Trucker Mike

I'm Mike. I drive truck (Specialized Glass Haul) and live just outside. Rapid City, SD. I have loved FD's for a long time, and finally got my hands on one.

So I traded a car for a 93 FD. It's been pretty thrashed on, but here's the stuff I know.

53,925 miles (Rebuilt 2k ago. Apparently blew and apex seal thru the wastegate)
Single turbo conversion (was a GT45R, but now it's an ebay special, unknown #'s)
Greddy V-mount
Greddy elbow
Power FC Commander
1000cc injectors
HKS Twin-Power
HKS Type-1 Turbo Timer
Defi boost gauge (+ EGT and Oil Temp, but not hooked up)
Innovate A/F gauge
Unkown adjustable FPR
18x8.5 Sportmax 962's on bald 225/40 tires
Custom Alpine/JL Audio system with 1 10" sub, 6.5's & tweeters installed in the hatch partition, 2 amps in a steel (cringe) amp rack in the spare tire hold, and everythign nicely wired.

And that's just what I know from being told. I have had the car 4 days. I have clayed it, buffed it, waxed it, degreased the interior, etc. It was nasty. I don't understand how someone could let such a nice car go to shizzy like that.

Here are some things that are wrong with it:

Interior is shot. Seat need re-leathered, needs new carpet, needs almost all interior replaced below the dash. I think I'll just strip it all out and cage it.

The engine needs to be tuned BAD, and there is no one around me that knows Defi or whatever the program is that needs to be mapped. I am getting a laptop with the software on it, but I have not a clue as to what to do with it. The guy I traded with (who has had 7 rotary's, 6 of them being Rx7's) tells me that it's set up for roughly 500rwhp once it is tuned.

The acceleration is really rough after 3500rpms at WOT, but can ease through it if you take it easy on the go=pedal. No matter what, all power is cut after 4300-4400rpms. Supposedly it's due to the MAF being deleted for the single turbo, and that's what the tune is supposed to help.

I've been doing lots of research on what is available for the FD's, and I see there's a lot. I just wish more of it was for LHD. I can't even find an FC Commander holder that is for LHD.

Where do I find simple parts, like the metal clips that attach to the tabs on the shifter console so it stays attached (I'm missing 2 of the 4)?

Ultimately, I want to make this car into a not-very-street-legal-yet-still-has-plates auto-x car. I just have absolutely no knowledge of turbo systems, engines in general, and especially rotary's.

I've got people trying to talk me into an LS3 conversion, and I'm thinking about it. BUt I don't know.

I've looked at Pettit's and Corksport's race stuff. Not too shabby. I just have to wonder what kind of reliability an engine has when you can fit it in your back pocket. Eh, I'm rambling. Feel free to ask me questions, and I'll try to answer them. Or if you know and answer to one of my questions, please answer it. LoL. Thanks.

Pics!





BOV on the side of the intercooler, pointed forward to help catch moisture and rocks? <sarcasm>) that makes no sound except for compression blow-back? Sounds like one of those Nerf whistling footballs when you throw it wrong.

Proud member of Ground Zero 605 w/ my 07 Hayabusa, FD, and 08 Silverado.


I'll be on the lookout for parts after the tax return pays off the Busa. Needs new staggered wheels/tires, etc.

zenofspeed

iTrader: (1)

you can pick up misc parts by calling Raye Crowe at Malloy Mazda in Woodbridge, VA. He has the best prices. tell him you are an rx7club member and describe what odds and ends you need. He owns FDs and will help you out.

interior parts are VERY expensive, even when used. I have found better prices to simply have an upholstery shop re-do the seats and carpet. The plastics are going to cost you a pretty penny.

I'd strive to get that car to an experienced rotary tuner. Hopefully the tune is all that's wrong, but I doubt it.. An expert needs to hook it up to a computer and evaluate the situation.

The LS vs Rotary argument has been discussed to death. Do a search. I remember when I first got my car, I spent lots of time agonizing over rotary vs v8. I finally decided that if i wanted a V8 I should buy a f%$*in corvette.

Rotary's can be reliable, in fact, certain aspects of a Rotary can be more reliable than piston motors. But there are some very good threads on various topics. Read, read, read.

Search out threads posted by Howard Coleman to start off.

Welcome to the addiction....

P.S. Post an Engine Bay Picture

GreatShamanGT

iTrader: (9)

That's definitely not a V-mount intercooler. If you don't have any knowledge yet, then you should definitely take it to a shop. I think there are a couple of shops near where you are. You should check in your region section.

