I have a 1994 t66 powerd fd and I am looking into getting a better rearend. I was wondering if I could get some good info from you guys on here about witch is the best year for one and were I can get one and get the right things needed to make the conversion on my fd. thanks

 

do a search.....there was a huge how-to thread discussing this.

 

Solid axle or IRS?

 

solid axle. I want the full conversion and I cant find any info on how I can get it and who does the full swap

 

Bi-State Customs did Eric Cheatham's (resource, hamburgler, hamburgler, PTA, PTA2, LTA... banned repeatedly) solid axle 8.8" conversion, but from what I saw, it's not something I'd recommend... at least from them.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...highlight=ford

Looks like the pictures are down, lucky I saved a few of them as good examples of "what not to do".



I doubt they did any real analysis of the chassis, and probably picked the mounting points for the 4-link bars from whatever looked convenient. The link mounts on the axle aren't adjustable as far as I can tell, and I doubt they've ever heard the term "instant center". I also believe it compromises the strength of the floor pan and rigidity of the rear of the car. The rear subframe of the IRS is a structural part of of the chassis. Eliminate it without a roll cage to add strength and rigidity (which Eric didn't have to my knowledge) and you're asking for trouble.

Basically, you're on your own. I'm working on an '03 Cobra 8.8" IRS conversion, so I can't help you with swapping in a solid axle. Sorry.

 

Egads...I'd have to agree with Jim on this one.

Backyard engineering at its finest...

 

NO! Solid axle. So wrong!

 

first of all jimlab you have no ******* idea what you're talking about! chassis/suspension design and fabrication is my background so, don't say that i don't know what i'm talking about...questioning is one thing but, saying that i didn't even take th instant center into consideration is so ******* rude! and the the chassis mounting tabs for the control arms are attached to 18sq" plates. if you want to get into a flame war of geometric suspension design i'm the person for it. i know you really don't like eric but don't use your immature attitude towards me and my company. eric has been driving his car for several months now with no problems. i have been with him when he launched his car at 7k+..it just hooked and went with no wheel hop or eratic anything, just a little noise from the solid rod ends wich was expected. i can't belive that jim would be so abrasive towards a solid axle swap..beings that he couldn't even keep the heart of the rx7 intact. hummm...hypocritical? anyway i hope this is my last post on this topic but, it doesn't have to be.
---------later, ron.

 

 

if you wanted to keep the IRS you should invesigate the Viper Dana 44 pumpkin. All aluminum case and they can handle 1000hp Vipers in stock form. I'd say it would be plenty stout for a big single turbo 13B. Downside is stock gearing is 3:07.... however many other ratios are available.

The pumpkin weighs probaply 20lbs less than my T2 pumpkin!

-GNX7

 

People are too much. "Hypocritical?" Anyone could make the same argument of putting an old, straight Ford axle underneath an FD. If you feel Jim is full of BS that's fine. But you raise no higher by condemning another project merely because you don't like it.

 

Let's not turn another thread into an argument.. I know jimlab and Ron both know what they are doing. I've seen rons Mustangs, Camaros and whatever other muscle cars he does... They are very well done. As with EVERYTHING jimlab does. I think there is just a difference in opinion here.. I don't know much at all on suspension geometry or chassis integrity so I can't argue either side.. But I can say that Erics car hooks. Hooks hard, stays straight and hasn't broken yet. That's proof enough for me. I think Ron just lashed out a bit while defending himself.. please reallize that he has to defend his work and his shop after it's name got dragged through the mud (although maybe he was a bit harsh..) Let's just keep these arguments creative and not turn everything into a thread locking contest.

 

...i would expect something more from an older person but, i understand. no more is needed.


i'm not hypocritical..have you ever heard me defending the rotary vs the v8? how about the irs vs. the solid? the answer is NO. i give a **** less. i really only care about giving the customer the very best quality/workmanship. anyway, the 8.8 was from a '97 wich, is newer than the old 94fd junk it replaced.

i feel people that want to drag race vs. road race have a great alternative to the overpriced irs upgrades they need to keep the pos irs from blowing out of the rear of the car. the irs geometry is **** for launching anyway. obviously unknowing to jimlab there are many, many more post of 1/4 mi. et's versus slalom g-f numbers.
------ later, ron.

