Author Topic: I took an unusual ride today (Read 2197 times)

lazs2 · « **Reply #45 on:** April 27, 2003, 09:29:16 AM »

hajo... a 350 automatic is not a corvette is all I'm saying. Any late model vette will blow the doors off the z3. My chevy motors hold six quarts of mobil one. I can get pans that hold as much as 12 quiarts...no big deal... I shift the 331 motor at 6400 rpm.. no big deal.

The rearend in my Healy is a narrowed 55-64 chevy unit with 9" ford axel ends and a danna 40 spider gears and mosler axels... I use homade traction bars and have no wheel hop. any decent company can build a rear that will stand up to serious torque.

There does not exist a z3 that weighs 2200 lbs unless you are talking about one that has the engine and tranny removed to make room for a v8.

modern versions of the old muscle cars are a world away from when they were new... they have 50%-300% (a mild 454 puts out an honest 450 hp now) more horsepower.... 100% or more better braking (12" discs all around) .... 100% or better improvement in handling. You can buy a frame for a 55 chevy that has all c5 corvette susspension installed.

or.... you can go down to the dealer and choose a color for your new z3 that hopefully, not too many other people on the block have chosen for their z3... filing that.... get a flourecent family crest flag that you can attach to a 10 foot high mast on the car so that you can find it in the parking lot.

lazs

Mini D · « **Reply #46 on:** April 27, 2003, 09:54:46 AM »

Does the RX-7 have a full frame? Does it have IRS?

MiniD

TPIguy · « **Reply #47 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:10:22 AM »

The Rx-7 is a unibody w/ IRS.

JoeSmoe · « **Reply #48 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:17:12 AM »

My real car is a jet.

Mini D · « **Reply #49 on:** April 27, 2003, 11:55:47 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by TPIguy
The Rx-7 is a unibody w/ IRS.

Cool. That means the IRS can easily be replaced with something that can handle the torque. The only real problem would be at the IRS to body connection. Seems that should be re-enforced to ensure there are no problems.

Of course, you're still going to have a twisted car after a few years of heavy torque on a unibody... but such is the price for HP.

MiniD

TPIguy · « **Reply #50 on:** April 27, 2003, 04:28:13 PM »

thats not really an issue. The stock units are pretty strong. However the gear ratios are around 3.90-4.10. Not the greatest for a street car, especially when alot of folks opt for a th350 tranny.

There is a company that sells ford 9" rears that fit, so thats always an option.

One can always install subframe connectors or a cage. There are quite a few 10 sec rx's about. And probibly alot of faster ones I just haven't seen.

this guy is running 10's @ over 130 w/ the stock rear. And its not even the strongest one available for that year. http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/mazdarx8.html

heres a FAQ that should answer most of your questions.
http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/1stgenrx7faq.html

lazs2 · « **Reply #51 on:** April 28, 2003, 08:57:47 AM »

3.90 gears are not an issue if you use a T56 or richmund gear 6 speed.

I know a guy with a 477 inch Hemi in a bug eye sprite. It uses a narrowed corvette IRS... rear ends are no problem.

if you are effiminate or crippled and you must ruin a car with an automatic tho... the 350 and 400 are all going out of favor for the 700r and other overdrive autos.
lazs

TPIguy · « **Reply #52 on:** April 28, 2003, 10:47:47 AM »

Agreed Lazs,
However, if one is building the car on a tight budget a th350 is hard to beat. Its stronger than a 700r4, or t-5. And a hell of alot cheaper than a t-56 or richmond.

It really depends on your budget.

-ammo- · « **Reply #53 on:** April 28, 2003, 03:18:24 PM »

I have destroyed 3 Turbo 350's with a less than 400 HP small block. I personally don't think they are the best bet when you want to play. However there are companies that can build a really strong TH 350, but at a premium. If was to do it again, I would build the car with a TH 400.

Forget about shifting gears, I leave that "duty" to Lazs. My last Camaro had a Muncie M21, and I got tired of pushing that expensive pressure plate. But it was good for a strong left leg.

Mini D · « **Reply #54 on:** May 05, 2003, 02:03:15 PM »

Hey Hblair.. get the engine in it yet?

MiniD

hblair · « **Reply #55 on:** May 05, 2003, 07:50:33 PM »

Not yet. It'll be a while before it's together and running. I'm gonna have to re-ring it and am gonna port the heads. I've got my borg-warner 5 speed but am waiting on the bellhousing and the motor mounts. As sson as I get those I'll bolt it all together and set the heads and intake on it, put it in the car and fabricate the brackets. Then back out with all of it to do the internal motor stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I've been busy with it. This car was hit in the front. I've had it on the frame machine and just about have all my pulling done. I had to buy a used front bumper and right fender. for those who don't know, new mazda parts are notoriously astrnomically high. A new front bumper cover for an '88 RX-7 is only $680.

I'll be painting the whole car but haven't decided on whether I'll be going back with the factory gray or not. I really don't want to have to paint the door jambs. But some funky wild color sounds like more fun than gray. Depends on how energetic I'm feeling.

Airhead · « **Reply #56 on:** May 05, 2003, 08:17:06 PM »

hblair when you paint it WHATEVER you do don't paint a flag on the top! That looks so gay....

Mini D · « **Reply #57 on:** May 05, 2003, 08:18:33 PM »

Used to have a really good mazda only shop by our house, but it shut down. Solid inventory of mazdas to pick from. It was nice, cause the dealer's parts prices bottomed out at $500.

Get some pics as you go and post them.

MiniD

hblair · « **Reply #58 on:** May 15, 2003, 08:37:59 AM »

My plans to use the 351windsor just went out the window (after I've got the engine sitting in the car, no mounts made yet though) My parts guy told me yesterday that the windsor takes a 14 inch flywheel. That's all cool except the bellhousing for the T5 transmission I use is too small for it. Lucky for me he had a 302 HO out of an 89 mustang GT convertible. It's a complete engine, with distributor, fuel injection, factory shortie headers, etc. It's never had the valve covers off!

It set me back one hundred clams.

I haven't decided if I want to use the fuel injection or not. It's gonna be tall. I want to leave my hood unmolested if possible. I'll prolly put the engine in as-is without building it for now. With just the factory 225 horses and 300 lbs of torque, it'll be much more powerful than even the turbo '88 RX-7 model.

Moose

Still got some bodywork left, prolly gonna paint it back gray as I don't feel like pulling the doors and hatch to paint the jambs..

lazs2 · « **Reply #59 on:** May 15, 2003, 08:42:43 AM »

Painless wiring makes a harness that will allow you to use the factory 302 fuel injection and computer.
lazs