89 rx-7 gxl build thread UPDATE: 13b or sbc???
 

alright so i'm making a build thread so i can see my progress.
i picked up this rx7 for $200 not running and paid another $165 for the 31 mile tow.
she was bought in 1995 by the guy i got her from. he picked her up from a chevy dealer for $15,000 :S, 3 years later (sept 98) the apex seals went. she was parked in his parents back yard in escondido and sat till i went and saved her.
of course the motor is trash, i'm not even gonna open it up and look at it. just gonna throw it on craigslist for free. i'm gonna be selling the tranny and all the ---- on the motor, but the block will be given away.
here is my plan for the vehicle, i'm posting it here so i don't change my mind later down the road.
this car was bought to replace my 90 crx with a turbo zc. i've decided that the rx-7 will not be as fast as the crx and still be reliable. so i'm going to make the rx-7 my daily driver and i'm gonna turn the crx into a track only drag race car. the turbo zc will be pulled and put in my wifes 91 civic sedan, the crx is gonna get a ls turbo.
now for the rx-7
i'm swapping in a turbo II motor and tranny. i will be getting some good coilovers and good exhaust or home made exhaust.
i will be removing all emissions crap i don't need
i might keep the rims that are on the car but repaint them silver, the car will be getting a fresh coat of black paint. after it's in good running condition i'm going to not mod it anymore. it's gonna be my canyon run car and my daily transportation. i'm not expecting on being super quick with it, but i might upgrade some turbo and fuel stuff so i can run a low 14 or high 13 in the 1/4, but nothing too crazy.
the crx i'm hoping for a low 10, build thread for the crx in the next month or 2

this build thread will be mostly pics and some dumb stories about what i did that day. this project will not be a quick project. i have a baby and can't spend all my money on my car.
this is what she looked like last weekend before and after washing her
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yes that is mold inside the car
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after wash
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Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

ok so today we (wife and i) decided to pull the dead motor, we started around 4:00pm and got done at 8:30pm, took a half hour break and just farted around the rest of the time. probably would have taken around 2 hours if we just worked on it.
say goodbye
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new rotors anyone
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got the cherry picker hooked up so i can un bolt the motor and tranny mounts. still have stuff to unhook, but i like to have the engine floating when i'm removing the last few things
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now you can't see it in the first pic but i'm sawing the high side a/c line. i didn't feel like unbolting it so ---- it. i'm not gonna have ac anyway
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you can see the saw in this pic
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DINK DONK did you hear the drive shaft fall out
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oh ---- i forgot there was fluid in the tranny
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here is my wife trusting the cherry picker a ---- load more then i do
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i'm a dumbass
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gotta put the wheels back on so i can get it out of my driveway. crx parks in the garage, i live in a bad area
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lifted rx-7
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ok so that is my story so far.
i'll be pulling the drive shaft and gas tank out this week or next weekend.

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

Good stuff

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

so what are the plans?

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

Attachment 17022
http://www.threestooges.com/images/b...urlyHoward.jpg
knuck knuck knuck! :P I would kill for a 7. Ran or not running. Cool project dude.

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

im in for the build, at least yours looks to be cheaper than mine is running on the 7. i have to spend about 400-600 dollars to get mine going again. then again, im making my 13b carburetored, inside of an 83 gsl. but mine is gonna be more than just a street driven bandit. i gotta figure out what to do with the carbon buildup anyways.

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

ok so the plan with the car is to make it a fun to drive, good handling, daily driver. i'm looking to run a low 14 or a high 13. nothing too crazy with it, just want to make sure it runs good.

78nova, i'm going to be doing the turbo II swap with turbo tranny. i'm looking at spending about $1500 for the swap, unless i can find someone parting out their car. i'm planning on spending another $1500 or so on suspension and another 1k on rims/tires. probably another 500-1000 on paint depending on if i do it my self or have a shop do it.

my dad had an 85 rx-7 and i remember doing canyon runs in it when i was a little kid, since then i've wanted one.

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

this 7 is a good start.. the good thing bout these rotary motors is the little least bit done to them go like hell.. ive seen them run 7s at the track wit the 13b motor.. goodluck wit the rest of the build.. nd post more pics as u get things done..

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

where are you located? You shouldn't have a problem finding a decent set-up for that much. Rotary owners are some of the cheapest bastards around.

Henry, if your ever going to do the project, go with a second gen rather than a first gen. Finding parts for my first gen is a nightmare.

Re: 89 rx-7 gxl build thread (56k eat my ass and join us in 2008)
 

+1 member to the rotary club.
good luck and may your wallet be deep.