Hi all,

I'm back again. I was on here about a year ago getting information on a possible 13b-rew into a fox body. The combination of a bad economy and killing two daily drives has stalled that project. Thats right boys and girls, dos daily drives died this last year (spun a rod and engine fire. Just no luck last year).

New year, better job and a more stable daily ride brings me back to the forums again.

I just traded the 1993 lx 5.0 fox body for a 1988 RX7 SE. No motor or tranny in the RX, but I did get an extra rear end from GTU model, as well as the complete conversion for 5 lug rims, Turbo II brakes, cross drilled rotors, ceramic pads, and a couple other goodies.

The car is going to be a track day specific car, with the ability to cruise on the street here and there. By track I mean Drift, Autocross, Road Racing, Drag. All of thee above.

Some are going to argue that I can't do "All of thee above", but I think it's completely possible. Coil-overs, Dual adjustable shocks, etc for suspension. Also, by drag I mean the strip here and there for fun.

Any way there are a couple of different routes that I'm thinking of taking the RX down.

1) LS1 T-56 setup.

2) 2.0T Ecotec engine mated to a t-56, or AC15 (Solistic Tranny). Don't worry about the FWD to RWD conversion, I've already gotten that taken care of.

2) SR20DET hooked up to a 300zx tranny.

I know these are all piston motors in an RX7, and I'm not winning any popularity contests here.

Wanted some opinions, and possibly advice for suspension setup. With all three setups the car will be making about 500 HP.

Later,

Chard

P.S. Daily Drive is an 06 SE-R Spec V, with factory big Brembos. As stock as possible.

 

LS1 has been done left and right.

No wonder it's popular, because it's a SBC so mount kits exist for it and is easy to extract power from.



I think the 2.0 Ecotec or the SR20 both have some interesting factors. They're both aluminum block, aren't they? I'd like to see one of those simply because it's not as common.

 

The reason they've been done left and right is there cheap to get high end power while maintaining a low weight.

That being said, I've done the math and I can get a "Bullet Proof" Ecotec for about 2500.

By Bullet Proof, I mean I could crank up the boost and get 1000 horsepower no sweat. That being said I'm really aiming for the 500 HP range. Build it right the first time.

Engine weights in at 325 with all accesories. Super light engine

 

When I pick up the motor this weekend I'll put it on a scale, with pictures, for actual total weight of the 2.0 Turbo motor. All accessories, turbo, wiring.

I'm curious of the communities thoughts on this one.

 

I'm a big fan of the ls1 swap but mostly because I'm just a big fan of the ls engines period. Your Ecotec swap does sound pretty damn interesting though, so I"d certainly like to see how that comes along.

 

Well, to update. I got a great deal on an LQ4 motor. Complete with PCM, Harness and all accesories $700. Was a local pick up, so even better. Been working on putting together the pieces for the swap.

First up is the transmission. I also got a killer deal on a t56 out of a c5 corvetter. I know it's a transaxle setup that will have to be swapped over, but for $500 with 23k miles (documented) it's really hard to pass that up. The c5 t56 came with the triple cone synchro's that the CTS-V and GTO came with, but with a taller and tighter gear set.

Parts needed for the swap are:

Bellhousing
Tail housing
Output Shaft
Mid plate
Clutch
Flywheel $100 shipped.
Slave cylinder $40 shipped

I've got the slave cylinder on the way. The mid plate I'm picking up for $70. The Bellhousing for $120. The output shaft is one of the most commonly upgraded parts in the t56. Most people got to the viper output shaft to boost it up to 600 lbs torque holding power. The viper has a 30 spline shaft. I'm upgraded a step further to the SSR output shaft. Made in limited numbers these shafts have 32 splines, and a holding capacity of around 750 lbs.

I'm beginning to part out the RX7 next week. Great looking interior, and other goodies to come.

 

thats great im having probs just getting my new 7 running lol

 

good luck bro keep us posted.....

 

LS1 all the way! it may have been done before but its a proven swap!

 

I love it when people do conversions even if it has been done a thousand times before, sometimes it takes that many times to get it perfect i know some of the veterans can attest to that!!!! Good luck with your project bro... Haters dont die they multiply!!!!

 

Hi again everyone,

Been working a lot recently, and will be updating photo's very soon for this build. My camera bite the dust about 2 weeks ago, and I've been spending my money else where. I've currently been buying everything piece by piece.

Parts so far:

Complete Lq4 (6.0) with accessories out of a Sierra 2500 with 125K miles ~ $700

T56 out of a C5 Z06 with 23k miles ~ $500

Car with two rear ends, 5 lug upgrade and Turbo II brakes (No Engine No tranny) ~ $500

Hinson Supercars mounting kit ~$400

C5 Oil pan ~ $100

LS1 Bellhousing ~$100

Brute Force slave cylinder ~ $50

Camaro Manifolds ~ $60

SSR 32 spline output shaft (T56) ~ $160

Shifter rail and components ~ $32

F-body tail housing (New) ~$200

Seals, gaskets, and misc parts (t56) ~ $40

Turbo II rear end ~ $150

Mark VIII fan ~ Free (I parted out a Mark VIII about 6 months ago, and kept this for the project)

Tenzo R racing seats ~ $200 (Got a deal when a speed shop was closing out)

Amp ~ Given for yard work.

Battery relocation kit ~ Free for painting rooms.

Hosing and plumbing ~ More house work.

Corvette drive shaft, and insurment cluster ~ In the works.

Total thus far is $3,482.

I was wondering why my bank account looked a little low. Still less spent than buying a complete drop out from an f-body.

All the transmission pieces I'm getting should put the t-56 into reliable supporting 800 ft lbs. The t56 in the C5 corvette was a transaxle setup, so it needs to be converted. The best part about the C5 tranny is the tighter gear ratio, and the triple cone synchro design.

Parts to get:
Race radiator
Two grand nation turbo's
Turbo piping
5 lug 17x9 wheels
Coil-overs
Intercooler
Turbo piping
Exhaust
Turbo timer
Gauges
Roll Cage
Aramid sheets, and epoxy resin for custom dash.
Black carpet
Lizard skin coating for heat and sound.
Fuel cell
Walbro Fuel pump
More that I can't think of right now.
U-channel for sub-frame, and ladder cross over tubing.
Corvette drive shaft shortened.


Things to get done:
Paint and Body work.
Electrical.
Mounting Engine, and transmission.
5 lug conversion
Swapping the rear end.
Custom mounting radiator.
Custom aluminum intake (Hurray tig welding)
Corverting to manual rack.
Installing coilovers.
Welding in U-Channel, and fabbing ladder piping.


Lots more to come.

 

When my friends Vega is up and running we'll post some pics, and some numbers for the Ecotec swap. It's really an impressive build. He's built some impressive cars before though. He had an FC3S Rx7 with a custom built iron duke four cylinder that put down 650 whp. The build was awesome.

If anyone is considering doing an Ecotec swap PM. I've got all the GM source engine build material, and their quest for 1400 HP out of the stock cavalier engine. Whats impressive is that if one were to get a 2.0T out of an SS or a 9-3 saab the engines hold up in stock form to about 400 whp. Than by switching out the pistons and rods, and changing to head studs the engine can go up to about 650whp before having to start working with sleeving the block, and ringing the head. Not bad for an American made two liter.