RX7 mods
 

So i'm getting an RX7 1979 soon. It has quite a few problems obviously, probably needs a new engine, radiator, and brakes. I want to mod it of course so i'm looking to get a new, preferably larger engine cause I really think that 100 hp is enough even if i'm doing weight reduction. So what recommendations do yall have for a bigger engine, new breaks, radiator, and so on. What other mods would yall recommend. My budget is large for mods but keep it at mid-range pricing. I want to do a body kit as well so keep that in mind. Also if you have new seat recommendation (preferably racing). By the way I am new to this sight and to the modding scene. Thank yall so much.

welcome to the board. :)

you probably should have waited until you got the car so you can ask more pointed questions. anyway ...

obvious to whom? you don't even have it yet. what if you got it and just about everything works fine?

how about getting the car functional (assuming it's not) and then forming an opinion on it by driving it for a while? make sense?

anyway, i'll stick to your hypotheticals ... assuming you want to swap to a "bigger" engine budget is your ABSOLUTE limit. you said "bigger" engine. does that mean bigger rotary or are you considering other types of engines as well?

your REALISTIC limit is likely going to be a 13B. you then have to decide what you plan to do with it in terms of intake, ignition, exhaust, etc.

radiator and brakes will depend on what your ultimate plans are.
i recommend learning to make power with the 12A if it is indeed functional. you will probably find yourself pleasantly surprised.

1. convert the points to electronic (since you're not planning to restore the car)
2. complete exhaust system
3. light flywheel
4. LSD
5. study the Nikki
6. get a Nikki and modify (i recommend keeping your original untouched, just in case)

if your were to go 13B, then 2-4 are the same, but i would keep it injected so 1, 5 and 6 don't really apply.

the thing about a large budget is this: it will quickly become no budget without (1) concrete plans, and (2) knowing who is going to do the work.

use this board and your time wisely. good luck.

Thanks for the advice man. I am buying this from a friend so he's already told me the basic problems, essentially the biggest is the engine with a leak at the apex of the engine. Before I buy it he is allowing me to have one of my mechanic friends, who will help me with the modification, to look at it and give a more detailed diagnostic of it. As for the engine, i'm looking at a complete engine swap mainly dealing with one of the newer turboed a12 or a more powerful 13b. I mainly started this thread to concentrate my plans and budget. Thank you for your suggestions.

i am also open to other engine types just FYI

a leak at the Apex..
That means Apex SEALS..and that is internal and requires a complete teardown and rebuild so that itself can run you at least 2 G's.
Personally you can budget all you want but you will go over budget.

Yeah I aware what that means, I am going to be doing some serious replacement internally so im incorporating that into my budget, i need to at least 2k within my projected budget

On this forum a large budget is about $250,000 and a small budget is about $300, so mid-range pricing between those figures would be a budget of $124,850. Unless you wanted something show-car level with an uber paint job and detailing, I think you could get away with only spending $40,000 to $50,000 based on what you have described so far.

If your intent is to have something resembling a race car, then just buy a used one. You can buy something pretty close to what you want for about 1/2 to 1/4 as much as it would cost you to build one out of a junk RX-7, not to mention all the time and frustration you would save. No, you can't build it yourself for less, trust me. Just search websites like the one below. Use both "RX-7" and "RX7" if performing a text search on the internet.
Road Racing Cars for sale on RacingJunk Classifieds - 600 available

There are no newer 12A turbo engines, as they are all ancient and horribly outdated by today's standards. A 13B is a better option, and has much better parts availability. The previously-mentioned idea of just using the existing 12A is also a good option, especially if part of your intent is to learn more about rotary engines. You could also swap in a piston engine, although that involves more work.

Do you plan on racing in any certain type of events, such as SCCA autocrosss, road racing, drag racing, drifting, rally, etc.? If so, this will play a major factor in what you can and can't do to the car, and what you must do to the car in order to compete. As strange as it may sound, there are a lot of things you can do to a street car that are not legal for racing. Also, a drag race setup is totally different than a road race setup which is slightly different than a drifting setup which is slightly different than a rally setup, so if you can nail down the purpose of the car then you will have better defined performance goals.

Not true! I'm only about $30,000 over budget. Oh, wait a minute, you're right. Dammit! :(

I actually am looking into doing (if I can find one) a 24 hour race, I want to engineer it for reliability and handling mainly.

Just as an update, I was looking to put a 1jz toyota chaser in there, if anyone knows anything about if that will actually work, do tell. Also would this ruin the car, I am totally new to the modding scene so I have no idea.

I am only aware of two in the USA:
1) The 24 Hours of LeMons in which your car must be a cheap $500 piece of junk with safety equipment, and it has a good chance of being destroyed during the race
2) IMSA Daytona 24 in which your car would require a lot of expensive modifications that follow extremely strict rules, and the car would most likely not be street legal. I don't think the 79 RX-7 would be competitive in this class due to the strict rules, but that may not matter to you.
Which one of those were you planning to build the car for, or is there another 24 hour race that you wanted to compete in?

I think you may be attempting way too much for somebody who is new to the modding scene and has no defined purpose for the car.

^This^

i think i would have to agree with Evil Aviator. it sounds like you're biting off a lot more than you can chew.

that said, of course you can put a 1JZ in the car. the problem is, as Evil stated before, you will have to conform to the rules of whatever racing body you plan to race with. so it would be prudent for you to get the rules and then ask whatever questions you need to ask based on them.

yeah ive done some research and a 24 hour race is a little (a lot) to much to do. but I would really want to put a 1jz in it

there are a few threads here and on other sites that can get you there, some of it will probably be 2JZ stuff, but i'm sure differences between the two should be minimal in the broader sense of the swap.

https://www.rx7club.com/other-engine...e-swap-751161/

Id just look around and buy a car that's more toward your end goal. You could save some money and build your dream machine.