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Need Your help on deciding on an engine for My RX7 Drag car

2K views 35 replies 23 participants last post by  conor303 
#1 ·
Ok, So Ive talked about my rx7 drag car for a little while now. Ive started the weight reduction. More to go on this weekend. Loosing the interior, whole thing is going. Right down to the sheet metal floor and as far forward as the firewall.

My big problem is the engine. The 12a I have is about worth as much as an A-hole on my elbow. A 13b would be nice and a 20b would be nicer, but that requires mucho denero. I was thinking about a v8 like a 302, but in reading over the NHRA import rulebook, under the ET bracket class it said I need an engine of import manufacture or shared platform.

So what I'm looking for now is a motor built by a company outside the US, or one built by a US company that was also used by a foreign car company (even if it was used in their market only). It needs to have been produced in huge numbers, making junk parts redily available. It needs to be cheap. I also need an automatic tranny (for bracket racing consitency), and rwd.

So let me just make a list:

1. v6 or v8 engine, I want over 250 hp stock (preferably)
2. cheap
3. Built by or shared from a foreign car company
4. Auto tranny
5. Large production numbers
6. see # 2
 
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#6 ·
Those engines you gave me are great, but they arnt cheap.

No right now I am looking at the et bracket class for this year (hope fully by the end of the summer), I would like to be able to race in the pro rwd eventually, but unless my funds increase alot I dont see that happening.

It is very possible that I could place decent on a pro rwd tree, because last year a few local boys got their 240sx placed #4. They were running mid 12's with the car, and due to a small number of entrants (7) in an 8 car feild the guy placed 6th (2 cars broke on the track while qualifying). Anyway make a long story short, he went he paid, qualified, raced, won 1 race (alos due to breakage) and lost one. But he placed 4th in a pro field with a mild car.
 
#8 ·
Hell, you could use a smallblock Chevy, or Ford as they are produced and used in Australian Holdens and Ford Falcons
 
#9 ·
20b 3 rotor, with a massive T-88 turbo, a small shot of N02 (Say a 500 shot to spool the turbo) You will be boosting some where near 800-900 horse, on a fully built motor, not including the 500 shot.


[ 04-03-2003, 03:22 PM: Message edited by: FocallyDistorted ]
 
#11 ·
Originally posted by FocallyDistorted:
20b 3 rotor, with a massive T-88 turbo, a small shot of N02 (Say a 500 shot to spool the turbo) You will be boosting some where near 800-900 horse, on a fully built motor, not including the 500 shot.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Ya baby...that's what I'm talkin about.
 
#12 ·
Originally posted by Phillip:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by FocallyDistorted:
20b 3 rotor, with a massive T-88 turbo, a small shot of N02 (Say a 500 shot to spool the turbo) You will be boosting some where near 800-900 horse, on a fully built motor, not including the 500 shot.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Ya baby...that's what I'm talkin about.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">And Because its going in a RX-7 there is no need to make a speacial cradle or harness, it will bolt right in.
 
#14 ·
Originally posted by PhocusZX3:
The Windsor 351 was used in the Australian Ford Falcon for a while. You could also squeeze in a LS1...commonly found overseas in the Holden.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">i think he would want something a little easier and cheaper then that...i say just get a junker 302, stroke it to a 318 and mod away with a dana60 rear.
 
#15 ·
you should be able to get a 13b out of a yard from a second gen car for $500-800; racingbeat has all the go-fast stuff for rotarys.

8000 rpm. whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
#16 ·
If you put anything but a Rotary in that car... You have no soul.. taking the rotary is taking the very spirit away from that car... 3 Moving Parts total.. Makes rebuilds a lot easier man... Just get to know the Rotary Engine and you'll be amazed at the power you can add with a dremel tool..
13B with a single turbo conversion, Radical Bridge Porting done, Haltech tuned. Don't be a dum dum.. stick with screaming triangles...
RX7.com... one of the best rotary tuning specialists in the US.. and they're ironically 30 minutes from me.. now to just get my RX7...


[ 04-03-2003, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: RiceGrinder ]
 
#19 ·
Hey its an Rx-7 you have to keep the rotary. there is no better sound than a rotary with boost. or even just port and polish it,throw on a set of webbers, and a lil shot of N20 and you'll mop up the competition.
think power to weight not cubes. We are the new generation of tuners who don't need ungodly cubic numbers to make the same time slips we do it with less weight andjust think of the gas money you'll save.
but don't get me wrong my dream car is a 69 chevelle SS. and hell its your money not ours.
 
#20 ·
SR20DET RWD. You can get a S13 for around $1200. 205hp stock, and very capable without rebuilding.
 
#21 ·
Originally posted by FocallyDistorted:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Phillip:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by FocallyDistorted:
20b 3 rotor, with a massive T-88 turbo, a small shot of N02 (Say a 500 shot to spool the turbo) You will be boosting some where near 800-900 horse, on a fully built motor, not including the 500 shot.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Ya baby...that's what I'm talkin about.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">And Because its going in a RX-7 there is no need to make a speacial cradle or harness, it will bolt right in.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Uhm, no it doesn't just "bolt right in", and 20b's are statospherically expensive.

If you could get away with some sort of chevy or ford small block v8 that would be the cheapest and fastest route.
 
#22 ·
the 351 is going to be way to heavy, for your little rx7, a Ford 302 would probably be your best bet as far as affordability and performance and of course there are loads of aftermarket parts for the 302. Maybe try to find a cheap 92-93 mustang and rebuild the motor. On the other hand you could build one hell of a turbo 4 or 6, the 3.8L in the current mustangs are pretty reliable and theres a couple companies that are producing wicked numbers with turbos...
 
#24 ·
Have you thought about the Turbo 2.3L ford motor.

Built and put in the SVO mustangs, Merkur XR4ti, Pintos, etc.

Very widely produced and capable of making (and please excuse my FREEDOM
) a ****load of power.

Turbo Joe Morgan has one and it broke Esslingers dyno still climbing and it was only at 900hp.

Just a thought.
 
#25 ·
What gen 7 do you have? I got my third gen which will be sitting all year this year because I am getting ready to do some massive upgrades on it. I know there was a guy with a SR20DET third gen and he ran a low 11. Maybe you could go RB26DETT Good luck though man but taking the rotary is like ripping the heart and soul of the car out so stay rotary. Get a 787B


[ 04-04-2003, 02:09 AM: Message edited by: MaxBoostTurbo ]
 
#26 ·
O0o Page 2 ownage...

Originally posted by madmax1:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by FocallyDistorted:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Phillip:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by FocallyDistorted:
20b 3 rotor, with a massive T-88 turbo, a small shot of N02 (Say a 500 shot to spool the turbo) You will be boosting some where near 800-900 horse, on a fully built motor, not including the 500 shot.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Ya baby...that's what I'm talkin about.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">And Because its going in a RX-7 there is no need to make a speacial cradle or harness, it will bolt right in.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Uhm, no it doesn't just "bolt right in", and 20b's are statospherically expensive.

If you could get away with some sort of chevy or ford small block v8 that would be the cheapest and fastest route.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Do you want to put a Cavalier motor in our focus just cause it makes more power? Trust me a 20b is a damn near direct drop in. Expensive yes, but where else can you get 900 horses outta 2.0 LITERS.
add a 500 shot of Nitrous, and you have 1400 horses outta 2.0 LITERS.

[ 04-04-2003, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: FocallyDistorted ]
 
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