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Hi everyone. Just purchased my first rotary, a 1993 Mazda RX7. When I moved to my new house I saw this thing in my neighbor’s garage and loved the way it looked. Long story short almost a year later I sold my big turbo e85 srt4and drove this rx7 from his driveway one house away to mine and now I own it. I have a lot to learn about these cars but I’m exited to own it!
Thanks for the welcomes. Yeah I met the new neighbor and told him I liked the car and jokingly said maybe I’ll buy it and he let me take it for a spin. I was the first person to drive it in 2 years since it sat there under the car cover.
It has 97k on the body and he had swapped a lower mileage motor ~40k out of another USDM rx7 that was getting an LS swap.
Turns out the car was purchased right here in Lincoln, NE brand new and after 3 local owners it’s still here.
Thanks for the welcomes. Yeah I met the new neighbor and told him I liked the car and jokingly said maybe I’ll buy it and he let me take it for a spin. I was the first person to drive it in 2 years since it sat there under the car cover.
Congratulations on the buy!
Coming from a decently modified SRT-4, what was your impression after driving the FD for the first time? Does the it have any mods and what are your plans for it?
Coming from a decently modified SRT-4, what was your impression after driving the FD for the first time? Does the it have any mods and what are your plans for it?
M-
It’s a completely different animal. Srt4 was no doubt faster but it had all solid mounts, no balance shaft, aggressive clutch so it wasn’t as fun to drive around town. I took this car out on a nice day and I feel like I can drive it all day. Power delivery is delayed compared to srt4 but very smooth. I like it a lot.
The car is mostly stock though with Greddy intakes, Blitz exhaust, apexi pfc and boost/afr gauges.
It’s a completely different animal. Srt4 was no doubt faster but it had all solid mounts, no balance shaft, aggressive clutch so it wasn’t as fun to drive around town. I took this car out on a nice day and I feel like I can drive it all day. Power delivery is delayed compared to srt4 but very smooth. I like it a lot.
The car is mostly stock though with Greddy intakes, Blitz exhaust, apexi pfc and boost/afr gauges.
Nice FD and SRT! So what FWHP were you pulling on the SRT? Power delivery is delayed in comparison?? Very interesting because the FD power is near instantaneous (above 2800 RPMS) in stock form. So are your turbos on the FD setup non-sequential? If it is, that could be your issue right there.
What are your plans for this car?
Edit- I just re-read your comment. Smooth power delivery... Sounds like it is setup non-sequentially. At what RPM do you get 10 psi?
It’s a completely different animal. Srt4 was no doubt faster but it had all solid mounts, no balance shaft, aggressive clutch so it wasn’t as fun to drive around town. I took this car out on a nice day and I feel like I can drive it all day. Power delivery is delayed compared to srt4 but very smooth. I like it a lot.
The car is mostly stock though with Greddy intakes, Blitz exhaust, apexi pfc and boost/afr gauges.
Definitely get that stock intercooler switched out as soon as possible. The tiny core hardly does anything! Heat is the #1 enemy of these cars, so anything you can do to mitigate it will go a long way in keeping your FD on the road. It looks great, by the way. Congrats on the purchase!
Nice FD and SRT! So what FWHP were you pulling on the SRT? Power delivery is delayed in comparison?? Very interesting because the FD power is near instantaneous (above 2800 RPMS) in stock form. So are your turbos on the FD setup non-sequential? If it is, that could be your issue right there.
What are your plans for this car?
Edit- I just re-read your comment. Smooth power delivery... Sounds like it is setup non-sequentially. At what RPM do you get 10 psi?
I’ve never had srt4 on the dyno. It was street tuned but I would guess 370-390fwhp. i don’t know how the turbos are set up but nothing really happens until 4k rpm, that’s when I get full 10psi.
There is so much I want to do to the car just have to pick where to start. A friend owns a body shop so entire paint job to fix all the imperfections from 24-year old car. I also want to do coilovers, bushings, brakes and wheels. But also a relative of mine is a welder and said he can fab me a single turbo kit and a V mount so I just have to pick one and go with it!
