Hey everybody. I am working on a new project car based on a first gen RX-7. I was going to just rebuild it and drive it, but it turned out to be too rusty to save. So I am using the shell to build something a little different. No, there won't be a rotary in it. Sorry. But no loss to the RX-7 community, because the shell was garbage anyway.

I am rebuilding most of the shell, and putting a tube frame inside of it. The new layout will use a mid-mounted front wheel drive engine and transaxle. I will be keeping track of my progress in my blog - www.gilesprojectcar.blogspot.com.

Even though the car will end up being a lot different than a first gen, I plan on building my own flush mounted headlights, and probably a lexan sunroof - both of which would mount to a stock 1st gen. I also plan on detailing the contruction of everything I build so that everyone else can copy it. That means lots of build photos!

I'm thinking of doing another post soon on all the rust I found hidden in parts of the shell that you don't normally see. Not sure if that would interest anyone or not. But when you cut the entire bottom out of a car you see lots of things that don't usually get looked at.

Follow along and ask a lot of questions, and hopefully I can help 1st gen owners along with the other abstract car project guys.

Thanks.

 

Good luck

 

Very interesting, keep us posted please.

 

to much dodge stuff going in there. You say you may get 150hp out of the engine... you don't sound much worried about power... so you should think outside of the box you're in with the neon DD.

I've thought about doing a similar project... If I were to do it it would be a subaru ej2* engine with their fwd tranny... for the powertrain... think about how low you could get that back there.

But I would say for FWD drivetrains, I'd look at Toyota (3sge, or 3sgte) Nissan (SR20de, SR20DET) and maybe even a Mistu (4G63)

Again though, for the low profile of the 7 I would do the Suby engine...

 

I agree, a Subaru boxer motor would be totally awesome in a project like this.

I am definitely interested in watching the progress of this car...

 

this sounds to cool as long as you use a mazda motor and transaxel and not a honda

 

How about Porsche flat 6 aircooled with a suby transaxle (cheaper and stronger then porsce)? To put the 2 together you need to make a plate that connects the 2 together. You can buy them too.

 

I'm using the Neon engine because it is really cheap, and easy for my to get. There are a lot of better engines, but I don't have easy (cheap) access to parts for them. Anyway, everyone will have plenty of things they would like to do differently. I have been trying to trim this project down and simplify it from the beginning. Really, there will be plenty of room for any front wheel drive engine. I would prefer to use a GM ecotec motor, build it up with GM racing parts, and have 400hp reliably with a turbo. But when the whole car is done and driving, putting a whole different motor in wouldn't be a very big deal after I have already designed and built the whole thing. 400hp in a sub 2000 pound car would be real nice.

 

I'm moving along with the design on Mid7 now, and the frame is about 90% sorted out in the computer. Pretty soon i'll be getting back into the fabrication and doing some fiberglass work to rebuild the body. Check out the blog to see it. I'll post back again when I get a little more into some stuff that will carry over to unmodified RX-7s.

My garage is a pile of parts and scrap metal, so if anybody lives within driving distance of Buffalo NY and wants any parts, let me know. I've got a disc brake LSD axle that some people would be interested in. Email any parts questions to mattgiles1@yahoo.com

 

kettering!? a section or b section!? did you graduate already?

 

I was B section, I graduated in Dec. 2004.

 

So instead of having a rusty rx-7 you have a rusty bastard hacked up rx-7?

 

good luck on your project man...keep us posted.

 

Well, no, since I have cut off everything that was rusty. I hate rust. Check out the sheel preparation section of my blog and it might make more sense.

 

aw man.... im b section now. just finished my FR II term. i was hoping for another RX-7 on campus.. . nine just isnt enough.