bahlorm

I just got an 85 rx7 with a 12a engine inside of it and I am wanting to get this car at least to 200 horsepower but I am also working on a budget like most people. So I kind of want the cheapest way to get the most power out of the car. I know to not go and get cheap parts, but I don't want to spend $800 on 1 part when I can get the same amount of power from something that's much cheaper. I am going to do an oil change, get a K&N air filter, and a tuneup done to this car before I do anything. The car already has an aftermarket exhaust and an aftermarket fuel pump with a regulator.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

sorry to step on your testes here a shade, but 200hp isn't cheap.. short of some porting or forced induction (both of which require a rebuild that isn't under $2000 parts and labor) you will not see 200hp out of a stock port 12A. mild improvements like a racing beat exhaust (www.racingbeat.com) direct fire ignition, weber or dellorto carb setup with RB intake manifold, aluminum radiator etc are all not cheap but will help performance.. the 7 must be maintained properly at all times, especially if you want to go fast.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

What he said ^^^ You're not going to double the stock power with a few bolt ons. A header, carb, and intake setup will net you the most gains but you still won't get near those numbers. If you want really cheap power, do what I'm doing and mod the hell out of the stock carb and intake (thread coming when I get it done). Or find a used carb and intake setup for cheap. Beyond that, porting and/or forced induction as Mazdaverx713b said are the next expensive steps. Or swap in a later motor. Sadly, as with life: Money = power.

cshaw07

iTrader: (14)

if you want power, turbo it. once its turbo'd buy another engine and build it, because your eventually going to need it. a stock port 12a can make 200rwhp with a turbo, but then when you get there, your going to want more

bahlorm

I was wanting to eventually turbo it once I get to the point to where I will need it, just cant find a website that sells any kits and I don't exactly know all the parts to get to buy them individually. I have yet to turbo any of my vehicles but of course I have never had one that was worth spending the money on, so I am kind of new to that. Also I am still learning about carburetors since all my other cars were fuel injected. So this is a project over time I just want to start with the cheaper things to get it a few extra horses before I save up and go all out on it.

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

well, for your turbo aspirations, here's a heads up ... you're not likely to find any "kits". you're pretty much going to have to make your own. there are several threads (archived and otherwise) that can get you on the right track. study them, get the parts in your own time and go for it.

that said, get the car in the best mechanical condition you can, then do basic upgrades. you mentioned that you have an exhaust system. what kind? i ask only because they're not all equal.

you can also start tuning the Nikki. since you're not too familiar with carbies, i'd recommend just keeping it and learning the tuning basics. the basic concepts are the same. it sounds like your fuel supply is also already upgraded, so you're not really starting from scratch.

bahlorm

When I got the car the guy said the exhaust is customized. The only thing I know is the muffler is 3a racing since it has the emblem on it.

cshaw07

iTrader: (14)

well if you turbo it you'll need a better exhaust anyway. but i wouldnt unless you can weld/fab a lot of your own parts, or the price goes way up. most of the stuff needed to turbo a 1st gen rx7 needs something made for it to work or made all together.

Kentetsu

Sam from Respeed is working on a supercharger option for us. He's got a thread on here detailing the work that is being done. Just search for threads started by dj55b and you'll find it.




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bahlorm

Yeah I don't know how to weld or own a welder. I mainly need possibly a list of what all I should upgrade and if possible an estimate in power each may give. I hear lots of talk about the cooler the car is the more performance you may get out of it. So after I get the simple things like I said earlier, should I invest in a better type of radiator or fans or anything? I also have thought of getting the Holley carburetor and manifold off racingbeat whenever I get the money for that. I already have a fuel pump that is supposed to pump out the required fuel pressure for it. Or is there anything elsewhere that I should look into replacing? I probably will end up putting a turbo on this car eventually but that will be farther down the road when there is more money and less items to upgrade.

patmac6075

iTrader: (26)

You've already received some pretty good advice, but nobody has the one right answer. Best you can do is start researching (the search button above will be your friend)....start to understand the pros and cons of N/A's vs turbos, and the different porting option, as well as some of the simpler "bolt on" options....follow the threads where guys are in the middle of projects, you'll quickly realize who knows what their talking about and who's full of crap....then contact those guys who are doing the projects you are considering, ask them what they did and would do differently...talk to those guys who consistently seem to give the "right" answers to other people's problems....you'll save youself a lot of time and more importantly.... a lot of money. HEED THE ADVICE YOU ARE GIVEN.