Originally Posted by Mr357
Definitely get that stock intercooler switched out as soon as possible. The tiny core hardly does anything! Heat is the #1 enemy of these cars, so anything you can do to mitigate it will go a long way in keeping your FD on the road. It looks great, by the way. Congrats on the purchase!
Even if I don’t go single this year I’ll have a relative of mine fab me a nice custom V mount for sure. That intercooler is a joke!
I’ve never had srt4 on the dyno. It was street tuned but I would guess 370-390fwhp.
Nice. I've always been a fan of those cars, the owners from 10 years ago not so much. I'b be lying if I didn't say that I didn't used to get extra joy out of showing my tail lights to those guys.
Originally Posted by slvr_fd
i don’t know how the turbos are set up but nothing really happens until 4k rpm, that’s when I get full 10psi.
Yup you're set up non-sequential. Which is both turbos come on line at the same time. Opposed to the stock configuration where one turbo spools first then the other (sequential set up , get it?). Anyway, there are pro's and cons to that modification. The pro is that you reduce 72 headache causing vacuum hoses down to 6, the boost is easier to control when running higher boost settings, and some dig the linear aspect of the boost response.
I can only think of one con but it is a big one: The set up is laggy, as most don't achieve 10 psi until 3800 RPMS and that included myself (when I decided to try it out). We have had people claim to hit boost full boost by 3000 RMS (and below) while being non-sequential and has caused quite the controversy and many heated debates. But I call bullshit as I live in southern ca where most of the FD's reside and I have yet to come across ONE FD that is setup non-seq that has a boost threshold of below 3800 RPMS. Nevermind that I've been here 17 years and have not seen one bit of evidence to prove their claim. Not one video of someone's magical boost response even in the heat of an argument, when you are calling them out on their BS and ask for proof. And mind you a simple video would validate them and make them forum heroes, but nope nothing has ever surfaced.
Now the sequential set up is wonderful when it works properly. Instant boost at 2800rpms (10 psi), then at 4400rpms the transition dip occurs (boost drops back to 8 psi) and then the second turbo comes in line and gives you an extra kick in the pants (back to 10psi), if the car doesn't have a pre-cat then 10psi remains until redline. If it has a pre-cat, then the boost drops back to 8 somewhere above 6500rpms . But for the most part you will hear that the sequential boost respose to be 10-8-10.
Now you are probably wondering why if it is so wonderful then why do people go non-sequential? Well the main reason is because people have a boost problem they can't figure out so they give up. I went non-sequential because I got tired having to go in every six months and hunt for a bad vacuum line (remember 72 lines ugh). The stock lines get old and brittle due to all of the rotary heat and my long term fix would had been to go silicon with my lines. But I wanted to try it out since at the time there was all this hype. Like I said meh... But I didn't have one boost problem after that. Now I'm single turbo and my boost threshold is around 3300rpms and people now say not to bother with going non-sequential because might as well go single turbo. I have to agree with that sentiment. Quicker spool and way more power.
Originally Posted by slvr_fd
There is so much I want to do to the car just have to pick where to start. A friend owns a body shop so entire paint job to fix all the imperfections from 24-year old car. I also want to do coilovers, bushings, brakes and wheels. But also a relative of mine is a welder and said he can fab me a single turbo kit and a V mount so I just have to pick one and go with it!
If I may: manifold design is key so IMO if you want to get the most out of your single turbo setup go with an already proven one. Elliot over at turblown is getting some amazing results with his EFR turbo kits. Full boost below 3K rpms and these are 400+ RWHP cars. If I were to go with another turbo setup, I'd be giving him a call. He is a forum member and regular contributor but go to his website and check him out.
Thanks for a ton of useful information Montego. I will start doing my research and begin wrenching on the car soon. In the meantime I just want to drive it and enjoy it if we get any good weather before it goes on jack stands.
I’m not a big fan of 90% of srt4 community myself btw but that’s what I’ve owned since I was 19. I think I’ve had 6 of them and every time I feel like I rescue them and put them back in proper working order with vacuum lines, oil leaks, clutches, and everything in between needing fixed ha
Great Catch!
