ATTN: Guys with V8 swapped RX-7's

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Old 09-11-06 | 02:10 PM
  #26  
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oh man I would LOVE to build another one!
hahaha, I even bought a '90 240sx with hopes of swapping THAT!
I think over the next few years I will try to find a 'vert or at least a really clean FC that I can keep stock outside but swap in an LS1T56 and dump it on some rare jdm wheels and make it look all showcar pretty but with no stickers.

I've been loving my LS1FC as a daily driver, its stupid fast and handles like a racecar, its realistically too much for the street, just like a C6 Z06 is, but thats okay by me
Old 09-11-06 | 02:22 PM
  #27  
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owen,

"keep stock outside but swap in an LS1T56 and dump it on some rare jdm wheels and make it look all showcar pretty but with no stickers."

Not sure about JDM Wheels, but something nice and sporty, and as sleeperish Stock from the outside as possible!

This is what I am in the process of doing, and loving it...Putting the A/C back in now too !
Old 09-12-06 | 08:21 AM
  #28  
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I've ridden in 4 and driven 2 of them (3 FCs and an FD) and bar none these are the best cars I've been in for the dollar. I've ridden in Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, etc, and none of them captured the pure performance as well as a purpose built LS1FC/FD (I actually prefer the FC for "pure", though the FD is much nicer looking). Not that the exotics weren't great cars, just, a lot of money for the performance output. A Z06 Corvette was the closest car I've been in, and probably the only one I'd prefer to the LS1/RX7, but the price premium isn't worth it to me.

Heck, the 675 miles I've driven my LS1/FC in the past 3.5 years still makes the 500-600 hours of work/$15K in that period of time worth it.
Old 09-12-06 | 11:52 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Merc63
I've definitely considered building another. For a bit I wanted to build up a TII rotary powered one, but I keep coming back to the realization that the V8 just makes more sense.

I wish I could find my old car. Sentimental reasons for finding one of the first V8 RX7s completed. Last I heard it was in Louisiana, but that was 5 years ago...
pm me some info on it.. i'll see what i can do..
Old 09-13-06 | 02:34 PM
  #30  
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anyone near baltimore that would be willing to give me a ride in a V8 FD? drop me a PM please
Old 09-13-06 | 05:00 PM
  #31  
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I've just finished LS'ing the 'vert. I was going to have a turbo rotary and a V-8 but now I'm saving money for the next conversion. Need I say any more on how I feel about it? Anyone who gets a ride in the 'vert inevitably says WOW! The mileage is a small plus too.
Old 09-14-06 | 10:09 AM
  #32  
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yeah probably just because my car has become a widebody flatblack kinda thing, I'd liek to do soemthing very different and keep it stock looking outside and super shiny clean.
if I had it to do again I would want a 400hp LS2 T56 stuffed into this car....



or



or something like this -


Old 09-14-06 | 11:46 AM
  #33  
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Damn that is sweet looking!!
Old 09-14-06 | 11:47 AM
  #34  
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Wait ......is thats RHD car?
Old 11-12-07 | 11:14 PM
  #35  
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This is an old thread, but, screw it. I just finished up the LT1 T56 swap into my 90 FC. Holy ****. It absolutely rips! I'm so glad i spent the time and money on it. It's everything I expected, cheap, fast, fun. It burns the tires through the first three gears. And freeway pulls, no downshifting required. Just let the torque of that v8 do it's job. Would definitely do it again. Next time with an LS1.
Old 11-23-07 | 10:58 AM
  #36  
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LS1ed my car, then 6 others.....

Seriously.
Old 11-23-07 | 01:54 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Merc63
I've definitely considered building another. For a bit I wanted to build up a TII rotary powered one, but I keep coming back to the realization that the V8 just makes more sense.

