Need advice, please help
 

Hi, everyone. As the title states, I'm in need of some serious advice. I want to buy a car for SCCA EP racing and I've chosen the SA RX-7, this is however where the shit hits the fan. Now before everyone flames me for being a nOOb, I have looked over the other threads in the race section that ask similiar (kind of) question but these threads just go off topic without givin a stone solid answer. Now for the questions. Which RX (12a or 13b) is better for EP? Also, I've noticed that a lot of people in the production calss are running open tops, so would the less weight and lower center of gravity off set the killed aerodynamics? And thats about it, thanks for any help.

I'll get the open top question out of the way first, you can only run a 'vert if the car was a 'vert from the factory. You can't even create one from a coupe if the car was available as a 'vert. You must start with a 'vert chassis. I share a shop with a guy that runs an FC 'vert in EP and his car is HEAVY because of all the extra steel in the chassis.
As for the 12A or 13B decision I've seen both kinds go fast. You can go with injection or carb on a 13B, but I don't think a later 13B can go in the earlier chassis. That leaves you with a not so good intake system and only two injectors.
I would look at what weights the car has to be for each engine and flip a coin. The 12A with a carb and less weight may be the hot ticket since it will be easier on brakes and tires. I went for an FC w/13B and injection because I think the best thing to do with a carb is to see how far you can throw it.

Get in touch with Steven Burkett at www.tuxedoparkracing.com He ran a first gen with a 12a IIRC and was fairly sucessful at the local level. Not sure how he did at the runoffs.

My suggestion would be to buy a car ready to race. Do a search on "build or buy" and you'll get the answers to why.

Two of the fastest E Prod cars inthe country are the 1st gen tin top of Bob Neal & the 2nd gen vert of Dave Lemon from Mazdatrix in Ca. Another car in the same speed class is the 1st gen tin top of Tom Thrash of Texas. There are a bunch of 1st gen's because of longevity & economics.