ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

If you're car only runs 50% of the time due to motor problems, that's YOU'RE problem, not the motors.

I think the turbo rotary "reliability" did is just a bit overstated. We've got a fairly good sized group of regular track junkies around here, all of whom run modified cars pretty regulary and drive their cars on the street, and nobodies going through three motors a year.

I've gone through precisely one in 8 years of FD ownership, and that's because one of my rad fans croaked and I didn't have a water temp guage. That's on me.

Bad tanks of gas and catastrophic sensor failure is pretty rare.... more often its irresponsible boost levels, poor/no tuning, incomplete mod paths, or poor care.

John Magnuson

Agreed.

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Words from the wise...

cozmo kraemer

I agree completely that improper mod paths, irresponsible boost, and inadequate tuning all can lead to engine failure. But a radiator fan going down and the STOCK temp gauge not being enough to warn you is an inherent ENGINEERING problem. The stock temp gauge is totally unreliable...but it should have been engineered to provide enough warning to prevent an engine failure (at least in a minor malfunction sense). If you were railing the car around a track and lost a fan and blew the engine...that is another senario.

I lost the whole radiator on my M3 while I was on track. The temperature gauge started to shoot up, so I shut it down...that was enough to save the engine.

The temp gauge on my 325i moves all the time to indicate water temp...and is enough to warn of possible engine failure, and did in a case where my oil cooler failed.

Why are the stock gauges on the rx7 held to a different standard? The rotory is more sensitive to drastic changes in temperature...the gauges should reflect that.

FWIW...i would never have driven my rx7 on track without an aftermarket temp gauge...but I dont think that it should be absolutely necessary (as I know it is).

cozmo kraemer

I definately do not feel the need to argue the fact that the LSx is a more proven platform for a race car than the rotory. They are in countless competitive cars, from the bottom grassroots level all the way to Le Mans. It is durable, cheap, powerful and efficient in space, output and weight.

I love the rotory and the outside the box thinking that went into creating it. It just makes sense in concept. I think the execution leaves a few gaps...but i love it anyway. Which is why I lusted for one for 6 years and now own one. I will never daily drive it though, which is all I have to say about its reliability

maxcooper

FYI -- In the predecessor USCC event back in 2000, an FD (Hung-Jen Hung's) placed 1st in the overall event, 1st in its class, 1st in the autox, and a different FD (mine) placed 2nd in the drag race.

IMO, a car with big graphics and lots of body kit stuff is not a very practical street car. Do you really want to drive something that radical on the street? I sure don't. The attention from police, vandals, and stoplight revvers would be too much. Those are show cars, not street cars. Street cars should have a much more subtle appearance -- no graphics or extreme wings/scoops/fins, etc.

-Max

7 BOUND

wooooooooooooooo fellas this is a forum, its for us to give our say so, gnx7 dude what are you talking about real mods, i have the normal mods that i am suppose to have, turbo timer hahah please get the gun. anyway i wont even touch on what your trying to talk about its not even on my level. and about my post look this is not grammer school and im sure i might have miss spelled some words but get a grip, read it or dont say anything at all. About me being closed minded for wanting to see a 13brew in the comp with a real FD not some dune buggy, if that makes me closed minded then so be it, Please man you wrote all that and you made no connection to what most of us feel, the only ones that have something to say are the ones that know the person who enterd the race, i was only stateing that i was ticked becuase we never see the rx7fd do good in these events thats all, so please take your comments and bind them up and swallow it. i still love you as a rx7 owner so god bless and keep the 7 alive !!!!! and please gnx7 man i didnt mean to step on your toes my venting was not on you it was on the SCC so again sorry if i offended you

7 BOUND

well i must be doing something right because im at 125,678 miles on the oem motor and still pumping 12psi, so my mods that you say are kinda kiddy ( not your words ) but i must be doing someting right

God bless

7 BOUND

heyyyyy mark i re-read that book that you wrote, lol look dude chill man you need to take a cold shower i was not getting on you man for the 800th time i was getting on SCC, who cares about building me a car from the ground up if i wanted to do that i would get a porsche and make that my project car, mean while i love my 7 and i have put in some man hrs workinig on it, to get the reliability that i have out of it, so you bashing me shows me that i got under your skin and thats not what i was trying to do, im trying to take the humble route, but anytime you feel froggy im in maryland come see me we can talk about it.

SlingShotRX7

7bound knock on wood..

Won't be long.. Believe me..

