I'm posting this for a friend of mine.

He has a 93 red RX-7 TT. Touring model with an auto. Nice car, but he's having a hard time as of late keeping up with a few mustangs in the group.

Now, he and I are both clueless when it comes to easy HP on the turbo rotary... So what can be easily and cheaply done?

Also, he's developed what sounds like a exaust leak somewhere near his turbo (sounds like it's between his exhaust manifold and the turbo housing). Is this a common problem with Gen3's? Is it easy to fix?

Thanks!

 

Ithink you better tell your buddy to come here. We can't be telling you our secrets, now can we

 

Damn you all must have some big performance mods for a thrid gen not to be able to keep up with any mustang, unless you drive a an S351...

 

Tell your friend to come and learn from the rotary Gods

Hell, PM me his phone # and I'll be able to help him alot more over the phone, provided he has the $$ for mods.

I live deep in the heart 'o Texas, and I haven't found a Mustang yet that could keep up with me, a 400 wheel hp Roush included

 

Not really. All mid to high 13second cars. He runs strong, but just can't keep up.

If I where to guess, I'd put him about 14flat@ 98-99mph. He is bone stock...

Isn't there some cheap downpipe or intake he can add to crank up the boost and gain 20+rwhp?

 

Stock? Ahh that explains it.
Intake, downpipe, and exhaust. That will be enough for him to be in the low to mid 13s range. If he wants to be in the low to mid 12s, then he will need an aftermarket ECU, and a midpipe (if he doesnt mind a smelly exhaust), and if he gets a programmable ECU, he can get it tuned & up the boost a lil bit.


http://www.rx7store.net/

 

thanks!

Are the intake and downpipe easy to install? Is there a website that details the steps involved?

We will have access to a lift if that makes any difference....

Any thoughts on his exhaust leak?

 

Downpipes can be very annoying to install (mostly getting the stock precat off) - the studs are known for being a pain. Intakes are pretty easy to install and exhaust...very easy. You'll more than likely find the exhaust leak when working on the downpipe. Use a new gasket. Auto RX7s aren't the greatest when representing the speed of RX7s. Stock they run 14.5 at 99 mph. 5 speeds cut about a full second off and add 1-3 mph to the traps.

 

yeah, the intake is pretty easy, just take the stock one out, and put in the new one.

The DP is a little of a pain, but it should be much easier if u have a lift. you'll need to remove the heat shield around the ABS unit (I think that it its been a while insce I did mine) then u can have access to a few of the bolts that hold it to the turbo, then get the car up get the bottom bolts that hold it to the turbo. Then undo it where it bolts up to the cat. Drop it out and stick the new one in.

IT helps alot if u soak all the bolts/nuts in some PB blaster a day or so before you work on it.

 

Your friend owns an auto, thats a huge problem. Just think of how much more hp he is losing to the wheels in his drive train... You are going to need to do alot more work to gain rwhp than an 5 spd. I am not sure the exact percentage in the 5 spd and auto, someone posted it in the past, maybe someone will chime in...

 

***UPDATE***

His downpipe is on, and so is my O/R H pipe. So we ran this weekend. Result?

Launch was even. I pulled a little thru 1st (till about 35mph) maybe even a quarter car. Hit second, spun the tires a bit, he made up the 1/4 car. Then I started to walk him.

By the end of the qmile I had about a car on him and continued pulling.



I watched him run several others, trying to redeem himself all night. Once he even overboosted! Yikes!

The main problem with the auto and a turbo, is launches are VERY soft. Is a modified torque converter an option on the FD's?

 

How is he launching that thing? Have him stand on the brakes and floor it, then release the brakes when the lights go green!

The only modification that should be made to that torque converter thingy is removing it

 

I only have a downpipe and catback and absolutely ran away from my neighbor's new Mustang Cobra from a 50 mph punch.

 

 

lol

 

Me too! But we've got 5-speeds!

Tell your friend to use the hold mode and brake torque that sucker. Also, he will have a real problem uggrading his ecu and in any case, the stock auto cannot handle much more power than stock. His best performance mod for the money would be the auto to 5-speed swap.

 

am i the only one who gets depressed thinking about the poor owners or automaticrx's they have to go through so much more **** to do mods. but do what u gotta do to beat those stangs man, dont make a bad name for us

 

This is what basic bolt on a 5sp RX-7 do to 385rwhp Saleens.

http://flathat.woodstream.net/Columb..._vs_Saleen.WMV

*smack* *whip* *smack*

K

 

Is the swap expensive?

I love the RX... it's a cool little car.

 

Try searching there is a lot of info on here (even about auto FD's)

I have an auto too, and have researched this problem to exhaustion...

Unless your friend has gobs of money to throw at this car, do exactly what the others suggest, which is by far the path of least resistance.......Swap the auto for a 5spd

Expect to pay ~$2500 in parts & labor. I've seen people doing it for ~$1500 getting good deals on parts and doing labor themselves.

There is VERY limited aftermarket support for a Auto FD. Your limited in so many ways that its a MAJOR pain (radiator & ECU being the biggest).

Given that his car is stock and he already hasnt dumped money into 4.33 gears , upgraded Torque Conv., shift kit, etc.... It makes sense to do the 5spd swap now.

Ive seen too many post from auto owners that have spent $$ in mods and barely muster stock 5spd 1/4 mile times.

I'm not a Auto hater, I love my car, just like a retarded son...

but don't think I wont be swappin my MPV mini-van tranny out first chance I get.

 

i doubt it, i ran a 15 flat with most of the mods i have now, but before my intake..i havent run it since

and man if ur friend wants to beat mustangs tell him to race from a 20 punch...that should be good...i raced a modded svt cobra last wed, and ran dead even on the highway up to 120...then my tranny blew AGAIN!..oh well its under warranty so its no biggie...

 

HOLY ****!! That is one of the coolest vids I've ever seen!!!!!!!!! Definately going in my "cool RX7 videos" folder Damn, I SO can not wait to get my car back.... It almost hurts....

 

what your buddy is losing to mustangs? something is wrong with the car obviously, check the turbos they could be going south, and get a compression check on the engine. I have a downpipe and catback exhaust and i walk all over mustangs!!!!!! I am basically in stock trim, downpipe and catback you can walk any mustang with all of its bolt ons, you will need a super charger in a mustang to hang with the seven!!! up the boost with an aftermarket computer and you can say bybye to supercharged stangs aswell!!!!!!

 

Anyone remember Vaelon? Now THAT was a fast "bolt on" car

Too bad he had to go to the dark side

 

You rang?