I recently purchased an '89 RX-7, which I'm looking to race as an ITS car in the SCCA and I'm looking for any/all information I can find as to who has experience building, setting up and racing these cars. I've raced an MGB in the E-Production class the last several years with good success, but it comes at a fairly high cost of time and $. (We're putting almost 200HP through a drivetrain designed 40 years ago for 90HP.)

I've heard that the rotary motor is very durable and that the RX-7 body and suspension are a good starting point. My goal is to build a good car to start with and hopefully run it for awhile without having to work and spend money on it constantly.

All tips, links, phone numbers, etc. are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Don Lavrenz
Pewaukee, WI

 

You can race MG's?
lol!
Good luck and have fun with your new ride.
The local RX-7 racer that just re-built my motor owns in Rotary Performance in Manassas, VA. He has built several 2nd gen IT cars and has plenty of experience. Ask for Bret.

 

What specifically do you want to know? Keep in mind that I haven't actually RACED mine yet

Paul's ITS/PS-1 RX-7

PaulC

 

First of all, my best friend has an MGB and that car is great. Very classy styling and an engine bay that is HUGE! If you wanted you could put a V8 in there. However, I have seen a couple of rotary MGB's and they are very nice and very quick.

Secondly, I absolutely love the color of that new car Silkworm! It is gorgeous.

 

Hey PaulC, thanks for the reply. I checked out your pics and your car looks great!! Maybe someday we'll get a chance to chat at the track. Where do you/are you going to race?

As for my car, I just brought it home and am going to start taking it apart. I need to start with the basics, such as who builds engines and trans and what is the "hot setup" for the suspension. Also, is there anything specific I should be checking while I take it apart that could present future problems. And, are there any areas/links for good tech tips that would be helpful?

I basically know how to build a race car, but I'm obviously a novice when it comes to the RX-7's.

Thanks again,
Don

 

Hey madman, I have a good friend (he also builds our racecars) who did put a V-8 in a 'B. If you like, I could post a photo or two. It's VERY well done and just plain gorgeous!

Don

 

Hey RX-Midget,

Very cool car. Unfortunately, the SCCA doesn't allow us to do things like that. Believe me, I'd do it in a heartbeat if they did!!

Thanks for the info, too. That's the kind of stuff I was looking for.

Thanks again,
Don

 

Madman,

Thank you!

Don,

For IT info if you haven't been there yet: Improved Touring Website

For tips: K2 Racing Development
Mazdatrix
FC3S.ORG

Engine building: Speedsource is probably one of the most well known. Me, I'm going ultra cheap and putting in a bone stock rebuild. Two years from now, I'll get something expensive when I have a clue.

Parts: MAZDA! One of the best things about racing a Mazda, is Mazda You need to sign up for Mazda Competition Parts (aka Mazda Comp). You need to submit two sanctioned event results (or give them a date by which you will have results), and you get stock parts for dealer cost. Plus they have a lot of competition parts at low prices.

Suspension: Koni DAs with coil overs (Mazda Comp) are what I will use. If you're made of money, you can go to remote resevior shocks, but those will be illegal in IT in 2003, so I wouldn't spend the money for them. Mazda recommends 400/275 spring rates front/rear, but not sure with what swaybars that recommendation is for. I know several guys that run stock rear or no rear bar. Get the rear toe steer eliminator bushings, everyone seems to hate them. Wish I could tell you more but I haven't started sorting mine yet.

Diff: Speedsource sells PRICEY rear gears (4.88s or 5.12s), but they're pricey because they have to graft the 2nd gen pinion shaft to 1st gen 4.88 or 5.12 gears. It's something around a grand for the package. Torsen rear diffs were recommended to me as well. I'm tempted to try a welded diff, but I'm still a rookie, and don't want to get in over my head.

Trans: If you decide to change the trans, look for the 89-90 GTUs trans, has a slightly lower 5th gear, otherwise, any of the 4 years should be fine.

Brakes: All 2nd gen RX-7 GXLs came with 4 piston vented discs up front, vented singles in the rear, while base models came with 1 piston vented discs (rear solid discs). Some racers I've chatted with feel that the 4 piston discs are too much brake. Who knows... I'm sticking with the 4 pots.

Concern areas: Broken or weak engine mounts are almost guaranteed if still stock. Rear diff mount is a good thing to change if you can. Oil cooler and Power steering lines tend to rot over time, replace. Racingbeat (http://www.racingbeat.com) has oil cooler SS lines. The driver's side heater hose sits right underneath the oil filter, and the oil tends to break down that hose, replace or reroute. ABS can't be used, so get the brakes lines from a base model RX7 and trash it. If it's not leaking, you cna probably sell it here.

That's all I can think of at the moment

PaulC

 

Oh, and as to where I race, it'll be out here in NorCal. Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Thunderhill and Buttonwillow. I eventually want to get to Portland, Seattle, and Road America, but that's a long time away.

PaulC

 

Thanks so much Paul. I really appreciate the info. I've always said, it's the people that make racing so much fun! Good luck and let me know when you're coming to Road America as that's my home track.

Take care and I'm sure I'll be intouch again.
Don

 

My advice is to not ask alot of advice. You will get alot of it. the best thing you could do is to go to the top builders and it will save you alot of time and money in the long run. The top winning cars come from Speed Sourse in Fla. I just purchesed a 3rd. gen engine off Roger Mandeville and one of his last projects was an I.T.S. car that beat the S.S.cars at V.I.R 2 weekends ago. Go with some one that is winning and save the time and expense of trying alot of trendy ****. These guys know what is winning and how to build it.

 

Hey Madman,

I have the pics of the MG with a V8 in it. Send me your email address (any/all requests are welcome) and I'll email the pics back. It's definitely worth seening.

Thanks,
Don
dlx3@execpc.com

 

If you want great stuff for road racing check out the site of Guru Motorsports in OZ! They are just coming to the US but are going to be big, mark my words!

www.gurumotorsports.com

 

www.speedsourceinc.com

These guys are specific to ITS but they are good. I'm sure they could/have done EP engine work.

Edit - I haven't been to their site in a while and the first thing I see is a Porsche 911. Go figure.

 

hey twister, do u happen to work for them? are you like an advertisement or what?

 

not to mention that in many road racing classes, stuff like $6000 trannies are illegal...

 

Oh, I am looking at the rules here in OZ, maybe they are not the same in the states.

I race in circuit racing here in OZ, called 'Improved Production', which is great.

No I am not an advert for them , I just use the products and love them as I have seen the differences it has made to some of the guys.

This is the web site for the club I race with.

www.ipravic.com.au

 

US road racing is HEAVILY restricted... Pro7 for example (if I have it right, may be confused with Spec 7) only allows 1st-gen models, with stock carburetors, stock '81-85 intake manifolds (the crappy ones), stock port RX-7 12A engines, stock exhaust manifolds, etc etc. Bridge ports and cool stuff like that is illegal until you get into the seriously high-dollar classes where you end up competing against manufacturer-backed race teams = you won't be competitive unless you have as much money as them. In many forms of racing, rotaries are banned outright.

I'm amazed at the stuff you guys in Australia get away with for circuit racing...

 

Yes, in our class while it is 'restricted', we can run dogboxes, torsens etc, fuel injection, direct throttle injection etc, but on a 13b you cannot PP, must be BP. But for example in my Gen 1 I am getting about 240hp at the rear wheels, which I pretty happy with!