1981 Rx-7 Build

[lokirx706]

A local photographer was taken with the 'ole FB at the Dayton Cars and Coffee. This resulted in some high quality photography!




Big BIG thanks to Trapspeed photography! I love their work!

[lokirx706]

Boogered up the rear axle holes, had to source new ones and start from scratch. Had to wait quite awhile for parts like this,





So that's whats been happening the last few weeks. Sourced all the parts and,











Mmmmm.... Its good to be driving a rotary again...

[lokirx706]

The TTT RCAs have cured my bump steer! Now if only it would get warm and sunny out here!

And rain like crazy to wash the salt off the roads!!

[Nick475]

nice! great work so far. i really like this

[lokirx706]

I know how you feel about the snow and salt. There were a few days that warmed up here and I was tempted to take mine for a spin. If you (or anyone reading this) is in the market for SA/FB coilovers, T3 is now producing them similar to their AE86 coilovers. I suspect I'll be ditching the RE-Speed gear eventually to swap to something a little less "make-do" ish. I love your build and your take it slow and easy approach. I have a set of rear Datsun 240Z flares but every time I test fit them I don't like them. What did you do to fit them over your side moldings?

I saw the TTT coilovers, couldnt justify the price for them at the time. Also didnt realize the fronts were re-tubed to 2 inch with Koni inserts. Would prefer that they did big bearing struts instead of small bearing ones. I may purchase a set in the future.

I bought some 3M trim adhesive and took the mouldings off. I cut them shorter and shaped them to replicate the oem appearance. I cleaned all the adhesive off the car and the back of the trim and reapplied it with the 3M adhesive.

The rear flares will never fit properly, they are too wide of an arch. I cut my quarters to follow the line of the flare. Not for the feint of heart. Which really you are going to have to drill and cut your quarters and fenders anyway for Datsun flares. So it isnt too much of a stretch.

[orion84gsl]

I know how you feel about the snow and salt. There were a few days that warmed up here and I was tempted to take mine for a spin. If you (or anyone reading this) is in the market for SA/FB coilovers, T3 is now producing them similar to their AE86 coilovers. I suspect I'll be ditching the RE-Speed gear eventually to swap to something a little less "make-do" ish. I love your build and your take it slow and easy approach. I have a set of rear Datsun 240Z flares but every time I test fit them I don't like them. What did you do to fit them over your side moldings?

[lokirx706]

These came in the mail.... Thanks to Techno Toy Tuning!



While waiting for those I HAD to figure out a solution for the rear bump stops. I couldnt lower the car anymore because the factory bump stops are HUGE! I took them off to cut them down and they fell apart. They are essentially a hollow piece of rubber with a flat washer glued to one end which a bolt goes through and attaches it to the body. Finding replacements was difficult, and I was about to repair them when I just cut down some front bump stops and epoxied a washer to the top of them. Problem solved!



The RCA's lowered the front about 3/4" so I lowered the rear close to an inch to cancel out some of the rake. Its a commonly held notion that first gens handle better with the rear about 10 mm taller than the front. This is closer to a 15 mm difference, but I like the way it looks. If only this snow would melt, and the salt would get washed off the roads, I would like to test drive this thing!!

[SamPet]

She's a sexy bitch

[lokirx706]

Clearanced the fenders and quarters, car is driveable now, enjoying the New Year!

[lokirx706]

Be a man, stay rotary. What's the point of collecting cool JDM shit, and tirelessly working on a classic japanese car just to make it a wannabe muscle car that will handle much worse than it did while spending extra time and money trying to wire the pig up.

My buddy had a ported 6 port 1-4 streetport and bridge 5,6. Shit would revv past the 8k limit on the dash until it bounced off the limiter. I used to believe that turbo rotary was the only way to go, but that car proved me wrong.

I am not going to debate the fallacies commonly held about V8 swapped Rx-7s. I know serveral locally, and I am not going to delve into that here. Ive owned several Rx-7s both first and second gen, ported, unported, and boosted. All have advantages, all have disadvantages.

I havent decided on an option, and I dont plan on it anytime soon, this 12a runs great, and its got great compression. It isnt going anywhere, and for now Im more worried about lateral grip.

[rice4life]

As far as future engine swaps, anything is possible. Id like a bridgeported 12a, but housings are getting scarce. If I go to the trouble of a 13b Ill just MS, and drop a T2 in it. (My old FC was a 6 port turbo, I loved that!) Or you know, I might go to the dark side.... Hard to say...

Be a man, stay rotary. What's the point of collecting cool JDM shit, and tirelessly working on a classic japanese car just to make it a wannabe muscle car that will handle much worse than it did while spending extra time and money trying to wire the pig up.

My buddy had a ported 6 port 1-4 streetport and bridge 5,6. Shit would revv past the 8k limit on the dash until it bounced off the limiter. I used to believe that turbo rotary was the only way to go, but that car proved me wrong.

[lokirx706]

Ignore the website URL on the once cutting edge homemade camera mount. It is defunct, (As is the mount lol) and replaced by the one in my banner.

The car now has a 320mm wheel, and a wink rally mirror. I have a broadway in my miata, and thought the wink would be more period correct for the Rx-7. Having used it a few times, I dont think I like it. Being that it is a 'targa' model (No the roof doesnt come out, just a little marketing ploy at the time where they added a targa band ala Porsche 911) it has a leather headliner. Other than a tear on the drivers seat the interior is in great condition.



More interior shots to come.

Also Ive been thinking about the spoiler, and Id been thinking bigger myself (Group C style wing), but I have no plans for it yet.

[Nagah]

I like what you did until now, especially the fender flares. But please do some quality shots of the interior, too. Thanks!
Will the rear wing stay? I would love to see it removed.

[Greg|H]

I love what you're doing with this build, the mods are tasteful and purposeful, and you haven't lost any of the original charm of the car. Its cool that you've kept it for so long, especially as it was your first car

[Darkyoshi154]

Gorgeous! Love where this build is going, and it's even cooler that it's still rotary