MotoIQ.com's - Project FD RX-7 "Restomod"
#126
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Agreed, if this in fact is the case, how many other customer cars are out there that are ticking timebombs. I know I would want to know if my car had a very high chance of going up in flames. This is also another example of why I am the only one that works on my cars.
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Billj747 (08-20-23),
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#127
Rotary Enthusiast
Do they really fail on stock cars? Sounds like a great idea, with a part that is weak (at least, past stock power / grip levels).
How much power are you running with the solid mounts and no PPF? If anything, the solid mounts would increase chassis stress so you'd see more of an effect I'd imagine. Sounds like this isn't a concern, so unless someone has evidence of harm, I guess there's not much point in exploring it further.
#128
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Isolate NVH, tie the power plant and the diff together so the chassis doesn't see these twisting forces, it's applied directly to where the suspension mounts instead, then directed into the ground. The chassis instead sees a fraction of these forces. It's similar body-on-frame from an engineering perspective, with the drivetrain as a stressed member of the frame. The Miatas still use PPFs, so it's not simply a dated design.
Do they really fail on stock cars? Sounds like a great idea, with a part that is weak (at least, past stock power / grip levels).
How much power are you running with the solid mounts and no PPF? If anything, the solid mounts would increase chassis stress so you'd see more of an effect I'd imagine. Sounds like this isn't a concern, so unless someone has evidence of harm, I guess there's not much point in exploring it further.
Do they really fail on stock cars? Sounds like a great idea, with a part that is weak (at least, past stock power / grip levels).
How much power are you running with the solid mounts and no PPF? If anything, the solid mounts would increase chassis stress so you'd see more of an effect I'd imagine. Sounds like this isn't a concern, so unless someone has evidence of harm, I guess there's not much point in exploring it further.
Just to clarify, I have a PPF. I meant I just haven't broken mine yet.
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mr2peak (08-10-23)
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gracer7-rx7 (11-14-23)
#133
Full Member
Thread Starter
Has anyone had chassis flex issues removing the PPF using just the braces? This would change the load path from the subframes. With the PPF, both front and rear subframes see the same forces. Without the PPF, those forces are separate and rely on the chassis of the car to carry the twisting load differences between them. Hope I'm explaining this clearly.
Ultimately, why did Mazda even tie the drivetrain together this way? Clearly it wasn't that good of an idea, given how frequently PPFs crack and fail. A number of shops in Japan offered reinforced PPFs back in the day. A few still do. Kind of wish I held on to my spare instead of selling it for peanuts...
I kind of doubt that that it would have that much of an effect on chassis flex.
Ultimately, its tied to the subframes, which are tied to the chassis...
Of course, my cars drivetrain mounts are all solid aluminum, so maybe that's why I haven't had many issues...
I kind of doubt that that it would have that much of an effect on chassis flex.
Ultimately, its tied to the subframes, which are tied to the chassis...
Of course, my cars drivetrain mounts are all solid aluminum, so maybe that's why I haven't had many issues...
I have my original PPF for sale if anyone wants it.
The car was purchased in Central-NorCal.
#134
Walking bowl of punch
iTrader: (2)
I have my stock tires, with a couple of thousand miles on them (but they have been sitting in the garage for decades now) :-)
Maybe not, but stock cars don't exist anymore. Even a "bone stock" car is going to have tires that are twice as good as the ones it came from the factory with, just because of how much tire tech has advanced in 30 years.
Just to clarify, I have a PPF. I meant I just haven't broken mine yet.
Just to clarify, I have a PPF. I meant I just haven't broken mine yet.
#135
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
#136
Full Member
Thread Starter
The next installment is live!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 11 - Engine Disassembly
We decided to tear down a 2,000-mile brand-new Mazda crate engine to turn it into one of the most highly-modified 13B REW engines on the planet.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...e-disassembly/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 11 - Engine Disassembly
We decided to tear down a 2,000-mile brand-new Mazda crate engine to turn it into one of the most highly-modified 13B REW engines on the planet.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...e-disassembly/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
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diabolical1 (02-14-24)
#137
Walking bowl of punch
iTrader: (2)
Yep, that's what i was implying with the smiley - not usable. But I have them. Might be of interest if i ever sell the car later on and these become something for the survivor class at the high-end concours events. Put them on and trailer it to a show where it sits.
