Hey guys, I just sold my SC 350z. And now i'm started looking for new vehicle ( well...i will say....searching for). Hopefully next spring or early summer i could join a team...lol I'm hanging around on this forum and Evo forum as well, since i'm looking for either one for my next car. Well, i have a couple questions that i HAVE to ask who has FD, so i figured posting up here.

First, i read many things about rotary = heat doesn't get along. Well, we gets pretty damm hot in summer. So how you guys dealing with it? Just not drive for summer? or just drive it and carry around big fan in trunk? (J/k)

Second. My friends told me that......there is not many shops that can work on rotary engine these days. I heard about RX7.com and gotham racing ( i heard they are closed??) in local. So what you guys do? if you guys get in problems that can't figure it out yourself? I like to learn and play with the car, i did even with my 350z as well. But there was time that i couldn't figure it out myself, especially forced induction time.



Sorry about english...lol THANKS!

 

would be to not start off with a FD. FD's should be for those with more rotary experience as they can become overwhelming very quickly. Start off with a 1st gen or 2nd gen. Just my .02 cents

Welcome to the forum.

 

I daily drive my FD and as far as the heat issue, depending if your stock or modified, an aftermarket radiator goes a long way. There's really not much to it. Even in the Texas summers. (I started with an FD and have never turned back)

As far as shops that work on the cars (yes Gotham Racing closed) come out to the local rx7 meet and we know the people here that work on these cars, including myself, BDC is also well know, as well as Rotary Performance, and Don Marvel (if he's still doing side work).

The DFW Rx7 club is a pretty close group and we all share connections and knowledge and generally take care of each other. So if an Rx7 is the way you decide to go, come hang out with us at the meets and we'll teach you everything you need to know.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to PM me.

-Matt

 

Not a bad idea in my opinion. I started with an FC and saved myself a lot of headaches when I got the FD. If you wanted to learn how to work on these cars inside and out then starting with an older car would be a great idea. But if you had a supercharged 350z and found your limits with what you could and could not do yourself then I think you would be ok with an FD. Parts and labor on an FD are going to be more expensive but you know you have to pay to play.
-John

 

Thanks for advice guys. I thought about start from FC, but the reason I don't want to go FC is power. I want something close to what I had with 350z or maybe even little more, that way I won't regret sold my z. And money, 350z parts are pretty dammmm expensive when it comes to forced induction. I'm sure FD parts are expensive as well.

I thought about stop by rx7, but I'm driving SUV...I didn't want to pull up there...lol

 

Idk, it won't let me edit on that previous's post. But hearing from matt, sounds like I will be in good hands if I go with an FD.(matt, thanks for let me shoot you a pm if I have any questions in future)
Also, when I was searching, I read one of forum member said this, " good weather, you brought your FD out and sometimes you going home with tow truck" this isn't really perfect sentense, but it is what he/she was saying. I'm pretty much understand about maint and maint, and things happens. But this is pretty bothering me. Any thoughts?

 

It happens. What you've got to realize is that even the newest FD (here in the states) is going to be a '95. That's a 14 year old car now. Some of them are going to have pretty high mileage and could leave you stranded. Again, it comes down to money. You can get the work and parts done cheap....or you can shell out the cash and get it done right and have a very solid car.
I think you should keep doing research, talk to more people (sounds like you're already making friends up there in DFW, great group of people up there) and read in the 3rd Gen section here on the forum. Look at other owners builds and read about their problems. There is literaly a ton of information on this forum. If I was going to recommend one person in particular to read, it would be Howard Coleman. His threads are just inspiring and chock full of good info.
My personal opinion is that the main reason these cars get a bad rap and people give up on them is because they don't realize what they are getting into when they buy one.
-John

 

Thanks twisted Rotors. I just quick looked over Howard Coleman's thread, it has full of info for sure. I have to go back look at it again tonight, since i'm at work. Thanks again.

 

The only time my FD has left me stranded was when the alternator went out, thankfully I was only a few blocks from my house. My car is a 94' so it's 15 years old, dumb things like that are bound to happen eventually. It's not an expensive fix, just inconvenient.

But as Twisted Rotor said, if the car is built right, it'll be very solid.

 

It is very true.

 

That's true for any car. The FC and the FD are both perfectly good platforms to build on. Problems arise when cheap parts and cheap wrench work is done. It's nothing inherent to the FC chassis that dictates it will be more of a pain in the butt than an FD. On that note, I think it's more of a preferential thing than anything else. That's my 2 cents on it.

B

 

I agree with Brian. Additionally, I think that one can spend just as much, if not more, on an FC than an FD depending on what you do.

Drive both; an FD and FC; hell, even a 1st gen if you want. However, one thinf you will find is that each car feels TOTALLY different than the next. None of them are the same in anyway other than the fact they all have rotary engines.

It's really all what you prefer in styling and whatnot. The FD is fast out of the box, but both the FC and FB have GREAT potential.

Happy hunting and welcome.

 

You worry too much. Last time I was there I was driving a Prius. Ari was all over it, he loved it!

 

Very true statement.

 

Thanks for reply guys, this thread really helps me a lot. I will defi go more search about it. Hopefully soon i can see you guys in person!

Btw, i saw one green FD couple days ago. Saw @ 121 and paige/plano pkwy. Idk, if she/he is on this forum.

Well... atleast you knew someone there. Idk, it's kinda feel weird for me to pull up with SUV at FD meet and saying " hey i'm looking for FD! " lol

 

You wouldn't be the first.

 

I went into an fd with no knowledge bout them..more or less. I'd pick which one you really want or you won't work on it the way you'd want to. Keeping motivations gets tough sometimes, specially if you don't get exactly what you want and you keep thinkin "i should of".
If its your only car, might be a bit of an issue though.

 

I hear ya, that's first thing in my book. Learned that hard way from forced induction 350z. But i like to try make this for 400~500whp DD.

Humm i'm sounds like im already decide to go with FD...lol

 

 

As with everything, do good research beforehand and learn all you can. Don't want to make a mistake or buy the wrong one first...do it right the first time.

 

Pay extra and get a well taken care of FD.

 

you can buy a good FD for $12-$15k

and if you spend around $20k you could probably get one that's already single turbo

 

Let me build it for you, Chef.

B

 

It isnt that hard to build a solid Single turbo FD, you just need to think it thru before you start.

Dont get to horsepower happy, 400-500hp FD will be as fast as a 800-900hp supra.

Heat isnt your friend, but there are simple ways to keep it at bay, Aftermarket Rad, proper ducting, and twin oil coolers. Problem Solved

There isnt alot of rotary shops around, but you can find people to work on it. You have BDC and RX7.com up in north Texas, and you have Chuck Westbrook, and Myself down on the south side of Texas.

If i had to do it all over again, I would have done a LARGE streetport with a GT-35r, just for the fast spool, but the Half-BP with my GT-42 works great and I am very happy.

 

Thanks for good advice guys. I've saw GT35r making a good power/spool on 350z/G35. I really like that.

I'm thinking about 12k for FD. And i also have to save some for " incase motor build ". I already talked to local bank about auto loan. And they said my case, it's good to go if i'im getting around spring or summer.

BDC, thanks. I will keep your user name in my head for sure.

Many people said FD = expensive. How much does it cost to rebuild engine? Based on my research, most other parts are pretty close to 350z or cheaper. Rebuilding engine cost is one of the biggest things that i have to keep in my mind all the time. For 350z, motor building starts from around 4k ( short block, not include swap cost ) It is expensive for me, ofcourse it always bother my head if it blows...lol ( stock block + FI, FTL)

thanks guys