My '76 Rx-4 hardtop build.

Buggy · 03-10-2012, 05:03 PM

I got the front suspension and brakes all assembled the other night and got the car back down on its wheels. My fear that it was going to be too low was then confirmed. It looks mean, but unfortunately I think it is going to have rubbing issues with the fenders when turning. I may have to make spacer plates to go between the camber plates and the strut towers to raise the front end back up a bit. I also stripped down the whole rear axle to get it ready to swap in and took measurements off of the rear axle to give to the guy that is building the leaf springs. Picture time!
DSC00098.jpg DSC00099.jpg DSC00100.jpg DSC00101.jpg DSC00102.jpg

Buggy · 03-10-2012, 05:06 PM

DSC00103.jpg DSC00104.jpg

2gslse · 03-10-2012, 05:31 PM

Looks perfect the way it is. maybe it won't rub

Buggy · 03-10-2012, 06:13 PM

For just normal street use it would probably be okay. I'm just worried about on the track when I throw it into corners hard that the car will lean and hit the fender on the tire. You can barely fit your fingers between the fender and the tire.

Buggy · 03-19-2012, 06:43 PM

I put the car back up on jack stands on the weekend. The rear axle and leaf springs have been removed, and I'm taking the leaf springs to a local spring shop tomorrow. There they will get a re arch and probably and extra leaf added to stiffen them up. I'm going with just a 1" drop in the springs for the rear. I'm also getting 1/2" spacers made for the front to go between the shock tower and the camber plates. That should raise the suspension just right.

Buggy · 04-10-2012, 09:03 PM

After comparing the GSL-SE and Rx-4 rear axle I realized the SE rear axle is actually 2 3/8" longer than the Rx-4 rear axle. I'm in the process now of shortening the axle. I've also been told that my leaf springs should be ready in the next day or two. Should be able to have this car back on the road in early May!

Oyvindjs · 04-12-2012, 02:28 PM

This is one sexy RX-4! i thought the RX4s only had the "pointy nose" front. Different front up there in canada? Many of theese left up there?

rxse7en · 04-12-2012, 03:08 PM

Beautiful.

legatia · 04-13-2012, 04:47 AM

Love it!

Buggy · 04-13-2012, 06:17 AM

The '76 and up Rx-4's had a different front end. Originally though it had huge bumpers and bumperettes with lots of ugly rubber trim molding on it. I scratched the entire stock front bumper and made my own. Also removed all the trim and crap from the rear bumper and welded it smooth. I tried to clean the look of the car up as much as possible. As far as how many are left here in Canada, there are a few but not many. My car actually came from Ohio.

Buggy · 05-25-2012, 08:40 PM

I found an actual PDF of my dyno results from back in 2010. Still love the torque and hp curves.
Dyno Sheet RX4.pdf

infernosg · 05-29-2012, 12:45 PM

What are you using for the "screen" on you velocity stacks? Do you feel they're doing a sufficient filtering job? I'm trying to find a filtering solution for my 55 mm IDA-style throttle body on my FC.

Buggy · 05-29-2012, 05:02 PM

I'm using 2 layers of just plain steel window screen and then a layer of really fine screen I got from a buddy. I forget what micron that screen is but it is really fine. I just wrapped the velocity stacks and then clamped it down with a hose clamp. I think it does a good enough job. My old filter setup let in just as much dirt if not more than this does.

RXheaven · 05-30-2012, 03:52 AM

this is really cool

speedjunkie · 05-31-2012, 12:16 AM

Man this is beautiful!

03-10-2012, 05:03 PM	#46
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	I got the front suspension and brakes all assembled the other night and got the car back down on its wheels. My fear that it was going to be too low was then confirmed. It looks mean, but unfortunately I think it is going to have rubbing issues with the fenders when turning. I may have to make spacer plates to go between the camber plates and the strut towers to raise the front end back up a bit. I also stripped down the whole rear axle to get it ready to swap in and took measurements off of the rear axle to give to the guy that is building the leaf springs. Picture time! DSC00098.jpg DSC00099.jpg DSC00100.jpg DSC00101.jpg DSC00102.jpg __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place Last edited by Buggy; 03-10-2012 at 05:07 PM..