#138
Lives on the Forum
iTrader: (9)
Looking back at archives, the PPF only weighs 20-21 pounds, so I don't think you can realize a 20lb savings by using the Banzai/Sikky brace combo. It's possible that if you're already running the Banzai brace, you could claw back a little weight by removing the PPF in favor of the Sikky brace, but I can't image that'll be any more than 10lbs.
I would think the PPF would have to weight more like 35-40lbs to save 20 with those mods.
I would think the PPF would have to weight more like 35-40lbs to save 20 with those mods.
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gracer7-rx7 (11-15-23)
#139
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
I should probably take my FD to Ebisu's wet skid pad once in an while to practice drifting... You can only learn so much from doing fast laps a few times a year.
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#140
Full Member
Thread Starter
The next installment is live!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 12 - Rotor Lightening, WPC and CTP Cryo Treatment
To kick off our engine build, we CNC-lightened the rotors of our 13B REW before shipping them off to be cryogenically frozen by CTP Cryogenics to improve strength and durability then finished off with WPC treatment to reduce friction, wear, and heat.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...ryo-treatment/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 12 - Rotor Lightening, WPC and CTP Cryo Treatment
To kick off our engine build, we CNC-lightened the rotors of our 13B REW before shipping them off to be cryogenically frozen by CTP Cryogenics to improve strength and durability then finished off with WPC treatment to reduce friction, wear, and heat.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...ryo-treatment/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Last edited by Billj747; 11-13-23 at 12:49 PM.
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#142
Full Member
Thread Starter
In the article it mentions that balancing all 3 sides of the rotor isn't crucial and almost no one does it. Also the weight of oil sloshing around in the rotor is greater than the difference in weight of each lobe/"apex". Decades of experience from various engine builders have shown that lighter rotors that are similar in weight and balanced properly to the counterweights has been more beneficial than not.
#143
Full Member
Thread Starter
The next installment is live!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 13 - Porting the 13B REW
Increasing airflow and power can be achieved through different types of porting on a rotary engine. Each type has their own benefits and drawbacks, but there is a lot of variability in how a given port job is done. We are going to use a Bridgeport and Semi Peripheral Port job on our turbocharged 13B REW biased towards minimizing increased overlap, which will give us a wide powerband that extends well above the stock 8,000rpm redline.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...g-the-13b-rew/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 13 - Porting the 13B REW
Increasing airflow and power can be achieved through different types of porting on a rotary engine. Each type has their own benefits and drawbacks, but there is a lot of variability in how a given port job is done. We are going to use a Bridgeport and Semi Peripheral Port job on our turbocharged 13B REW biased towards minimizing increased overlap, which will give us a wide powerband that extends well above the stock 8,000rpm redline.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...g-the-13b-rew/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Last edited by Billj747; 02-05-24 at 01:18 PM.
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diabolical1 (02-15-24)
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#145
Full Member
Thread Starter
Looking back at archives, the PPF only weighs 20-21 pounds, so I don't think you can realize a 20lb savings by using the Banzai/Sikky brace combo. It's possible that if you're already running the Banzai brace, you could claw back a little weight by removing the PPF in favor of the Sikky brace, but I can't image that'll be any more than 10lbs.
I would think the PPF would have to weight more like 35-40lbs to save 20 with those mods.
I would think the PPF would have to weight more like 35-40lbs to save 20 with those mods.
IMO, real "car guys" appreciate what other people do rather than put them down. I'm not into the "stance" crowd and their is a lot wrong with how modifying cars in that way affect ride quality, performance, and safety; but to each their own and people enjoy and prefer different things. That doesn't make them "wrong" unless their goal is to set lap times or drive their stanced cars aggressively.
My articles are to share and discuss my journey, developments, and modifications to my street/track car.
Last edited by Billj747; 02-14-24 at 09:29 AM.
