NoRotors.com - RX7 Engine Swap Forum
Technical Information => Build Threads => Topic started by: FourThreeFB on March 05, 2013, 01:31:53 AM
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I don't know if you'd really consider this a 'build' or 'swap' thread considering I didn't do the swap, but here's a little info on my work in progress. It has a Chevy 4.3L V6 pulled from a '93 boat. The motor has an Edelbrock intake and 600 carb. Transmission is a T5 from a Camaro I believe. The exhaust consisted of long tube headers into a single 2.5" with a Thrush muffler. The battery is relocated to the rear.
Pics after first buying it. Nothing major. I replaced a missing side molding piece and a broken turn signal lens. The center dash piece was cracked so I replaced that, still missing the vent dials though. Threw in some cheap floor mats too. I also bought some new tires for it since they were cheap.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8441542307_1f964704d8_b.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8442631394_176fc0942d_b.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8442630322_bef4efa6ca_b.jpg)
Engine pic:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8426242890_95bcdc8e25_b.jpg)
A list of things that were wrong with the swap:
Useless AC and power steering bracket
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8442627740_8132403ae1_b.jpg)
Remote oil filter setup, lines touched the header and leaked very bad
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8442628216_d5a05f8e5a_b.jpg)
Starter making direct contact with the header
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8466231933_90b05eb365_b.jpg)
Kinked lower radiator hose
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8471799181_7136933988_b.jpg)
Was missing the lower pan, which I didn't realize until I noticed an RX7 at the junkyard had one.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8479854410_dfc38385e7_b.jpg)
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So on jackstands it went to try to address these problems.
Off came the AC/PS bracket
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8466232855_c578f19d5a_b.jpg)
Painted the upper radiator piece
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8474526419_0d92600d27_b.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8472893004_fba96fc127_b.jpg)
Wrapped a little bit of the passenger side header. Not the world's greatest job by far but better than no wrap at all.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8478763807_ba477e68f8_b.jpg)
Painted the lower pan
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8499708450_661412eff0_b.jpg)
Used a cut up hose for a later 70s Bronco that worked much better than the old hose
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8504529077_0499225dd3_b.jpg)
Mounted an idler pulley where the stock one should go. This also eliminated the issue of the belt touching the upper radiator hose.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8504528773_3dd96d2b05_b.jpg)
Installed a regular in block oil filter. Plenty of clearence and no leaks.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8504527801_d856b5529f_b.jpg)
Threw some blue plug wires on, along with new plugs. One of the old ones was mismatched
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8504528627_cf95b053ea_b.jpg)
New mini starter
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8505637210_f136810e09_b.jpg)
Replaced the Thrush muffler with a Magnaflow.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/8505656304_39baebd4e1_b.jpg)
For some odd reason, the PO put a PCV valve in each valve cover. I eliminated one and put a breather on it.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8529568519_332b9fa978_b.jpg)
And how the engine looks now:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8529568823_904cf3b93e_b.jpg)
Like I said, it's a work in progress. I plan on swapping the heads for some Vortecs. I'll have to get a new manifold too. The mini starter still touches the header as does part of the tie rod when turning. I'm thinking about ditching the headers for maybe some manifolds. On the driver's side I had to take off the header just to remove the #3 spark plug wire! A few other things I need to do are hook up the oil pressure and temp gauges. Once its running good it needs an alignment, then I'll buy some 15" wheels and possibly lower it.
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That's a good looking car (even kinda digging the brown interior) and you seem to be constructively nibbling away at its problems.
I hope one of your next moves is to delete that gawdawful blue split loom tubing.
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+1 Nice FB, good to see you're cleaning up the issues with the swap.
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I'm probably going to end up replacing the blue loom with black and put black valve covers on it. I also noticed when working on it that it was missing a bolt on each motor mount. And the two that were in there were loose. The tranny mount bolts were loose as well. With those all tightened down it idles a lot smoother now.
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Valve covers are now black, changing the wire loom soon as well.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8550758622_0769a7b9d5_b.jpg)
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What year 4.3 is that? HP rating? Iron heads?
It will look great with the painted VC's when you ditch that fugly loom!
I'd ditch that air filter, can't imagine it flows much air! Do you have room for the 10” low profile filters with a 1” element? The lower base piece forms to the carb and gives quite a bit of extra clearance
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/Hybridgnx/SBC%20RX-7/IMG_3456.jpg)
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The blue loom is now gone. I'll get a pic tomorrow.
The motor is a '93, and from what I have found online the stock hp was 205. All 4.3s came with iron heads. The only aluminum heads you can get are from Brodix or GM Performance (discontinued) which are designed for racing applications.
I've done a few measurements and it looks like the biggest air cleaner I can fit would be a 9" x 1". Even then I'm not sure if the hood will close. If I ran a dropped base, it would have to be offset as well. Here's a few close ups I took awhile ago.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8505637660_7f6473ca1b_z.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8505637978_93f240f6ef_z.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8505637804_c538de09ef_z.jpg)
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(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8554960127_e1d1df843a_b.jpg)
Blue loom is now gone. The car is now for sale though. I'm moving on to a different project.
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you buy this from a guy in olympia/tumwater by chance? i swear i know this car
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Yep
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Yep
knew it. pretty fun lil ride. a friend of mine is close with the old owner. i looked at/drove the car a LOT the last 6 months, but just couldn't find the extra cash for a bowtie project. glad somebody picked it up.
i see you are in Vancouver. I live just over the River in Oregon city. maybe I'll see you around
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I saw this car at cars and coffee last Saturday, looking good man.
-Chance
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Although I'm still trying to sell it, I'm doing some work on it still. Being that the starter still touches the header (with wrap), it won't start when hot. I picked up some exhaust manifolds from an Astro and a Blazer at the junkyard. I need to do a little work to get the drivers side to fit but the passenger side will bolt right on. A few wires under the hood have bad connections and need to be redone. I'm moving the battery to the front for reliability. I'm working on getting the temp/oil gauges hooked up as well. After its all back together I might race it at the track once before selling it.