Hoogen's 87 TII LSX build
 

hello all, i have been around for a little while now, figured i would post up my build.

Just to warn you, there are quite a few pictures, and they are all crap.

It all started April 21'st 2009. I have been looking for a project car for over 2 months. Looked at Datsun 240z's, Nissan 240's, mr2's, and SC300's. Couldnt find anything in good condition with a good price to match. Then i came across a 1987 red FC TII rx7 with 68k origional miles, been sitting in a garage since 2001 with a blown apex seal. Called the guy, and picked the car up the next day.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2r7ty7m.jpg

washing her before putting in the garage
http://i52.tinypic.com/t6y0pc.jpg

nice paint
http://i56.tinypic.com/1yk013.jpg

sleep time
http://i52.tinypic.com/2ryn0gn.jpg

Other pictures
http://i53.tinypic.com/2ihuj2w.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/125rviv.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/f5d3d5.jpg

Over the next few months, i rebuilt the rotory (when i had time), made everything look purdy and new, and put the engine back in the car.

http://i51.tinypic.com/24v0h6u.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/kejfde.png

Right when i got it running, i sold the motor and trans.

http://i56.tinypic.com/aw2pv6.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/34eoi8j.jpg

and picked up this :D

0mile rebuilt ls1 with cam (selling this cam, getting custom ground) and forged pistons. (heads arent mine, we put them on the motor to keep crap out of it)
http://i54.tinypic.com/rwula0.jpg

grannys stuff and other lsx stuff

http://i52.tinypic.com/fvlg5k.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/avajo.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/mmyfiu.jpg

My friend (the lsx guru that tells me what to do and helps build the car) brought over a mockup engine to throw in the car untill the motor in finished

http://i55.tinypic.com/351im8n.jpg

Before putting the mockup motor in, i repainted some of the engine bay

Pretending to be an engine
http://i55.tinypic.com/20hlfs1.jpg

Clean
http://i55.tinypic.com/11lkciq.jpg

Put the mockup motor in
http://i54.tinypic.com/ibfgqt.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2ailac2.png

Picked up a 70k mile camaro t56 with hurst shifter from ls1tech
http://i53.tinypic.com/28ibupg.jpg

Also picked up an ls2 intake manifold from a cts-v (sent out to get ported)
http://i54.tinypic.com/121vbcw.jpg

Got some low mile 799 heads (sent out to get ported, polished, and milled to 11:1 compression)
http://i53.tinypic.com/x3ili0.jpg

Bought a FPR, all AN fittings, fuel filter, black braided hose, 42lb injectors and Nastyperformance fuel rails
http://i53.tinypic.com/8xlrt1.jpg

LS7 clutch, flywheel and pressure plate. also new slave, bearings, arp flywheel bolts, and remote bleeder
http://i51.tinypic.com/ibz4gk.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/izxo5f.jpg

Pulled the interior so i can remove the radio, a/c and heater core (yes, i know im crazy living in texas and not having a/c) and drill the holes and mount the plates for the trans mount
http://i51.tinypic.com/2l94pkm.jpg

bought some red coil covers (some people dont like them, but i do)
http://i51.tinypic.com/1g11ew.jpg

parts back from porting
http://i55.tinypic.com/1zgzrc4.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/23vap36.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2hxwnkj.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/dbl0xw.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2u601eu.jpg

17X9 +22 and +35 Work Equips
http://i54.tinypic.com/29ffa8l.jpg

JTR 1 7/8" ceramic coated long tubes
http://i55.tinypic.com/11r3nl4.jpg

Also picked up some work lugs
http://i52.tinypic.com/16j0emt.jpg

Just waiting on my new Pez wiring harness from and my Nick Williams 102mm throttle body from Hinson

Going to go buy some valve springs and pushrods this weekend, possibly a new cam.


and thats it for now i think, enjoy and stay tuned!

decided to throw in a picture of the daily driver as well :D
http://i54.tinypic.com/6szvxz.jpg

Why did you gut out the interior? Are you going to put it back? The car looked very clean, it looks like the swap will be clean.

Awesome.

Pics of the 13B in a dumpster?

can you give us a run down on how much you spent for this build to give us a better idea on how expensive a swap like this cost?

Typically $6k more or less

Most likely more in this case due to the choice of aftermarket parts, head work, and assuming he paid typical T56 trans, and LSX motor prices.

.... and he did alot of the work himself too i assume

You guys do it live in Texas. Although I'm not exactly a fan of the motor choice, I can respect a clean build. And you sir, have a clean build.

This should really piss off the little haters. Keep up the good work man. It will be damm fun when your done.

Obviously, the price i guesstimated is a DIY price.

Plan to spend near double that for some shop to do 100% of the work for you.

Thanks! I had to pull the interior to finish the mounting of the trans cross member, pull the heater core and maje the modifications for the 1" bore clutch master cylinder. The interior is all back in now.
Heh nope, sold it, d do have a box full of old 13b parts tho :D
So far this build (not including the car or the wheels, engine swap only) has cost me just over $10k, it should be around 450rwhp n/a and 600rwhp on nitrous (turbo sometime next year). Including the cost of the car and the wheels it has cost $14k. It cost a lot to do everything right and get all new parts :)
Thanks a lot man! Yea, i know there are quite a few people that dont like the fact that i am putting a chevy v8 into the rx7 and i respect that, but i just have a thing for frankenstein engine swaps :) i was origionally going to build the rotory but someone made me an offer to buy it and i decided it would be a good start to the LSX
Thank you! It should be a LOT of fun :)




Also, im trying to decide on what coilovers im going to buy, was thinking either Stance GR+ or BC racing coilovers. Maybe yall can help me make a decision!

Thanks again guys!

Decided to post up a quick pricing list to make things more clear

0mile forged piston ls1 with accessories : $2,000
Grannysspeedshop delux bolt in kit : $1,400
T56 trans : $1,600
Brand new custom wiring harness : $1,000
Heads : $300ish cant remember
Intake manifold : $150
Port/polish/milling for heads and IM : $750
Fuel system : $1,100
Throttle body : $400
Headers : $1,000
And a few other things here and there

And this is just rough pricing

Damn son, thats hella money.

so jealous.. all i could afford was a lt1 and mods.. keep it up cant wait to see her finnished!

Wow. Never thought that transmission was so much money.

yea, it gets quite expensive when you upgrade everything. could have had it done for around 6k if i were to keep it all stock
lt1's are good motors, good swap for the money. and i will try and keep yall updated regularly!
yea, they are harder and harder to come by with low miles and good internals. and that was the price shipped.

Not my in my taste, but the build looks great so far!

Whats your plans with the car?

Nice. :icon_tup:

Im going with the stock LS1, grannys complete kit, and harness merge by PEZ. Should be about $6k total, then i will upgrade later.

I will do the obvious LS2 timing chain, and the LS6 oil pump before the motor goes in.

What are you doing about your speedometer?

Impressive. A blown engine is a great time to go LS1.

That paint is immaculate!

cool and fresh....

car looks super clean!

just about finished my LS/FC swap - needs exhaust and then it's ready for the road.

I have about $5gs into mine and did everything myself. Being patient about finding good deals is key - and, if you have any form of wiring skill, do your own wiring. It's not nearly as difficult as you would think!

Clean build, but disappointed that you ditched the soul of an RX7. The rotary is what makes it unique. :(