03-10-2012, 05:06 PM	#47
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	DSC00103.jpg DSC00104.jpg __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

03-10-2012, 05:31 PM	#48
2gslse Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: front royal va iTrader: (0) Posts: 440 Rep Power: 17	Looks perfect the way it is. maybe it won't rub __________________ ____________________________________________ 1976 Cosmo needing lots of work 1993 Rx-7 410 RWHP single turbo toy 1985 Rx-7 toy/project car 411HP stoplight terror 2001 Dodge ram 4wd.parts hauler 2016 Ram 2500 cause its a hemi 2006 VW TDI commuter __________________________________________ I guarantee there's a pregnant redneck teenager somewhere in a shitty trailer park that thinks "Ebola would be a lovely name for their child"...

03-10-2012, 06:13 PM	#49
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	For just normal street use it would probably be okay. I'm just worried about on the track when I throw it into corners hard that the car will lean and hit the fender on the tire. You can barely fit your fingers between the fender and the tire. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

03-19-2012, 06:43 PM	#50
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	I put the car back up on jack stands on the weekend. The rear axle and leaf springs have been removed, and I'm taking the leaf springs to a local spring shop tomorrow. There they will get a re arch and probably and extra leaf added to stiffen them up. I'm going with just a 1" drop in the springs for the rear. I'm also getting 1/2" spacers made for the front to go between the shock tower and the camber plates. That should raise the suspension just right. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

04-10-2012, 09:03 PM	#51
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	After comparing the GSL-SE and Rx-4 rear axle I realized the SE rear axle is actually 2 3/8" longer than the Rx-4 rear axle. I'm in the process now of shortening the axle. I've also been told that my leaf springs should be ready in the next day or two. Should be able to have this car back on the road in early May! __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

04-12-2012, 02:28 PM	#52
Oyvindjs Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Apr 2012 iTrader: (0) Posts: 78 Rep Power: 13	This is one sexy RX-4! i thought the RX4s only had the "pointy nose" front. Different front up there in canada? Many of theese left up there?

04-12-2012, 03:08 PM	#53
rxse7en The Newbie Join Date: Jul 2011 iTrader: (0) Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Beautiful.

04-13-2012, 04:47 AM	#54
legatia The Newbie Join Date: Apr 2012 iTrader: (0) Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Love it!

04-13-2012, 06:17 AM	#55
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	The '76 and up Rx-4's had a different front end. Originally though it had huge bumpers and bumperettes with lots of ugly rubber trim molding on it. I scratched the entire stock front bumper and made my own. Also removed all the trim and crap from the rear bumper and welded it smooth. I tried to clean the look of the car up as much as possible. As far as how many are left here in Canada, there are a few but not many. My car actually came from Ohio. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

05-25-2012, 08:40 PM	#56
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	I found an actual PDF of my dyno results from back in 2010. Still love the torque and hp curves. Dyno Sheet RX4.pdf __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

05-29-2012, 12:45 PM	#57
infernosg IT'S ALIVE! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (5) Posts: 811 Rep Power: 15	What are you using for the "screen" on you velocity stacks? Do you feel they're doing a sufficient filtering job? I'm trying to find a filtering solution for my 55 mm IDA-style throttle body on my FC. __________________ '86 Mazda RX-7 Base '79 Mazda RX-7 GS

05-29-2012, 05:02 PM	#58
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	I'm using 2 layers of just plain steel window screen and then a layer of really fine screen I got from a buddy. I forget what micron that screen is but it is really fine. I just wrapped the velocity stacks and then clamped it down with a hose clamp. I think it does a good enough job. My old filter setup let in just as much dirt if not more than this does. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

05-30-2012, 03:52 AM	#59
RXheaven The Newbie Join Date: Jul 2011 iTrader: (0) Posts: 25 Rep Power: 0	this is really cool

05-31-2012, 12:16 AM	#60
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO iTrader: (1) Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	Man this is beautiful!