I wish I could find my old car. Sentimental reasons for finding one of the first V8 RX7s completed. Last I heard it was in Louisiana, but that was 5 years ago...
....i could probably make that happen. pm me if you are serious.
Old 11-26-07 | 03:16 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by LT1 RX7
This is an old thread, but, screw it. I just finished up the LT1 T56 swap into my 90 FC. Holy ****. It absolutely rips! I'm so glad i spent the time and money on it. It's everything I expected, cheap, fast, fun. It burns the tires through the first three gears. And freeway pulls, no downshifting required. Just let the torque of that v8 do it's job. Would definitely do it again. Next time with an LS1.
its so true these cars are downright crazy fast.
I took mine out a few weeks ago for a good old romp and man I was smiling for a few days straight, just in shock at how raw and fast and grippy the damn car is.

all the hate about weight balance and that **** is just bogus.
if any hater drove my car they would have a newfound outlook on the swaps.

hot damn I love my LS1FC.
I bought an STI as a year round daily driver / family hauler and its fast and clean and quiet and sticky grippy, but man the FC just destroys it, and I have a "lowly" 1998 LS1 in there, wtf, I cant imagine a 400hp LS2 breathing fire under the hood! oh wait, yes I can dream about it!

I sold my '90 240sx to buy a '97 240sx and just sold that to my best friend who plans on LS1 swapping that in 2008, oh boy I cant wait!!!!
Old 11-26-07 | 04:05 PM
  #39  
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i want a ride in one of these cars or a race against one on the street against my rotary fd. Im very curious to see how they feel and how a race would turn out. Never raced or been in a v8 rx7.
Old 11-26-07 | 04:09 PM
  #40  
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I have not done a V-8 swap myself but i have read alot about them and i feel the key to doing the swap is getting a good roller, good motor, and trany for cheep. Unless you get a deal and get you total build cost down below $16K it just does not seem worth it to me. I'd just go out and buy a C-5 corvette and have everything work together perfectly, never mind that I really don't have the time to do a swap it would probly take me 2 years. C-5 6 spd corvettes can be found in the 16-18K range and with few mods can be in the low 12s and will haddle and brake with the best of them. Then again I like the newer corvettes I'm sure there are many people on here who don't. There is a guy local to me doing the swap(FD-LS1) and I hope to get a ride in the car when he is done I'm sure it will be a blast.
Old 11-27-07 | 11:48 AM
  #41  
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vettes have a totally different feel to the driver, I dont like it all that much.
but the rx7 is something I feel at home in, I love driving it, even with a 150hp n/a rotary its a lot of fun in an FC chassis with some suspension mods.

a lot of people can sell their boosted FDs 13B for good money and offset the costs of an LS1T56 dropout, it wont cost you much more unless you want to go over the entire chassis and suspension (as you should) to make it all as good as new or even better.

you could build a LS1T56 FD for about 10 grand.
everything else is icing on the cake.
Old 11-27-07 | 08:04 PM
  #42  
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I like mine, much better than pre V-8. Getting a good shell is key. It didn't come out how I would have liked it to, but it was my first swap and a huge learning experience. Next will be 10X better, cause I did this one like such a cheapass, but it cost almost nothing.
Old 01-07-08 | 12:52 AM
  #43  
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rotary is in the past for me.... i like to drive my cars not fix them.. ls6 going in my fd soon... took a drive in the zo6 ill have a 10 sec of pure motor what more can i ask for!!!!!!!!!!
Old 01-08-08 | 08:40 AM
  #44  
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helping a friend put an LS1T56 into a 97 240sx this year we hope, that should wake it up!

Old 01-08-08 | 05:17 PM
  #45  
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I think I might be the only person that doesn't particularly like the LS1 swap after riding in it around Poconos East Course. I was in 2MCHPWR's blue FD and, yeah, it surprised me with the amount of torque it has. That day, it also took FTD for street cars. I have no doubt in my mind that it's an effective package, but I dunno, I just didn't like the feel of it per se.

Then again, I need to actually drive one hard before I comment further.

