE is useful too." that seems a bit troll'ish for somebody with pics, 7 posts(not that mine is any high) , and a july 07 registation date.

anyway... keep us posted on the progress

victorFD

iTrader: (1)

Woooooooooooooow!!! nice seats, nice interior and nice engine You'll need a lot of time in order to make this FD run! But it's a nice project, really from the beginning.
And about engine, no doubt, put some rotors inside! A 20b is the perfect choice, but if not put a 13B-rew...

ArmitageGVR4

iTrader: (13)

LS1? Be true unto thyself and put in a 6-bolt 4g63t ;P Seriously though, before you even consider one or the other, you really ought to go out and drive a properly setup FD with a 13b and also with an LS1. There's no way you can decide this without firsthand experience. You may just fall in love with the rotary

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

yes you can, you want the right heart of the car in the right body

Montego

iTrader: (1)

Too much trouble in my book if you decide to use a rotary. Do you know of a good mechanic? You HAVE to have a good mechanic. Expect to shell out about 5K for the engine. If the turbos are not healthy that easily is another $2350 (BNR's). Nevermind all of the little stuff that is associated with the rotaries that if you lumped it all together = a lot more $$$ than you thought.

Since you are literally starting from scratch and know nothing of the condition of the rotary parts that came with it: go LS1. You'd be happy with the results. Performance, price, and reliability.

swarm

I used to drive this car every day with the member on here "apexittrex" -- it was his car. The rotary was so fun. It had 3mm apex seals, full exhaust, dp, powerfc, commander, 1300cc injectors, etc, etc, etc.... but the car never ran right... ever.. it blew flames all the time, sounded like a M-16 going off...

I really do wish there was a properly setup RX7 in my area that I could go ride in/drive, both LS1 and rotary, but there isn't that I know of. I never see them around here. There is a bone stock green one in town that I know of, but when I tried to talk to the guy, he would not give me the time of day because I was driving a DSM.

and no, i don't drive a riced out dsm...

http://www.spokanespeed.net/media/jamie/Picture233.jpg
http://www.spokanespeed.net/media/ja...e/ba67b003.jpg
http://www.spokanespeed.net/media/ja...e/IMG_0101.JPG
old pics of it before it was fully built.

anyhow.. anyone know of any spokane/couer'd'alene rx7's that would want to help me decide on the motor? I do like the rotary, but I have also heard they are not good for the northern states due to the weather changes all the time. It will not be driven much if at all in the winter... but it wouldn't be staying in a heated garage either.

rajeevx7

iTrader: (11)

Screw the BS. Keep your DSM for the street....


And build that badass track monster you've always wanted Exponentially cheaper than getting this thing ready for any street respect, and much more exciting.

FD3Smaniac

iTrader: (3)

clean... then clean some more, gut it...PAINT IT.... then get the thing moving

grimple1

iTrader: (1)

^^^ you only missed it by 20+ hours.

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

whell if it wont be driven that much a rotary should be good, also cold weather rotarys like