January 2010 Rotary Project of the Month

[TitaniumTT]

WE3RX7
Project FC 13B RE Single Turbo Swap
Location: VA

I have owned my FC since 2000. My family has always been into RX7s so I guess thats why I got into it. Back in 2002 the original NA engine blew. I spent the next two years swapping it to a T2. That motor was junk, so I ended up getting a rebuilt T2 streetported engine. After installing it, I wasn't super pleased with how the rest of the car stacked up. I decided it was best off to fully restore the car and have something to keep for years to come. I started restoring it in 2006 and thats where it is now. The front clip is almost together. The plans are to complete the 13B RE single turbo swap, finish the body work/paint to completely change the color over to Innocent Blue Mica and restore the interior to a nice black tone (opposed to the oh so popular blue that many S4 cars have). Everything I've done with the restoration has been time consuming, but worth it. Every nut/bolt/washer is being addressed. Things get cleaned, polished, painted, rust protected, etc no matter what. This car will NOT be a trailer queen though as so many have told me it will be. I plan to complete it late this year to have a good season of HPDE and Circuitcross! Looking forward to have it at DGRRXI!

Links to more photos!
RCC Project album

Build Thread
http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...read.php?t=267





Q: Congratulations for winning Ride of the Month! Tell us about how you acquired this car?
A: I wanted one as a first car - took several months of driving all over looking at junkers until but my parents actually came across this one the day it went up for sale. It had low mileage, all records and no rust . We bought it later that same night. That was in 2001.


Q: Favorite stretch of road to drive your car on (location)?
A: I would say Deals Gap, but this car hasn't been there yet, so I'd have to say the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Q: Whats the biggest reason you chose a rotary powered car to modify?
A: Besides my father, grandfather and aunt who were RX7 junkies from the SA/FB era - I wanted to build something different than the normal V8 sports car. I was addicted to the rotary engine from a young age. It is undeniably one of the greatest cars to drive and own.


Q: What are the future plans on this car?
A: Top of the list is to complete the restoration, get the 13B RE in it's new home and compete for as many seasons as possible in NASA-MA events. The ultimate plan some day is to wedge a 20B in there (partly why I went with the 13B RE swap this time)

Q: What was the worst and best memory of this project?
A: Worst memory was having the first motor I swapped in be a dud. At a young age and spending over a year building it, it was a big let down to not be able to drive the car for as long as I'd liked.
Best memory was picking the car up with my dad. He wouldn't let me drive it home because "I couldn't drive a stick very well" but we all know its because he wanted to have some fun with it too!


Q: Any other hobbies besides cars?
A: Other than the RX, my other hobbies include computers, snowboarding, hiking/climbing and travel.


Q: Anyone you'd like to thank?
A: The list is never ending. First and foremost would have to be my parents. In the early years of working on the car, although not always seeing eye-to-eye, they were always supportive. Next is my wife, Whitney, who doesn't raise a fuss when I drag her out of bed at 5am to get ready for a race, or drive to a meet, or complain that I'm on Rotarycarclub.com all night! Finishing this project won't be possible without her support. I'd also like to thank all of my friends who have helped out over the many years! Lets also not forget the rotary community - without it, who would share our insanity and insomnia?
Q: Anything in the pipeline for another ROTM win?
A: I'd like to think my FC will be in the running for a future ROTM when its complete. I also have an FD project planned out once the FC is done as well as an FB, B-series and RX8. You never know!

Full specifications listing? (mods, etc)
Full specs right now would be:
1988 SE RX7
Innocent Blue Mica
13B-RE HBP w/ RX8 eccentric shaft & FD internals
Rebuilt S5 T2 transmission
SA-REA FC2000 bumper
SA-Panspeed hood
SA-Foresight fenders
Stance GR+Pro coilover
RB Front sway
Mazdaspeed lower control arm brace
Mazdaspeed bushings / polished front c-arms
Authentic RE-A D steering wheel
Sparco Hub
S5 rear tail lights
S5 rear bumper
Full herculiner undercoating
S5 black interior swap
Lizard skinned interior coating
Autopower 6pt cage
Recaro Pole Positions
Wilwood 4pot front brakes
FD rear brakes

Those are the decided factors, as the year continues, the details will unfold in my thread....


Watch the build unfold. I'm sure I'll hit some snags along the way, but I'm looking forward to unveiling this car at DGRRXI and I owe a lot of people rides!

