RallyX7

[Whizbang]

So i finally brought home my chassis for my rally project. 1982 GS, automatic with a bad wiring harness. This is soo little rust on this car its crazy, i love the northwest. Also has a glass sunroof that will find its way to the silver Rx7. Once the weather warms up a bit ill be tearing into this thing.

[BigIslandSevens]

NIce starting point. When is the first rally? I look forward to the build up thread.

[Whizbang]

first rally depends on when i get the car done. I wanted to run the idaho rally which is local but that is too soon considering. So well see, something certainly this year tho. In the mean time this should be a rather extensive build thread.

[BigIslandSevens]

Are you going to run mainly stage rally or rally-X? Any dreams of a 4x4 set-up? makes me drool everytime i see the vids of the FB and FC 4x4.

[Whizbang]

nah it will be a simple RWD setup when it is all said and done

[Whizbang]

here is the "plan" at the moment.

There is two stages to this really. The initial chassis prep, then the actual "getting the car running"

Rally requires a lot to met safety standards and to otherwise allow the car to survive. So once i determine if i am staying in this house im in (ill know by february) then i can start stripping the shell down. And i mean strip. Lots of reinforcing to do. Seam welding.

Once seam welding is completed, the cage can be done. This i am having outsourced since i dont trust my welds and the fact that i have no experience making cages. Rally has high standards and its easy to have a cage that wont pass scrutineering.

As far as the normal "project" stuff goes....

The car will be running an FC front subframe. this includes the steering rack, brakes, suspension etc. Dampers will be made by john vanlandingham up in washington specifically for rallying. The steering rack is a great improvement over the FB's reciprocating ball and the brakes are superior in every way. I will be trying to use 4 piston calipers with the rotors redrilled.

As for the rear, i have no fancy plans at this time aside from an 84-85 axle housing so i may run kia sportage 4.78 gears without much difficulty along with disc brakes. Axles will be moser 4x4.5 lug pattern to match the front and help survive. Housing will be reinforced. Limites slip will be rebuilt and additional friction disc(s) will find their way in there. I am leaving the geometry alone for the time being.

spring and strut selection is up in the air at this time.

Engine? well seeing i am not going to be awesome, i dont need much power. Stock S4 engine and controls should do fine and be relieable as well as easy on the wallet. Ill worry about more power as i improve down the road. I MAY find myself using a better transmission though. specifically T5.

[need RX7]

Nice. . I've been really into FBs lately, sounds like this one is going to be very badass. Looking forward to updates!

[Whizbang]

i have already begun stripping the car out. Just a lot of...stuff. And a few perfectly placed stripped screws that are making some easy things rather difficult. I should have my good camera back within the month, so ill have some better visual updates before too long.

[WE3RX7]

What class will you be running in? What sanctioning body...


The S4 we ran/run is all stock S4 rebuilt motor. The body is not seam welded, with a 6 point cage and regulation door bars and it's been fine for years of rally and rally-x abuse.

The best advice I can offer is SKID PLATES. The rx7s have a small amount of travel in the suspension and once you load the car up with the weight of the safety equipment and driver/codriver you start to bottom out quick.

Get a taller spring if you can (we run vert springs, not sure what options your FB will have)... run a full skid under the engine/trans and again under the fuel/rear end. It adds more weight, but it has saved us more than once from certain disaster.

Also - get another parts car... if you do destroy your car during a stage, you can at least come back at the next event

[Whizbang]

it will probably be built for NASA but i hope to have it legal in both NASA and SCCA to allow myself a variety of events. Group 5.

[WE3RX7]

Sounds good! Have fun with this project... the biggest thing is getting the safety stuff done first... you can always add more power

It sounds like your heading the right way though - look forward to seeing this thing materialize!

[Whizbang]

man i need a camera...

so the car is making crazy good progress. Sitting on stands. Most of the seam welding is done, FC subframe is in the car. I still need an FC steering column. Hoping to get the cage going in May.

Working with a guy in washington to get the suspension going. As for the rear axle, i believe a Volvo 1030 axle is going in since its stronger and the gear ratios are plentiful.

Engine wise will be a stock 13B na running the stock controls so i can stay in Group 2 (rally america rules).

[Whizbang]

eh screw it, im going to use the stock mazda rear stuffs for the most part (geometry, housings, etc) just strengthened. Run some 4.78 gears from the sportage and order the Moser axles from RE Speed so i can make my lug pattern. Ill figure out that whole "brakes" thing for the rear later.

[Whizbang]

[Whizbang]

so much stitch welding...