Got my car back. Here's a link https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...23#post1438123

 

See my sig for pics and full list of mods

 

What the hell was the point of bringing this thread back to life?

 

Good old tread. He's trying to save us from the recent rash of bullshit threads.....like what windshield washer fluid to use in an fd.......

 

 

I had high hopes for a bullet-proof road racing rocket, but the hopes were dashed. The age and complexity of the 3rd Gen, and 114,000-miles of enthusiastic driving were just too much to overcome. For those of you who think you can throw money at the 3rd Gen hoping you'll have something unbeatable on a road racing circuit think again. Oh, you'll be ok for a few laps, or for a few events--until your FD breaks. It's a shame I woke up too late from this nightmare. Eight years of ownership, and all this car has done is drain my resources, time, and energy.

 

Ah, it's a love, hate thing.

 

Damn glass-man...you were too quick...I edited my previous post (to remove my venting)...oh well

 

I think it's doable. The first few events will show you where you will have problems with your current configuration (as I experienced this past weekend as well). RTS3GEN who posted earlier in this thread rarely has a problem at the track with his car. However, he take imaculent care of his car so it's no wonder. I only hope to do half as well as he does with the care of his car for road racing/driving.

 

Car preparation is everything. I probably spend more money on my nearly stock car keeping it in top shape than many people with fully "built" cars do. Like SleepR1 says though, it's a 10 year old car. Adding horsepower and cooling mods does nothing for the suspension, transmission, rear end, bearings, electrical system, interior, paint etc. At some point you have to realize that throwing money at the car doesn't defeat aging. That's why my FD is still pretty stock (but not slow! ); I can't justify spending $5K+ (intercooler, ecu, fuel system, turbos etc) to make real power improvements and still have a high maintenance car that may lose a motor every few years. I like my car and enjoy it, but I couldn't say that if I dumped that much money into it on "mods". My "play" money for the car goes into race tires and racing expenses. I don't understand guys who have FD's with $10,000 power trains and they can't afford to put gas in it or replace the clutch when it goes. What sense does that make?

Mods don't turn back the clock. I knew going into FD ownership it would be a high maintenance car (I was prepared to spend twice what I payed for my FD on something else), and the little things add up. Mazda Motorsports is a blessing.

 

I'm pretty damned OCD (obsessive complusive disorder) when it comes to regular maintenance and track car preparation. Therein lies the frustration. I've dumped money, time, and effort to ensure my FD runs well for track events, autocross, and daily driving. To no avail. FD gremlins hide out in the rats nest, the twin sequential turbo system, spark plugs, etc...

 

Manny if you could start all over again how would you set your car up? My car is close to stock and i share the same insight of DamonB on this.

 

I'd have a completely different car for track...big V8 normally aspirated C4 Corvette, flat-six Porsche 911 Carrera, or straight-six BMW 3-series, gutted, full rollcage.... After 8 years of ownership and $15000 invested in my FD for 2003, I've earned the right to render this opinion--the FD is just not reliable enough to push HARD (and I mean HARD...10/10ths full on, 25-minute sessions x 5 for one day) on a road racing circuit.

 

(None of these comments meant at all to infer that SleepR1 doesn't have a thoughtfully maintained car)

All problems with the sequential turbos come down to solenoids and hoses every time. Replace the solenoids (if you replace a bad one with a used one, what makes you think that one will be alright too? It's Russian roulette) and do a thorough hose job. Do it once and never worry about it again. I had a boost issue last year and immediately assumed the control system even though my hunch told me nothing was wrong in there. I tore it apart anyway and found nothing. Being forced to look elsewhere I found my main cat had failed and clogged (pics here ).

Spark plugs? Granted my motor is stock saving downpipe and catback, but my motor does not eat plugs. I replace them about every 20K, even with all the racing I do. They always looks good. Worn electrodes, but good. What problems are you having with plugs?

 

I would have to agree. There are plenty of cars that can give the FD a run for the money. C5 and Z06 would have to be biggest bang for the buck right now I can think of for a car you can daily drive too.

 

I don't necessarily agree with that. Only because I've seen it done. However, the cars I've seen doing this aren't the big HP monsters most FD owners are wanting. They don't use programable ECU's (like PFC, Haltech, etc), larger injectors or anything of that nature however one of them is putting down about 360rwhp with a 1/4 mile of 11.77 (RTS3GEN's car):



I'm learning from him how to make my car "track reliable" as well. He has been doing many events per year for about 5 years now.

 

That's a picture of his car with his new track rims (yep, those are supra rims), my car next to his with my father's Z06 off to the side.

