Thinking about RX7 Race Car

HotCarl · 05-25-2007, 02:04 PM

I was thinking about converting an RX7 into a race car to race in local track events, not auto-x

Anyone gone this route? and what model years would you reccomend?

I'm looking for the most bang for the buck

Thanks

rioja · 05-25-2007, 03:33 PM

I have a friend who did that, I know he went with a non turbo (2nd Gen) for reliability.

If you have a good rotary mechanic I think they make decent, fun race cars.

erock · 05-25-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotCarl

I'm looking for the most bang for the buck

I've never been banged for a buck.

Sonnyyy · 05-26-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotCarl

I was thinking about converting an RX7 into a race car to race in local track events, not auto-x

Anyone gone this route? and what model years would you reccomend?

I'm looking for the most bang for the buck

Thanks

How does it compare in cost to the Honda S2000 ???

HotCarl · 05-26-2007, 02:15 PM

I got to think it would be cheaper, I'm not looking at the last generation, but the one before. S2000 prices have definatly come down alot, but I think the 7 should be cheaper over all.

Seems like it's hard to find a clean example though.

Anyone have any ideas what I should be looking for?

blahblah · 05-26-2007, 03:17 PM

I had a 89 that I had built up for auto-x. I know it's not quite the same, but the original owner had already installed a cage and fire supression system in it.

The most important thing I think it to make sure it has a strong engine, and that none of the seals are leaking. That's the only major expense, otherwise these cars are tough as nails.

I'm in Texas, so it's pretty easy to find a clean one out here, with little rust.

Don't worry too much about crappy suspension or anything, you'll just replace that anyway.

Best of luck.. post pics along the way.. It might inspire me to build another one too!!

RX8Dude · 05-26-2007, 07:41 PM

Ya, like above posts say.. look for a strong engine.. and find a good rotary mechanic and you should have a solid little race car.

What SCCA class are you thinking?

rioja · 05-26-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonnyyy

How does it compare in cost to the Honda S2000 ???

One thing I know for sure, an NA Honda S2000 engine will have little or no problems. Pick an 00 or 01, upgrade the braking, gut it and bam... instant racecar.

Later add suspension and a race seat and you're done.

Jimbo · 05-27-2007, 09:53 PM

Don't discount the 7 though, they can be great race platforms. Solid chassis, lots of mods available, and the engines are fairly reliable with some preventive maitnence.

rick2 · 06-07-2007, 11:48 PM

2nd Gen is the route my father and I are going...

picked this beauty up for $500 as a non-runner:

After charging the battery, we found that the previous owner had simple installed new spark plugs, and put the wires in the wrong order.

did some minor bodywork:

http://www.rick2.net/imagegallery/ma...?g2_itemId=422

rebuilt the shifter:
http://www.rick2.net/imagegallery/ma...?g2_itemId=360

Also threw some cheaply-found kyb shocks and tanabe springs on it, and found a cheap set of slightly used falken azenis, and we're taking it to this weekends autocross for it's christening

Oh, and we're still at less than $1k spent on it so far (find me an s2k for that price and i'll buy two! lol!)

our plans are to build it up as a club racer/time trial car... but since there isn't much of that in our region right now, we wanted to get it ready fro autocross to start playing with it, and make sure it doesn't blowup on the first time out before we start dropping any serious money on it.

Also, since he used to race RX-3's in improved touring, and has rebuilt more rotaries than I think I've even seen most of my life... I've got the good rotary mechanic part secured too...

tho, if we keep up, and the rumours of club racing coming to our region... we may just sell the 7, and pick up a SPEC miata, as thats another route we talked about going before we found the 7... (also cheaper than an s2k...)

RageRX7 · 06-08-2007, 12:03 AM

Wow, how come I can't find deals like that???

Great buy rick. Car looks in decent shape too. A friend of mine just finished his, and it's been a great track car for him.

Less then a grand.. I'm going to go in the corner hug myself to sleep now

rick2 · 06-08-2007, 12:12 AM

Oh, we were searching for a car for a few months before we stumbled across this thing...

we were just gonna bite the bullet and buy an extremely rough '94 MX-5 for $4k, and just build a spec racer, but someone snipered it out from under us before we could get there with the cash... then we saw this thing, and since it cranked, we knew it wasn't seized due to someone running it out of oil, so figured worst case if we couldnt get it going, we could part it out at a profit... (we'd assumed it didnt run due to worn/cracked apex seals, and would "only" cost about $2k to get it running if we rebuilt the motor ourselves... but would still be cheaper than going the spec miata route.. imagine our surprise when she fired right up after some rather basic maintenance

)

you just gotta keep looking... right after the mx-5 sold out from under us, i even went so far as to tell my dad it couldn't be done.... no way we'll find a racy car for under $10k... glad I was wrong, ehe

Mindcore · 06-08-2007, 01:13 AM

Dude, that is the deal of a life time!!

I would love to find something like that.. I'm seriously thinking of what I should do for next summer as I want to enter the Ontario Touring Car Championship.

So ya, if you happen to find an S2K for anywhere close to that, and there happen to be 3, let me know!!!

