Jimmy413

I just purchased my 1988 rx7 gxl (bone stock) an it is going to be a project car for me until i get my license in 6 months. I am really leaning towards a supercharger from Camden 7 inch or 9 inch supercharger. The motor is in good shape and with only 50,000 before the previous owner had it rebuilt it should be in good order to put one on. are the power gains really so little. i would love a turbo but i hate lag so i want to have something unique like a S/C on it.

Ghooble

iTrader: (1)

There's 1 or 2 supercharged rotaries around the forums. I don't have their names off the top of my head. Personally I like the idea (own a turbo though), but then I think there's probably a good reason most don't have them on here.

From what I read (I think it was RotaryEvolution who said it) most go Turbo because Rotary's strong exhaust pulses are what make Turbos a great option

Evil Aviator

No, it's not worth it, especially in your situation. I recommend that you just get your current car in good working order by changing out the fluids, grounding the wires, replacing the belts and hoses, replacing the fuel pulsation damper and oil pedestal o-rings, spark plugs, windshield wipers, EFI hose, window seals, brake pads, exhaust hangers, and anything else that is not in good shape. Assuming that you are young, then a good stereo system may be in order (BTW the antenna needs a relay to work with most aftermarket stereos). Then drive your car while you are saving money to buy a Turbo II car.

The Turbo II does not have any significant lag in its stock form, and it has more power than a Camden-equipped car at the same boost level. The other advantages of the Turbo II are that there is no carb to constantly tune, the resale value is higher, and the Turbo II comes with the proper heavy-duty transmission, driveshaft, halfshafts, and suspension. The insurance should be the same as your current car, and the gas mileage is within 1 mpg except when you rapidly accelerate. You may even find that you want to keep your GXL. Unlike a Honda, the RX-7 is a really fun sports car as-is.

Your GXL is excellent for SCCA autocross events that will help hone your driving skills.
The Sports Car Club of America - Home
Once you have been in 2 autocross events then you can apply for free Mazdaspeed Motorsports membership that will let you order racing parts at a small discount.
MAZDASPEED MOTORSPORTS DEVELOPMENT - Home Page

If you want to be unique, then save and invest your money for your future rather than wasting it on stupid things like your peers.

Mattred

Good to know... I considered a super charger myself.. I have a 99 C230 Kompressor Mercedes and it has a supercharger on a clutch and it is activated by the computer... I can turn it off by unplugging a wire and let me tell you the difference in power without it is amazing... I know these are 2 different worlds but it always impressed me.... The rx7 has GREAT power in the higher rpm range but the low isnt that well, Thats why i considered a supercharger.... Still do want to see one done!

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

However the problem with most superchargers on the market is that they aren't really designed for a rotary powerband. The 13B flows a lot of air, remember. So most superchargers either have to be overspun to produce enough air, or are too large, or don't produce much air until they are spinning quickly enough (centrifugal). The few superchargers that are suited are much more expensive than a typical turbo setup.

Another issue is that rotary engines have a LOT of exhaust energy, so if you supercharge you still need to get all that high energy, very hot and LOUD exhaust out of the engine without creating a restriction. So the exhaust is LOUD.

Now why not take all that exhaust energy and put it to good use on the turbine of a turbocharger?! "Lag" doesn't really happen in the rotary world until you start talking large turbos. For reasonable amounts of power (400HP or less) you are talking a powerband that starts around 3000 RPM if you size the turbo correctly. Yeah, a big ol' T70 is a lag monster. But a modern GT35R with the "big" T3 turbine (1.06) comes on like a freight train wherever you plant the pedal and will make 400HP at reasonable boost levels. Plus the turbocharger is a great muffler.

Oh also the only bolt on supercharger kits are the Camden kits and they are AWFUL. 80 year old supercharger design, elimination of the staged throttle bodies, no functional aux ports, etc. etc.

Ghooble

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=Evil Aviator;11454388] Assuming that you are young, then a good stereo system may be in order (BTW the antenna needs a relay to work with most aftermarket stereos).
/QUOTE]

Hey! I'm 19 and don't even have a stereo in my car!

xMUZZx

If you have the funds for a s/c then you have enough for some suspension. I think you would be much better off making it handle like a champ then adding a blower and possibly popping the motor but thats me. Id hate to throw all that money at the engine and have it only last another 15k and be back to square one. Ill vote turbo if you must have boost, rotaries "lag" until higher rpms anyway (read no torque)

NV02

iTrader: (3)

I bought an '88 convertible with a s/c kit on it. I currently have a turbo motor waiting for rebuild to replace it. A s/c would be the last option I would consider for a power adder. I would echo everything posted here - plus, make sure your aux ports are working correctly. Instead of looking for forced induction, look to options like intake, exhaust, a properly working engine in general. As you are a new driver, learn some good driving techniques with modest power before considering more power. Also, weight reduction is the same as adding power, only cheaper. Think brakes and suspension (and good tires) for now.

Jimmy413

thanks guys i have decided like Evil Aviator said to just drive the car as is for right know and fix all of the thing that the little details and invest i a bass attack of a sound system. i will be getting a turbo ii motor hopefuly in the near future once i get another job because i was a ski instructor and am out a job thanks to the summer. (but then again i have my car now but only a permit). again thanks to all of you guys for the advice and help making the decision to go turbo.

Evil Aviator

That usually isn't such a great idea. Rather than going through all the trouble to convert a non-turbo car into a ghetto Turbo II car, it is almost always a better idea to just sell your car and buy a real Turbo II car if you decide to go turbo.

Some exceptions to this:
- If the learning experience is worth the extra time and money, and you are in a situation in which it is OK if your car does not work for several weeks or months.
- You spend an incredible amount of time and/or money on your non-turbo car, such that converting it to Turbo II trim is actually worth it.

LOL, during high school and college I was a tennis instructor during the summers, so I know what you mean.

You dang young whippersnappers and your "smart" phones!

jtalbury

superchargers are a dead end and limited for our cars, going turbocharged gives you a lot more options

RXGTUs

Going turbo is certainly the better choice, I had a chance to trade my S5 street port motor for an S4 T2 motor with an S/C on it and I’m glad I passed on that. Also the level of noise a rotary produces is no joke. These things can make big blocks with straight headers seem quite, and the turbo really do a good job at muffling the noise. And on a side note I also have no radio, it dose no good when you can't hear it.

Ghooble

iTrader: (1)

Don't have one of those either. My phone is about 5 years old