along this line of thought i didn't see anywhere in the content list contingencies for upgrading the driveshafts and frame.

you must have some pretty serious upgrades to these components assumed if you are doubling the torque going down the output shaft. my guess is the halfshafts, ppf, driveshafts, rear diff would all need to be upgraded. bigger brakes and new bushings, maybe some upgraded suspension parts, it seems like the whole chassis would need to be upgraded once you get too far above stock. basically the same issues you run into with the 13b once you get into those high power numbers. i think these items will fall into the "test and tune" artguy was talking about above and ultimately you might end up with the entire chassis of a corvette to go along with the engine.

these would be my concerns as a potential customer and i would be interested to know what your workarounds for these issues are, unless of course thats all proprietary

 

LOL You are correct that the only people who have actually experienced the car are people involved in the conversion. Everyone is welcome anytime to come by the shop to check out the progress and go for a ride. Connections have already been made for one board member who has posted in this thread to stop by on his way through Alabama for Christmas vacation.

Very understandable comment. Track tests are currently being scheduled so that we can show the true performance level of the car. Videos will be posted for all who cannot be there in person.

There will be some headaches with the initial car over time. As much as I would like to think we're perfect, there is always room for a little good 'ol fashion human error. This is the reason we are trying to test as much as possible prior to selling parts in order to eliminate problems for the do-it-yourselfer. There is currently over 1,800 miles on the car without a single problem.

Thanks. I am going to try to keep this board up to date with the progress of the car over time.

 

The Renesis will definitely bring the rotary design back in to the ball game in fuel effeciency, but we need to keep things in perspective. The new RX8 should be a fun car like a Nissan Maxima. It won't have the gearing or agility of its 10yo brother the RX7.

This could very well be true, but I feel we will never see the reality of this dream. It appears as if Mazda has moved on from the 13B design with no public discussion of bringing it back in the current or all-new form.

It would be interesting to see someone make the conversion. Stock for stock, it would be an increased power range. I'm sure someone would find a way to increase power output even more with a turbo application possibly turning to a new page in rotary RX7 performance.

The lines between sports car, muscle car, and dare I say "High performance car" are very grey. The goal for this conversion was to build a car that maintained performance levels equal to or higher than a '02 Z06. If those performance levels fall in to a "muscle car" description for you, then it is by all means it is a muscle car.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I highly doubt Mazda(Ford) is watching this thread in hopes of developing the next domestic Viper.

I believe you're starting to compare apples and oranges here.

 

These issues have been considered and addressed in the strength of the parts that we offer for the conversion.
The rear suspension components will be upgraded on a need basis. In other words, we're testing the limits of stock parts in order to better serve our customers with tested results. If we find they need to be upgraded, they will be will done in the order that they break. However, all of these parts will be more than strong enough for the average Joe who daily drives the car with the ocassional street race or excited run down an on-ramp. Most people aren't going to be bolting slicks on the car and streaking down the strip every weekend, but we will be providing tech support for those who wish to do this.

 

I still can't get used to seeing an FD with the LS1 rumble! I hope you can break everything in, and get some more vids up soon!

 

ok, so.... any fast car is great..... and I commend you for successfully doing the swap and making it run.

but you do realize that you are going straight to hell

If you want a muscle car... go buy a muscle car and leave the rex ALONE. If you can't handle the complications of a rotary then you have no business with the car.

At the least go for a tuned NA 3 rotor. You'd be surprised what you can get and they will sound like race cars not smokey and the bandit.....

a v8 swap just completely negates the entire point of the RX-7's existence in my opinion. It is sacrilege. If I ever win a billion dollars I will make it my mission to pay top dollar for every 3rd gen I can get my hands on and store them in a warehouse so noone can wreck them or generally do dumbass **** to them.... my 2 cents

 

You are so right. Kinda like when Carroll Shelby put that big *** V8 in that little British sports car.

What a stupid ******* idea.

 

The last few posts make me LOL.

Wow.

 

If I had a billion dollars, I would buy all the 3rd gens and send them to the crusher, so the sacrilege will end! Then no one could disgrace a 3rd gen by putting a v8 in it!

