1979 Rx-7 Turbo LS powered.
 

79 rx7 back halfed.
Alum Dash.
Currie 9 inch with 35 spine moser axles and spool
Competition engineering ladder bars and wheelie bars
Roll cage
29x12 Slicks
Kerkie racing
1/2" SS fuel system
12 Gallon Fuel cell
Magnafuel prostar 725 pump
2001 5.3 LS motor.
6.0 #317 Casting heads (mildy hand ported)
LS9 MLS Head gaskets
Zr1 LS9 cam
S400Sx3 75mm Turbo 1.10 AR T4 housing.
AEM EMS fuel management
120lb injectors
PowerGlide 1.76
PTC 9.5 converter


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Fabbed up Eng mounts.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b1...211_161328.jpg

Cut up and welded the 98 F-body stamped steel manifolds. Used a mig and tri-gas. Actually welded nice.

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Quick and dirty hotside with junky “T” merge.

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WG dump tube finished.

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Cleaned things up a bit and threw the ZR1 cam in. All the roller lifters looked good, gonna run them "as is" too. Got the new LS3 style cam gear with pick up installed. Going to run a LS3 style timing cover with cam pick up on the front.

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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b1...014_143356.jpg

Hatch backs and fuel cells are a pain! No room under the cell, so I had to make a fire box.

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Long block

LS2 Timing cover w FWD cam pick-up is done.
ARP stud kit and LS9 7 layer MLS Hg's are all in and torqued.
Turbo oil supply done.

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IC mounted cleaned up Engine bay

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Random inter-cooler shot. (31x12x4)

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Final Pin.

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Welded up a little angle iron mount for the battery and test fit the hood. Plenty of clearance. also wired up the alternator charge cable (2g) and ground wire. Got the upper and lower radiator hoses, steam vent, throttle cable, and IAT sensor done. Went with the cheapo "golden rod" filter again. Installed and finished up the fuel return. Fuel plumbing is done.


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Finishing up the wiring now…

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awesome build!

Wow. This is definitely going to be an adrenaline inducer! I'm surprised there's not a GNX motor in there. Is this the same car you were building the 12AT for a few years ago?

No, that car was rear ended and sold unfortunately. I bought this chassis as a roller from a guy in denver. He ran an SBC/th350 in it.

I’ll miss the 3.8’s, but my GN days are over. I just sold by black GN powered RX-7 (FC) last month. Parts are expensive and hard to find. Not to mention 1980’s technology,flat tappet cams, crappy flowing heads etc… The new LS motors are decades ahead of the old buick motors and can be picked up for 200-500 complete at most junk yards. Not to mention cheap used parts and current aftermarket performance parts.

looks amazing!

Great progress!

Cruised around the block today and did a little trans-brake testing. Won't be long now!





Here is my fancy 4" necked down to a 2.5" muffler setup. I just welded around the body of the muffler. It' spretty quiet for a "race" car. You could easily have a conversation in it while cruising. :)

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I'll be running a 60mm wastegate like this as an exhaust cutout. I'd have it installed but the gate I was sent had a torn diaphragm.

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Good lord your car is a beast!

What kind of track times are you looking for?

10 flat at 160... ;) Until I get a real cage in it anyway.

I'm calling the exhaust done. The new gate they sent me was crap as well. I used parts from the both of them to make one working gate. Not that it wasn't expected, but I wouldn't suggest "godspeed" products. They are pretty much crap. I also cut the supplied Wg spring in half and heated it with a torch to weaken it quite a bit. Shouldn't take much boost to open it.

Also installed an exhaust crank case evac kit. It's pulling vac at idle. And gets much stronger in the revs.

Heres the finished product.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps0f94f89d.jpg

Wrapped

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Video of the WG actuating with some shop air.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psb8c0da49.jpg

Hard to see but the evac kit is pulling vac at idle.

http://s17.photobucket.com/user/Hybr...b19db.mp4.html




Also got new window crank assys, glass, door handles And pop rivited some alum door covers on. Now both windows work on this "street car".

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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psa3e8bb5c.jpg



Installed some $50 ebay coil overs to raise the front end a couple inches. While I was playing with the suspension I figure I should upgrade the brakes. Ordered a set of drilled and slotted rotors with some HAWK pads.

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Wrapped the dump tube and brake lines.

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Ordered a cheap ebay oil catch can. Came with no baffles. Was just straight in and out. Installed some brass SOS pads and tubing to help baffle the oil mist. Should work well now. I have the same setup on my other car. Not sure if I will even use it now that I am running an exhaust evac setup. If anyone wants It I'll sell it for $30.
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CF Hood finally came in. Got rid of the hood pins and installed a factory latch.

