The New Garage Queen
- Thread starter Troux
- 296 comments
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- 1,012
- Portugal
- ULTRA-FLOW
Great job its a challenging transformation!
👍
👍
- 4,728
- ferrari_chris
I can't wait to see this thing rolling! Keep it up! 👍
JER_CREST
Premium
- 1,427
- JerCrest
The reason is that it is so boring people take the stock engine out of a car and put a corvette engine. Like the aformentioned rx-7, it will no longer be an rx-7, it will be a mx-7, ore with the corvette them "lx-7" you might as well scratch out every "r" in the "rx-7" because it will not be an rx-7.
So then there is the case of the idiot that blassphemed R34 GT-R by putting a corvet engine it and I took insult to that.
that is why thought of the hemi idea in a corvette.
So then there is the case of the idiot that blassphemed R34 GT-R by putting a corvet engine it and I took insult to that.
that is why thought of the hemi idea in a corvette.
ROAD_DOGG33J
Premium
- 14,296
- IL, USA
- holyc0w1
- holyc0w
ROAD_DOGG33J
Premium
- 14,296
- IL, USA
- holyc0w1
- holyc0w
- 17,865
- 509
Wow, someone needs to get over themselves. The LS series engine is a phenomenal engine, despite common ricer arguments of power to displacement and so on. It is also considerably more reliable and weighs less than the 13B with turbos. An FD3S will weigh the same with a LS1 as it will with the twin turbo 13B setup.
It will also be less inclined to light on fire randomly, explode, and other wise put the body of the car at greater risk of damage. And will have an easier time meeting emissions, better gas mileage, and will be faster.
The ideal of a sports car is to perform well. Engineers normally work to this standard. While the earlier generation of the rotary were very reliable, it was primarily as a naturally aspirated engine. The additional stress and heat introduced by a turbo system, plus the additional complications and moving parts, produced an infamously unreliable engine.
I understand your point of view, JER_CREST, but I grew out of the "JDM" pride aspect of tuning cars a while ago. The reason being is why not have your cake and eat to, so to speak. With this, Troux will have a reliable car that performs better than it originally did, while maintaining key aspects of the cars design, such as weight and the body work. And, in my opinion, greatly improving the exhaust note. You are entitled to your own opinion, but I advise you to not take "insult" at people doing hybrids, because it is rather trite thing to be offended by. And will limit your options with cars and tuning considerations in life.
Troux the car looks like it is coming along well. Sorry to hear about your hardships with some suppliers though, but it is making me glad I did not undertake this swap as well. Must say I still love the look of the FD though.
Thanks, I've been having some good luck lately with free time.
Yet another hardship that I ran into a couple days ago, though. Along with the newer subframe design, Hinson released a new bump steer correction design that[NERDTALK]
completely eliminates bump steer, without needing a bit of adjusting to get it right like on the old design. The old one basically extends the end links that the tie rod ENDS attach to. It's a simple design that gets the job done well enough. The new design replaces the INNER tie rods altogether, which (besides looking cleaner) does an even better job of disallowing human error in installation to allow small amounts of bump steer to arise. The problem is that sometime in the later portion of the '94 model year, Mazda switched to a different thread pitch on the inner tie rod (where it threads directly into the rack), and since the vast majority of RX7s were '93s (72%)and early '94s, I was the first person with the kit to run into the problem (although Hinson knew the change existed), so the custom machined bolt that was made for the kit
[/NERDTALK]
doesn't work for me, and I'm waiting to see if Hinson's going to fix this for me, or if I have to have 2 bolts made at a machine shop.
By the way, don't let my complications fool you. The swap can be done quickly and easily if you take the beaten path, as my friend did. He used the tried and true techniques, parts, and mods for a cheap, simple, and easy swap, whereas I wanted new, optimum, slightly better parts that had waiting lists, and insisted on doing all sorts of small custom work to get things to perfection. Worth it? Not to anyone but me. Trust me, most people are plenty happy with their "basic" swaps, and would advise you to take on the swap, but I wouldn't advise my approach to anyone.
By the way, someone asked the purpose of the fender braces for a garage queen. Well the FD chassis is actually fantastically stiff as it is, but they do help in keeping the car from flexing even more when jacking the car up. I remember my friend and I's reactions when we first saw the car rise very evenly from jacking the car up from one side, and I'm enjoying the benefits again as I am going through the painstaking process of jacking the entire car up by myself.
