TheVaultDweller

Despite its age how does the FD chassis hold up for Track, AutoX, and Canyon carving? Does the suspension aftermarket still exist as it used to or is it very limited from aftermarket companies coming and going.

My ultimate goal for a RX7 is turn it into a canyon carver/hill climb and track car. I only go to local AutoX events but I do a lot of mountain driving. I want to eventually get it into slightly more competitive events and have it perform but still keeping it street legal.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

The FD remains at the top in tight, technical courses like auto-x, touge (canyon) and short tracks (like Tsukuba).

In Auto-x FD is still winning at nationals in Super Street Mod and now in X Prepared.

On Hot Version Touge Challenge at Gunsai Cycle Center the FD is still top car beating out understeering R35.

On Tsukuba FD is still one of the fastest RWD though with the unlimited aero of Time Attack the advantages of its great stock suspension is negated (suspension has to be locked down for the thousands of pounds of downforce).

Amazingly, companies are still DEVELOPING high level aftermarket for the FD.

For example Quafe just released a drop in 6 speed sequential dog box solution last year.

For suspension you have Ohlins available which are great low cost off the shelf pieces that can even be used in racing. SakeBomb just worked with Ohlins to release a new long stroke spec suspension last year.
You have Penske, JRZ, Moton with engineered race solutions already available for the chassis.

Within the last 5 years there have been new intake manifolds, fuel rails and EFR turbo kits with cast stainless manifolds developed for the FD as well as the Sikky LS V8 kit that preserves stock subframe and steering geometry if you want to go the V8 route (nice for smog legal in urban Cali).

Its kind of crazy that the FD aftermarket is stronger than ever.

TheVaultDweller

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

No, the FD3s has pretty much been the eternal "Touge Monster" whether RE Amemiya, Feed or another tuner shops.

The deal is the other cars battle each other on the touge for the chance to battle the Touge Monster at the end of the show.

The S2000 have been the only chassis to consistently match up to the FD3s.

TheVaultDweller

That I didnt know, I guess the FD isnt going out anytime soon. Which knowing all this keeps my dream alive of making my own touge monster. Its such a beautiful car too so adding non factory body parts is gonna be hard because im something if a purist. To a extent

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

As BLUE TII has already mentioned, aftermarket still exists. My car is still set up for Autocross (A Street Prepared) from some years ago. But has been almost exclusively street driven lately. Ohlins are probably the best, but if the budget is a little more modest, Ground Control makes a very good adjustable height kit with a selection of Eibach spring rates. I'm running them with Bilsteins. I also have a TRI-POINT adjustable front sway bar which I think is still being produced. There are also urethane bushing kits from a number of manufactures. If you can provide records of two or more sanctioned events MAZDAMOTORSPORTS also still supplies a lot of go-faster parts like stiffer stock bushings for a stock Autocross class, as well as other stock replacement parts for the car and discounted prices. Big brake kits are easily available, as are things like lightened flywheels (probably not for autocross) and supplemental drive-train bracing.
Standalone engine management isn't a problem to find. I think most like me still rock the Apex'i PFC, but a growing number are going with more sophisticated stuff. Shops like Pettit Racing and Racing Beat who've been around for years still support the car decently and there are a number of others.
I can't speak to road courses, but was told the FD dominated ASP autocross back in the 90's. It wasn't until the arrival of the Z06 Vette that it got much competition. As for today, there's this recent thread from just a couple weeks ago (be sure to see post #22)...
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-gene...namer-1089342/

TheVaultDweller

Thats amazing, man! My plan was to have it dailyable cause I can't not daily my race/touge car. I didnt realize the RX7 still dominates so hard like it used to in the 90s and 80s. Personally I thought it was starting to fall off its pedestal, not to sound like a hater. Thank you for this wealth of information. My goal was to figure out a coilover kit that wasnt Penske or Tiens and for ecu eventually run a standalone when tuning comes and all the main maintenance and reliability mods have been taken care of. Hal Tech seems to have the best plug n' play solution albeit its very pricey but seems worth it in my opinion. I thought most people were falling away from the Apexi solution just lurking forum posts.

I've heard bad things about Tri-point since the ownership changed from the original owner, but I recently moved to Washington and left California so I dont have access to Rotary Shack, Lucky 7 and I suppose Tri-Point if the rumors were just smoke.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

In SCCA solo the FD is still a great chassis and it also attracts the great drivers and race car builders who wield and hone the weapon Mazda has built for us.

The solo Nationals and Pro-solo winners are published in the SCCA Solo rules (Nationals shown, Pro-solo looks similar in regards to FD driver's results).

