Neal from Oregon
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Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Portland OR
Neal from Oregon
Hi my name is Neal. I am from Oregon and work as a mechanic. I have been modifying and fabricating parts for cars for the past 20 years. I started with a Datsun 510 with some help completed a swap of the SR20DET. I am now enjoying working with the Rx7 platform.
I have a 1st and 2nd generation Rx7.
I have used threads from this site many times when trying to figure out issues I may be having with my vehicles. I find the information people post helpful.
I started with a 1984 GSL-SE that I bought for 500.00 with the intentions of modifying that car, the car had a bad motor and was in rough shape. Since the rotary was already bad I decided to experiment with a take out KA24DE out of a 1993 240SX. I purchased the take out package for a reasonable price since all the 240SX guys are swapping out these motors for SR20, LS1, or other motors.
A couple of years into the project and about halfway done with the initial start up I decided the shell of the '84 was too rough to make it worth spending the money on the project so I purchased an '85 GSL to complete the project. The '85 drove and ran fine but after a short time having the vehicle the transmission started making a lot of bearing noise. At first I thought it was just a bad drive shaft and I tried swapping that out but it didn't fix the problem. When this happened I decided to swap over the parts from the '84 to the '85. I had the intention of driving the car for a while before I started the transplant but the bad transmission made it unable to do so.
I reluctantly proceeded with the transplant sooner than I planned. I swapped over all the GSL-SE running gear and all the progress I had made on the motor and trans swap in the '84. The progress was slow going having to rip out the interior a couple of times to integrate the stock wiring harness with the KA24 harness.
It took me a year to complete the installation and fabrication involved in the swap. The initial start up of the KA worked great. I hadn't run it through the DEQ and my tags were expired so I drove to the test center and passed the emissions test having installed a catalytic converter onto my custom exhaust. I proceeded to drive it around for a couple of days debugging and fixing small problems with the swap. After driving for a few days the car started to load up and die at random, I had an idea that it might be the air flow meter. I made some modifications to the air flow meter to help alleviate the problem and it appeared to be running fine.
Soon my girlfriend and I were headed halfway across the country in my Rx7, we got about 300 miles from home when the car started to act up again. In a town we didn't know we were stuck with a car that didn't want to run. After walking to different auto parts stores without success I found a place that had an air flow meter in the next city over. I got on my bike while she waited with the car to pick up the part. When I got back I installed the part, since I had relocated the air flow meter to behind the headlight in the swap, in an attempt to make a cold air intake, it made it much more difficult to install the new one in a parking lot. After about an hour we were on the road again. The rest of the trip was a total success having logged 4000 miles with a loaded down Rx7 with two bikes on the top.
After the trip I drove the car for a few months under N/A power but as a motorhead never being satisfied with power I decided to go forth with a turbo install. My initial intentions were a simple turbo set up but into something more complex. After researching and finding no suitable exhaust manifolds I decided to make my own. I used a compilation of parts from many different cars and aftermarket parts. The turbo install took a couple of more years after the initial swap. The result is what you see in these pictures.
Modifications the '85
I bought my '88 turbo II a couple of years ago. I have made some slight changes, I lowered the car with racing beat springs and KYB struts.
I am in the process of making a model for a brake kit I plan on manufacturing for 2nd gen Rx7s. I would be interested in feedback on the need for a big brake kit for this car. I have intentions of making some pretty serious power and the factory brakes may not be sufficient.
I enjoy driving both cars even with the vast differences between 1st and 2nd generations.
I have a 1st and 2nd generation Rx7.
I have used threads from this site many times when trying to figure out issues I may be having with my vehicles. I find the information people post helpful.
I started with a 1984 GSL-SE that I bought for 500.00 with the intentions of modifying that car, the car had a bad motor and was in rough shape. Since the rotary was already bad I decided to experiment with a take out KA24DE out of a 1993 240SX. I purchased the take out package for a reasonable price since all the 240SX guys are swapping out these motors for SR20, LS1, or other motors.
A couple of years into the project and about halfway done with the initial start up I decided the shell of the '84 was too rough to make it worth spending the money on the project so I purchased an '85 GSL to complete the project. The '85 drove and ran fine but after a short time having the vehicle the transmission started making a lot of bearing noise. At first I thought it was just a bad drive shaft and I tried swapping that out but it didn't fix the problem. When this happened I decided to swap over the parts from the '84 to the '85. I had the intention of driving the car for a while before I started the transplant but the bad transmission made it unable to do so.
I reluctantly proceeded with the transplant sooner than I planned. I swapped over all the GSL-SE running gear and all the progress I had made on the motor and trans swap in the '84. The progress was slow going having to rip out the interior a couple of times to integrate the stock wiring harness with the KA24 harness.
It took me a year to complete the installation and fabrication involved in the swap. The initial start up of the KA worked great. I hadn't run it through the DEQ and my tags were expired so I drove to the test center and passed the emissions test having installed a catalytic converter onto my custom exhaust. I proceeded to drive it around for a couple of days debugging and fixing small problems with the swap. After driving for a few days the car started to load up and die at random, I had an idea that it might be the air flow meter. I made some modifications to the air flow meter to help alleviate the problem and it appeared to be running fine.
Soon my girlfriend and I were headed halfway across the country in my Rx7, we got about 300 miles from home when the car started to act up again. In a town we didn't know we were stuck with a car that didn't want to run. After walking to different auto parts stores without success I found a place that had an air flow meter in the next city over. I got on my bike while she waited with the car to pick up the part. When I got back I installed the part, since I had relocated the air flow meter to behind the headlight in the swap, in an attempt to make a cold air intake, it made it much more difficult to install the new one in a parking lot. After about an hour we were on the road again. The rest of the trip was a total success having logged 4000 miles with a loaded down Rx7 with two bikes on the top.
After the trip I drove the car for a few months under N/A power but as a motorhead never being satisfied with power I decided to go forth with a turbo install. My initial intentions were a simple turbo set up but into something more complex. After researching and finding no suitable exhaust manifolds I decided to make my own. I used a compilation of parts from many different cars and aftermarket parts. The turbo install took a couple of more years after the initial swap. The result is what you see in these pictures.
Modifications the '85
- Complete KA24DE engine and transmission swap
- GSL-SE drive train and brake swap
- 240SX power rack and pinion
- Koni struts and shocks with ground control coil overs front and racing beat springs rear
- Custom Lancer Evolution brake kit
- Lotus Elise seats with custom brackets
- Enkei 17 inch wheels
- and much more
I bought my '88 turbo II a couple of years ago. I have made some slight changes, I lowered the car with racing beat springs and KYB struts.
I am in the process of making a model for a brake kit I plan on manufacturing for 2nd gen Rx7s. I would be interested in feedback on the need for a big brake kit for this car. I have intentions of making some pretty serious power and the factory brakes may not be sufficient.
I enjoy driving both cars even with the vast differences between 1st and 2nd generations.