I have an S2K, which is setup kinda half street, and half race car. I love driving it on the street, so I haven't gone full out yet. Which is why I would love to find another one.. but price is a killer.. not enough young kids have crashed them yet.

The other guy here is racing in the series this year with an S2K..makes me drool waiting to get out there..

So I'm thinking about something a little cheaper to get for next season.. If I found a car like you got I'd be giddy!

We don't have spec miata here, or I would most likely go that direction, I envy you guys out there, tonnes of classes, and the year round driving doesn't hurt either

I like that it's a pretty even board with the spec stuff, the CTCC is nuts, differant classes at the same time ( think LeMans crazy ) and even within the classes there is a large gap between first and last.

I'd just like to be out there racing wheel to wheel, win or lose.. at least for the first year

Best of luck to you.. looking forward to swapping stories with ya!

Johnny Drama · 06-08-2007, 11:27 AM

Rick, that is awesome congrats! it's like one of those classic cars in the old ladies barn stories.

Good luck this weekend...let us know how that baby performs!

rick2 · 06-10-2007, 07:45 AM

Took it to its first LVR-SCCA autocross event tonight out at Primm... And while we didn't place first in class with it, I`m pretty sure we could have found another 2-3 seconds in it as it is currently prepared, and taken first. Also, we`ve got plenty of mods/maintenance left to do to the car to make it faster...

While I know I could have easily taken first in CSP class tonight in my miata, the 7 was tons of fun, and a learning experience. Some more seat time, and a bit more work on the car, and this thing will be way faster than the miata, I can feel it!

Heres some in-car video:

The maiden voyage! Not very fast, but respectable for my first time behind the wheel of this beast!

How not to autocross - I carried WAY more speed into the last section than I should have, got her waaaay sideways, and thought I was gonna take out a whole mess of cones... somehow I saved it, and still got a sub-50 second run... however had I braked enough, the first part of the lap was so perfect I bet it would have been a sub-47 second run... ehe...

And, the fastest run of the night - a 47.8. My dad's behind the wheel...

Mindcore · 06-10-2007, 08:09 AM

Nice stuff Rick, great to hear the new car is working out for ya!

That sideways run rocks! I've never seen an auto-x in the dark though. I have enough trouble following the cones when there's light out

KevinRX7 · 06-10-2007, 12:11 PM

Awesome vids Rick!

Are you going to keep racing the Miata, or move over the the 7 completely?

HotCarl · 06-10-2007, 12:42 PM

That is EXACTLY what I want!!

Damn I wish I could get that lucky

I'm actually going to check one out this afternoon, he's asking 6 grand. hehe now I feel like offering him 2!

Are you going to put a roll cage in it? Once I strip it down, I figure that will be the first thing I do, then start building it back up around that.

rick2 · 06-10-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

05-25-2007, 02:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
HotCarl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 195	Thinking about RX7 Race Car I was thinking about converting an RX7 into a race car to race in local track events, not auto-x Anyone gone this route? and what model years would you reccomend? I'm looking for the most bang for the buck Thanks

06-07-2007, 11:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
rick2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 243	2nd Gen is the route my father and I are going... picked this beauty up for $500 as a non-runner: After charging the battery, we found that the previous owner had simple installed new spark plugs, and put the wires in the wrong order. did some minor bodywork: http://www.rick2.net/imagegallery/ma...?g2_itemId=422 rebuilt the shifter: http://www.rick2.net/imagegallery/ma...?g2_itemId=360 Also threw some cheaply-found kyb shocks and tanabe springs on it, and found a cheap set of slightly used falken azenis, and we're taking it to this weekends autocross for it's christening Oh, and we're still at less than $1k spent on it so far (find me an s2k for that price and i'll buy two! lol!) our plans are to build it up as a club racer/time trial car... but since there isn't much of that in our region right now, we wanted to get it ready fro autocross to start playing with it, and make sure it doesn't blowup on the first time out before we start dropping any serious money on it. Also, since he used to race RX-3's in improved touring, and has rebuilt more rotaries than I think I've even seen most of my life... I've got the good rotary mechanic part secured too... tho, if we keep up, and the rumours of club racing coming to our region... we may just sell the 7, and pick up a SPEC miata, as thats another route we talked about going before we found the 7... (also cheaper than an s2k...) Last edited by rick2 : 06-07-2007 at 11:52 PM.

06-08-2007, 01:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mindcore Administrator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Look Out!!! Posts: 1,299	Dude, that is the deal of a life time!! I would love to find something like that.. I'm seriously thinking of what I should do for next summer as I want to enter the Ontario Touring Car Championship. So ya, if you happen to find an S2K for anywhere close to that, and there happen to be 3, let me know!!! I have an S2K, which is setup kinda half street, and half race car. I love driving it on the street, so I haven't gone full out yet. Which is why I would love to find another one.. but price is a killer.. not enough young kids have crashed them yet. The other guy here is racing in the series this year with an S2K..makes me drool waiting to get out there.. So I'm thinking about something a little cheaper to get for next season.. If I found a car like you got I'd be giddy! We don't have spec miata here, or I would most likely go that direction, I envy you guys out there, tonnes of classes, and the year round driving doesn't hurt either I like that it's a pretty even board with the spec stuff, the CTCC is nuts, differant classes at the same time ( think LeMans crazy ) and even within the classes there is a large gap between first and last. I'd just like to be out there racing wheel to wheel, win or lose.. at least for the first year Best of luck to you.. looking forward to swapping stories with ya! __________________ core Mazda Forums .

