Papercup's V8 RX7

[redgriff500]

papercup said:

so to keep things progressing Craig has thrown in one of the multiple LS motors he has lying around the place

Ah that'll explain it.

I was just up there and saw 1/2 an engine fitted - I didn't like to enquire why.

[joehirth]

Wow, hats off to you. Fantastic. Would love to see this on track

[papercup]

Looking good!

[papercup]

Time for an update, as I've been falling behind with my photos sent from Craig, and forgot completely to post a few that I took myself, as I've been up a few times in the last few weeks.

First of all, a nice comparison of 'original subframe' versus Craig's 'Franken-Subframe':

Original:


Modified:


Original:


Modified:



The new cam is here and fitted, as are the new valve gear. Check out the difference between old and new:



So now this:


is waiting to go in here:

[liner33]

Its such a compact unit that LS , awesome

[papercup]

As well as the obvious work going on (new engine, box, diff, driveshafts, propshaft, etc) I'm also addressing an issue with my headlamps. You may remember I have the Knightsports pop-ups, which look pant-wettingly good:



Unfortunately the lights they come with are pant-wettingly bad. They are only spotlights with no beam pattern, are not e-marked and are downright terrifiying at night.

So I've bought these:





Those are e-marked Hella dual projectors. They have a little motor inside them so they are dipped beam and high beam when you pull the stalk, the motor moving the small piece of metal out of the way to allow all the light through.

They come from here: http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/search/?query...rds=6&x... - just type '90mm' into the 'search' box to see the range.

You can see they do 'just dipped' and 'just main' so you could have one of each if you wanted to save some money, or one 'dipped' and one 'both' so that when you 'high-beam' you get all 4, but dipped is only two.

I cannot wait for full quad-light goodness

Edited by papercup on Wednesday 30th May 17:15

[papercup]

Oh, and yesterday I dropped the headers and downpipes into Zircotec in Abingdon to have them ceramic-coated, as part of my plan to lower the underbonnet (and in-car) temperatures. It better bloody work, is all I can say, as its £800

It was tempting to go with the bright red, but the metallic black is harder wearing, and I've always been more about function than form......

[RobCrezz]

papercup said:

It was tempting to go with the bright red, but the metallic black is harder wearing, and I've always been more about function than form......

Either way it will turn grey in a few heat cycles

[papercup]

RobCrezz said:

Either way it will turn grey in a few heat cycles

I'm glad I resisted the urge then!

[Polarbert]

This looks incredible!

[liner33]

I've looked at those lights before with a view to fitting them in placed of the fog lights on my Evo , you will have to feedback how they work out

[Dr G]

Loving all the updates and can't wait to see it rolling again.

Anyone following this thread might also find this interesting:

http://www.motoiq.com/projects/mazda/project_mazda...

Moto IQ's long term V8 RX7 build using a lot of parts (inc transmission) not dissimilar.

[jukeboxkev]

Hi,I'm new to the forum and have found this thread very helpful and inspiring.Planning my own LS/RX7 build and was just wondering if some of that beefing up of the rear subframe could be avoided if torque bars similar to that use in the Hinson set up or the standard RX7 for that matter were used.So a Cobra and Viper rear are being used,any thoughts on using a Monaro diff.Thanks,Kev.

[papercup]

jukeboxkev said:

Hi,I'm new to the forum and have found this thread very helpful and inspiring.Planning my own LS/RX7 build and was just wondering if some of that beefing up of the rear subframe could be avoided if torque bars similar to that use in the Hinson set up or the standard RX7 for that matter were used.So a Cobra and Viper rear are being used,any thoughts on using a Monaro diff.Thanks,Kev.

You'd need to talk to Craig to get definitive answers. I know the Rex diff has trouble with the torque of the V8, but it will be fine for a while. Mine's getting the Viper diff but Craig has a Cobra one on the bench being modified for another one.

I haven't seen the hinson set-up but it doesn't sound very substantial as I know where it bolts on. Have you seen the original set-up on the back of mine, with the Mazda diff? Early pages of this thread....that's Craig's take on the Hinson rear-end [or limitations thereof] I believe.

I have this 'constant improvement' thing in my head; every time something is changes, it must be better, bigger, stronger. I was offered these yank driveshafts and they partner with a viper diff, and while the whole rear end is out anyway......

[jukeboxkev]

I had a Dana 44(out of a C4 Corvette but basically same as Viper)planted in the back of my 61 Corvette and it was unbreakable,car was 575hp....LS1+Procharger.That used normal hardy spicer u-joints both ends,so was wondering what and how, you have mated the diff to cv joints? Are the outer joints RX7? Sorry for all the questions but have got to make a decision on the direction to take.Car will be road,some track days and occaisional drags.Cheers.

[tinker-27]

We use cv joints on the diff as the rx7 outer is a fixed cv so no plunge to allow for suspension movement , the Hinson kit uses a rose joint onto the gearbox from the diff nose via a long arm , I used this set up on my first ever rx7 conversion 8 years ago , it went in the big weeks after fitting !! It pushes and pulls the gearbox all over the place . Probably ok for stockish power and normal driving but not great for big power and hard use . I've fitted some hella 90mm zenons to mine and I now have a car I can drive at night !!!

[jukeboxkev]

So which cv joints fit the Viper diff.I have a Dana 36 kicking around(C4 Corvette but not as tough as 44)which I'm tempted to use but not sure how the cv's would be adapted to it or then again I think a Monaro diff which already has cv's could be a way to go?

[tinker-27]

They are rx7 cvs made to fit. Monaros do have cvs as std

[jukeboxkev]

I like the Monaro route,the diff is a compact light weight unit already with cv's.Downside is it hasn't a conventional uj for the propshaft but has a rubber joint instead...not really desirable performance wise but I guess this could be adapted somehow.What do you think?

[chuntington101]

There should be plenty of options for the manaro (gto in the us) for rear end upgrades. I will have a look an see if i can find something.