Street Sleeper

Hey guys. I am close to turning 17 and I plan on getting a 3rd gen RX-7 for my 17th birthday. Could you guys answer some questions I have about it? Alright here it goes...

1.) Can I buy a brand new motor from a Mazda dealership?
2.) Does the C-West headlight conversion require any welding or is it a drop in replacement?
3.) Concerning the engine: What should be my first mod to make the most power? A new ECU, intake, exhaust, or turbo upgrades... like a BOV or bigger piping?
4.) How much do the new body styling pieces from the 99' RX-7 cost, and would they be easy to get from Japan?
5.) Concerning the suspension: Should I get new Wheels/Tires, Coilovers, strut bars, or what first?
6.) How much does a bore of the Rx-7 engine cost, and the addition of 3mm Apec Seals (sorry if that is wrong...)?
7.) When should I start upgrading the clutch?

Thanks in advance everyone

G2 Racer

1. Yes you can, if you want raped on the price.
2. Should be drop in I think, check around the web, rx7trix.com has the kit I beleive.
3. First I'd get some gauges to keep an eye on things.
4. Again cheap around the web, many sites carry the parts, www.rx7.com
5. Coil overs first overall. Look into Tein (Major $$ but worth it)
6. The 13B can't be bored out. As for 3mm Apex seals I'm not sure.
7. Never to soon to add a stronger clutch imo.

Street Sleeper

I meant ported not bored , haha I'm embaressed.

The thing about getting a brand new engine is you don't have to worry about previous owners merely covering up big problems like the multiple seals in the rotary engine. But I'm sure it is very costly.

Anymore suggestions would be helpful .

G2 Racer

I'm not sure where to get an engine. There are various places online you could buy a build, street ported, 3mm apex seal rotory. With my car, I only intend to do some mild mods on the stock engine then save money to buy built engine. Would that be an option for you?

I choose that option for my FC because I can have a bit of fun with the stock engine and then have an engine sitting outside the car which I can gather all the parts I want for it.

Street Sleeper

Yea that sounds possible, but I just want a fast reliable engine that doesn't need swapping... I'm new to the car scene. I have a truck now with a system and suspension mod's, you can't really do much to a Ford Ranger 4 banger engine. I've got a lot of what I want for my car planned out already I was just unsure how reliable a Rx-7 engine was with say... 45,000 50,000 miles on it with stock turbo's and no additional things added.

G2 Racer

It depends on how the car was treated, this is true with any car. However the FD doesn't have the greatest histroy.

Evil Aviator

Don't upgrade anything until the original part needs replacing. Unless you have an unusually high income or net worth for someone your age, you will spend all of your money on gas, insurance, basic upkeep, and repairs.

You may like to browse this web site:
http://www.pettitracing.com/

Street Sleeper

Alright I'll do that. But if I was to upgrade anything on the car, what should it be... I don't want people to lump me into the ricer category with a loud big exhuast, but I know they are very beneficial with a turbocharged car. So whatever, should I just say **** em and put a big exhuast on?

G2 Racer

The term ricer is getting REALLY old to me and I just don't care about it. If you like it do it. You like altezzas and big wings, fine I don't. Ask my opinion and you'll get it.

As for the exhaust you don't need it to be loud, put a big resonator in there to quite it down. Why not do suspension first before adding power?

Mld>7

By big exhaust, if you mean full 3" then yes.. **** um!
You will get some nice top end gains as well as reliability from it. By the way, an Rx-7 will hardly ever be thrown in to the ricer category. It takes some pretty bad taste to get a 7 in ricer territory. However I suggest a resonator as well.


I also suggest that if you are getting one that you don't touch the engine until you know what your doing or where you want to go with it. Any wrong choice short of and intake and exhaust could make for a very expensive mistake. Look around and do some searches on the forum and when you know where you want to go then take the steps to get there!..

Right now, no offence, you don't seem to really know what your talking about. Don't worry, we were all there at some point or another! There is nothing wrong with that except that when you have all your decisions riding on the shoulder of other peoples opinions, it usually makes for a very poor result, leaving you in the dark on why you have what you have on your car. Not something that you will be happy with in the end. Learn what you need to so you can make the decisions for yourself.

Best of luck.

Street Sleeper

Thanks man . I do know a little about cars, but sometimes I just get the terms mixed up... like when I said bore I meant street ported.

Yea I think will leave the engine alone, my first additions are going to be... 17x9 Volk's of some sort. My dad doesn't want to buy me a brand new car for 25 grand so he has said that he would hook me up with a Rx-7 with about 43, 000 miles on it... it costs around 15 thousand. That sounds like a good deal to me. It's stock so I get to be the first one to create it and I'm not going to screw it up with big 20 inch chrome rims andmega FIGHTER wings (shutters at the thought).