RLaoFD

iTrader: (6)

You sir, sound like you need a tune. BAD. I'm sure you can find a reputable rotary shop somewhere in the area that will tune you car for you and fix its woes.

Nice pickup though. The body/mirror color combo looks like what would happen if Snoopy and Clifford had a baby.

Good luck, and let us know if you need help. There is a massive amount of info here to help you out.

Trucker Mike

x2 on the mirror/vent color. I am going to be putting APR CF mirrors on it, and repainting the vents red.

As for the V-mount, I was refering to the radiator/fans, not the intercooler. That might not be made by Greddy. Again, going based on what was told to me. I'm doing all the research I can to learn what has been done to the car. I believe there has been 5-6 different owners in the last few years.

Luckily, I have 2 buddies with 94's. One of them is fairly new to these cars as well, but also bought a modified one that was in much better mechanical/physical condition than mine. He is into drifting, and I am into auto-x. We are intending to built sister race cars, each one built for different purposes.

This is kinda what Iam going for over then next 12-18 months:


Also, the nearest rotary tuner, who also knows the car, is 350 miles away. If I can't find someone to tune it locally (unlikely), I will be trailering it out to him this spring.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Don't underestimate the value of the tuning. Turbo'd rotaries require very precise tuning, and if a tuning/fuel mistake causes any detonation or preignition, you will shatter the engine apex seals and need another engine rebuild.

Defi is just a gauge manufacturer. It has little to do with tuning. The PowerFC commander is connected to a PowerFC ECU. So your tuning will be done on the PowerFC.

You will want everything mechanical to be in the best possible shape prior to the tuning day. It may be unavoidable that you need to get the car tuned to get it running first, then make a plan with your tuner what mods you will need for your ultimate goals and come back to be tuned when that is installed.

Have a look into Auxiliary Injection. New controller technology is making AI much more streetable and the benefits with a turbo rotary are huge. AI basically solves the problems that have made v8s so appealing. For a setup such as your plan it's perfect. You can find the best info in the 3rd gen FAQ under "auxiliary injection"

I'm not sure why you're having trouble finding LHD information. Every legal FD in the US is left hand drive, and there are commander holders and stuff out there. It sounds like you're just not working with the right websites and vendors yet. I suggest you run a search for "commander holder" in this forum for an idea of what's available or been done.

Dave

phantom works

iTrader: (3)

You do not have any kind of a V-mount set up. you have a front mount intercooler and the radiator angles backwards on all stock rx-7s. Most front mount set-ups change the radiator to a vertical mounting of the radiator and those relocation bracket's come with the GReddy front mount intercooler.
As far as the PFC commander holder you can use a cell phone/GPS holder, they work great.
You should post a pic of your engine bay, guy's on the forum will be able to tell you a lot about your car just based on the pic.
Just a little advice, don't go WOT til you get that sucker tuned. that would blow if you broke your engine and you know it needs a tune.

The example of the car you are trying to build is a record setting time attack car. It is a full on race car that was years in the making and was built and rebuilt by different shops. The owner has well over a $100 grand into the car, but good luck with your build and expect many set backs along the way.

Trucker Mike

yup. figured that part out last night.

Trucker Mike

Thanks. I know it's an FMIC.

I saw a cell holder and wondered if it would work.

I will post pics tomorrow.

I haven't really floored it, because it bogs anyways. And if I blow it up, I have a rotary freak in my club that can rebuilt a 13B while napping.

it's a badass car. but it won't cost 100k to replicate a similar less-involved version of it. i'll spend 30k and do things right the first time.

badddrx7

iTrader: (7)

Also there isn't a MAF on an FD. Lots of work to do on this one, but doable


Later

Trucker Mike

See, that's what the apparent tuning prob is. Something about switching to single turbo resulted in some part missing, and the ECU cuts the fuel because of it. I guess the single conversion is a recent completion. Then it wouldn't run right because an apex seal got blown out. He took it to the tuner thinking it was a tuning issue, found out the apex seal was blown out, brought it back home, rebuilt the motor, and sold it. Some of this doesn't make sense to me as to how they got to this point, and why they would drive it 2000 miles like that, but they did.

The car is in the garage, where it will stay until it's done correctly. As soon as the weather starts warming up, the tear-down will begin. I'll get it tuned this spring and (hopefully) drive it a bit, and then the race-build begins next fall.

Idk. I just need to get it tuned when it hits warmer weather. See what I have to work with.

Anyone in the USA sell prefabbed cages?

