Free FC3S + Free SR20DET = ???

[VashFC]

I moved back to Maryland sans vehicle and I was offered a free '88 RX-7 GXL. It doesn't run.... (35psi comp on front and rear rotors....bleh) but the body is super clean. No dents, chips, fading or rust. Needs a motor.... A good friend of mine actually offered to GIVE me an SR20DET clip if I put it in the FC. Call me a dreamer... but I'm tempted. Not surprisingly, I haven't found any info on this swap. I wouldn't mind throwing in $2K or so to make this happen... but I have a feeling that might not be nearly enough. Anyone heard of this being done before? It would be sweet... I've always been in love with the FC3S (hence the "FC" at the end of my name). Any advice would be nice.

- Chris

[SeVa-S13]

I have no idea how easy it is but I have a feeling that you'll need atleast a standalone and custom mounts/driveshaft. Kinda past your 2 grand budget.... =\

[VashFC]

Yeah... that's kind of the response I thought that I'd hear. I still have hope though! I loved my past FCs.... but they weren't exactly what I'd call reliable. The SR however... that would be a nice median. Still powerful, but reliable. I've heard of the LT1 or LS1 conversions.... but I'm worried as to how that might upset the nimble hadling. Anyways, any info is appreciated!

- Chris

[Chingon]

it's been done...you may want to visit the website:

[Chingon]

rotaries are not unreliable w/appropriate care..
Modified by Chingon at 12:53 AM 11/5/2004

[SeVa-S13]

Just don't get that bumper/light kit thingy.Faggotry.

[VashFC]

btw... what about Megasquirt? I don't know much about it, but from what I understand it's a really cheap standalone fuel management system right? Perhaps I could get away with just getting the driveshaft modified instead of having a new one built... I dunno, just thinking out loud.

- Chris

[VashFC]

No way... that's the late model FD city lights on the FC....blah... I like the FCs looks as is. I'll check that sight out, thanks a lot Chingon

- Chris

[Chingon]

Guys swapping the 13b into the s13 said custom wiring was required and lengthening of shifter hole, so no need for a standalone. I'm guessing driveshaft and mounts would be a hurdle. Anyway, I wouldn't pass up on it if it was me. If you can mate fc transmission, which i really doubt, seeing as how it seems to be longer than the s13's, it could save you some driveshaft woes.

for ****s and giggles:

[Chingon]

megasquirt will control your fuel, but you would need megaspark to control spark. It has some I/O ports i think to control things like cluster, lights and others. So yeah, you can build a full working standalone w/all the "plugins" that have been done to the megasquirt. Really is a plus because the fc's wiring seems to be the devil from what I've read. One cool thing is that in the megasquirt forums, someone is selling pre-made wiring looms (professional material and neatly labeled) for like 50 bux and if you are lazy, you can get a megasquirt assembled on ebay for 300$ or perhaps even the megasquirt forums for cheaper.

[VashFC]

Hmm....$300 you say? If that's enough to get it running I'm definitely game for that, even if it's a little more. Well, I know that the NA RX-7 drive shaft is 967mm from end to end and 782 mm from center yolk to center yolk. Maybe some chopping of one of the shafts and swapping to appropriate universal shafts at the given end would be enough to fix the driveshaft issues. I'd need to either get under both cars and do some serious measuring (PITA) or borrow (i.e. steal) some info from someone who's been through this before. Hmm... Perhaps an adapter plate for between the bellhousing and block could be fabricated to mount the FC transmission to the SR block to alleviate that problem alltogether. No idea how much that would cost...Custom mounts? Hmm... I couldn't possibly begin to guess how much that would cost? Any idea folks? I'll name my first born after the one who gives me the info to make this happen!

- Chris

[base9se]

Sounds like you got pretty good friends. Good luck on that project.

[StrangeLove]

don't ruin an FC with a SR... Please!

[SeVa-S13]

Mazda already beat you to ruining it with a rotary.

[[Zero-S]]

Ouch.

[MainEvent212]

ZING!

[VashFC]

Ouch.

I second that "Ouch" Don't get me wrong... I LOVE the rotary engines. The Wankle will treat you good, if you treat it good.... but it's high maintenance. You have to be a bit careful unless you get 3mm Apex seals. The water jacket can get leaky. You can't just change timing with cam gears or change "valve timing" since it has no valves. You have to port it... which is time consuming and pricey. But it can rev to 9000Rpms without much hassle, make an UNGODLY noise that will scare the **** out of any small woodland creatures within a mile radius (This is a plus for me btw ) and it does sit quite far back and low in the engine bay only how a rotary could with it being so small.Yeah, I do have some good friends.... I'm tempted to just buy an entire Turbo II front clip for it for around $1200 (Much cheaper than an SR20DET front clip...and it has body panels that aren't beat to hell!)The SR20 is just simpler to maintain and upgrade. Less involved for more power.... not to mention the "Exclusive" factor that would come with this swap.I know any Mazda purist would slap me silly for even suggesting putting anything other than a rotary in the FC... but I'm not a purist... I just want what's best for me. I don't want to worry about rebuilding my engine every 90K. Maybe a V-8 would be better.... http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/rx7.html - Chris

[JDMaholic]

The current megasquirt does not control spark, but the megasquirtII which will be out around christmas, and the Ultra megasquirt which will be out? control spark and allow WBO2 and 16 x 16 tuning tables. The original megasquirt is about 100 dollar and is pretty easy to assemble even for someone without much soldering and electronic experience. The megasuirtII plugs into the processor socket on the original megasquirt and is not out yet so it is not yet priced. The MSII and Ultra are far more powerful than about any other standalone. You do need some basic knowledge of automotive electrical, timing, and injection systems as well as electronics. If you have aqny questions about them I may be able to assist as I have one, and I took an Engineering class called automotive electronics where we actually installed one and tuned it for project.

