Hello everyone, I know asking "how reliable" is a tough question, given that freak stuff happens. Lets just give it a best guess, I won't hold you to your estimates if it blows up

I'm considering buying a 3rd generation RX7, mostly for just occaisonal fun street driving but also for track events (road racing) in which the car will be subjected to 25-30 minute sessions. I have a GS400 for everyday driving so that isn't a concern, but I would like my rx7 to be streetable enough that I can take it out when I want to and drive it to work when it suits me.

What I want is 380-400rwhp at ~14-15psi or so. I am currently planning to buy 110octane unleaded race gas in 55 gallon drums and mix 3-4 gallons of this in with each tank of 93 octane. I'll probably run pure race gas at the track, just for safety.

For turbo setup, I'll most likely go with the XS T04 kit, with a T61 or T04B 60-1 turbo. Will this make the power goals? Remember I want to run 15psi or less, no nitrous of course.

I plan to stick with the stock-mount or side-mount intercooler, I've never seen a road course car survive with a front-mount and I don't think RX7's would be any exception. I do plan to get a vented hood, I think that would help the situation, as well as an aluminum radiator, bigger/better oil cooler, all the "reliability" mods, and anything else I can think of to aid the cooling situation.

I haven't decided on a fuel management setup yet, though I'm pretty sure I'll go with the 1600cc secondaries and rail, and either 720 or 850cc primaries, whichever is easier. I'm leaning towards the apex Power FC, though.

For exhaust, I used to have a Supra (94 6spd TT) and I had a Greddy SP, and I loved it because it was quiet. I'll probably try to keep my rx7 quiet as well. Which is a good-quality quiet-ish exhaust for an Rx7? Flow is important, but as long as I can make my power goal with it I don't really care that much.

Thanks for your input, I think fd's are great looking cars and if I can convince myself that this type of setup will be reliable enough to get by, I'll be an rx7 owner soon. Later all!

 

IMO a single turbo RX-7 (vaccum hose hell, rats nest removed and engine bay significantly simplified) is not any more unreliable than any other modified car, it does however required a tad bit more attention to detail and maintenance; engine temps, oil levels, oil changes more frequently than the boingers, etc.

At your quoted goal HP levels, 1600cc secondaries with the stock primaries should be fine (550cc).

PowerFC has a strong growing support base, and tuning tools that no other RX7 ecu management system has yet (datalogit).

I'm running the GT35/40 kit from aspec, mostly street driven and am significantly over 400rwhp @ 16 - 17psi. Dyno next weekend. There have been several dyno graphs with 400+ rwhp #'s @ the 15psi level you want to run and this GT35/40 kit.

K

 

nocab72: The price difference between the XS kit and the GT35/40 kit isn't that much. It doesn't look like the GT35 kit comes with an intake, and it looks like it comes with a header rather than a manifold. For reliability reasons, I think I'd rather have a cast manifold.. alot less prone to cracking than a header. Other than that, what are the prime differences in the GT35/40 kit and an XS kit with a T61 p-trim with a .58 housing or so?

 

Nobody has any other input?