 

Sorry, I did type a response, but that pretty much summed up my reaction to your little tirade, so I left it at that.

And anyone who was serious about quarter mile performance wouldn't **** around with a half-assed approach to a 4-link rear suspension. They'd back-half the car with a real 4 link and a Ford 9", put a cage in it, and go to the races. Of course, Eric always was a poser when it came right down to it...

 

there is a way to get things done that will work...and a way to do them right. jims car is a work of art and isnt going to have anything not done to the best it can possibly be done. cheathams car is not a work of art and simply "what works" is good enough. it may not be pretty...but if it works...and is working...then that is good enough for him Im sure. i know which of the two cars I would rather have though. It sure isnt the one with the rice wing bolted to the hatch.


j

 

I'm still waiting for him to post something better than a 12.4 with his spiffy "hooks and goes" 8.8" setup.

I never said the quality of Bi-State's work was poor. However, I will continue to believe the design is "just what worked" until I'm proven wrong. It solved the problem of getting an 8.8" solid axle under the car, no doubts there, but whether or not it actually performs is another question entirely. Unfortunately, since Eric seems to have an excuse for just about everything, I doubt we'll ever really find out.

 

Then why say jimlab "couldn't even keep the heart of the rx7 intact" as you did in your post? Obviously the idea of putting a v8 in an RX-7 has nothing to do with "heart", it's a solution to a powerplant in a sports car. With the money Jim has in his engine he could have a garage full of rotaries. But he chose otherwise; so it's not a rotary :shrug: What difference does that make? If the v-8 swap is lame than so is the straight axle under the FD for the same reason. Sure your parts came from a '97; but the technology comes from the 1920's. So what? People who get this far into building a car develop their own solutions. Jim wanted a v-8, eric hacked up the rear end and put a straight axle under his. How is one accepted and the other not?

IMO hypocritical is saying a v-8 FD is somehow bad but an FD with a solid rearend from a Ford is not? It's every bit as much against the Mazda "intent" of the RX-7 is it not?

If rotary's are so great that they can never be removed from RX-7's does that mean every car that has had a rotart transplanted into it is automatically higher on the totem pole? Rotary Sprites are now collectors items?

 

lol

 

Damon....you misunderstood. Ron doesnt care about Jim's v8, or the solid axle. He already said that. The reason he mentioned Jim taking out the "heart" of the rx7 was because of Jim's opposition to the solid axle swap. Take a look and read it again, he never bashes any setup, if anything his v8 comment is sarcastic.

 

as said before jimlab has no ******* idea about what he preaches! just what works ..isn't that what is desired/ I DID TRY TO GET ERIC TO INSTALL 24KT GOLD CONTROL ARMS, AND SET THE PINION ANGLE TO -1.567439 DEGREES BUT, WE COULD ONLY GET THE SETING OF 1.548787 TO WORK. DAMN IT! anyway, saying that he should cut the entire rear chassis from his car just to install a 4-link suspension is ******* retartded..unless you read a how-to-do book by some overpaid *** sitting in a chair wich, i'm sure jim is doing right now! another post from will surely reveal this. i'm sure its now evident that not everyone thinks jimlab is "the man" .

as for you jimlab *** kissers; keep up the good work..jim might give you a ride in his "dream car" someday.

oh yeah jim, what does your car currently run? ohhh thats right..i forgot it's taken you months just to install the cobra irs.

THIS IS MY LAST REPLY..I CAN FEEL THE IGNORANCE TRYING TO GET INSIDE.

 

I didn't object to the solid axle swap itself, because I don't care if someone puts a Ford 8.8" solid axle under their car to go drag racing. It is, after all, their car. There goes the hypocrite theory...

I objected to the design of the setup, and that made it personal for Ron, so he chose to take a personal shot at me for my V8 swap. Pretty simple.

 

Great way to promote your shop....

Topic done...