After being a member of the forum for awhile, I figured I might as well start a build thread before I start forgetting stuff.
A little introduction since I don't have many posts. I bought my 93 touring RX-7 locally (SE Michigan) about 2 years ago. Its a 93 chassis with 53,xxx miles and a fresh respray from 2008 in the original lead based montego blue. I had bought it from a rotary junky (He has a red 20b, black R1, mint FC, and some parts cars). It had a 94 powertrain with around 20,000 original miles. It was a good motor, but I was already having dreams of torque after seeing the huge community of v8 swaps. Fast forward some, I was enjoying the rotary and even started making some plans to build it.
Here's what she looked like when I bought her. Only a HKS downpipe/cat-back.
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It wasn't long before I started with some little stuff. Some plasti-dipped wheels and R1 lip.
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Then came the wheels I always wanted. My mint 2nd hand Volk TE37's along with Koni yellows and eibach springs.
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Then, I came across a second hand, but still new bare LS7 block. With the bare block only being $1400 and having access to a ton a LS knowledge/parts being near Detroit - I couldn't resist. If I was going to swap a v8 in, it might as be the big guy. So I bought LS7 block last May. Since then, I started piecing together and planning my engine build. I had accumulated some rotary related parts in the midst of planning for that build, so I've sold all of that off to help pay for the LS7 stuff.
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I couldn't resist seeing how it would look as a table.
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After endless hours browsing the internet for deals on parts, I went through a couple stages. I was first planning on going with a stock rotating assembly. Then it went to forged pistons only, finally ending on forged rods/pistons and stock crank. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing as I found a deal on stock pistons/rods which I ended up selling for a profit. I chose Billy Briggs at MotorCity Speed to build my motor after recommendations from some friends. He was a huge help in helping to decide parts and was more than happy to answer all my questions. I went with a decent size cam setup (custom grind), JE Pistons, Compstar rods, and had the block and heads studded. New exhaust valves and guides on the used LS7 heads I had bought, along with PAC dual valve springs for peace of mind.
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Fast forward to the present, I picked up my built, wetsump LS7 longblock 2 days ago and started pulling apart the rotary motor this past Sunday. I found a local buyer for the 13B, which payed the final bill for the motor. While piecing together the motor, I was able to source a 8.8 IRS from an 03 Cobra and joined in on 1 of the group buys for the Samberg cooling setup. As it sits today I have my longblock, rear end, and radiator setup. The 13b is halfway out (should be out this weekend) and I've got plenty more parts to accumulate.
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The next items for purchase are a T56 magnum transmission, and Mcleod RXT twin disc clutch. After I can get the engine/tranny mated - I'll be on to a Samberg subframe and rear cradle. Then, I
only have...
fuel
spark
headers/exhaust (JTR or Spoolin, undecided)
ECU (still undecided...stock, Holley)
driveshaft
axles
and a million other little things I try not to think about.
It'll be awhile before its done, but it should be well worth it in the end. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions along the way, a lot of which you guys have already answered. I'll post some more picture I've gathered later on.
- Cody
