Sterling Thunder

OK, two weeks ago I purchased a 93 Touring, Automatic and you folks were kind enough to point me to a local shop (Performance Buyers Club, (PBC), in NoVa). They went over the car made a few repairs and let me know what I really have. This was, in retrospect an impulse buy to say the least (I would have purchased a five speed 94 but didn’t so don’t start on me for that please).

Directly from PBC first and foremost the engine is in tip top shape (rebuilt at 49k came to me at 60k). Replaced all Pillow *****, Repaired Rear Hatch (Rather than tape on latch as old owner used), installed Koni Shocks, new O2 sensors, Installed an APEXi dual intake (came with car uninstalled), checked all hoses, belts, etc. The car starts no problem at 30 degrees outside and idles nicely. Boost reads 10 and then 8 when the second turbo kicks in. Vehicle has great compression.

Car came with following upgrades: Brembo Slotted/Cross Drilled Rotors with EBC Greenstuff Pads, Eibach Springs, Racing Beat Rear Spoiler, Racing Beat Muffler, Downpipe, Boost Gauge (Pillar Mounted), New Silicone Vacuum Hoses, APEXi Turbo Timer (currently sitting in my garage where it will likely live the rest of its life), and New Fuel Filter.

PBC didn’t have all the parts I wanted to do last week and I wanted to drive the car as well, so first thing next week it’s back to the shop. Here are the things I want to do to the car and would like “tempered” opinions on doing them and expected results. My daily driver is a 2006 R/T Charger and my second car is a 69 Montego highly modified, I like to go fast. Rotary however is new to me and this car is on rails compared to my Montego especially. Let me know what I don’t need to do if something already covers the issue or something I need to add, I will be street driving this car with the occasional trip to Summit Point and VIR. Thanks for the input and be kind I have the funds but not the know when it comes to Rotary.

Needed repairs:
Fuel Door (Broke last night, see signs it was previously taped), Fuel Gauge (won’t go to F), Tachometer (Drops to 0 occasionally), Oil Pressure Gauge (Bounces, told electrical as with tach), Rear Hatch Struts, Outer Door handle panels (tighten so they don’t pull away from car when in use)

RX7 Upgrades:
Front Strut Tower Brace, Rear Strut Tower Brace, Upgrade Sway Bar Mounts, Front Sway Bar Mount Reinforcement Bar, Front Sway Bar, Rear Sway Bar, Upgraded Mazda Turbo Chargers, Turbo Controller, Upgraded Fuel Pump and Fuel Lines and Fittings (-8), Upgraded Pressure Regulator, Crane Hi-6 Ignition Computer, Platinum plugs and upgraded wires, Power FC, Pillar Mounted 2 Gauge Pod, Center Speaker Mounted 2 Gauge Pod, 4 Gauges w/back lighting (Turbo, Water Temp, Air/Fuel Gauge, Exhaust Gas Temperature), After Market Knock Sensor, Upgraded Radiator, Upgraded Intercooler, Fuel Computer, High Flow Cat, Heat Shields for the Intakes, Differential Gears changed to 4.33, Pillar Mount Fire Extinguisher, Blow Off Valve, Second Oil Cooler, Upgraded Fans (keep running for several minutes after shutdown), Relocate battery to rear, Brembo Calipers and Pads, Me losing 30 lbs.

wtgator69

Sounds good... with all those upgrades while regretting not getting a 5-speed, have you considered getting a 5 speed swapped in? Also, you dont need a fuel computer if you get a Power FC. Get a wideband 02 sensor, an exhaust temp guage isnt neccesary. Same with a knock sensor. Also, you can vent the stock BOV instead of spending money on a new one. Also if you get the PFC you dont neccesarily need a boost controller (Ray @ PFS disconnected my Profec B II and now we only use the PFC). If you want to upgrade the turbos go with BNR Stage III turbos, efini turbos are an upgrade but IMO not worth the money.

If you do some searches on the above topics you can find plenty of info.


Congrats on the new 7! Have fun with/take care of her!

Sterling Thunder

Thought about the 5 speed swap but until the Auto fries I am going to wait. Thinking of possibly purchasing another 7 with the 5 speed when the right one is available local and then sell my auto.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

If you're thinking of doing all this right away you might as well have bought it all modified. As well, I see no mention of what ECU you're running. I'm far from an expert on PFC's (the ECU of choice), but I'm pretty sure I've heard that you can't install one on an auto. So I don't see why all that ignition and fuel system upgrades are in there, since you'll still be running on stock fuel injection and ECU. Unless this is going in in preparation for when you swap to a 5 speed, be very careful you're not installing mods for no reason.

The BOV adds no performance over the stock BOVs, and the knock sensor is worthless IMO (engine knock under boost blows a rotary engine, regardless of what knock-controls or sensors you install). They would belong in the box with the turbo timer if it was my garage

I'm far from an expert on modding, especially with an auto, but I think you owe it to yourself to know the answers to these questions.

Also, to rub some medicine on the 'new to rotaries' wound, check out the FAQ thread at the top of this forum. Loaded with great info and links to very useful sites. The search button yields lots of good info, fast, too.

Dave

jeff p

you can't run the PFC with the auto trans you will loose the hold feature. I've searched and still can't find anyone who has done this and solve the problem. also I called AEM and they said their computer won't work either. options run the PFS purple box or keep the boost at 10psi with stock ECU. search and learn about the auto trans before making a purchase on mods. check out my sig
Jeff

ehos

Don't scumb to the '5 spd' swap demons.

Put in 3.90 gears in the rear end (or 4.10/4.33's etc).

bajaman

Congrats on the purchase, sounds like you have found a nice one.