Back to topic..

GNX7 I applaud what you have done. Thanks for representing the RX7 in the competition.
Everyone here appreciates your efforts.

I think I understand 7bound.
He's pissed, understandably so, because he feels that SCC is stacking the cards
against the RX7 on purpose. Its not unheard of editors and magazine writers
to get kick backs from manufacterors and etc for better reviews and air time.
Believe me, its like supermarkets with shelving contracts and etc.

GNX7 don't take it the wrong way, alot of us just want a fair comparison/competition.
Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
No one excects you to be able to compete with conglamorant corporations
or Millioinaires. Its just isn't fair.
Its like Sport compact cars just setting up the RX7's to lose.
Like you said.. Other cars had well over 100K+ and flew in professional drivers,
and etc etc etc.. IMO gnx7 I think you held your own and did a great job.
More than 99% of us on this forum can say.

Think of it like this.. Use this analogy: Like in weight lifting.
the goal is the lift the most total weight.
300lbs skyline
300lbs supra
both all fresh and well rested and well fed.
Now walks in the 170lbs FD thats been Fasting for 3 days..

It just isn't fair..

Maybe someone here is filthy rich and tired of the fvking unfair contests.
Start with a FRESH FD make it powerful and spank the crap out the field

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

7 Bound- No problemo. I'm in sales and it is the end of the month with my head in the noose like usual to make my numbers... so I wasn't too cheerful when I wrote my reply either.

As far as the car looking like a turd... it certainly isn't a show car but from 10 feet it looks fine. I beat the **** out of this car and when something "happens" or someone hits me... I intend to get it nicely painted and the front bumper cover aligned. The fitment is poor.. but I like the '99 RZ look and larger openings.

The FD IMO is the best handling chassis bang for the buck, one of the best looking cars, and had 2 teams of engineers developing it to save weight and make it super aerodynamic. It has been my dream car for a while... and now I have one.

I want to make 550rwhp n/a in the future and the most cost effective way for ME to do it was with an LS1 and still get mid 20's MPG. THis 440rwhp is with a stock shortblock and more of a guinea pig at this point. I'm amazed it hasn't puked with the abuse I've put it thru and hitting 7,000rpm everyday with some spirited driving. I'm going to spray a 150NX wet shot when the temps get cooler and go for 9.90's@140mph+ with road race suspension on drag tires. I think it is doable.... we'll see.

Bottom line- I truly dig my RX-7.

BTW- I've owned 5 FC's.... out of only 9 total cars in my life. My first sports car I drove was an FC in 1988 that my dad owned. Did 130mph the first night alone in the car. I really love RX-7's bottom line and it has been in my blood for nearly 20 years.

I didn't want to come across like a ***** because I'm not. Just wanted to defend the David vs. Goliath aspect that this competition is about. I want to see and FD win also.. but with the requirement being one set of tires and the competition being AWD that wins.... it will be hard to achieve. The car will have to be very sorted, big power, and have lots of traction. 305's up front and 335's out back may solve it.

There is a reason that Audi's were banned from SCCA racing back in the day.... they dominated their class.

Maybe SCC should have a RWD and and AWD class in the next USCC...

-MC

maxcooper

I forgot to say something about it the first time, but I applaud Mark (gnx7) for his entry and performance in this years' USCC. The competition is a LOT tougher now than it was at the event I was referring to. Mark's car would have spanked all the cars in the first one.

-Max

travisorus rex

SCC is the last of the good car magazines (at least for our neck of the woods). The editors are better than most and they have a fair "ultimate" street car test.

The RX-7 is a fun car albeit unreliable and obviously not as well rounded as others out there. Biased or not, this forum needs to realize that the 7 is old, outdated and outmatched in these competitions. Our cars are not the pinnacle of engineering and shouldn't be treated as such.

As opposed to all of the other rotary disasters that have happened in SCC's previous challenges :rolleye:

I love my RX-7 but I don't sit here pissing and moaning about why the car is crude and unfinished. At least this guy made it into the competition. He held his own on the sections that the RX-7 excells in. He isn't here bitching about "teh 7 can't looze".

BTW, isn't this lounge material?