 

How much engine hp does a bone stock LS1 have? If someone goes a buys a new or used STOCK LS1 how much hp we talking?

I thought they were rated at 320 at the engine?

Am I wrong about this? Does the conversion add bolt on mods like intake and full exhaust or is all that extra just like it would be to mod a rx7?

I heavent heard much about the hp, I assume since the engine is up to the customer the cost that have been associated with this project so far would be based on a bone stock LS1 with 320hp at the engine and then the price would go up from there.

Am I wrong about this???

STEPHEN

 

The earliest STOCK LS1's were rated at 345 HP. Also worth noting - they were generally underrated around 5%.

The HP goes up a little Each year, with 1 or 2 years being an exception. Of course, the '01 LS6 is rated at 385 and the '02 LS6 is rated at 405.

Hope that clears things up.

 

The '01 and '02 model LS1 engines in a Camaro or Firebird are averaging over 320rwhp on the dyno without any modifications.

The are underrated from GM.

The full price conversion do duplicate the first car includes the LS6 intake which is a nice addition to the LS1. All turn key cars will have a custom true dual exhaust with H-pipe and hi-flow mufflers. The car in the video clip didn't have mufflers or a H-pipe at the time.

The cost would go up from the stock 320rwhp. Many customers have contacted us stating that they would like to build up the LS1 prior to installation. There are too many possibilities to cover, so those specific details will be covered with the individual customer.

 

to each his own. for some reason, i like some others have expressed, are protective of the roatary engines who often give us problems. i personally couldnt see my car any other way, the thought of my car sounding like a camaro makes me cringe. i think the LS1 is a good motor though, i am currently looking for a impala ss as my second car. if anyone decides to do this conversion and wants to sell their 13B I am interested.

- Steve Prew
steveprew@steveprew.com

 

WOW!

Where are you people from??? LOL

 

We are from the school of classic RX-7. I have been living and breathing RX-7's as a hobby for almost 15 years. Now don't get me wrong.. I like the vettes too... BUT....................

These cars in general were the technical "tour de force"s of their day. Revolutionary technology from a little Japanese car company pissing directly in the face of GM and the like. This is not opinion... it is fact. Mazda and the rotary are like the punk sitting in the middle of a christian sunday school. They will do their own thing and succeed come hell or high water. You should read some of the books on Mazda/rotary history..... you might think differently about desecrating that car.

I don't resent the V8 conversions, but the FD is becoming more and more scarce because of dumbass kids wrecking them and others not knowing how to take care of them. I want to preserve this precious resource. Converting to V8 is like saying...."Wow the rotary scares me. I can't maintain it and I can't handle it... so let's turn it into a muscle car." WHICH IT IS NOT!!!!!!!!

Now, you can do what you want... I will not try and stop you... but to all these impressionable people who are getting "ideas" from your post... that I can try to undermine... and I WILL TRY !!!!!

SO PLEASE... if you want a V8 go buy a V8 car..... and leave these precious gems alone....or spend your money on restoring one to its originally intended glory.

Remember the FD RX-7 is and always will be THE ORIGINAL C5 Vette....just with a much cooler gimmick under the hood. Don't even try to argue with it.... their are tons of people here who will back me up and even a few honest vette enthusiasts who will do the same.

 

Yeah it's a little worrying the number of people that would just drop the good old rotor for a v8 just like that (it seems). But hey it'll NEVER be that many that there'll be more v8's in them than rotors. There's too much of us rotorheads to allow that too happen

 

Folks, this isn't a black and white world, so quit acting like it is. Step into reality and see the colors!

You act as if it's V8 vs. Rotary... It's not! What Brian has offerd is an alternative to those who don't like rotors flying through their hoods, or just want more power/better fuel economy/much more reliability at a fair cost!

You make several statements that I find comical, "The 7 is the original C5," " tour de force of their day," and the classic "desecrating that car!" Where do you get this stuff?

1. The RX-7 is just that- an (say it with me now... ) "Rrrrr Xxxx 7" - in NO way is it related to a C5. Period!

2. Force of it's day? Are you telling me that a '91-'92 ZR1 would get owned by a 7? Please tell me you're joking? Are you alluding that an RX-7 could out run/out handle a toyota supra (of the same era?). Are you saying that it would destroy a '93 Cobra of that year? Are you saying it would take a '94 Viper? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then I must warn you - Drugs ARE bad, mmmkay?