I agree with others in saying I wouldn't go to far, too quick. Some of the 'upgrades' you are contemplating won't really give you the bang for the bucks you might think, such as the "upgraded Mazda turbochargers"....this alone will set you back close to 3 grand and for...what? If your turbos are fine now, just wait. If you want to see some immediate improvements you could go with the PFS Purple box piggybacked to your stock ECU. All those other fuel system upgrades are a REAL pain in the *** to do, with the exception of changing the fuel pump. Hmmmm....I didn't see a fuel filter change in your list, and THAT is something you ought to do, just to be sure. The radiator upgrade is a good idea, but I will tell you right now it is hard to find a truly higher performance one that is made for an automatic....I know, I've tried. They will run you $500. And why the Brembo calipers? Those too are a pretty penny and 99.999% of the time you'll not notice any difference in braking over the stock brakes, which are phenomenal. The other stuff is pretty much okay, nice choices overall. But how about some aftermarket wheels and tires? Putting some 17" or even 18" wheels and tires is another immediate change that really sets things off.
Definitely get all the little stuff repaired....it will drive you nuts!
And come back here often....there are a lot of good guys here.

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

Congratulations.
And with this car, I think "impulse buy" is a pretty common phenomenon.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

You can usually substitute "disastrous" with "common".

Dave

stephentross

This car was an impule buy for me 100%, But it feels so good.

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

No argument here. But Sterling sounds a bit more "mature" than many.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Fortunately I noticed that too - I think this situation is nothing like the horrid tales of a teenager, a BOV, and an FD.

I just feel it's worth pointing out the potential ceilings of an auto for someone who may get serious with power modding.

Dave

Sterling Thunder

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it. Let me clear up a few things I left out and were mentioned by people in this thread.

I asked PBC to swap out the fuel filter and they said it was obviously just done before I purchased the car (which the previous owner said but better safe than sorry). I did use the search and read a lot of stuff on the forum (last two weeks actually) before even daring to contemplate a post (no need to get a bad reputation right off the bat). That is where I got my personal mod list and found some conflicting info (at least to me), hence the post to make sure of my direction.

I didn't want a modified car because past experience has taught me that I am usually just buying someone else’s problems/abuse. Plus unmodified lets me have all the fun of getting new mods. Every day is Christmas when the UPS guy brings new parts.

I used to have a friend named Sung who had a black FD, five-speed. That is what pushed the impulse at eight in the morning to purchase this car, his had the BOV or ducted it right to make some noise and even though it doesn't do anything for performance I like the sound it makes for the memories.

I am switching to the Brembo calipers because they look better than the old Mazda calipers (two of which are missing the Mazda logo covers) on the car. Some modifications are more for aesthetic value.

Wheels, tires, paint and interior are all scheduled for the spring; I have been looking at a lot of the pictures on this site trying to find the right combo for me. They are on my master list but were left off the immediate list posted here.

This car is for going fast and turning at the same time. The 69 Montego is for going insanely fast in a straight line. The 06 Charger is for moving more than me and all of them are for occasionally getting in front of/embarrassing the modified Hondas zipping in and out of traffic that proliferate the roads in my area.

I will rethink the list and post it here today for your consumption/opinion if I get the chance just to make sure I am going in the right direction. Thanks again guys.

150kFd

The best bang for the buck mod I did to my auto Rx7 was swap in a 5spd. Hands down

Sterling Thunder

Updated Mod List:

Repairs previously mentioned
Front Strut Tower Brace
Rear Strut Tower Brace
Upgrade Sway Bar Mounts
Front Sway Bar Mount Reinforcement Bar
Front Sway Bar
Rear Sway Bar
Pillar Mounted 2 Gauge Pod
Center Speaker Mounted 2 Gauge Pod
4 Gauges w/back lighting (Turbo, Water Temp, Air/Fuel Gauge, Exhaust Gas Temperature)
High Flow Cat
Heat Shields for the Intakes
Differential Gears changed to 4.33
Pillar Mount Fire Extinguisher
Blow Off Valve
Second Oil Cooler
Upgraded Fans (keep running for several minutes after shutdown)
Relocate battery to rear
PFS Purple box

That seems like a good start and will finish up the suspension modifications. Constructive oppinions are appreciated.

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

IMHO you might want to re-think the need for all those guages. Not sure how much good the air/fuel ratio guage would do you, as well as EGT without a wideband. Boost and Temp for sure, but then I'm still pretty stock.
Fire Extinquisher is a good idea and mandated for any track events, but personally I wouldn't put it on the pillar.
Blow-off valve is a personal taste item. If money is a concern, I'd let it go to last.
You don't have to upgrade the fans to keep them going after shut down. Just do the "FAN MOD" which is done for the price of a piece of ground wire. http://fd3s.net/fan_mod.html
Second oil cooler is nice, but I think the FC thermoswitch would be cheaper and more effective in holding down temps, along with larger radiator. https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/its-official-do-not-buy-miata-thermoswitch-until-you-read-397156/

live2drive15

iTrader: (4)

Yea as much of a pain it was doing it with myself and another club member It was by far the best modification I could have done. It's a totally different car, especially if you throw in a 9.5lb flywheel which you have to unless you change the counterweights. icky. If you're planning to have track days and stuff, you should strongly consider the 5 spd swap. You can't run a power fc which right off the bat limits your tuning abilities. You don't want to go to far without having some sort of fuel upgrade otherwise it's not going to be pretty. If you are anywhere near the rx7store they can do it in like 2 days or something provided you have the parts. Expect to pay about 1200-2000 for parts and whatever labor is.