Just need to borrow some street legal tires so I can go try to tag this thing...


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Made another HVAC cold air intake too. I found you can pull the segments apart and add to them for one longer seamless piece. This also let me eliminate the “crinkled” end pieces. There’s even a rolled bead on the end for your couplers.

This one is hidden in the fender so I didn’t spend any time sanding it or trying to make it look pretty.

If you want it to look more professional you could try just enforcing the ends with glass/resin. Then dipping the whole assy in polyurethane. I think that would turn out slick.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pro...dc22bc_300.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps81106037.jpg

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great work man that thing is clean. what are your goals for power output?

Not looking to break any Hp records. Spent all the money on the turbo setup and car. Eng is a junk yard special $220. Hoping For about 600.

Of all the legit reasons to not pass my out of state inspection they shot me down for no odometer today. Makes no sense to me. Inspector told me it didn't even have to work. Suppose I'll count myself lucky and velcro on on the dash for a day. ;)

Anytimes with the new set up?

First night of real tuning at the track was this past friday. Started out running 11's. Last pass it went 9.83 @ 143. Shifting at 5400rpm. 5400rpm thru the traps as well. 17lbs of boost.

If it holds together It's got alot of room for improvement.

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Make that 9.66 @144.6 :D

18.5lbs. 15* timing Started dropping speed at 19.5lbs, I think my super quiet exhaust may be killing me. May make a quick 4" DD with no muffler and give it a go. The timing dropping so low may be killing me as well. Only got 3 runs in.

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It's so quiet it almost sounds like the dump isn't opening.

Getting faster... 9.4 @ 147!

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps5c242773.jpg

O_o

That thing is a goddam spaceship!

Space shuttles is getting hard to slow down! The stock SA brakes might not cut it much longer. ;)

I had some 1g dsm brakes almost catch fire after a pass once.. Looks like that thing needs a runaway truck ramp to stop lol

Hoping for a harder launch next outing. Firmed up the rear and will be using a 2 step wired to the trans brake...

9.44 @ 148

Still at 20lbs

More potential left... Still fast as hell!!!

-

New personal best of 9.35. Same 20lbs of boost. I did install a set of drag radials. They hook better than the old slicks I ran!

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps5b73b565.jpg

Wankers mounted one tire backwards... had to fix it, but you get the idea...

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Needed some tint too, now you can't see the cage of fuel cell from the side/back.

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New best for the last race of the season. 9.04 @151! :drive:


Only got 3 T/O runs in. Spun the first time, blew the IC pipes the second. Last run was sooo close to 8's. I'm sure 25lbs would have got me there.

This was 23.8 lbs 15* of timing. 12lb launch.

http://i.imgbox.com/abkKDJci.jpg

didnt this go up for sale rcently?

Nope. My stuff is always for sale though for the right price if your interested.

Damn this thing is fucking fast, holy shit. Very nice good sir, hit that 8 and make sure you get video when you do....

Thanks, Will do.

Need a whole slew of safety equipment before I try to push it any faster. This still only has a roll bar in it. Needs a full cage, chute, and a few other goodies. Hell I'm on the 1979 OEM brake calipers. Trying to slow this thing down is a little scary.

Plan to put a junkyard 6.0 and a new cam in this winter. Should make quite a bit more power.

You know that thing is without a doubt a sleeper ! It does not look nor sound like it would be that fast . 11s maybe 10s but almost 8s holy crap ! Me like .

i was thinking of this for some reason.

LS Short Block world record big tire Rx7 roller - LS1TECH

OP's sig is depressing.
I like v8's also.

It's funny you post that. Guy lives here in KC, his nick name is skinnies.....now you know why lol. That car was very very fast when he was running it. Looked really funny when you saw it on the highway being driven to the track lol

Made the 8's!


Made 3 passes. New best... 8.93 @ 153. Boost peaked at 25.8lbs. 22-23lbs through most of the run.... 15* of timing.

Went to make a final pass and the car died on the line. Did the burn out fine, hit the T-brake and made about 15lbs, and it shut off. Something locked up, not sure if its motor or trans/converter yet. Had to tow it home.

Oh well, had a great year this was the most fun I've had drag racing in a long time! :drive:

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Wow congrats ! Hopefully its not to costly of a repair .

I don't know how I missed it, but I had no idea ur in Wichita LOL.

Congratulations on the 8. Its exactly like you said with 25lbs.

Plans for next year?

Hope it's nothing catastrophic that happened.

Awesome build...
 

I would have liked to have seen or road in a V8 rx7....I have an 89 GTU with plans to someday get me an LS swap....will be following yours

8.93 pass...