 

Been tracking my FD since 1997. To become an instructor for BMW CCA or PCA, you need between 25 to 30 DEs (drivers education) events under your belt before being considered. I've exceeded this number in 2001, and have been instructing for PCA and BMW CCA since 2002 to present. From my perspective, I've reached a level in my driving, that for me to have fun, I need to drive the FD 10/10ths on track...otherwise, why bother. I just find myself subconsciously pushing the car to 10/10ths, and it's a real pisser, when the car gives out. For those of you familiar with tracks I've been on--10/10ths means 1:48s @ Mid Ohio, 1:20s @ Putnam Park, 2:40s @ Road America. If I can't run these laptimes, I'd assume just quit driving, and instruct others to do their best. FWIW, I had more trouble-free running when my car was a "sleeper", aka "all-stock", compared with this year, when I added all the go-fast parts.

 

Mahjik,
I noticed in your avatar you took your front turn signal lights out.
Does it help much?
I was considering doing the Japboy mod of using spacers to raise the rear of the hood to let heat escape better on the circuit track. But I picture it flexing alot getting thrown through tight corners.

 

RTS3GEN is also (and has been for a while) and instructor for Porsche, BMW and Audi events. He pushes his car pretty hard and enjoys every minute of it. Why not PM him and talk to him about your problems. He rarely actually posts here because most people never want to take his advice. However, he has one of the most reliable FD's I've run into...

Actually, the front turn signals are just smoked, not removed:



Most of the FD guys don't run full boost on the track to keep the heat down. However, they also run vented hoods as well to help with the heat. I haven't had a problem with heat as of yet but I haven't run "in the heat of summer" just quite yet.

 

Quote:

Originally posted by DamonB
What problems are you having with plugs?

My motor tuning only allows about 10000 miles on a set of plugs, before I get the tell-tale stutter up in the upper rev ranges (and subsequent loss of power).

 

Yeah, we've chatted. He's one of the few FD racers with an FMIC-equipped FD that runs well in a hot climate.

Quote:

Most of the FD guys don't run full boost on the track to keep the heat down. However, they also run vented hoods as well to help with the heat. I haven't had a problem with heat as of yet but I haven't run "in the heat of summer" just quite yet.

Yeah, 11 lbs is all I run in the cool weather, 10 lbs in hot weather. Vented hood would have been interesting to try. Tapped out though. I see you have the shark-mouth mod

 

There you go - "...when I added all the go-fast parts" This seems to be the down fall of most FD's - while it can be a very reliable and fast 300-350hp car it just dosen't like being pumped up to 400+hp and run hard.

Maybe MAZDA got it right after all - "...I had more trouble-free running when my car was ... All Stock."

The problem you seem to be having lately ( i have read some/most? of your other threads/posts) seem to be developmental problems and once sorted out you should once agin have a reliable fast car.

"...10000 miles on a set of plugs, before I get the tell-tale stutter up in the upper rev ranges (and subsequent loss of power)." Did you mean 1k mi vs the 10k stated? my bone stock MBZ kills std Bosch Copper plugs in 5k miles & my FD only gets 12k street/hwy mi out of a set of NGK Platniums


if you meant 1k miles look at it this way Pro Drag Racers only use a set of plugs for about 1 mile , Start up , Burn Out, Stage, make a run, roll back to the pits and change the plugs. (maybe pistons too )

 

Manny,

I sympathize with you. I've thought about this like so many others have. But is the issue really about the RX-7 letting you down or about the $15,000 that was supposed to make the RX-7 faster and more reliable? On either count I don't think you can win. If I recall your car is a daily driver. Mixing a 10 yr old car with 11lbs boost, fmic, and 10/10th driving on Hoosiers with responsibilities of a "daily" driver isn't realistic. Yeah, this probably can be done, but can it be done on a RX-7 running say 300 rwhp with merely $15K? You also said that maybe you should have gone with a C4, NA 911 or BMW. Given your objectives I bet you still would have spent $15K on making them track worthy. Face it regardless of the car it is an expensive endeavor.

I think what I'm getting at is that at some point the RX7 has to become a track car only. Any additional discretionary funds coming your way should probably be set aside for a true daily driver.

In the interim just simplify the car; fix the oil catch can problem (waiting on the solution) and go non-sequential (best move I've done with regard to my car in terms of not getting frustrated).

Meanwhile, you know when things are right with the car nothing else comes close to making one smile (other than a kid I suppose).

Ramon

 

What are some of the problems your having....besides plugs?

STEPHEN