7 BOUND

sling thats what i was trying to say-

hey gnx7 hey look man i have to first say congrats yea it was a heck of a run i had re-read the mag, and its kool man anytime you need a couple of dollars i know how the selling bizz can be lo lol lol. don tell me your seeling either cell phones or cars lol. but gain man its kool

Spank

iTrader: (1)

Guys I will be entering the event next year with my 94. Let me say this, I have a 93 R1 (Spank1) that is incredible. The car is light, very fast, and handles like it is on rails. As many of you know it is my autox car that the only other RX7 to be me is Andy Mckees car. I do not know if it is faster than mine but he can most certainly drive better than I. Now that is my race car, very fast, but with the suspension it is not a very nice street car.

Now for the USCC I have a 94 Touring with a midified LS6 in it. The car is a blast to drive. If somebody hears the exhaust they will not race. With the CC on I get 30 MPH at 80 mph at about 1750 RMS, no muss no fuss. And that was with racing a mustang cobra, Yamaha FJ 1200 and trying to race a Ferreri 328 GTS I believe. I tried to get him to race on the way home but he would not. However running in 4th at 80 and 90 MPH does not help my milage. However with all that I still got 30 MPG. This car will pull as hard from 100 to 150 as it does from 50 to 100. It goes 75 in 2nd, 120 in third, and I have had it over 150 very easily in 5th and it is a 6 speed. This is the only car I have ever had that I can honestly say it will go as fast as I would ever want to go. I have gone faster around corners on the street with this car than I have with any other car I have.

The friend that drove it back from Alabama has been racing for over 40 years and stated that this is the fastest car he has ever driven. Before I changed tires if you were rolling in 2nd and stomped it the car would spin the tires so fast you would actually start to slow down.

I have cruise control, AC, power steering and still have my ABS. I have all the creature comforts of a great street car yet blinding speed whenever I push the throttle down. I believe the 93-95 RX7 has the best body ever made. However I think the rotary and all the plumbing for the turbo is too tempermental, and to suseptable to heat, fuel or timing issues. So I took the best motor I know of, and put it in the best looking, best handling car I know of and now have the best car of my life.

Imagine a car so fast that whenever you race and pulled ahead of someone so quickly and they heard your exhaust, they just let off.

I can cruise to Florida tomorrow and still get 30+ mpg with no problems. This is the ultimate street car. I have modified the suspension and will complete the brakes as well as have new paint and sound before the competition.

So the RX7 is an incredible car. Great looks, great handling and great power. For the autox course it is great. However any other racing or long term tests, you simply cannot beat the LS6 for power and reliablity and the RX7 for styling and handling.

Thats the end of my long thread. Look for me to hopefully be in the 2006 USCC.

Spank 1
VETTKLR

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

So the RX7 is an incredible car. Great looks, great handling and great power. For the autox course it is great. However any other racing or long term tests, you simply cannot beat the LS6 for power and reliablity and the RX7 for styling and handling.


My thoughts exactly. Good luck entering USCC next year. I think there are about 3-4 LS1/FD's I know of next that plan to enter the challenge.

An FD with lots of power is an incredible machine. I blow some of my friends minds when I give them spirited rides in the car 3rd and 4th gear pull as hard as 1st and 2nd.... it is pretty nuts.

Andy's car is pretty dialed.... I bought my CCW's from him.

SiKoPaThX

iTrader: (2)

Spank 1, sounds like if you can get it to have some traction, that you have a nice shot at it!

Spank

iTrader: (1)

Spank 1 is my Autox car, VETTKLR is my street car and will be the challenge car. I have never entered my autox car. If we admit to ourselves, would our cars do that well in the burnout part? Lots of heat and very little movement for a period of time? Also Spank 1 runs on race fuel and for the competition it must be on pump gas. VETTKLR runs on pump gas and drives like a sports car.

Believe me, I have both and on a autox course Spank 1 would kill VETTKLR, however on the open road and as a daily driver there is no comparison the VETTKLR.

A couple of weeks ago I raced a very, very fast Supra. From a moving start, by the time the supra's turbo kicked in and the boost was built up I was so far ahead the race was already over. That is the type of car VETTKLR is.

Before the USCC I will also have fender flares on the car that will enable me to run the same race tires and wheels on VETTKLR as I have on Spank 1. Also with the flares the car looks totally awsome. Everybody that sees the flares on Spank 1 loves them and always says how they have never seen another RX7 like it.

Anyway, both cars are great, but they are built for different games.

Spank

dradon03

iTrader: (2)

Well guys as Mark wrote his biblical comment so will I.

First off I want to really congratulate Mark, I mean just for getting there.

Secondly, you guys don't realize how lucky you are.