3. I'm sorry, the RX-7 is a sweet car, but it is NO Shelby Cobra 427, It is NO '58 Vette, it is NO Ford GT-40, and it is certainly no Viper. Your 7 will never be a classic. Let me repeat that, just so you can understand the thoughts I'm relaying here - You drive a car that will NOT go down in history as a classic. That's a "fact!"

Speaking about rotary history - do you even know why the rotary motor was invented? What it's first purpose was? I can assure you it wasn't designed to power a car. Is it time for a history lesson here? Why bother - you seem to already know _everything_! LOL

Enjoy your rotary powered 7, it's a sweet car! But, so is Brian's! Anyone who says differetly can't see the forest for the trees.

 

Do you really feel like your typing anything new that hasn't already been said? Why do I feel like I'm constantly having to type the same things over and over?
"Tour de force" for what style of car? I have driven old N/A RX7s before and they are as exciting as watching paint dry.

Revolutionary? Putting an engine of a modified 1920s design in a car is different, but it is far from revolutionary. I fail to see the breakthrough technology you are refering to.

I hardly think GM lost many sales of Corvettes or Camaros because of the release of a torqueless dull two seater compact decades ago. I will agree that the FD did steal some sales away from the Corvette in the early 90s, but the small glory(15K car sales) was not for long.

So success is designing a car that only lasts 75K miles before a complete rebuild. Way to go team!

Just like Shelby did that poor little AC car.

Did you think before you typed? I can't handle adding oil and coolant every 2,000miles, but I managed to custom fabricate an awesome setup to bolt in a 400+HP V8 that will kill 95% of rotary cars on pump gas. All this being done with a rather mild and boring LS1 setup.

Thanks. I'm glad that I have your blessing.

Do you really think that true car enthusiast willing to spend over $12,000 on an awesome car for great performance is going to change his mind because of your simple and close mided post?

Once again to all the haters... Please try to be creative in your ramblings so that we atleast get to laugh at something new.

 

I dunno Brian, I've been laughing at most of these...

 

I didnt know cars had to be american to "go down in history as a classic."

 

laughing...that is the whole point...this guy takes himself too seriously.......

Glad to see that you are the final word on this matter. Did it take you awhile to do all that cutting and pasting??

Damn... this is why my post count is so low.... this forum gets downright ignorant at times....

And just so I can get in on the shenanigans...... YOU ARE AN ICKY POOHEAD



and if you really paid attention to what I wrote and thought about it...... well i'm not wasting any more time.......

 

Praw,

That is an astute observation!

There are many foreign classics. Unfortunately our beloved RX7 isn't one of them.

And please don't counter that statement with, "How can you say that - we have a website DEVOTED to the RX7! It's OBVIOUSLY a classic!"

I can show you a Ford cougar/thunderbird webiste, I can show you a GEO/ESCORT site, I can show you a Ford F150 website! I can assure you none of those will ever be classics either!

Please, let's get this back on topic!

 

Now THAT is what I'm talking about!

That is one WELL-THOUGHT-OUT response that is in-depth, contributory to the conversation at hand, and definitely an indication of the poster's ability communicate in a studious fashion!

WOW [again]!!!

 

ETraylor3.

Excuse me sir,

YOU JUST HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. That is the whole f@cking point.

SARCASM


Don't take everything so seriously... and don't get your panties in a bunch.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

If you would prefer to communicate in a studious fashion then let us converse some time in a manner of your choosing. Dare I say, good chap, that this forum is not the most ideal medium in which to do so. It is with too much ease that such "shenanigans" may be taken out of hand and out of context.

 

What a freakin thread!

I'm gonna have to turn off my Internet to the house. This thread just lost me $60 in time consumed.

Brian's car is bad ***. If you have a badder *** car, good for you! Bet it cost 3 times as much though!

(That was fun. I just sounded like a litter ricer pansy!)





Show us a rotary w/ 400 ponies and gets 28 mpg!

Until then.......