March 17, 2025, 06:41:13 PM

Author Topic: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily  (Read 9395 times)

Offline slinky

Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« on: February 18, 2013, 06:24:07 AM »
After much searching, wheeling, dealing, swindling, negotiating with the wife.....and what not....I finally picked up what i think is one hell of a head turning daily driver. I am now the proud owner of a 1974 mazda REPU (Rotary Engine Pick Up). I bought it from a car collector of sort(second owner of the Truck), he had 2 of them and one was all original. Mine on the other hand has had a full toyota 20R engine and trans swap performed by the original owner after The triangle destroyed itself. Has a weber carb and a hot head build, new clutch, the swap was done VERY well and just really needs some wiring cleaned up, a little brake work, and some fresh suspension. wheels and tires are already on the way ;)

Its rathe amazing how complete the truck is. the odometer ready 80XXX and i believe it. it was obviously well loved for a while, but has lived in a shop for a lot of its life. the thing runs like a top and is a blast to drive. i cant believe how many options actually still function fully.

well, enough blab, now pics!














So far it's unclear what will go into this in the future. I'm going to run the 20R until it pop's and then the plan is to swap in a KA24de and 5 speed, or a 22RET which i happen to have laying around.

but anywho, I will post updates as i clean it up. There will be some taistfull Daily Driver mods coming soon as well,
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks

Offline digitalsolo

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2013, 07:37:37 AM »
That's a pretty cool daily driver.  :)
Blake MF'ing McBride
1988 Mazda RX7 - Turbo LS1/T56/ProEFI/8.8/Not Slow...   sold.
1965 Mustang Coupe - TT Coyote, TR6060, modern brakes/suspension...
2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Gen V LT4/TR6060, upper/lower pullies, headers, tune.
2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance - Stock...ish.

Offline gc3

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2013, 08:38:34 AM »
looks awesome, i've never seen one in person

Offline texfc

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2013, 09:00:21 AM »
Cool little truck!  Is that the battery compartment behind the passenger door?
1989 GTU - 355 SBC - WC T5 - TII rear - build thread http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=354.msg3811#msg3811
2005 Tacoma 4x4 - daily driver
1966 Mooney M20E upgraded to 201

Offline RX7what

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2013, 03:03:59 PM »
That's a nice ford courier you got there :)
It would be real nice with a 5.3 truck motor in there.
PER AUDACIA AD ASTRA
95 FD #496/499 LS2   http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=4789.0

Norotors is far and away the best car forum on the Internet, bar none.

Offline nofxrxmxpx

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2013, 03:49:57 PM »
lol i love these trucks. 20r/22r is a great swap for this imo!
the candy is dandy

Offline slinky

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2013, 07:06:51 AM »
Thanks everyone, I'm pretty damn excited about it. got some basic maintenance to do this week, Really hoping to get this thing to reliable driver status by the weekend.




Cool little truck!  Is that the battery compartment behind the passenger door?

yes sir it is. I'm actually going to relocate the battery into the toolbox I'm building for the bed. gonna flush the compartment up and us it for added storage. i just don't like how accessible the battery is.
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks

Offline jparker7

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2013, 07:54:26 AM »
Seats are nice

Offline slinky

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2013, 09:17:55 AM »
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks

Offline Bowtie7

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2013, 09:38:39 PM »
check out Billy Waits on Facebook, he is doing a complete resto on a repu. Cool trucks!
I do love what I do!

Offline slinky

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2013, 05:46:38 AM »
check out Billy Waits on Facebook, he is doing a complete resto on a repu. Cool trucks!

lol i don't envy him....parts for this thing are stupid hard to find. It really is a fun little runner. Once i make more headway on my FB i'm going to throw some coin on this little guy. poor truck needs a little love (seat).....
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks

Offline slinky

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2013, 05:02:55 AM »
Oh wiring....how i hate you
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks

Offline slinky

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #12 on: March 04, 2013, 07:03:23 AM »
F*ck it, f*ck it, f*ck it......i quit

yanking this damn 22r hybrid out and dropping in a carb'd 302 w/ t-5. keep having stupid wiring issues and im sick of chasing birds nests. gonna rewire the whole damn truck throughout the next month and get this motor mounted up...in search of a trans right now

gonna slap a cam and lifter set in, chain set, manifold, 600cfm edelbrock, headers into some custom dual 2 1/4...maybe find a decent drop in distributor...nothing crazy...


the truck rips with the little 4 banger in it, but i keep finding myself wanting more. going to have to find some 4.09 gears....the 4.64 set in it will be awy too low i'm thinking. throwing the 22r hybrid into my 83 celica i have out back :) it seems like a win win situation.


thoughts?
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks

Offline ishigakisensei

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2013, 07:19:55 AM »
F*ck it, f*ck it, f*ck it......i quit

yanking this damn 22r hybrid out and dropping in a carb'd 302 w/ t-5. keep having stupid wiring issues and im sick of chasing birds nests. gonna rewire the whole damn truck throughout the next month and get this motor mounted up...in search of a trans right now

Honestly, I sometimes wonder if engineers at car companies do this knowing that one day down the road that somebody is going to want to do an engine swap and they'll be damned if they allow someone else to fuck up their "baby". Look at what MB does to their wiring to keep people from swapping a manual to their AMG engines. Oh, its doable.....but it'll damn sure cost you.

Offline slinky

Re: Project: Retro REPU-aka Super Daily
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2013, 07:53:51 AM »
lol I'm a fabricator, I'm obligated to hate engineer's. I't goes with the job title ;)

I'm just really upset with myself that i didn't take a little closer look at the wiring before buying the truck...but to hell with it. the bitch is paid for and its my fab business's shop truck so i may as well swap something fun and impractical into it right? i feel it's a bit of an obligation lol

not like the fuel mileage will get any worse. damn carb on the toyota motor is a beast...and we all know how fuel efficient carburated rotory motors are  :D
74 Mazda Repu-20/22r toyota hybrid swap (working on carb'd 302/T5 swap)
83 Mazda rx7 GSL-302 swap, Edelbrock EFI ,t-56, N2o
82 Mazda rx7 GS-460 EFI swap, 4 speed, stripped, working on boost
78 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4-420 hp 400M, C6, 7" lift
83 Toyota Celica GTS-gutted (future 20/22 home)
86 Ford Ranger 4x4-1/2 ton axle's, 63"leafs, vw TDI swap
53 GMC 1/2 ton Pickup-Vortec 5.3 swap, T350, 9"
83 VW Rabbit Cabriolet-16vaba-T swap
95 VW Golf-Harlequin Project
81 Chevy El Camino-Gutted (5.3 vortec victim)

Facebook.com/NWMetalWerks