I am from Canada yes Canada. And here we have clubrxquebec. www.clubrxquebec.com. Of the top three nicest cars in our club one has a single conversion with a good deal of audio(molded trunk) and visual(veilside and 99 spec gear), One is a clean CYM with CCW wheels and Yok 048 tires and one has only Efini Turbos and some 99 gear. For us here parts that you guys are getting cost almost 2 times as much. I have wanted a 7 since I was 15 now 5 years later I have a 93 FD Touring w/ Fiske wheels and PZero tires. I still find it one of the most attractive cars on the road.

So to make my point you guys are talking about three rotors and LS Conversions where as guys here are still day dreaming of that kind of stuff I congratulate Mark for his efforts as I am a DIY'er aswell. However, I must say that I do not beleive I pistons in F series cars but thats just me and I respect MArks choice and I must say that I wonder why you DIY'ers doing LS jobs have never thought about buying an Ultima GTR.

The Ultima GTR is a kit kar you build at home and has the world record for 0-100-0 mph. When you build it yourself you get to buy any parts you wnat and choose and you need. So basically all the dream mods you want you can install with no drawbacks, secondly I think it is the only car to settle our LS .vs. Rotor problems as the Ultima can fit v'12s, LS's and even a 4 Rotor. The world record car has a v8 636hp LS1, so imagine a 3 rotor turbo or a race prepped 13G or a full Mazdaspeed racing 4 Rotor that goes for about 35,000+.

Just my little .02 cents Canadian so .015826 cents US.

Alex

Fell free to flamethrow

js3324

Dont know if the following points have been covered or not but here it goes\

What confuses me most is how a GT35R 2.0l 4G63(tuned for 500hp -Passalacqua) could have a better power band than an NA V8...which it loses 32 points for

The general spacing in places and point differences for individual tests sucks

The fact the car ran a 12.3, hell, stock LS1's in RX7s have ran low 12s and this has 439whp.

What the hell tires were they using for what seems like endless wheelspin?

Braking nearly made me cry considering its such a light car

And lastly the road course, they say it could have done better..damn right it could have.

95MX6

The acceleration test was at Los Angeles County Raceway, which is at 2,710 feet (not friendly to NA motors). And the arcticle goes on about how crappy the drag strip is, infact all the times are a bit slow (a 436hp supra running a 13.22, don't they normally run mid 13s stock?).

As for the road course lets quote the owner/driver.

Reading comprehension is a good thing...

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

Mark,

I think you did a Great Job!! You are absolutely right about competiting with people who spent 2x or 5x more money than you. It just isn't fair!. I definitely have to give you props for doing all your work yourself and even driving against the pros. As most people on the forum will say, driver will make the difference in the car at the track..

Second, as a huge rotary fan, I would really like to see a built 3 rotor vs all these import cars. As we all know, 20B was a production engine that was put into Eunos Cosmos in Japan. This engine built will produce similar power as built Supra or Skyline engines without pushing beyond the limit of 2 rotor. I think 20B FD competiting with other Japanese built car will be the true competition to see who's the king of imports!

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

Thanks for the props guys. Next year I'm sure there will be some seriously sorted cars in the competition. All it takes is time and money and of course a great car/driver.

Some of the cars that didn't do well in the drag race aspect suffered from traction problems and/or didn't want to break. The Supra had difficulty putting down the power on the dyno. At the drag strip it was either wheelspin as boost came on too quickly or bog from babying it off the line. Tuning issues....

Good luck to those that enter next year.

boostedrotor

Congratualtions on putting your car out there man.....The red fd in last year's event was mine...I was not willing to change my car in any way to try and win this thing...I built most of this car in my garage with guidance from the Gotham Racing crew....The competition is stiff with lots of money....I thought we did ok for bringing a track car to this street car competition....The reason my car wasn't 100% is we got a call 1 month b/4 the competition...My car was all ready down for winter/spring projects.....Gotham did an awesome job, in my opinion, getting the car as ready as possible.....The biggest joke of the whole competition was the driveability portion, this big bloated sack of protoplasam wedged himself into my car and could barely turn the wheel because of his big fat belly...
My car maintains the stock exterior and that will never change for anyone, so lost all car show points for that....no a/c is bad in cali., no p/s with 285's on the front is bad for street driving....etc. etc. etc. I built my car for me, not for some magazine.....

joeyz87

Reason rx7 does not compete with supra/skyline has to do with the handling. Rx7 is lighter and balanced, so it gets in and out of turns quicker.