The only thing I know for sure is that I don't like where that conversion would class me in any of SCCA/NASA AutoX/TT/PT racing.

Originally Posted by owen is fat
oh my god hells yeah its worth it!
I would still do it again if I could start all over, definitely, I'd only change a few things, nothing major either.
I dropped just under $11k to get mine where it is and IT RIPS!
I think it was pretty easy to make everything work and I did a lot by myself.
Clearance is not an issue, anywhere... the fact you can fit an LS1 under a stock RX7 hood is really pretty awesome.
I was never a fan of RX-7's yet I love the way the 3rd gens look, but I never wanted to even get close to dealing with their tempermental rotary motor.
I agree that its easier to swap a mildly built V8 as opposed to getting the rotary rebuilt, evcen more so if you keep the V8 stock and just make sure your RX7 is up to snuff in the LSD, brakes, suspension and tires.

I do mostly daily driving and occasional autox and the car is incredibly fun... I look forward to HPDE's but its fun enough around town, it is realy one hell of a machine, incredible brakes, awesome handling, huge power thru a wicked transmission, and all in a nice rwd sportscar froma mfg'er that supports grassroots racers like ME, thru mazdaspeed discounts!
Good thing they don't know what powers your car.....
Old 01-09-08 | 08:49 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by Roen
I think I might be the only person that doesn't particularly like the LS1 swap after riding in it around Poconos East Course. I was in 2MCHPWR's blue FD and, yeah, it surprised me with the amount of torque it has. That day, it also took FTD for street cars. I have no doubt in my mind that it's an effective package, but I dunno, I just didn't like the feel of it per se.
That was last year....this off-season I really stepped up the suspension and tires. Its gonna be sicker. And dude ... get over the LS1/rotary crap. "The feel of it"? Thats all in your head. Preconceived notions. No one can tell the difference in the feel of it with regards to the chassis...The only difference is the instant hit of torque whenever you want it the corner scales don't lie. My car is now 49.45% front/ 50.55% rear with me it.


Originally Posted by turbotommy
i want a ride in one of these cars or a race against one on the street against my rotary fd. Im very curious to see how they feel and how a race would turn out. Never raced or been in a v8 rx7.
shoot me a PM and we can hook up if you come up to central NJ near bridgewater.
Or wait 2 more months for an autocross at giants stadium.
I'm won't race on the street (2 kids, good job, etc to worth risking an incident) but i'll give ya a ride anytime. also give me your email because i keep an email group of local FD owners in tri-state area.
Old 01-10-08 | 09:03 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by 2MCHPWR
That was last year....this off-season I really stepped up the suspension and tires. Its gonna be sicker. And dude ... get over the LS1/rotary crap. "The feel of it"? Thats all in your head. Preconceived notions. No one can tell the difference in the feel of it with regards to the chassis...The only difference is the instant hit of torque whenever you want it the corner scales don't lie. My car is now 49.45% front/ 50.55% rear with me it.
I'm not saying the car doesn't handle well. It does. I feel that the car has lost some of the smoothness that I like about the rotary. Whether or not it has instant torque is a moot point, I think it's quite known that it does. I just don't like the fact that as you get higher up in the rev range, it feels like the torque starts to die off.

In my other post somewhere on this forum, I said I like cars with super-close gear ratios and peaky powerbands, which, I guess, means I like cars with low displacement engines and high redlines. But that's just me.
Old 01-12-08 | 09:58 PM
  #48  
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How much does the Ls1 swap usually cost for a mild to stock Ls1? If work was done by the indivual
Old 01-13-08 | 12:00 AM
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Originally Posted by LSXTASY
How much does the Ls1 swap usually cost for a mild to stock Ls1? If work was done by the indivual
FC of FD? only the swap? or including the cost of the car? I've done an LS1 FC for $4000, including the cost of the car. FDs are more expensive, mainly because the swap kits are quite a bit more.
Old 01-13-08 | 10:57 PM
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For FD minus the car what is the typical cost?


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