Back to the garage!
Webspace isn't currently working, but I'll post the picture URLs now for later viewing. Here's a closeup of the oil cooler adapter block from Lingenfelter, and how the sleek black lines are going to be run.
Here's what I ended up with at about 4:30 AM last night. Should be lifting the engine into place tomorrow if all goes well.
Here's what I ended up with at about 4:30 AM last night. Should be lifting the engine into place tomorrow if all goes well.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,319
- United States
Shop I work for does LSx swaps into Miata's. Just finished one with a GM Performance LS3 making 480hp, and almost finished with another sporting a GM Performance LS2 making over 500hp.
There's actually a place based right here in Tampa that seems to be the main front for LSx Miatas (http://v8roadsters.com/). Their mounting kits seem expensive, but I think they mount the engine a little lower than it is in that picture. I'm quite jealous of the hood clearance they have. 
Also an NB:
That sounds like a fun place to work, what do you do there?
Also an NB:
That sounds like a fun place to work, what do you do there?
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,319
- United States
V8Roadsters is actually the supplier for the kits we sell. 
I don't really do anything important. Dismantle salvage cars, some desk work, etc. Am starting to work on a few "projects" lately since we are so booked up with shop installs and only have one mechanic.
I don't really do anything important. Dismantle salvage cars, some desk work, etc. Am starting to work on a few "projects" lately since we are so booked up with shop installs and only have one mechanic.
Consider yourselves VERY lucky. I've seen a lot of shops, even big name guys, going down lately due to the economy. Some expensive toys we are into.
SO I did as much as I could by myself tonight. The engine is just a few inches from being in place, and it will require two people to make the final adjustments to align all the little holes. This part is definitely a pain in the ass, and I'm going to have to do it at least twice.
Eric.
Premium
- 8,515
- GTP_Eric
- Ebiggs
Consider yourselves VERY lucky. I've seen a lot of shops, even big name guys, going down lately due to the economy. Some expensive toys we are into.
SO I did as much as I could by myself tonight. The engine is just a few inches from being in place, and it will require two people to make the final adjustments to align all the little holes. This part is definitely a pain in the ass, and I'm going to have to do it at least twice.
The second time will be completely worth it.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,319
- United States
Consider yourselves VERY lucky. I've seen a lot of shops, even big name guys, going down lately due to the economy. Some expensive toys we are into.
This V8 thing has us booked for the rest of the year, not to mention the local customers that need maintenance work and we have a few turbo kit installs for the 4-cylinders. Really quite busy around here.
/ end thread jack
Engine didn't go in tonight. I tried to get it in myself last night, tried again tonight with a friend, and didn't get any further. The subframe mounting holes aren't spaced far enough outward to mount to the body studs. Relatively easy to fix, just add about 1/8 inch to the outside of either hole and spraypaint. I should have test-fit the subframe before trying to mount it with the engine, I just figured after selling some 500+ mounting kits over almost a decade now, Hinson would know how to make one that fits. The theme of my build is officially, "Nothing is bolt-on." Honestly I'm not that mad by it because I wasn't expecting it to go in tonight. Didn't know why, but I was sure I would run into yet another small, stupid problem to hinder my progress.
Shall try again tomorrow.
Shall try again tomorrow.
- 3,987
- Gaithersburg/MD
- landseaair
Sex.
- 178
This is going to be fun to watch! Hurry and get it working already!
Doubt it's chassis flex. The car really hasn't been thrashed that much, and even if it has, the stock tires wouldn't have given the chassis too much trouble. My friend mentioned he had the same problem with his Hinson subframe, and no bigger issues on his 93K mile car. My guess is a slightly warped jig from welding subframes on it so much.
I won't be getting it working anytime soon. As soon as I have everything installed and ready to run, I'll be dropping the drivetrain and cleaning out the engine bay to take the car to the body shop, as well as do a couple more mods while I'm waiting.
I won't be getting it working anytime soon. As soon as I have everything installed and ready to run, I'll be dropping the drivetrain and cleaning out the engine bay to take the car to the body shop, as well as do a couple more mods while I'm waiting.
- 3,987
- Gaithersburg/MD
- landseaair
MOAR surely half a year later this there has been progress. Hopefully you are simply having too much fun actually driving it to post in here!
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