In the meantime, get your 7 up to snuff mechanically... your money is best spent right now on replacing worn parts, tune ups, fluid replacements, brakes, suspension, tires, and all the little **** you really don't want to hear about fixing. If you drop $2k of performance parts into a piece of **** car, you'll end up selling those same performance parts for $800 in two years when the car craps out on you.

Good luck and welcome

Finally, try to look through every (I know it's a lot) article in the 1st Gen archive...you'll keep yourself busy for a while....and perhaps learn something while you're at it.

Also, read this:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/1st-gen-rx-7-faq-page-237777/

bahlorm

Yeah you're right Patmac, I have been reading a lot on here about what a lot of people have done and it gives me more ideas on what to do and how to go about doing it all.

cshaw07

iTrader: (14)

http://s1036.photobucket.com/albums/a444/cshaw07/mazda/ you can check out some of the stuff im doing. i started with one car, now have three, rotaries are extremely addicting. just do what you want to do, read up and form your own opinion. if everyone did the same thing what would be the point of modding cars? i want mine different from everyone elses

purple82

I got there with a NA 13b. But it was far from cheap.

bahlorm

Yeah I think an engine swap is out of my league unless the engine is blown. I am sure a new engine would require a new tranny and wiring harness and well who knows what else. That is the only good thing about the honda I had before this car lol. Doing an engine swap was easy if you stuck with the same series engine. I was thinking of attempting to port it myself but most people that have done it say that they pretty much had the engine apart. If I have to take the engine completely out of the car then chances are I will most likely not do it any time soon.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Yes, porting requires you to completely remove, tear down, and rebuild the engine. Probably not something you want to attempt if you're new to rotaries. I think you should just do easy carb, intake, and exhaust mods and also pull some weight out of the car here and there. And most of all, enjoy driving it. It may not be a fast car, but it's fun, and will still run circles around FWD Hondas on the curvy roads with the right driver.

bahlorm

Oh yeah, even being stock I am sure I will have fun with this car. I got it mainly for the autocross and to have a good car to drive around down the back roads around where I live. I am sure it will be a nice upgrade from my old 88 civic. At my last event I ended up getting my *** kicked with that civic against people with all new cars and well my car had very few modifications and very cheap tires. I am hoping that with new tires and a few more mods I don't have to worry too much about if my car can keep up. I just have to worry about weather or not I can keep up haha.

I just had to get rid of that civic. I have been racing cars since I was 12 years old and my dad was making me race my cousins who had their license. I have been racing friends and random people on the roads around here since. So far that was my first ever loss, and usually people have much better cars than I ever had.

LizardFC

iTrader: (1)

Glad you're making the switch from street "racing" to autocross. Winning a race on the street is like winning a basketball game on a football field. There's a moment of celebration and then everyone just feels kinda stupid.

If you're doing SCCA autocrosses, your main problem is sadly the RX-7's flamboyant little cousin, the Miata. If you run E-stock, which I don't recommend unless you have slicks, they'll trash your times all day. If you run STS, even with the proper mods, they'll still trash your times all day. They'll even follow you to CSP and harass you there. Miata owners, I'm not bashing - I like Miatas. It's just a more competitive platform for the class. You should have no trouble beating Civics and NA 944's with some good driving though.

purple82

I agree with LizardFC. Autocrossing lets you get that compeditiveness out of your system in the way it should be, safely.

In my last driver's skills session, I got to ride in a very rough FB driven by one of the instructors. It's amazing what that little 100HP car can do. He had no problen sliding the rear out and catching controllably. Great chassis and it felt like there was alot more power there.