RX7 FB LS1 project
 

Former member reengaging with this forum having recently picked up another FB. Feels good to be back.

Plans:

LS1 and 4l60e trans.

Work thus far:

Located, purchased and hauled back home a 1984 RX7 GSL-SE.

Removed the departed 13b and 5 speed trans which I gave to a buddy.

Ordered and received some Granny's parts including motor and trans mounts, and the centerlink mod.

Drilled new holes in crossmember after pressure washing engine bay.

Pulled the LS1 and 4l60e out of my C10 and moved it closer to RX7.

Removed trans tunnel humps.

Working outside...so this project is weather dependent.

A little progress till I ran out of light
 

Installed the engine mounts and generally have the engine ready to set in place. I plan to remove the sway bar this weekend to give a little room to complete the basic install.

Nice start, it's good to see more 1st gens around.

Thank you! This is my 9th or 10th RX7 FB and V8 number 3, but first LS1 FB.

Guess I'll have to keep an eye out for your car. Should be a fun ride.

Thanks Boost. It may be awhile for this to make it on the road...working on a C10 pickup that I need to finish first.

Motor mounted
 

Had to remove driver's side exhaust manifold but motor is bolted down.

I will need to clearance the inner hood a bit at some point. Slowly making progress.

The elements and cold are setting in...
 

A little cold today...but not raining.

Jon at PSI...great guy
 

Once I pulled my LS1 and trans from my Chevy truck I discovered I had ordered the wrong harness. PSI is replacing the wrong harness with the correct one.

Nothing but positive interactions with Jon and PSI so far.

Sent my harness back....
 

And hope to have the correct harness next week sometime. Still have to order the PCM with the correct pin count but have to save a few dollars for that.

I plan to purchase a few other parts this winter including new struts, springs, calipers, rotors, bushings, etc.

A little context...
 

Since leaving the U.S. Army in 1988, I have owned more than a hundred different vehicles, some of them projects, and with some of those I have had project A.D.D.

This first vehicle I really loved was a '79 RX7--I traded a bondo filled VW Bus for it and my dad helped me put in a new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing. I have owned 10 FBs (most of them rotary powered) and while I really love RX7s, I am most attached to the first generations. Lots of positive and negative memories about my RX7s--one of them was stolen 3 separate times and ultimately returned each time.

While I have owned lots of vehicles since my last RX7 (a '84 GS with a 383 stroker), I always missed owning one and recently picked up my current 1st gen project. I initially purchased a built 408 SBC for it but then I talked myself into pulling my LS1 out of my '69 Chevy C10 project to use in the FB.

I have been downsizing projects for the last year or so and will focus on just two--the C10 and the RX7. Anyways, hope to have the RX7 fired up next summer.

Good luck! Once you have the harness and ecm with vats turned off getting it started is fairly easy so long as you have fuel getting to the engine. I was surprised how plug and play everything was.

Thanks. Not sure yet what my approach to the fuel aspects will be but I will get it figured out.

Not much of a chevy fan but i like the LS engines. That thing is going to rock!

Thanks!!

Here was a pic of my 2nd V8 FB
 

This was a fun car that I had to sell sometime back. In a better position to build my current one.

My other project is not an RX7....
 

Hoping to finish this one up this winter so I can get back to the RX7.

Replacement harness from PSI arrived...
 

I initially ordered wrong harness but the exchange was not an issue.

That's a way cool truck, too. :)

Thanks man. Been working on my truck for about 3 years now.

My only mod lately....
 

Letting the summer air out of this tire slowly....

Not much progress lately...
 

Still need to put my PSI harness in and cull some wires from the engine bay.

Did buy a radiator and an electric fan but have not done much on the FB LS1 project.

I need to put my transmission mount in if the weather clears.

Any progress lately? Been thinking about getting an fb myself

Musical motors lately...
 

I changed my mind about the LS1 and put it back in my 1969 Chevy Truck.

However, I did pick up a 6 liter with TSP heads and TSP cam and this is going into the FB. Should be a torque monster when it is done.

Coming along nicely