So I drove a 1993 RX7 tonight
 

and OH MY GOD. :eek5:


Heres the story; My friend goes to Pitt state university in Pittsburgh Kansas as a mechanical engineer. He and a classmate decided to take his classmates 92 RX and swap in a real motor.. a 1999 LS1.

Thats now their business, and they sell the cars for anywhere between $16,000 and $26,000. Their last build was a 93 PERFECT condition inside and out RX7 they picked up for $2800 and installed a 1998 LS1, 1 7/8 Longtube ceramic headers, and LS1Edit. Dynoed untuned at 278rwhp, ran a 12.80 1/4 mile run. Sold it to the customer, who returned the car after about a week wrecked. Some lady ran him off the road while he was on a highway trip, damaged the drivers fender, rocker below the door, and rear 1/4 just a little bit. Friend bought back the car for $11,500 planning to fix it and keep. Drives between Pittsburgh and Kansas City every weekend and averages 34 miles/gallon. At 100mph the car is turning 1800rpm in 6th gear with 4.10 rear end.

From a 1st gear punch the car hardly breaks traction, powershift into second where it grips strong and you're going 100mph rocking 245mm rear tires. :eek5:

After driving it myself, I could NOT believe how civil the car was cruising and how much fun it really is. Start out in first gear, give it about 6% throttle for 2 - 3 seconds, shift into 3rd gear and resume about 6% throttle, 5th gear and you're at 50mph without ever going above 2000rpm. From 50mph in sixth gear, the car will out accelerate my N/A miata. :bowrofl: Now, lets see your 300rwhp turbo rotary match that!

I WANT ONE! :eek5::eek5::eek5:

that sounds fucking awesome man. the 3rd RX7 has been my favorite car for a long time. i refuse to drive one for fear of hanging myself the next day.

I can't believe it gets 34 mpg highway, I never thought that was possible.

My 2002 Camaro SS got better gas mileage than my 99 Miata. Between 28-32 mpg most of the time. My Miata never sees over 28. 22 now that I have the turbo on it...

tune that thing better. i get 30mpg on mine.

i always though an FD ls1 would be nice a great car, maybe someday down the road. though i'm thinking the ls1 should dyno higher than that with lt's

That thing should be a rocket all over the road. My cousins got 28 mpg. And he never took his foot out of it. It was evil. Even with the traction control it would bark second without even trying. He had 327 gears. With 410 it should be poping wheelies.
Tell him the buy a throttlebodie spacer. It literally adds 27hp.
Sounds cool.

IIRC the PCM came from a Z28 and after the install was never tuned by Keith or his partner. Yesterday he took it to the dyno for a tune and the PCM had a software lock from another company's tune, so he needs to get it reflashed first. Expected whp should be around 330 and about 360tq. For a car that weighs 2900# with myself in it and 300rwhp, I about pissed myself after stabbing the throttle.. Keep thinking I can expect similar results from my 2400# miata when I reach 300. Obviously I won't have the 310# of torque pulling it along, but should still be pretty incredible!

When he gets the body fixed we're gonna get together and take some photos. Its the same damn color as my miata!

Sounds awesome man, I always liked the idea of a V8 FD, it's like a jap Corvette.

Seriously IMHO thats how mazda should have built the car, with a really powerful V8... But, they don't have V8s, and Fords aren't powerful and reliable.. :bowrofl: j/k.

FFS, the 278rwhp it made took it into the 12s...

so is it a 92 or 93??

It is accorrding to the setup you run. LS1 is the meanest turn key out of the junk yard. But as far as how good of a deal you get on one. You might could just put heads and boltons on a 302.

The LS1 would be the one I would want. But to say Fords are not reliable. Is not correct. My 5.0 would rip stock LS1's and vetts all day long to 125mph. I got 24-26 mpg on highway. And it was a great car. The car was very reliable. I drag raced at every red light all night long. Yea, I had to pull trannys, clutches and etc. But I drove it like I stole it. LOL
It will do the same on the LS1 if driven that hard. :)
Either way it would make a Miata insane fast.

In installed the tubular K-member from V8roadsters.com in my '01 Miata this weekend. I'll have an LS6 from an '03 Z06 by the end of May. Hopefully the car will be on the road by mid June.

Frank

I have seen Steves (v8roadsters.com) setup in person with his LS6 NB. It fit in there better than the 1.8. And looks and sounded much better. He was saying his setup with the Caddy CTS V rear end got 30+MPG on the HWY.

Yep, it's all in the gear. 3.42 rear end and a 6 speed.

Frank

My next build is either going to be a locost 7 or a ls1 fd.