I actually like the belt battery tie down! Maybe a leather strap/buckle permanently attached to the battery tray?

 

I love literally everything about this build. Is it still in progress?

 

Hi Syscrush,

My Renesis engine swap is still a work in progress. There's some custom fabrication required for things like the side mount alternator. I hope to get this car back on the road sometime in 2024.

 

I'm glad to hear it. I'm not going to have any more RX-7s, but I'll always love them - and I've daydreamed about a nice Renesis FB for about 10 years. I had an '84 GSL with a street ported 13B that made about 150 whp, and while it was nothing on paper, there was a charm and excitement to that car unlike anything else I've ever had or driven. More than 15 years after getting rid of it, I still dream about it sometimes.

Reading your thread, the first thing that really grabbed me was seeing a custom machined motor mount crossmember that probably cost about as much as a decent SA. I just love seeing people take the time to do things not just right, but better than required.

Once both this thing and my long-term motorcycle project are running, I wanna come see it and bring you some beers.

 

Is that custom oil pan a one off? Nice write up BTW. Looking to do this in a different way to my 80 SA. @RX7_Renesis

 

The custom oil pan was designed and CNC machined by Chips Motorsports. Chip should be able to produce another one for you if you decide to go this route. Alternatively you could try using a couple of GSL-SE oil pans cut and welded together.

The Renesis oil pan is slightly longer than a stock 13B, however it doesn't have the clearance needed for the rear steering linkage in our cars. You could also opt for a front mount rack & pinion which would free up some space for the stock Renesis oil pan.

I hope to get this project back on track and finished up later this year (2024).

 

Yeah I just saw that oil pan and thought nice! I wonder what the cost would be? I was going to take some 12A pans and cut em up to make a whole one but if I can get a made one at a reasonable price I'm in. PM me if you can share what the price might be, I understand its a one off for Chips. Thanks.

 

I think the GSL-SE oil pan already has the bunghole for additional sensors. If you're building on a budget, that's the route I would definitely go.

Labour and material costs have gone up significantly since I had my oil pan made. I'm sure Chip still has the specs and program to produce another custom oil pan.

 

Just wanted to ask how the car was coming along! It's such an exceptional build!

 

Let me reach out to Chip to get an update. I know he's been extremely busy. Running a business as a one-man-show is not an easy task.

 

Renesis Swap Update

Chip currently has my black SA as well as a black FD that he is working on. It was kind of neat to see two different generations of RX7 (in the same colour) sitting side by side.

We are working towards completing my Renesis swap by late spring/early summer.

• Custom side mount alternator bracket
• Convert the speedometer from mechanical to electronic
• Upgrade the low pressure fuel pump to a high pressure fuel pump

 

Just wondering if you been able to contact or speak with Chip lately? There are a couple threads on here about his indifference to his customers.

https://www.rx7club.com/midwest-rx-7.../#post12592364

 

^ I was wondering the same. Seems like many are having problems contacting him.

This is a very nice build - hopefully everything works out!

 

As some of you guys know, Chip is a one man operation.

I can assure you that he is doing his very best to get back on track and take care of members of the rotary community.

Sometimes life happens .. and we have to adjust our expectations.

 

Just wanted to see if you had any updates on the car.

 

Thanks to some very good people in Warren MI, I was able to successfully recover my 1980 Mazda RX7 from Chips Motorsports.

There are some parts missing, a trunk full of extra parts, and the driver's side window won't roll all the way up. Today I will empty the trunk and determine which parts to keep, and start preparing my car for winter storage.

This whole experience has been unbelievably challenging .. both financially as well as emotionally. I know its just a car .. however its a car that I've owned for 44 years and counting.

 

I'm happy you were able to rescue your car and have it back. Good luck on the next steps.

 

There are no words to express my gratitude to David Lapham for helping to track me down, to ensure that my 1980 Mazda RX7 was returned to me.

David also owns and races 2nd gen and 3rd gen Mazda RX7's.

 

I'm so glad to see this update. I know you're not where you wanna be, but for a while there it was looking like this could have gone so much worse.

Can't wait to see the next steps on this amazing build.

 

I'm currently working with a local business to machine the side mount alternator bracket for me. I will be responsible for the design and fitment.

Richard Miller has given me some great suggestions for an in-tank fuel pump that will be suitable for converting from a carburetor to fuel injection.

I have to research possible solutions for converting the mechanical speedometer from the RX7 transmission to work with the electronic signal from the RX8 transmission.

NV Auto will be pulling the final project together for me in the spring of 2025.

 

Here you go!


https://www.dakotadigital.com/index....rod/prd886.htm

 

You could just use the GSL-SE transmission instead but I get that you may want the 6 speed. I'm busy collecting parts for my swap but it will be done differently but love seeing how this progresses.

 

Thanks Syscrush .. that's the type of adapter (or similar) that I will probably end up using.

 

I'm too far down the rabbit hole to revert back to the SA or FB transmission. The biggest challenge will be the clearance or height of the Renesis intake system. Chip was planning to fabricate some sort of elbow on his CNC machine. Unfortunately that was one of the custom parts that was not completed.

 

I'm looking for suggestions on where to mount my BHR ignition coil packs. I will be using a custom side-mount alternator bracket, so I probably won't be able to install the coil packs in the stock location (on top of the 13B Renesis).