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

Ordered a turbo for the RX7 6 liter....
 

Borg Warner s480 turbo.

Have lots more to buy when I can put the moola together....

Nice! Looks like you are putting together a great combo.

Bumping an old thread here, but what did you end up doing for exhaust on the driver's side at the steering box?

Status Update
 

I ended up putting in a FC subframe which I had been considering anyways.

I ordered the Ronin engine mounts and now have the LS1 sitting in place. The Ronin mounts in the FB with the FC subframe mod works perfectly.

A few new pics
 

FC subframe swap is done.
Fuel cell partially mounted.

LS1 installed with Ronin mounts. Fits perfect. Lots more to do but progress.

Accessories installed
 

Balancer was a PITA but the accessories are now installed.

I see from the looks of it the car has went different directions since you started the thread. Should of made it rotary turbo easy power and a lot simpler. Well that's my opinion.

I am a little confused. I had to double check but it sounded like you pulled the LS1 out of the RX but then later posts show the LS1 back in it. I am planning a V8 swap in an SA very interested on How things are going.

Clearing up the confusion....
 

This FB has had multiple power plants as I have changed my mind a number of times.

I recently sold my C10 but kept the LS1 and 4l60e.

The 6 liter is now going in my '67 Nova SS, along with the turbo.

The RX7 LS1 will be a daily driver.

Project mods thus far:

Ronin engine mounts
FC subframe swap
Fuel cell

More planned. Hope to fire it up sometime this winter/early 2015.

Owned 13 RX7s....
 

Owned 13 RX7s in my life, including 2 with 383 strokers and the current GLS-SE FB that had a dead rotary in it when I bought the car.

I like V8s.

Eviction and battery relocation
 

Evicted this resident in favor of a battery.

A lil more progress....
 

Made a little progress yesterday: Fuel cell is plumbed, filter/regulator, Walbro fuel pump mounted and a few other minor things. I have a some time off over the next few weeks and plan to work on the following:

Plumb the power steering lines
Build a firebox for the fuel cell
Install the 4l60 trans mount
Install my shorty headers
Radiator and fans
Lowering springs
Measure for the driveline
And get my buddy out to finish the wiring.

You have alot of toys. Should be fun to make the car hook up.

Thanks! Just hoping for a fun daily driver at this point.

Making progress....
 

Used the Ronin mounts for the engine since I did the FC subframe swap and things fit very well. No interference at the oil pan either. Header is close in the driver's side but no issues.

*I did use the Grannys trans mount since I already had it.

I think this should work....
 

Mocking up the radiator....also thinking of using this panel (still in the works) to force air onto the radiator.

A lil more work....
 

Used an old metal shelf to make a fan shroud.

A lil more work....
 

Got the heater hoses installed...used the stick LS1 hoses.

Installed the hood and started work on the shifter console.

Engine pic....
 

Lots to do but making progress....

Fuel line and heater hoses connected.

Have to track down an elbow for the TB.

Cool man keep us updated

A few more progress pics....
 

Picked up my exhaust parts today.

Lowered my radiator a bit for more clearance.

Did some work on my cold air setup and also my shifter console.

Small milestone....
 

First time these headlights have been on since 2008. I have owned the car a lil over a year.

A little more wiring and I will test fire the LS1.

Fuel Cell container
 

Just a word of advice here. I do tech inspection for several off road racing sanctioning bodies. That cell is HDPE and has a relatively low melting point. Those plastic bladder cells are never meant to be used without a fuel cell can of some sort. .035 mild steel, or .060 6061 aluminum. And as you can see, it was designed to have straps to hold it in securely.

Good Luck and thanks for sharing your project!

GD

Making progress....
 

Making some progress but a lot to do...

Fuel cell straps in and working on a can--frame built but need more sheet metal.
Chassis electrical all works but the wipers which I need to track down since I live in rainy WA State.
Have a bit more wiring to do prior to the test fire--electric fans, S term at starter, fuel pump, etc.
Mounted the sketchy fender and a bit of tweaking to do to the center panel.
Still have the brakes to do.
Made a sketchy cold air kit.
Mounted the headers with a bit of down pipe for the O2 sensors.

A few more things crossed off the list....
 

Driveline installed...may need it shortened but we will see.

Picking up a Gen 2 fusible link set up and the power rack lines this weekend.