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

http://www.kirkracing.com/

phantom works

iTrader: (3)

^
?

The FD uses a MAP sensor not MAF there never was a MAF sensor. Switching to single turbo has nothing to do with what you are dealing with. it most likely has a bunch of bugs to work out with tuning.

Why don't you have your buddy who can "rebuild rotaries napping" take a look at it. if he's that good with rebuilds he should be able to sort your car for you.

Autopower also makes prefab roll cages for the FD, they have weld in and bolt in.

Trucker Mike

Please forgive me if I sound ignorant as hell. I'm sure some of you are scratching your heads and thinking, "Uh, what a retard", but I assure you that I want to do right by this vehicle and just need good, solid info.

I appreciate all the corrections you guys are giving me on things I am saying was done, or that this car has. It's winter, everyone around me is pretty slow to get off their duff and do anything as well as being a little in the way of "It's your problem now, YOU deal with it".

As soon as I build a few new shelves, the car is being stripped do to the bare essentials interior-wise, and will also start the planning for the cage, custom dash panel to house the switches for the windows and all the gauges, etc.

One thing I am unsure of, is when I pell the door panels, speakers, etc and go about getting aluminum skins made for panels (or maybe not), how would I go about opening the door? I could just leave the lever rod in place, and then just pull it, or I could actually install some sort of lever (or reuse the oem unit?) and just turn it sideways? Has anyone ever seen how this is done on racers with no panels?

I literally need to get this thing down to 2 seats and a steering column, so EVERYTHING is coming out. Then I will work on removing the sound deadening material from the floor and installing some custom diamond plate "floor mats" to give me shoe traction (unless something else is better?).

Come spring, I will start doing other things, like getting the suspension replaced and chassis stiffening done.

I really am serious about getting this car down to nothing except for what is required to run and drive the car. No creature comforts like A/C or heat, stereo, etc.

Give me all the ideas you have. This is what forums are for, right? i appreciate the input I've gotten so far!

-TM

Trucker Mike

Don't flame me for it being dirty. Remember I've only had the car for 5 days now. It sat in a gravel driveway for 2 months.

FD3sAutobot

iTrader: (6)

I didn't know you single guy's stick with the stock ast \sarcasm

Trucker Mike

is that the piece in front of the motor there? The tank looking thing?

I've checked out the better ones and will replace it.

BC-FD3S

iTrader: (2)

FD's don't have MAFs.



I think you need to do some reading.

Trucker Mike

That's been covered, but thank you for upping your post count.

And I'm doing lots of reading. I'm not on here just posting in this thread. I am checking out lots of things as they come up in my head. So...if you are just gonna tell me to read, or search, please feel free to not post at all. If you are interested in what I am doing to this car, and want to help, then I welcome you.

Rx72Heaven

iTrader: (2)

wow, de-greaser batman! Looks like a good start. needs lots of TLC. GL!

DCrosby

Holy Cow, 1'st Mod get an Aluminum Air Separator Tank (AST) the plastic thing with the radiator cap next to the Intake Pipe from the Intercooler ! This thing is a time bomb.. !

Also there's a couple of threads on an idler Pully, since the airpump has been removed, the water pump is getting a tiny bit of belt on the side, and I would bet you can turn it (water pump) with the car off with your hands...

BC-FD3S

iTrader: (2)

excuse me? upping my post count?

I, unlike many internet forum superstars could give two ***** about my post count.

And YES... GO READ. How you do think everyone else here learned? How do you think I learned what to do with my Single build when knowing nothing about rotarys?... yes, I searched day and night and read every FAQ out there. Every ******* week a new kid shows up asking the SAME questions. It's getting old.

It's called the search function. And if you know how to properly use it (as in use "quotations") then you will find EVERYTHING you need.

But hey, thanks for coming out!

Rx72Heaven

iTrader: (2)

Hes right. but there's a nicer way of saying it.

Please use the search button. If you don't know where it is, heres a link
https://www.rx7club.com/search.php

If you cant find it in there (The forums dont have the best search function) then feel free to post er up, and ill try to help where i can, and others will aswell.

BC-FD3S

iTrader: (2)

I said it nice the first time, then he felt the need to attack me.


So I laid it out a bit better .


I've found the search function in the "advanced" area to be quite sufficient. You can use quotations, or search titles or just posts. It may take a few different tries of the wording to find what you need, but it's all there.

Rx72Heaven

iTrader: (2)

yep it works, just somethings it seems to have problems with. But overall, its geat. i use it all the time.