[ZGN]

WE3RX7
Project FC 13B RE Single Turbo Swap
Location: VA

I have owned my FC since 2000. My family has always been into RX7s so I guess thats why I got into it. Back in 2002 the original NA engine blew. I spent the next two years swapping it to a T2. That motor was junk, so I ended up getting a rebuilt T2 streetported engine. After installing it, I wasn't super pleased with how the rest of the car stacked up. I decided it was best off to fully restore the car and have something to keep for years to come. I started restoring it in 2006 and thats where it is now. The front clip is almost together. The plans are to complete the 13B RE single turbo swap, finish the body work/paint to completely change the color over to Innocent Blue Mica and restore the interior to a nice black tone (opposed to the oh so popular blue that many S4 cars have). Everything I've done with the restoration has been time consuming, but worth it. Every nut/bolt/washer is being addressed. Things get cleaned, polished, painted, rust protected, etc no matter what. This car will NOT be a trailer queen though as so many have told me it will be. I plan to complete it late this year to have a good season of HPDE and Circuitcross! Looking forward to have it at DGRRXI!

Links to more photos!
RCC Project album

Build Thread
http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...read.php?t=267





Q: Congratulations for winning Ride of the Month! Tell us about how you acquired this car?
A: I wanted one as a first car - took several months of driving all over looking at junkers until but my parents actually came across this one the day it went up for sale. It had low mileage, all records and no rust . We bought it later that same night. That was in 2001.


Q: Favorite stretch of road to drive your car on (location)?
A: I would say Deals Gap, but this car hasn't been there yet, so I'd have to say the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Q: Whats the biggest reason you chose a rotary powered car to modify?
A: Besides my father, grandfather and aunt who were RX7 junkies from the SA/FB era - I wanted to build something different than the normal V8 sports car. I was addicted to the rotary engine from a young age. It is undeniably one of the greatest cars to drive and own.


Q: What are the future plans on this car?
A: Top of the list is to complete the restoration, get the 13B RE in it's new home and compete for as many seasons as possible in NASA-MA events. The ultimate plan some day is to wedge a 20B in there (partly why I went with the 13B RE swap this time)

Q: What was the worst and best memory of this project?
A: Worst memory was having the first motor I swapped in be a dud. At a young age and spending over a year building it, it was a big let down to not be able to drive the car for as long as I'd liked.
Best memory was picking the car up with my dad. He wouldn't let me drive it home because "I couldn't drive a stick very well" but we all know its because he wanted to have some fun with it too!


Q: Any other hobbies besides cars?
A: Other than the RX, my other hobbies include computers, snowboarding, hiking/climbing and travel.


Q: Anyone you'd like to thank?
A: The list is never ending. First and foremost would have to be my parents. In the early years of working on the car, although not always seeing eye-to-eye, they were always supportive. Next is my wife, Whitney, who doesn't raise a fuss when I drag her out of bed at 5am to get ready for a race, or drive to a meet, or complain that I'm on Rotarycarclub.com all night! Finishing this project won't be possible without her support. I'd also like to thank all of my friends who have helped out over the many years! Lets also not forget the rotary community - without it, who would share our insanity and insomnia?
Q: Anything in the pipeline for another ROTM win?
A: I'd like to think my FC will be in the running for a future ROTM when its complete. I also have an FD project planned out once the FC is done as well as an FB, B-series and RX8. You never know!

Full specifications listing? (mods, etc)
Full specs right now would be:
1988 SE RX7
Innocent Blue Mica
13B-RE HBP w/ RX8 eccentric shaft & FD internals
Rebuilt S5 T2 transmission
SA-REA FC2000 bumper
SA-Panspeed hood
SA-Foresight fenders
Stance GR+Pro coilover
RB Front sway
Mazdaspeed lower control arm brace
Mazdaspeed bushings / polished front c-arms
Authentic RE-A D steering wheel
Sparco Hub
S5 rear tail lights
S5 rear bumper
Full herculiner undercoating
S5 black interior swap
Lizard skinned interior coating
Autopower 6pt cage
Recaro Pole Positions
Wilwood 4pot front brakes
FD rear brakes

Those are the decided factors, as the year continues, the details will unfold in my thread....


Watch the build unfold. I'm sure I'll hit some snags along the way, but I'm looking forward to unveiling this car at DGRRXI and I owe a lot of people rides!