I was debating on picking up a GTO, but I absolutly love the looks of the 7, but love the power of the GTO, so I've decided to combine the best of best.

I will be finding a 93-95 RX7 and then hopefully do an LS1 conversion.

What exactly do I need to complete this and what are the estimated costs?

 

www.torquecentral.com

Go to the V8rx7 of the forums section . . . it has EVERYTHING you need too know; i'm a fan of this conversion but i'm going to stick with the rotary for now. It is a rx7 after all

P.S.: I've heard the swap costing anywhere from $7,000-$12,000 if done by yourself.

 

This belongs in the "Other Engine Conversion" Section. If you want more info on the swap go to www.torquecentral.com or call hinsonsupercars.com.

 

lol you beat me too it.

 

Haha, sorry man

 

It depends on how expensive the motor is. I've heard of people doing them in the 5k price range.

 

I don't know why anyone would buy an FD to put an LS1 into it. I would have rather had a new car without a doubt. Unfortuantly I had an FD and then had the engine go with no warning. Go with the GTO.

 

LS1 threads make me go

 

Reason why I want to go with an LS1 swap in an rx7 is because of reliability, mpg, looks of the car, and for how light the rx7 is.

The GTO is a newer car but it's more expensive and is about 1000+lbs heavier plus you can't doubt that the 9-10 year old RX7 is still more exotic looking than the GTO and definatly less rare to find than the GTO.

 

Because the FD chassis is excellent. It is a small, light car with a nice suspension. It just feels right, and none of the new cars that come with an LSX engine feel anything like it.

-Max

 

That’s why I bought my RX-7, but I never would have bought it purposely to hack it up and stuff and LS1 into it. Its not a perfect solution. Cost-wise, you will be close to neck in neck with the GTO, if you want the car to be fairly nice.

In the end, I suppose it comes down to what you plan on doing with the car.

 

I've driven and autocrossed a LS1 converted car. The FD chassis with a big displacement engine is an amazing autocross and track car.

If you are looking for basically what amounts to a toy, hot rod or track vehicle then I'd go LS1.

If you are looking for a really nice car to have some fun in but need a reliable daily driver then I'd go with something else.

 

I don't want to make the decision for you. I have made a lot of mistakes when it comes to car purchases and the RX-7 has been the biggest one yet. Just know what you want out of it. Mine has been more of a 2nd job than anything else.

 

I like this guy's train of thought.

 

go buy a mustang idiot. stop ruining our cars. dont give me the better gas miles and more reliable either... like i said go buy a fing mustang

 

These tin cans aren't going to last forever. Get over it.

 

v8rx7.com, torquecentral.com, hinsonsupercars.com, and my personal site: www.the-phil.com.

 

Grow up.

 

manny, don't get me wrong, I love the rotary engine as I had an RX8 myself. Now moving to an RX7 and wanting it as a daily driver, I've just been told that the engine in the FD's are not reliable enough especially for a daily driver for a college student. I've talked to a guy with a LS1 RX7 in my area and he says he loves it. Said the engine is reliable, he has tons of power, and he's getting 22-25mpg with it. Now that's something you cannot ask for more, a light car with tons of power and torque N/A with good gas mileage.

If I thought that keeping the 13b-rew in the 7 was the best thing than I would, but with all the problems that I've read and the cost to keep the maintence up on them, I just cannot do that.

Thanks for all the help for those who have helped.

BTW, if I do get an LS1 conversion done, basically all the mods like headers and exhaust and all of that is going to have to be customly made correct? I can't just go and buy and bolt on parts cause they are going to be for certain LS1 cars correct?

 

LS1 converted FD and college student don't mix.

I went to college, as I remember it college students didn't have super reliable cars as a rule.

An LS1 converted FD is a prototype and will not compare to a new car in reliability no matter how much money and time you spend on the conversion.

To Max's point, the FD does have an excellent chassis and is a great candidate for the conversion to make a hot rod sports car. IMHO think AC Cobra with 30+ yrs of chassis development.

 

Most of the parts are going to be custom, depending on how you go about converting it.

If you're in college, I don't know how you are going to find the time to wrench on the car all the time. If you have a job, it's even worst.

IMO, the FD is an after college car, plus you should have a second car. One that you won't have to take apart now and then, LS1 or not.

 

Do you guys think the FD will still have it's problems even with an LS1 with it? I know that you most likely will run into problems every now and then, but enough to where I shouldn't make the purchase?

The car is a daily driver, but I cannot bring a car to campus so will be garage kept until summer.

 

Custom my ***! You can buy a whole new FD Subframe for a LS1 from grannys and hinson, the only "custom" **** you'd need is a new driveshaft with a different yoke on it for the transmission, which is cheap and easy.

All the mounts and **** are bolt in and already being mass produced by two companies. Prototype what?

Anyway, it is somewhat expensive, as you need a LS1 and transmission pullout (2.5K for a GOOD deal, prolly 4K or less for a LS1/T-56, less than that for a 4 auto) and the subframe and other swap associated **** will cost you up to a few grand. Id budget like 6-8K total, but Id be doing my own labor for it. If you pay someone else to do it then expect to pay for it, lol.

Go to http://www.torquecentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11 with any LS1/FD questions you have, the guys here in the 3rd gen forum obviously don't know squat about it. Its NOT a prototype, it handles great, and it is a **** of a lot more reliable becasue it wont need a rebuild if it knocks, it doesnt have the twin turbos, hell, it doesnt have a turbo at all unless you want one... and I dont see why, 400 whp is a case of long tube headers and a cam.

Anyway, it would get better MPG (especialy with a T-56) and be more reliable, and it wont consume oil. I woudlnt expect that savings to pay off the initial cost, but the point of it is for increased performance and reliability, not MPG, right?

 

What I am basically trying to determin here is with the $26-$27,000 that I have for the car, if I should just use it all and buy a 2004/2005 GTO or buy a 12-1300 FD, and then use the rest to do the swap (unless of course I can find one with already a swap done)

Also, what are the differences between the engines, you say it would get better MPG (especially with a T-56)?

Yes, I've been the Hinson's site for the conversion and notice a lot of the LS1FD's or LS1 7's have Hinson parts.

 

Maybe you missed the part where I said "go about conveting it." There are a few ways to do it. I'm not using any of those kits myself.

The guys over at torque central may not be such asses about pulling the rotary out, but you are just as much an *** as anyone over here can be.



Just remember that this is a 12+ year old car. Even with the new engine, there are parts that won't be as nice as a new car. The higher milage cars may will have worn bushings and other things that need work down the road.