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I'm sure it will buff out...

So maybe I should have sprung for a new timing chain! Looks like the chain let go. Destroyed everything in a hurry. Cam lifters/block/heads... all beyond repair.

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On a lighter note picked up a new engine for $500. 2006 4.8. These have the stronger rods and floating pistons. Next year should be a blast!

Sweet minivan engine lift setup. ;)

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Very fast....is it a handful when you get to the big end?

I love your minivan lift....lol....classic.:nod:

It had more movement than I liked when I ran the 29” slicks. Not bad at all since switching to the MT drag radials They have a pretty stiff sidewall on them. Hard to slow down with the OEM 1979 calipers and discs though! Even with drilled/slotted OEM diameter rotors and HAWK HP pads. Plan to beef up the brakes front and back this year and install a line lock. Technically I’m suppose to run a chute now too…

Thats old gramps mini van with a wheelchair lift. RIP gramps! He always got a kick out me moving engines with it so he left it to me. :D

The 2008 5.3 I picked up for $500 had a slight miss according to the previous owner. He said he hoped it was a coil pack but swapped out coil packs with daily driver and they all tested fine. He didn't trouble shoot any farther.

Looks like the #1 cyl was oiling up the plug or not firing for one reason or another. Pulled the motor all apart and didn't find anything horrible. I should have checked compression on that cyl but it's a little late now.

Other than that it looked great. Took all the DOD (Drive On Demand) junk off. Seems simple enough. All of the lifters were in great shape. Looks like the DOD is only on the inner cyls so faulty DOD can't gum up the #1 cyl.

Heres a good plug compared to the #1.

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Fancy 243 heads (aka "the good ones")

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DOD junk (I'm eliminating all of this with a 2008 4.8 valley cover $28 new from GM)

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Got to play a little this weekend. The new heater works like a champ!

Cleaned up the 243's pretty good. May end up wetsanding them with some glass, the OEM finish was pretty rough. Did the same with the engine deck. I had always used the die-grinder with the plastic roloc pads to clean up the iron decks. I'm paranoid with the alum. block, so I went at it with razor blades, Keeping them at 90* to the deck surface and scraping the crap out of it. Seems to work pretty well, but there are lots of low spots with gasket material still in them.

Pulled my PAC 1218 springs off the old 317 heads and installed them on the new 243's. At the same time I checked all the valve seats. I went ahead and re-lapped most of the exhaust valves, though they all looked decent. Did both valves on my questionable #1 cylinder.

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Also pulled a piston. Look at this bad boy compared to the old Gen 3 rods I was running!

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Bearings looked new, cylinder walls looked great. The top ring was about .022 and the bottom .024 ish. I dont' think I'll bother regapping these. Can't believe how much carbon and crap was in the ringlands. One down.... 7 to go. :(

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Glad I cheked the rings, 2 were as small as .018-.19 range. May have been fine, but tops are all at .022 now. Bottom were all at .024 to .025 so I didn't touch those.

Took a 9x4 sanding block and some 400 grit to the heads and block. You can actually see all the milling marks and low spots from the OEM machining. Never noticed those before! Probably ground them all away with roloc wheels. :beems:

Short block is done.
New CAM Installed ( 215/215 @ .050 112 .566 lift. )
Went with a Cloyes billet single roller this time around.
Ordered the cheap china head studs for $60
New OEM LS9 MLS haed gaskets

Hoping to have it ready to drop back in the car next weekend.

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Sanded the deck a bit more with 400g, then 600g. Looks and feels the same. Threw on the LS9 gaskets and cheap china head studs and torqued it all down to 70ftlb with ARP lube.

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This is the DOD delete kit for $28 from GM parts direct. The LS1 intake clears that oil port in the back just fine. I did not install plugs on the oil ports.

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Here is the massive timing chain play I have now without the damper installed. The OEM chain/gears I ran last year has like a half inch of deflection(I didn't run a damper on it either)

This is much better.

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Almost nothing with the damper installed.
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Installed an LS7 waterpump. (mainly for clearance) They are a little lighter as well. I used a 3-jaw puller to get the 1/4" or so necessary to line up with the Ls1 crank pulley. This was actually a pain. The pulley was very stubborn, even with heat. Surprised I didn't damage it. I later found out there are 1/4" water pump spacers on ebay for $30. :beems:

LS1 VS LS7

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Pulled out the heater fittings (alot easier if you get them nice and hot first I found out) and Retapped the heater lines.

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Instead of messing with metric/us/NPT adapters for the mech. oil pressure I just drilled out the original sending unit and tapped it. (yes, I know it's not straight)

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b...psecff462a.jpg

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