Hello from Missouri!
12-03-14, 11:28 PM
#1
LegacyCore
Thread Starter
Hello from Missouri!
Hey everybody, My name is Josh. Looking forward to doing a lot of research, reading, and learning on this site. New to Mazda but not new to car or heavily modified cars, or forums. I'm 29 years old and live in a little town about 15 miles outside of Springfield, MO. My whole life has revolved around cars since I could remember. Growing up in a muscle car family, shortly after turning 16 I went against the grain and got into imports. Between 16-18 I went through my ricer phase, but wised up pretty quickly and became serious in the actual performance aspect of cars and motor sports. And really the rest has been history...
While I have to admit for the longest time I've been a Honda fan boy and owned many Honda's. After my last Honda project I wised up after realizing how much money I had lost in this car. And realized maybe it was time to get into something that was RWD and actually had potential...
I've always been a huge fan of mid to late 80's Japanese sports cars. RX7, MR2, AE86, Skyline, 240sx, 300zx, the list goes on. If it was RWD and had pop up headlights, I was in love. I've owned some of them, and now I'm proud to say I own another iconic Japanese 80's sports car.
Meet my 1986 Mazda RX7 Sport:
I purchased the car from a friend just a few days ago for $700. The reason so cheap is because it is without an engine. The 13b had all it could take from life and gave up, so my buddy pulled it and was going to source another 13b. But I ended up talking him out of it and took it off his hands. The body is super straight, no rust, no body damage, never been in a wreck. Which is VERY rare in the mid-west with how much salt we use on our roads in the winter time. Interior is also complete and in very good condition for a 28 year old car.
Now here is the part I feel a lot of you purists might lynch me for... I will not be putting another 13b 4s engine back in this car. But don't worry it wont be a v8 either... Instead I will be stuffing a 2JZ-GE with an R154 under the hood. I've already sourced a low miles 2JZ for $220 which is a steal in my neck of the woods. And already found a few sources that have complete kits to swap the 2JZ into an FC.
The rest of the plans are to clean it up, replace and repair everything, upgrading suspension, wheels, tires. And maybe some interior upgrades as well, don't worry I'm not a MADD drifter of any sorts. But I do enjoy a good time attack or spirited back road drive. But that's kind of my story! Sorry for the long winded post, but I felt it was warranted in a way.
Also here are some of my other 80's Japanese sports cars I've owned that you all might appreciate!
1987 Toyota MR2:
1985 Toyota Corolla GTS (Trueno):
All comments, ideas, and criticism is welcomed! Until then take care, and thanks for reading all of this!
While I have to admit for the longest time I've been a Honda fan boy and owned many Honda's. After my last Honda project I wised up after realizing how much money I had lost in this car. And realized maybe it was time to get into something that was RWD and actually had potential...
I've always been a huge fan of mid to late 80's Japanese sports cars. RX7, MR2, AE86, Skyline, 240sx, 300zx, the list goes on. If it was RWD and had pop up headlights, I was in love. I've owned some of them, and now I'm proud to say I own another iconic Japanese 80's sports car.
Meet my 1986 Mazda RX7 Sport:
I purchased the car from a friend just a few days ago for $700. The reason so cheap is because it is without an engine. The 13b had all it could take from life and gave up, so my buddy pulled it and was going to source another 13b. But I ended up talking him out of it and took it off his hands. The body is super straight, no rust, no body damage, never been in a wreck. Which is VERY rare in the mid-west with how much salt we use on our roads in the winter time. Interior is also complete and in very good condition for a 28 year old car.
Now here is the part I feel a lot of you purists might lynch me for... I will not be putting another 13b 4s engine back in this car. But don't worry it wont be a v8 either... Instead I will be stuffing a 2JZ-GE with an R154 under the hood. I've already sourced a low miles 2JZ for $220 which is a steal in my neck of the woods. And already found a few sources that have complete kits to swap the 2JZ into an FC.
The rest of the plans are to clean it up, replace and repair everything, upgrading suspension, wheels, tires. And maybe some interior upgrades as well, don't worry I'm not a MADD drifter of any sorts. But I do enjoy a good time attack or spirited back road drive. But that's kind of my story! Sorry for the long winded post, but I felt it was warranted in a way.
Also here are some of my other 80's Japanese sports cars I've owned that you all might appreciate!
1987 Toyota MR2:
1985 Toyota Corolla GTS (Trueno):
All comments, ideas, and criticism is welcomed! Until then take care, and thanks for reading all of this!
Last edited by rxtasy3; 12-04-14 at 11:25 PM.
12-06-14, 12:17 PM
#4
LegacyCore
Thread Starter
If I do find a 2jz-ge I would love to replace the head gasket with a gte head gasket, and install ARP head studs. Then once in the car install an hx40 see if we can hit the 400hp mark. I feel that would be plenty enough for this car. I'm not looking to build a straight line car, or a drift car for that fact. I love the twisties, time attack, auto cross, or just the back roads here in the Ozarks.