2017 SCCA® National Solo® Rules — 273Appendix K - Awards
StReet moDifieD CAteGoRySUPER STREET MODIFIED (SSM) (FORMERLY SM2)
2016 Robert Thorne Littleton, CO Honda S2000
2015 Jake NamerBrooklyn, NY Mazda RX-7
2014 Matthew Glagola Atlanta, GA Lotus Elise
2013 Carter Thompson Murfreesboro, TN Mazda RX-7
2012 Carter Thompson Murfreesboro, TN Mazda RX-7
2011 Andy McKee San Jose, CA Mazda RX-7
2010 Erik Strelnieks Cedar Park, TX Mazda RX-7 3-Rotor
2009 Dan Chadwick Smyrna, TN Mazda RX-7
2008 Erik Strelnieks Cedar Park, TX Mazda RX-7 3-Rotor
2007 Erik Strelnieks Cedar Park, TX Mazda RX-7 3-Rotor
2006 Andrew McKee San Jose, CA Mazda RX-7
2005 Gary Thomason Oceanside, CA Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2004 Andrew McKee San Jose, CA Mazda RX-7

pRepAReD CAteGoRyX PREPARED (XP)
2016 Andrew McKeeLivermore, CA Mazda RX-7
2015 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2014 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2013 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2012 Andrew McKee San Jose, CA Mazda RX-7
2011 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2010 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2009 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2008 Fred Zust Tempe, AZ Lotus Elise
2007 Robert Tunnell Superior, CO BMW M3
2006 David Newman Allentown, PA Porsche 911

TheVaultDweller

I know it involves a huge amount of driver skill but it is still impressive that a aged car can keep up with such modern and even lighter cars like the Elise. Thank you for this eye opening information. Im itching to get into the driver seat of a FD soon, its been a car I've been searching for 2 years now but have had no luck and usually no money when good deals pop up or not enough money when I actually do have money. But this year is where I'll own my dream car and finally have a proper touge weapon.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

Well, that is the thing- racing classes tend to even out power to weight as their first priority.

In ASP there is no minimum weight, but you are limited to removing/replacing certain allowed components to lower weight. An FD will likely be ~2,500-2,550lbs in ASP trim unless you sacrifice things like grip (wide wheel/tire weight), and such to get the weight down a bit further.

In SSM the minimum weight is by engine displacement so power to weight is fairly well set.
13B turbo is called 4.416 Liter displacement and puts the FD minimum weight at 2,483.2 Lbs which is attainable within the rules. If limited to 275mm wide tires or less FD could be 2,283.2 Lbs which may or may not be attainable within the rules. The fast SSM FDs are on 3xxmm wide tires front and rear.

In XP the minimum weight is again by engine displacement so power to weight is fairly well set.
13B turbo is called 5.232 Liter displacement and puts the FD minimum weight at 2,141.76 Lbs which is attainable within the rules.

The thing working for the rotary in the classing structure is the 4.8 or 5.3 Vortec "LS" engines don't make the torque of the best SSM/XP turbo 2 rotors and have limited RPM capability meaning they have even less torque at the contact patch in the lower gears compared to turbo 13B.

You have to go up to 6.0-7L LS to start getting that LS torque and then the minimum weight is higher. That and the Vortec or LS engine will weigh over 400lbs and the single turbo rotary will weigh under 300lbs, so could a 4.8 or 5.3L FD get to the minimum weights not to mention the chassis transient response?

TheVaultDweller

Holy damn, class rules are nuts. Sounds kinda overbearing too but I suppose they have their reasoning. From what I gathered from that is that the 13b can do the job well enough unless it comes to the 6 liter LS motors. If I would go to class AutoX races I would try to stick to the lower modified classes because I don't have the deep pockets or backing of a shop. Although I would love to have some backing I wouldn't know how to about getting that kind of support, or who I should know for that. But Im certainly interested in Class racing and you have opened my eyes to the beginning kind of information I would need.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

Yeah, turbo 2 rotor can do the job, but if its a really big job like making LS torque levels who knows for how long.... pretty high strung is the downside.

I have had a lot of fun in ASP at the local level playing race car driver and even holding a couple records (hillclimb and kart track) even though my FD was just wheels/tires, ohlins, exhaust and seats/harnesses. You don't have to go crazy to have fun and go pretty fast.

I keep trying to remind myself of that...

drezjdmrx7

iTrader: (1)

This ^ should be everyone's philosophy on the forum.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

I like having the competitive guys on the forum too like the lists I put in above.

!Dex!

Cool list 👍!

Skitals

With that... my FD envy grows