#146
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
very interesting stuff. i will have to make some time to read all of the installations, but what i have read so far is great and has even given me some clarity on how to tackle some issues i'm having with my own car.
at any rate, i've known about the WPC treatment for a while now and have been curious how they will work on a rotary, so i'm definitely here to see what results you get from it.
good luck.
at any rate, i've known about the WPC treatment for a while now and have been curious how they will work on a rotary, so i'm definitely here to see what results you get from it.
good luck.
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Billj747 (02-23-24)
#147
Full Member
iTrader: (2)
I really appreciate these articles. I like the mix of rotary specific and general performance information, and it's kind of cool to see you guys coming at this stuff from another angle and with fresh eyes. I learn a lot from each article. I'm sure they're a lot of work to write, so thank you!
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Billj747 (02-23-24)
#148
Full Member
Thread Starter
very interesting stuff. i will have to make some time to read all of the installations, but what i have read so far is great and has even given me some clarity on how to tackle some issues i'm having with my own car.
at any rate, i've known about the WPC treatment for a while now and have been curious how they will work on a rotary, so i'm definitely here to see what results you get from it.
good luck.
at any rate, i've known about the WPC treatment for a while now and have been curious how they will work on a rotary, so i'm definitely here to see what results you get from it.
good luck.
I really appreciate these articles. I like the mix of rotary specific and general performance information, and it's kind of cool to see you guys coming at this stuff from another angle and with fresh eyes. I learn a lot from each article. I'm sure they're a lot of work to write, so thank you!
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mr2peak (02-25-24)
#149
Full Member
Thread Starter
The next installment is live!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 14 - When to Upgrade the Differential
The FD RX-7 has many drivetrain limitations that start to fail as power approaches double the factory output. Upgrading to a Ford Explorer 8.8” differential actually makes a lot of sense, even financially, at a far lower power level than most RX-7 owners realize.
Check out this article where we point out the parts cost of upgrading to the Explorer 8.8" (after selling the stock parts) is similar to the price of upgrading the stock diff with an aftermarket LSD and adding a brace.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...-differential/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 14 - When to Upgrade the Differential
The FD RX-7 has many drivetrain limitations that start to fail as power approaches double the factory output. Upgrading to a Ford Explorer 8.8” differential actually makes a lot of sense, even financially, at a far lower power level than most RX-7 owners realize.
Check out this article where we point out the parts cost of upgrading to the Explorer 8.8" (after selling the stock parts) is similar to the price of upgrading the stock diff with an aftermarket LSD and adding a brace.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...-differential/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
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estevan62274 (03-11-24),
Jumbogumbp (03-11-24)
#150
#garageguybuild
iTrader: (32)
The next installment is live!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 14 - When to Upgrade the Differential
The FD RX-7 has many drivetrain limitations that start to fail as power approaches double the factory output. Upgrading to a Ford Explorer 8.8” differential actually makes a lot of sense, even financially, at a far lower power level than most RX-7 owners realize.
Check out this article where we point out the parts cost of upgrading to the Explorer 8.8" (after selling the stock parts) is similar to the price of upgrading the stock diff with an aftermarket LSD and adding a brace.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...-differential/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 14 - When to Upgrade the Differential
The FD RX-7 has many drivetrain limitations that start to fail as power approaches double the factory output. Upgrading to a Ford Explorer 8.8” differential actually makes a lot of sense, even financially, at a far lower power level than most RX-7 owners realize.
Check out this article where we point out the parts cost of upgrading to the Explorer 8.8" (after selling the stock parts) is similar to the price of upgrading the stock diff with an aftermarket LSD and adding a brace.
https://motoiq.com/project-fd-rx7-re...-differential/
Enjoy and stay tuned!
Love it! Nice write up @Billj747
Crazy timing.... I just finished my Ronin 8.8 swap with Grande hubs/axles.
It should be able to take pretty much anything I throw at now.
Mine starts about page 14 in my build thread...
FD#3... I finally got my favorite color/trim! 1993 SSM Base - Page 14 - RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum
Steve
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Billj747 (03-11-24)