RioX7 in The Unknown Legend's 87 Sport RX7 Build

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 12:18 AM

^^^Its like a movie title.^^^

I Figured I would start a build thread since I am currently in a rebuild state. This will also be my first post on Rotary Car Club. YAY!! So to start I originally picked up this RX7 about 4 years or so ago. I got it for 200 bucks with a blown engine, some missing interior parts and amazingly no rust for sitting for as long as it did which was awesome expecially since I live in Montana with the snow and cold. This wasnt my first RX7 it is my third, had a 87GXL and a 86 Sport that was rolled that i got with the GXL for parts mainly the engine.

But anyways the current Sport got the engine and the other 2 cars got parted. The car got interior parts replaced along with power window and power window swap. I was happy with the car it was coming along nicely then the need for more power was wanted..

I ended up finding a turbo parts car locally which turned my rx7 count up to 4 and swapping all the drive train in. The turbo chassis wasnt worth saving it was all rusted out came from michigan or somewhere like that. That car got gutted and crushed...Car ran super strong after the conversion and started upgrading from there. And as being the daily I had to drive all the time which eventually lead to the death of the first engine. Sourced another engine within a few months, It was a S5 streetport with 3 mill seals. So started a break in and strong engine after break in but had problems with oil low pressure like FC3Smurray did. So I changed regulators and front cover o rings, worked out good and ran it. But didnt fix it soon enough cause ended up spinnin a rear stat gear bearing... Which brings me up to current rebuild in a somewhat of a sum up of the cars life with me so far. Didnt want to get too into it. I will update more, get more into depth and get some pics of recent tear down and fixes.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 08:11 PM

These are a few pics of it when I got the NA engine installed and the BBS wheels installed and running. Not bad for a weeks worth of work to get the swap done and parts swapped over. This took place about 3-4 years ago.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 08:31 PM

This is later during the early summer when I sourced the turbo parts car. Just some highlights. Started the swap on a friday night around 6pm. Worked throught the night with a deadicated brother, brother in law and friend. Got The swap done by morning. I was standing there making sure I didnt forget anything ha ha. And the last one was of the car up and running by sunday. Had to take most of saturday working out bugs and finishing the rear end swap but it was done my saturday night when I took it for the maiden turbo swap drive. From there on for about a good year to 2 years I ran it and made it cleaner.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 08:56 PM

Later on down the road at around the end of winter about the 3rd year ive had it i was goin to for a drive and was boosting up a hill in town. soon after car was running really wierd. So i limped it home and the worse it got... I got around 6 blocks away and it totally gave out. Got home and imediatly compression tested it finding that the rear seal gave out. Back in it went into the garage to pull the engine again. As the car sat again with no engine. I soon found a guy that was sellin a fresh rebuild with a large street port and 3 mill apex seals. Bought the engine from him and installed it and had it running again with time to break it in. During the down time before I found and bought the engine I had got some other parts such as HKS gauges, Racing Beat 3in DP and PS, new exhaust gaskets and a 3 in flange HKS Hi Power 3 in muffler, HKS PFC-Fcon and a manual boost controller. I also took the time to clean the engine bay and paint the rails black. I simplified the engine harness by taking out all the emission plugs and unpinning the wires that were no longer needed. Made a mounting plate for the new gauges out of fiberglass where the warning lights went and moved the warning lights under the radio. I finished removing the AC too by pulling out the ac core box from under the dash and removing the core and reinstalling the empty box so i can still utilize the heater. After most of that stuff I got underway with reinstalling the engine once it arrived.

First was when I got the engine and had it on the stand awaiting some gaskets and a few other parts before I put it in.

Second was when I had got it in the engine bay.

Third was the painted intake manifolds more down time stuff.

Fourth is the car up and running again ready to work out a few bugs and start the break in.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 08:59 PM

Later on down the road after the break in I purchased and installed an intercooler and a Wideband AFR.

Just some pics of the install. BOV and Core difference.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 09:03 PM

Here are a few pics of the Gauge mounting. And the moved warning lights.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 09:10 PM

I got bored somewhere in there and decided to fab up a S4 front lip out of garden gaurd.

Just had to trim up some of the gaurd add some relief cuts and used factory lip mounting holes and screws. Did it all with some normal had tools and took about and hour or two.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 09:18 PM

I got a few more random pics of when my car was running. And some of the most recient pictures.

RioX7 · 10-20-2010, 09:34 PM

As of now, I have the 3 mill rotors that need new bearings. I have 2 good street port rotor housings, and another block with the S5 reinforced dowel pin areas. I plan on getting a seal kit, checking specs and I am stuck on weather going with the BDC street port or the BDC half bridge. I have a standalone and all the accessories to make it work fine. Just stuck on weather keep as streetable as possible or have a warrior for the weeked and say auto cross. Let me know what your guys inputs is on it. It should help me make my decision on weather to bridge or not to bridge..that is the question.

WE3RX7 · 10-24-2010, 12:43 AM

Nice build. Its always good to see one rx saved when another one goes to the crusher.

As for BP vs SP.... that really is up to you. I've gone through this thought process countless times myself and its never easy. The truth of it is... if you plan to drive the car, even remotely regularly (like 1-2 times a week for more than 100 miles/commute) the BP really isn't worth the headache. If its a dedicated track car and gets very occasional street use, no worries. This all of course depends on the extent of the BP and the rest of tuning that goes with it....

