Busy couple of weekends - RX7 conversion
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 06:06 PM
Hi,
I'm having a break from my kit car and going back to a tin top for my next project.
I'm trying to follow a more trodden path rather than the bespoke install I ended up with in my Striker.
Anyway I've spent the last two weekends stripping my donor car. Mainly to save weight and delete the stuff I don't really want. Also makes
the wiring a lot easier by exposing the numerous wiring looms.
Donor car sans bumber to fit in the garage. I could walk round the Striker but can hardly get by the RX7.
Blown Wankel engine being removed. Simple inside stupidly complicated on the outside!
Cleaner engine bay
Interior being removed to access the carpet and a lot of hidden wiring.
Almost all gone! I'm replacing the aircon with a compact unit from CBS. About half the dash will go back in.
Here's the aircon/heater/blower from the RX7 which will be reduced by about 1/3 and will be 1/5 the weight. The top half of the dash and the
instrument binacle will go back in.
I'm sure someone can guess what engine I'm going to install instead.
fesycresy - 14/3/10 at 06:09 PM
I'd say you're going for one of the LS engines?
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 06:12 PM
Also removed the driveline bar the diff as I'm re-using that with the conversion.
The nice n light Titanium exhaust which came with the car will stay. The tip is bit buy racer but the damn thing is solight its staying.
The auto gearbox ment the car was very cheap to buy as a non-runner and had better a better diff ratio.
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 06:15 PM
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
I'd say you're going for one of the LS engines?
Yep not very original but as I said most of the parts are off the shelf even if the shelves are all in america!
LS1 5.7 V8 which came from a Monaro.
hobbsy - 14/3/10 at 06:15 PM
A second vote for a LSx engine.
I would love to have one of these 
I'll be watching this thread with interest.
Saw the guy who does this as a turn key conversion (something torque) at Race Retro today.
His demo car (plate is TOC 5Y) looks very nice.
7 litres and two big turbos
Must shift!
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 06:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by hobbsy
A second vote for a LSx engine.
I would love to have one of these
I'll be watching this thread with interest.
Saw the guy who does this as a turn key conversion (something torque) at Race Retro today.
His demo car (plate is TOC 5Y) looks very nice.
7 litres and two big turbos
Must shift!
I was going to use Craig's services as he can do a bespoke install to your specification. However over the years I've learnt to do more
myself anf really wanted a hands on install.
So I've gone for a bolt in kit from the US which will hopefully in the event of an accident give me the possibility to transfer the kit to
another car. I will be using it on track.
[Edited on 14-3-10 by bimbleuk]
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 06:46 PM
Oh and the other reason I wanted to do this project was to do more of the wiring. The steps are reasonably well documented but there's always
variations.
I'm sure others saw the PPC article about the conversion. There's a lot of details not mentioned which crop up. I was planning mine before
that but as a result of the article there was a blip in the cost of donors and engines! Just when I ws looking too.
Antnicuk - 14/3/10 at 07:22 PM
this is a good and popular conversion. rotary engines are great in kit cars and Ls engines are great in rx7's.
Good luck with the conversion and keep us updated. Are you using a torque arm or just going to mount the nose of the diff to the chassis/rear
subframe?
Are you selling the dead engine?
ReMan - 14/3/10 at 08:11 PM
Am I right in thinking this is not a doner, but a reciever of a new engine, is that the plan?
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 08:58 PM
quote:
Are you using a torque arm or just going to mount the nose of the diff to the chassis/rear subframe?
Are you selling the dead engine?
Using a front diff mount as some feedback says the torque arm causes more wheel hop. May not be true I'll try it that way.
No compression, covered in oil, two worn turbos and supposedly only after 60K miles. I'm swapping the lump for a decent rear wing. Maybe
someother bits too.
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 08:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
Am I right in thinking this is not a doner, but a reciever of a new engine, is that the plan?
The RX7 is the chassis donor and a Monaro is donating the engine.
bimbleuk - 14/3/10 at 09:08 PM
As my RX7 was an auto I had to swap tomanual pedals. Just the clutch and brake pedal required. Easy bolt in fix. The clutch master cylinder is coming
off the Monaro.
Another pic of the engine. Aircon pump and power steering will go. The throttle body is cable operated which is quite hard to find on the later
engines. Otherwise I would have had to transfer the the pedal and wiring across.
As I mentioned before the RX7 now fills my poxy garage. So I've been waiting for the weather to improve before starting.
mangogrooveworkshop - 14/3/10 at 09:18 PM
You have got to marvel at some of the engineering that locostbuilders take on.....
Good luck and I am sure you will get it done....in time for the summer
ReMan - 14/3/10 at 09:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bimbleuk
quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
Am I right in thinking this is not a doner, but a reciever of a new engine, is that the plan?
The RX7 is the chassis donor and a Monaro is donating the engine.
Excellent 
Are doner Monaro's easy to come by?
bi22le - 14/3/10 at 10:15 PM
Good to see your craking on with the new project. I would love to have a sniff around it when I come and pick up the striker.
Good luck with it all.
dlatch - 15/3/10 at 01:33 AM
what a great project never knew people were putting the big yank v8's into RX7's
think it will make a very capable car
bimbleuk - 18/3/10 at 04:59 PM
quote:
Excellent
Are doner Monaro's easy to come by?
Sorry missed that comment previously.
There are enough in the UK for parts to be available but the chap I bought mine off had imported some wrecks from Australia. Not sure if he will do
many more as the import and freight costs have gone up steadily.
The most obvious route was from the US and yes you can get some bargains. I missed out on a couple of auctions but again with import, VAT, shipping
and exchange rates the savings are becoming less. Having someone to deal with direct made up for the the extra cost for me.
If anyone else is considering an import engine then Cleveland Pick a Part are the most commonly used company when talking V8s.
Not much to update from me other than I've had comfirmation that my kit has been shipped from the US. That and a few parts have turned up which
can be the best part of a new project.
Flush headlights to replace the popups which didn't!
Over the top FPR but it was an Ebay bargain.
Bucket seat to get me started courtesy of a Locost member.
Twin K & N inlet filters just to be a different from the majority of swaps. Will need some careful ducting to avoid heat.
[Edited on 18-3-10 by bimbleuk]
bimbleuk - 7/4/10 at 06:03 PM
Sorry but I've buggered up this thread by re-organising my Photo Bucket album.
I've started a proper build thread on the RX7 V8 forum so the link is below.
Link to RX7 V8 build diary