I was reading a post about Tein coilovers vs. JIC coilovers. Tein has recieved a lot of great praise from mags and stuff like that, but I have no personal experience.

G2 Racer

My friend has Tein's on his 92 Civic Hatch, it rides nice but I have been told JIC is better. It really depends on your pocket book, JIC Magic is more expenisve then Tein.

Mld>7

No discredit to Tein, because they make a great coil-over. They are more prone to body rust though (shock body that is). Nothing that bad that will cause a problem short term, just something to think about long term. Depending on where you live in Florida it prolly wont matter.

Btw 18's work well also. If you have the extra money then why not. Its all personal preferance . Whats your goal with this car anyway? Street car, weekend warrior, drag, road race, show car?...

Street Sleeper

My goal with the 7 is:

1.) About 320 horsepower
2.) The best handling out of my car that I can possibly get with aftermarket items.
3.) A sleeper car to the annoying people in Mustang's, old Camaro's/Firebird's, and Civic's.
4.) Stock exterior except for the 99 JDM updates and the C-West headlight conversion. I also want to add 17 inch Volk's to the mix, because well, they are my favorite.
5.) A nice system, but not heavy or overbearing. I'm thinking two 8's or a 10 in the hatch, in a false floor.
6.) Bride racing seats with Takata harnesses and a full rollcage powdercoated black. I also want to get the tan leather (if that's what it comes with) swtiched to black suede and the carpet to black also.
7.) An all around great car with looks, handling, and power. Isn't that what we all want?
8.) Oh yes... I also want to switch to a single turbo setup, I've heard that it is better on the engine because of reduced heat, which is always a problem with 7's (or any car for that matter).

G2 Racer

1. Not to hard, just $$$ to do it.
2. RX-7s have amazing handling, after market parts only improve this, look into full coil overs to start. JIC, Tein, GP Sports, etc.
3. Anyone driving a Civic that races a RX-7 better have a lot done or is just plain stupid. Mustangs I'd watch out for as their are some really fast ones on the street.
4. Liking the 99 JDM and Volks idea, me want Volks too.
5. Their are some nice 10s out today, car audio has really stepped up in the last few years. If you do a false floor, do it in fiberglass so you can yank it with minimal effort.
6. Try to find a car with a black interior, switching colors is expenisve. Bride seats are sweet and all but why spend all the money, look into Cobra seats, www.subesports.com, the Imola 2 is full carbon kevelar contrustion.
7. Yes and something that not every rice boy in your town has.
8. It has reduced heat and can make more power, bit costly though.

mor

I just got my '94 FD and rebuilding the motor with a street port. But if I was you and my car's still running I'd drive it until it broke down...then worry about a new/rebuilt motor.

Mld>7

Well.. sounds like you know where your headed..

Btw.. Sorry to break it to you, but you can never make a sleeper outta a 3rd gen.. Even stock they look very intimidating. I'd hold back on the cwest lights as well. They are a dead give away and make your car look even more flashy (which is not what you want as a sleeper). The 99spec stuff you can get way with.

Also if sleeper is what you want (great choice btw) then a resonator is a must.

Street Sleeper

Haha maybe I should have phrased it... a sleeper with bite. Yea well a giant front mount intercooler doesn't look very sleeper"ish" either but I'm gonna have one of those too by god! I don't really want a bodykit on my car, just the JDM chin spoiler, tail lights, C-West conversion, etc...

Oh by the way... Do you think I should go for the bronze Volk TE-37's or the umm... Is it CE-28??? I dunno but they have them in black. Oh yea 17 or 18, I know 18's look great, but they slow the car down but you can fit larger brakes under it so... I'm torn.

G2 Racer

I wouldn't go over 17" for rims persoanlly. Apparently 16s are best for handling or so I've heard.

As for the intercooler you could lightly spray paint it flat black so it can't be seen. Of course some people may not know what FMIC is so tell them it's a big shiney radator.

Street Sleeper

Haha no no no! I don't want to be a complete sleeper . I just want to run up against a few Stangs and BMW owners who think that their 30,000 dollar cars are quicker than mine. When I find a real challenge they will understand. Haha kind of hard to explain my idea.

Yea I need to tell you guys about this sweet 3rd gen Rx-7 in my town. It always rolls up to my school after it lets out, I'm assuming that the driver has a little sister/bro that goes to my school, and chills there. It has an awesome graphic on the side... almost looks like the Bomex robot decal... and a sweet bodykit. Sorry guys just had to add my Rx-7 sighting in .