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In 2013 I purchased a very clean, unmodified 1988 GTU with 86k on the clock in Roanoke, VA, and was the 2nd owner. I always had big plans for the car, but that changed when it ended up becoming my daily driver in late 2014.
In April 2019 my job transferred me from Richmond, VA to Braselton, GA and I put the car for sale to raise some cash for the down payment on my first home. I made a deal after the buyer saw my For Sale post on Instagram, and regretfully let it go.
Living 4 miles from Road Atlanta, the rotary blues quickly came back and I started looking. Luckily I kept in touch with the guy I sold the car to, and he told me it was back on the market just a year later (as he was getting a sweet 10th Anniversary car!).
I could not wait to buy it back after we made a deal, but of course COVID-19 complicated the timeline. I finally was able to get a 6am flight out of Richmond while visiting family to Queens, NY. I arrived around noon, took a look at the familiar old RX7 and drove it 8 hours back to Virginia. I was now the 2nd and 4th owner of this FC!
During the drive I battled with a faulty sensor that gave me the dreaded Low Coolant buzzer from time to time, but I found my old Motley Crue cassette in the glovebox and cranked it.
The next day I got it on a lift at a friends shop and ID'd a leaky exhaust, some tired 32 year old suspension parts, a small oil leak, and a few other minor concerns of the all-original (and never rebuilt) six port 13B.
So naturally I decided it was enough to pursue my original dream and begin a 20B swap. The car is now in Chesapeake, VA getting an unmodified 20B. Once I get it back I'll begin piecing together the parts necessary to have the track car I always wanted.
Looking forward to taking advantage of all the knowledge and expertise here and share progress of my build along the way!!!
Well...that escalated quickly hahaha. Ibwas figuring you were going to say that you were going to restore it and enjoy it...but no...BAM, 20B swap haha! Would love to see pictures of the car!
I have very twistable arms it seems! It definitely needed a rebuild, and for track purposes, the costs associated with a rebuild, balance, rotor lightening, side clearancing, porting, ITBs, etc, etc - it all seemed like a lot of money to ask a motor to make 230hp. The engine would be completely taxed, and I'm not sure I could squeeze much more out of it in N/A form. It would be certainly working as hard as it could for those numbers.
It wasn't much difference to put a 20B in a car that can make 300hp+ in factory form without breaking a sweat. I'm actually trying to convince myself that this is the reliable play!
Wow, that car is gorgeous!!! Absolutely stunning!! To be honest, what you said is right on the money in regards to the power the engine will make and the associated cost of increasing power output in an NA 13B. I would keep the car original if it were mine as the car is just so amazing!! But it would also be amazing with a 20B and still look as original as it does!
06-04-20, 01:29 PM