You can always get another car and BP it and have both

RioX7 · 10-24-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

Nice build. Its always good to see one rx saved when another one goes to the crusher.

As for BP vs SP.... that really is up to you. I've gone through this thought process countless times myself and its never easy. The truth of it is... if you plan to drive the car, even remotely regularly (like 1-2 times a week for more than 100 miles/commute) the BP really isn't worth the headache. If its a dedicated track car and gets very occasional street use, no worries. This all of course depends on the extent of the BP and the rest of tuning that goes with it....

You can always get another car and BP it and have both

Yea I have been thinking of the headaches of the bp. But it would also be a HBP still prob not much difference in problems. I have been thinking more about it and Im going to most likely do the porting so the duration of the intake is longer, leaving the opening the same minimizing the overlap. The exhaust is already ported for earlier opening and a little later closing im sure and is just larger and smoother. In reality I do want to drive this thing whenever I can and the power it made with the last porting was plenty enough for me. I want it to be a little more reliable for street and the summer Auto cross races that I miss doing.

RioX7 · 02-18-2011, 04:22 PM

I didnt get any pictures of the recient work that I did and its a late update anyways. I'll take some pics if its interesting to anyone.

But anyways I installed some braided stainless brake lines and some adjustable swaybar endlinks. I also I got some coilovers late last year I also installed.

The rear subframe and rear steer eliminators were next on the list.

I tackled those in a day off about a month ago. The subframe, diff and all the linkage were off the rusty turbo parts car I used. I had all the original parts that were still in good shape no rust and still had good paint/coating. I got to work and pulled everything apart and reinstalled the diff and axels along with some newer hubs and dtts eliminators.

Next, get some pictures and take enigine out, disassemble and check for good parts.

10-20-2010, 12:18 AM	#1
RioX7 Shatterd Dreams Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: GF Montana iTrader: (0) Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	RioX7 in The Unknown Legend's 87 Sport RX7 Build ^^^Its like a movie title.^^^ I Figured I would start a build thread since I am currently in a rebuild state. This will also be my first post on Rotary Car Club. YAY!! So to start I originally picked up this RX7 about 4 years or so ago. I got it for 200 bucks with a blown engine, some missing interior parts and amazingly no rust for sitting for as long as it did which was awesome expecially since I live in Montana with the snow and cold. This wasnt my first RX7 it is my third, had a 87GXL and a 86 Sport that was rolled that i got with the GXL for parts mainly the engine. But anyways the current Sport got the engine and the other 2 cars got parted. The car got interior parts replaced along with power window and power window swap. I was happy with the car it was coming along nicely then the need for more power was wanted.. I ended up finding a turbo parts car locally which turned my rx7 count up to 4 and swapping all the drive train in. The turbo chassis wasnt worth saving it was all rusted out came from michigan or somewhere like that. That car got gutted and crushed...Car ran super strong after the conversion and started upgrading from there. And as being the daily I had to drive all the time which eventually lead to the death of the first engine. Sourced another engine within a few months, It was a S5 streetport with 3 mill seals. So started a break in and strong engine after break in but had problems with oil low pressure like FC3Smurray did. So I changed regulators and front cover o rings, worked out good and ran it. But didnt fix it soon enough cause ended up spinnin a rear stat gear bearing... Which brings me up to current rebuild in a somewhat of a sum up of the cars life with me so far. Didnt want to get too into it. I will update more, get more into depth and get some pics of recent tear down and fixes.

10-20-2010, 09:34 PM	#9
RioX7 Shatterd Dreams Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: GF Montana iTrader: (0) Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	As of now, I have the 3 mill rotors that need new bearings. I have 2 good street port rotor housings, and another block with the S5 reinforced dowel pin areas. I plan on getting a seal kit, checking specs and I am stuck on weather going with the BDC street port or the BDC half bridge. I have a standalone and all the accessories to make it work fine. Just stuck on weather keep as streetable as possible or have a warrior for the weeked and say auto cross. Let me know what your guys inputs is on it. It should help me make my decision on weather to bridge or not to bridge..that is the question.

10-24-2010, 12:43 AM	#10
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA iTrader: (1) Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 18	Nice build. Its always good to see one rx saved when another one goes to the crusher. As for BP vs SP.... that really is up to you. I've gone through this thought process countless times myself and its never easy. The truth of it is... if you plan to drive the car, even remotely regularly (like 1-2 times a week for more than 100 miles/commute) the BP really isn't worth the headache. If its a dedicated track car and gets very occasional street use, no worries. This all of course depends on the extent of the BP and the rest of tuning that goes with it.... You can always get another car and BP it and have both

02-18-2011, 04:22 PM	#12
RioX7 Shatterd Dreams Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: GF Montana iTrader: (0) Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	I didnt get any pictures of the recient work that I did and its a late update anyways. I'll take some pics if its interesting to anyone. But anyways I installed some braided stainless brake lines and some adjustable swaybar endlinks. I also I got some coilovers late last year I also installed. The rear subframe and rear steer eliminators were next on the list. I tackled those in a day off about a month ago. The subframe, diff and all the linkage were off the rusty turbo parts car I used. I had all the original parts that were still in good shape no rust and still had good paint/coating. I got to work and pulled everything apart and reinstalled the diff and axels along with some newer hubs and dtts eliminators. Next, get some pictures and take enigine out, disassemble and check for good parts.