1979 SA RX-7 LS Turbo Build (8.93 @ 153)

[forcefed86]

Ordered the cam.

Going with the ZR1 Ls9 Cam shaft. People seem to be making some pretty good numbers on this thing. Not a bad cam for $112 new from GM parts direct. Total ended up being around 280 with the new front cover cam gear, bolts and gaskets.

GM LS9 ZR1 SUPERCHARGER HYD ROLLER CAMSHAFT ALL LSX ENGINES
211/230 .558/.552 122.5 CL

[cyipher]

whats thge part number on that camshaft?

[forcefed86]

First numbers marked by the ** are all "12".

[N2v8fcs]

Great price on that cam...cheaper than the 2002-04 ZO6 cam and slightly larger!

[Burntz]

I like the work. Im also going turbo in my 5.3 79!

That cam is definitely affordable. I plan on getting a cam in the spring but I was leaning towards a custom grind for my setup.. hmm..

[N2v8fcs]

what lifters are you going to run LS7's ?

[forcefed86]

Hadn't planned on it. As long as the 5.3 lifters look good I had planed to use them. Any reason I shouldn't?

[dream36realms]

what a few Sa/FB guys have done is to use the flush or bubble headlights from the FD. It is close in size and requires a little bit of modification. If you are good with fiberglass then I say go this route. I am making my own lights now after failing miserably to align the FD bubble lights I got. they are slightly canted compared to our straight lights. When I cut the corners off and added my own corners I fudged the bubbles and don't feel like grinding them down when I can glass a new set. I will probably use the clear part as a plug to make my own with 1/8 plexi. the trick with plexi is to gradually heat it, I start off with 10 minutes at 100* and go up in 50* increments for 10 min each till it gets to 300. Any hotter will cook them and any faster will bubble them.

[forcefed86]

what a few Sa/FB guys have done is to use the flush or bubble headlights from the FD. It is close in size and requires a little bit of modification. If you are good with fiberglass then I say go this route. I am making my own lights now after failing miserably to align the FD bubble lights I got. they are slightly canted compared to our straight lights. When I cut the corners off and added my own corners I fudged the bubbles and don't feel like grinding them down when I can glass a new set. I will probably use the clear part as a plug to make my own with 1/8 plexi. the trick with plexi is to gradually heat it, I start off with 10 minutes at 100* and go up in 50* increments for 10 min each till it gets to 300. Any hotter will cook them and any faster will bubble them.

Yea I was looking at the 240sx “bubble” lights they have a straight edge pop-up light very similar to the FB. Would be much easier to mold in than the FD lights. Problem is…it’s still ugly.

 I’ve been in a few cars with the recessed headlights behind the plexi glass. They do look nice, but were always a nightmare. They fog up and visibility is horrible in the cars I rode in. Plexiglass also gets scratched very easily and becomes hazy very quickly.  I don’t really have the room to recess anything on the pass side anyway. The turbo outlet is right under the headlight. I suppose I could re-route the cold side without too much effort, but I think I’d like to get a slim factory type headlight assy in the bumper if possible. It will provide the best light and hopefully won’t look like some cobbled together “mad tight”  ricer ride yo.

Thanks for the input!     

[dream36realms]

another option is the 300zx lights which require minor hood trimming but the rest fit up enough. I didn't like this option due to the upper support needs trimmed to fit them and in my case I have no lower support there so the header panel would sag.

Originally I Was going to comment on your hood but seen the lights and got distracted. I finally decided on the hood I want to make which is a fat style GT350 scoop. IT would require me to make an entire FG hood in order to look half way decent though and since our hoods are near weightless I know my FG skills would make it heavier not lighter. but time will tell. your hood is the first I seen where there are no gaps along the fg to steel lines, and I commend you on the hard work. I know that must have been a major pita

Amyway, I freakin love your car. maybe some day when I can get grip I will boost mine as well but as she sits now I can keep the wheels from spinning. I know it wont be a problem when I do the black dragon wb since it will give me 4" more room for bigger wheels.

[1320king]

Got a link to that flexplate? That link didnt work

[N2v8fcs]

Hadn't planned on it. As long as the 5.3 lifters look good I had planed to use them. Any reason I shouldn't?

No reason in particular, just seems that a lot of people are running them, I haven't decided yet for my turbo 5.3 build  .

[forcefed86]

 Managed to blow the HG on the daily (sending unit went out, ran it out of fuel) so progress has been slow. It's back up and running 30lbs again. 




Back to the RX-7...


 Got the 1" radiator outlets cutout and went with 1.5 and 1.25 to match the LS water pump. Also found out the raditor is a tripple-pass 3 row when I cut into the tanks. Hope it can keep up with the little 5.3! 







Pulled the junkyard 5.3 motor apart a bit to inspect things. Glad I did. This "Ran great when pulled" engine had two broken pistons. All the bearings looked good, other rods/pistons all check out as well.  So... in the junkyard spirit of this build I bought 2 used piston/ rod assemblies for $25. Did a quick hone on the 2 bad cylinders as well.



Cleaned things up a bit and threw the ZR1 cam in. All the roller lifters looked good, gonna run them "as is" too. Got the new LS3 style cam gear with pick up installed. Going to run a LS3 style timing cover with cam pick up on the front.











Make sure you get the correct 2005 gto cam gear if you are running a 24t crank. It's gear "C" in the pic. So the PN I have listed is the 4t cam gear not the correct 1t camgear needed.

[forcefed86]

Made the fire box for the fuel cell in the back. Huge PITA!

[forcefed86]

Made a little progress. My 2 piston/rod assemblies showed up. $20 well spent. 

Cleaned all the pistons up and re-gapped all the rings to .025 on the top and .030 ...ish. Torqued all the mains with the angle gauge. Ordered the LS6 rod bolts.







Installed the new correct cam gear and chain.