[JDMaholic]

actually after reading your first post again I see you'll have a front clip. Why use a standalone unless you want to? If you have the ecu and all the sensors on the engine you could take what parts of the harness you need and power what needs to be powerd and tie all the grounds together. At least one would think, but I'm an idiot so I may be wrong. Personally I would think that a multimeter and a few hours of probin around and you could make it work. Whatever ya do good luck

[VashFC]

I realized that I could *probably* get away with the SR20 ECU.... but like you said, it would be hours with a meter and some wiring diagrams to figure things out. After doing a little reading about the Megasquirt II and UltraMegasquirt it would be worth the money and probably simplify things a good bit. It would at least make the install cleaner. I think it would solve most if not all of my electrical concerns. I think at this point the real questions are what to do about engine mounts, subframe, transmission mounts, shifter positioning, driveshaft, possibly suspension clearance issues, etc....One thing that made me optimitic about the swap is that they swap big ol' V8s in there with relative ease. If that big lump can squeeze in there, placing the SR in there shouldn't be *too* difficult.... albeit, not expected to be a walk in the park either.

- Chris

[MetaOrbit]

http://forums.maxima.org/showt...+swap

Wrong engine/trans, but it might give you ideas about stuffing Nissan power into an RX7.

[VashFC]

Wow... very cool post. Thanks a lot for the info. It's, at the very least, inspiring. Hey, if he can throw a V6 in there, I can do an I4.

- Chris

[MetaOrbit]

That's the spirit!

Wow... very cool post. Thanks a lot for the info. It's, at the very least, inspiring. Hey, if he can throw a V6 in there, I can do an I4.

- Chris

That's the spirit!

[CybeRise]

some guy in the east coast dropped a Buick Grand National engine in a FD

[MinisterofDOOM]

Why? The GNX is a far better looking car than the FD. What's the point of that swap?

As for the SR20 in the FC, I wish I could offer some advice, but all I can say is good luck. The FC has always been my favorite RX7, and I'd be very interested in watching this project progress.

There's a big call center around the corner from where I live, and there has been a convertible FC just sitting in the same parking spot, unmoved, for weeks. I'm about ready to just claim the thing.

[HashiriyaS14]

I have never heard anyone extol the virtues of the looks of the GNX...looks like Mad Max's V8 interceptor but having been beaten with an ugly stick.

FD is one of the best looking cars of all time, although I still prefer the S5 FC.

[VashFC]

I have never heard anyone extol the virtues of the looks of the GNX...looks like Mad Max's V8 interceptor but having been beaten with an ugly stick.

FD is one of the best looking cars of all time, although I still prefer the S5 FC.

Yeah, I'd have to agree with Hashiriya here. I think the GNX is a *nice* looking car... but to say it's better than the FD? I agree the FD is a gorgeous car.... but the FC is pertier. There's a place called "Granny's Speed Shop" in Concrete, WA that swaps Ford & Chevy Small Block V8s and V6s in the RX-7. I've seen a few carbed 4.3 V6s around on the net. I'd like something a bit more contemporary if possible though...i.e. SR20. Not to mention I'm being offered the front clip for free. It just seems like it's begging to be done. The planets have aligned and it's up to me to make it happen.

- Chris

[MinisterofDOOM]

The GNX is one of my favorite GM body styles of all time--and it's easily in my top twenty period. I guess you have to be raised on classic Chevelles and Cougars to understand that kind of styling. I hate most modern cars (pretty much everything but Nissan, Caddilac, and Dodge), and nobody understands that. I might as well have been born in the 50's.

[VashFC]

Well, I actually looked at the Car myself today. Hmm... this guy talked up the RX-7 a bit. I think he just REALLY wants me to take it off of his hands. It's been parked behind is restaurant for over 1 year. Anyway, here she is in all her glory.Hmm... "No Fading" Huh? The whole damn hood is faded.Crooked antennae, one side of the exhaust is hanging and it looks like someone's been living in the damn thing! Musta sucked... It's only a 2 seater!Notice; one flat tire, one low tire and the super cool floppy side mouldingThis is my favorite part.... boxes of Christmas decorations, Redbull, Clothes and a stainless steel sink in the driver's seat.

Oh well... I guess I can't really *****. It is free after all... it's just not in nearly as good of condition as I was originally told. Beggers can't be choosers though.I'm just starting to become a little doubting on the possiblity of this project happening.On the plus side, seeing the link that MetaOrbit posted, I'm considering following in his footsteps. He seemed to have a relatively easy time doing the swap, with all things considered. But I have a *Free* SR20DET clip at my disposal. I don't NEED a car yet, since I can just share my girlfriend's for now. But having one soon would be nice. Oh.... what to do....what to do...?

- Chris

[w1ngzer0]

clean that ***** out and take that side molding off