Or I might just do what everybody else has done with an NA and find a TII engine to swap into it. I already have a rebuilt trans for a rotary. Thanks for the compliments!
Also got the interior cleaned up a bit last night, gonna have to find some interior parts. A lot of the plastic is pretty brittle and some is broken. But cleaned up rather nice I think.
12-06-14, 12:19 PM
#5
LegacyCore
Thread Starter
I'm torn on the game to be honest, one side I'm a fan of my home team MIZ. But I'm also a fan of bama because my wife is a huge bama fan and kinda turned me. Honestly I think it will be a miracle for MIZ to win it, 31-14 Crimson Tide.
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12-08-14, 01:58 PM
#8
Plan may have changed with the FC, this morning I went to pull the 2j from the GS300 at the local yard. Only to find that somebody had removed the oil pan and sump from the engine. And the bottom end of the block was seized up and rusted beyond repair. I would still love to find a 2j to swap into it, but I'm not finding anything local within my budget. So chances are the FC will sit engineless for a little while until I can find what I want.
If I do find a 2jz-ge I would love to replace the head gasket with a gte head gasket, and install ARP head studs. Then once in the car install an hx40 see if we can hit the 400hp mark. I feel that would be plenty enough for this car. I'm not looking to build a straight line car, or a drift car for that fact. I love the twisties, time attack, auto cross, or just the back roads here in the Ozarks.
Or I might just do what everybody else has done with an NA and find a TII engine to swap into it. I already have a rebuilt trans for a rotary. Thanks for the compliments!
Also got the interior cleaned up a bit last night, gonna have to find some interior parts. A lot of the plastic is pretty brittle and some is broken. But cleaned up rather nice I think.
If I do find a 2jz-ge I would love to replace the head gasket with a gte head gasket, and install ARP head studs. Then once in the car install an hx40 see if we can hit the 400hp mark. I feel that would be plenty enough for this car. I'm not looking to build a straight line car, or a drift car for that fact. I love the twisties, time attack, auto cross, or just the back roads here in the Ozarks.
Or I might just do what everybody else has done with an NA and find a TII engine to swap into it. I already have a rebuilt trans for a rotary. Thanks for the compliments!
Also got the interior cleaned up a bit last night, gonna have to find some interior parts. A lot of the plastic is pretty brittle and some is broken. But cleaned up rather nice I think.
Have you given any thought to an LS1 swap?
12-08-14, 11:58 PM
#9
LegacyCore
Thread Starter
No not really interested in a v8 swap of any kind. If I wanted a v8 I'd look for old school muscle which is what I was brought up around. My father always had a Pontiac of some kind, be it a GTO, TransAm, Firebird ect... I'd probably look for a 69-72 Ford Maverick and drop a 302 in it if I wanted v8.
On another note, the local salvage yard 2JZ was junk, but found one in St. Louis for a VERY good price. I'll be picking it up this Saturday, 80k miles does have the head pulled. But that's fine because I was gonna put a GTE head gasket and ARP head studs on it anyways.
I'll start a build thread as soon as I get more picture and more done to the car. Also need to go back to the local salvage yard soon to pick what I can off of a wrecked FC there. Need to see if the frame in the back is good on it as I don't have the frame for my 86. I'm not worried about getting bins since the only 86 FC that came with rear bins was the GSL I believe? Also will probably snag the gauge cluster and a few of the black interior pieces if they are in good shape.
On another note, the local salvage yard 2JZ was junk, but found one in St. Louis for a VERY good price. I'll be picking it up this Saturday, 80k miles does have the head pulled. But that's fine because I was gonna put a GTE head gasket and ARP head studs on it anyways.
I'll start a build thread as soon as I get more picture and more done to the car. Also need to go back to the local salvage yard soon to pick what I can off of a wrecked FC there. Need to see if the frame in the back is good on it as I don't have the frame for my 86. I'm not worried about getting bins since the only 86 FC that came with rear bins was the GSL I believe? Also will probably snag the gauge cluster and a few of the black interior pieces if they are in good shape.
Last edited by 2jzfc; 12-09-14 at 12:01 AM.
12-10-14, 10:14 AM
#11
LegacyCore
Thread Starter
Because I can find a GE for around $250-$300 vs the GTE which is closer to $2500. Put the GTE head gasket and ARP head studs on the GE and your good for upwards of 600hp. Yes, I know the stock GTE has been known to reach 1000hp + but one I don't have the money for that kind of power. Two even if I had that kind of money I'd never spend it on a motor. Three I don't need that kind of power, I'm really just shooting for the 400-450hp range which is very attainable and safe on a stock GE. I don't see a reason to overkill when the GE is very easy to get, very cheap compared to the GTE and will make the power gains I'm looking for safely.
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