06-08-2007, 11:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
Johnny Drama Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 555	Rick, that is awesome congrats! it's like one of those classic cars in the old ladies barn stories. Good luck this weekend...let us know how that baby performs! __________________ MazdaSpeed6

06-10-2007, 08:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
Mindcore Administrator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Look Out!!! Posts: 1,299	Nice stuff Rick, great to hear the new car is working out for ya! That sideways run rocks! I've never seen an auto-x in the dark though. I have enough trouble following the cones when there's light out __________________ core Mazda Forums .

05-25-2007, 03:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
rioja Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	I have a friend who did that, I know he went with a non turbo (2nd Gen) for reliability. If you have a good rotary mechanic I think they make decent, fun race cars.

05-26-2007, 02:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
HotCarl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 195	I got to think it would be cheaper, I'm not looking at the last generation, but the one before. S2000 prices have definatly come down alot, but I think the 7 should be cheaper over all. Seems like it's hard to find a clean example though. Anyone have any ideas what I should be looking for?

05-26-2007, 03:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
blahblah Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, On. Posts: 144	I had a 89 that I had built up for auto-x. I know it's not quite the same, but the original owner had already installed a cage and fire supression system in it. The most important thing I think it to make sure it has a strong engine, and that none of the seals are leaking. That's the only major expense, otherwise these cars are tough as nails. I'm in Texas, so it's pretty easy to find a clean one out here, with little rust. Don't worry too much about crappy suspension or anything, you'll just replace that anyway. Best of luck.. post pics along the way.. It might inspire me to build another one too!!

05-26-2007, 07:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
RX8Dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 214	Ya, like above posts say.. look for a strong engine.. and find a good rotary mechanic and you should have a solid little race car. What SCCA class are you thinking?

05-27-2007, 09:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jimbo Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 161	Don't discount the 7 though, they can be great race platforms. Solid chassis, lots of mods available, and the engines are fairly reliable with some preventive maitnence.

06-08-2007, 12:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
RageRX7 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 164	Wow, how come I can't find deals like that??? Great buy rick. Car looks in decent shape too. A friend of mine just finished his, and it's been a great track car for him. Less then a grand.. I'm going to go in the corner hug myself to sleep now

06-08-2007, 12:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
rick2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 243	Oh, we were searching for a car for a few months before we stumbled across this thing... we were just gonna bite the bullet and buy an extremely rough '94 MX-5 for $4k, and just build a spec racer, but someone snipered it out from under us before we could get there with the cash... then we saw this thing, and since it cranked, we knew it wasn't seized due to someone running it out of oil, so figured worst case if we couldnt get it going, we could part it out at a profit... (we'd assumed it didnt run due to worn/cracked apex seals, and would "only" cost about $2k to get it running if we rebuilt the motor ourselves... but would still be cheaper than going the spec miata route.. imagine our surprise when she fired right up after some rather basic maintenance ) you just gotta keep looking... right after the mx-5 sold out from under us, i even went so far as to tell my dad it couldn't be done.... no way we'll find a racy car for under $10k... glad I was wrong, ehe

06-10-2007, 07:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
rick2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 243	Took it to its first LVR-SCCA autocross event tonight out at Primm... And while we didn't place first in class with it, I`m pretty sure we could have found another 2-3 seconds in it as it is currently prepared, and taken first. Also, we`ve got plenty of mods/maintenance left to do to the car to make it faster... While I know I could have easily taken first in CSP class tonight in my miata, the 7 was tons of fun, and a learning experience. Some more seat time, and a bit more work on the car, and this thing will be way faster than the miata, I can feel it! Heres some in-car video: The maiden voyage! Not very fast, but respectable for my first time behind the wheel of this beast! How not to autocross - I carried WAY more speed into the last section than I should have, got her waaaay sideways, and thought I was gonna take out a whole mess of cones... somehow I saved it, and still got a sub-50 second run... however had I braked enough, the first part of the lap was so perfect I bet it would have been a sub-47 second run... ehe... And, the fastest run of the night - a 47.8. My dad's behind the wheel...

06-10-2007, 12:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
KevinRX7 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bay Area Posts: 132	Awesome vids Rick! Are you going to keep racing the Miata, or move over the the 7 completely?

06-10-2007, 12:42 PM	#18 (permalink)
HotCarl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 195	That is EXACTLY what I want!! Damn I wish I could get that lucky I'm actually going to check one out this afternoon, he's asking 6 grand. hehe now I feel like offering him 2! Are you going to put a roll cage in it? Once I strip it down, I figure that will be the first thing I do, then start building it back up around that.

06-10-2007, 06:14 PM	#19 (permalink)
rick2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 243	Quote: