Papercup's V8 RX7
Discussion
Herman Toothrot said:
It may sound silly, but a nice moderned alloy V6 with a pair of turbos bolted on has always been what I thought the FD needed.
V8's a great alternative though. If the rotor was less of a guzzler I could accept its faults, but it isn't and I can't.
Good luck with the build!
The thing is, the LS V8's are often as small or lighter than most modern DOHC V6's, even more so if you add in the extra space and weight of the turbo's, manifolds, intercoolers and pipe work.V8's a great alternative though. If the rotor was less of a guzzler I could accept its faults, but it isn't and I can't.
Good luck with the build!
Engine & box are in customs at Birmingham Airport, having been from Pennsylvania to Poughkeepsie to JFK to Heathrow first. Love the UPS web tracking tool thingy.
Spent some time on Google and Wiki reading all about Poughkeepsie. Great name. An Iroquois word, named by dutch settlers. New York State, by the way.
Spent some time on Google and Wiki reading all about Poughkeepsie. Great name. An Iroquois word, named by dutch settlers. New York State, by the way.
Diesel Meister said:
Generous of you to set out the costs as well - this seems much more attainable than I'd previously thought (I would *love* a V8 FD3S, with aircon, heh). Great stuff.
That was the idea. Even planning this, its difficult to get people to spell out what it costs. Asking people who have done it what it costs tends to get you vague answers and whistling through teeth. Its like no-one will talk to you about costs until you've actually started. Bit weird, i think. papercup said:
The Sump kit arrives tomorrow, after i contacted Parcel Farce last night. US Postal Service unfortunately deal with them at this end
It was the USPS sending me an email alert (they seem pretty good really) that made me chase it up and start phoning Parcel Farce to track it properly. No proper contact from Parcel Farce at all; not sure how much longer that would have taken if I'd left them to it.
To be fair to Parcel Force (note the switch from farce to force) their letter asking for money came today, the day after it arrived at Gatwick depot. So i may well be doing them a disservice. Credit where its due. OK, it took 10 days longer than UPS, but I expected worse!It was the USPS sending me an email alert (they seem pretty good really) that made me chase it up and start phoning Parcel Farce to track it properly. No proper contact from Parcel Farce at all; not sure how much longer that would have taken if I'd left them to it.
Edited by papercup on Thursday 29th April 19:00
Engine and 'box cleared customs today. UPS have sat on this the last 10 days as they had no contact details for where it was being delivered (as the breakers spelt the company name wrong; Dyno TECH not TORQUE) and apparently they couldn't pick up the phone, or send any letters, or contact the breakers, or....
But its not been a hurry anyway; Craig is still in the middle of the one before mine.
Meanwhile I've been getting bored and pricing up 4" stroker kits. Well if the motor is on the floor in pieces having the cam put in anyway......
I am resisting the urge to order that, and some custom heads, and.....
But its not been a hurry anyway; Craig is still in the middle of the one before mine.
Meanwhile I've been getting bored and pricing up 4" stroker kits. Well if the motor is on the floor in pieces having the cam put in anyway......
I am resisting the urge to order that, and some custom heads, and.....
Went down to Re:Worx on Saturday and picked up the money for the turbo kit, boost controller and gearbox. Met the guy the turbo kit was going to as well.
£1800 back so far on the contents of the Rex engine bay
V-mount intercooler and radiator is provisionally sold, payment end of month. That'll be another £500.
ECU & Clutch still to shift, along with various other bits and bobs. Should get another £1000 for them. Good news!
£1800 back so far on the contents of the Rex engine bay
V-mount intercooler and radiator is provisionally sold, payment end of month. That'll be another £500.
ECU & Clutch still to shift, along with various other bits and bobs. Should get another £1000 for them. Good news!
Nice. I'll be lucky to get £100 for left over bits from my conversion
Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
Diesel Meister said:
Nice. I'll be lucky to get £100 for left over bits from my conversion
Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
Buying an LS7 or 9 would be a waste of money. Not only do they not fit in the Rex at all well, for what they cost I could make more power out of the LS2.Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
LS2 engine and box from breakers with all running gear and belt-driven stuff - $6500
LS3 engine and box from breakers with all running gear and belt-driven stuff - $10000
Difference between LS2 and LS3 - 200cc and about 20bhp. For $3500 I can get the 2 making WAY more power than the 3.
The above are real prices, from the breakers i got mine from.
LS7 engine only - $10000+ then need everything else. Call it $15000 dollars. For that I could get LS9-power out of an LS2, with change. Cam kit is $800. Custom heads are $2500. Stroker kit is $2500. Supercharger kit is $??? but it all adds up to less than LS7/9. Oh, and they won't fit, of course.
The LS2 makes the most sense, money-wise. I have done my research You can just keep adding things as you can afford them and each upgrade is worthwhile.
Its tempting to go mad. Its strange; most people tune their cars and some never even get 400 horsepower. My Rex made just over, but it took some doing. This LS2 starts with that, and adding another 50 at a time with these mods just seems like child's play. Half an hours clicking on a few american websites and I've got $10000 in the 'basket' and 600 horse at the crank.
I haven't even driven it yet!
I really must get it built before I spend everything i own!
I'm no expert on V8 fitments in FDs (mainly because I assumed I couldn't afford one) but I'll agree that the LS2 is good value - even the crate versions are inexpensive.
But my main point is exactly what you're saying re. spiralling budget - for £X I can get Y; if I do Y I can achieve Z, for £2X etc.
It's a sickness!
papercup said:
Diesel Meister said:
Nice. I'll be lucky to get £100 for left over bits from my conversion
Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
Buying an LS7 or 9 would be a waste of money. Not only do they not fit in the Rex at all well, for what they cost I could make more power out of the LS2.Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
LS2 engine and box from breakers with all running gear and belt-driven stuff - $6500
LS3 engine and box from breakers with all running gear and belt-driven stuff - $10000
Difference between LS2 and LS3 - 200cc and about 20bhp. For $3500 I can get the 2 making WAY more power than the 3.
The above are real prices, from the breakers i got mine from.
LS7 engine only - $10000+ then need everything else. Call it $15000 dollars. For that I could get LS9-power out of an LS2, with change. Cam kit is $800. Custom heads are $2500. Stroker kit is $2500. Supercharger kit is $??? but it all adds up to less than LS7/9. Oh, and they won't fit, of course.
The LS2 makes the most sense, money-wise. I have done my research You can just keep adding things as you can afford them and each upgrade is worthwhile.
Its tempting to go mad. Its strange; most people tune their cars and some never even get 400 horsepower. My Rex made just over, but it took some doing. This LS2 starts with that, and adding another 50 at a time with these mods just seems like child's play. Half an hours clicking on a few american websites and I've got $10000 in the 'basket' and 600 horse at the crank.
I haven't even driven it yet!
I really must get it built before I spend everything i own!
There's a guy on the East cost somewhere with a 346ci (5.7 LS1) with forged internals, after market cam and heads, bolt ons and a descent Procharger blower. On high octane street fuel it was running a reliable 750rwhp in a Vette through a T56. And for less money than a stock LS7 engine.
papercup said:
Motor shipped yesterday, or perhaps today. Its crated and ready for pickup by UPS. Last one took three days (!) to arrive from the breakers in Pennsylvania, F Parts. Their excellent eBay shop, which has easy sections including one just for LS engines, is here.
The LS2 engine, T56 gearbox and all incidentals (ECU, power steering pump, AC pump, pedals, etc etc) was $6250. Shipping was $1150 meaning complete drivetrain to my door was $7400.
Could i add that Cleveland Pick-a-part is also reliable and good value. have used both cleveland and fparts for engines with no problems- the crate that cleveland made for me was a bit of a beast.The LS2 engine, T56 gearbox and all incidentals (ECU, power steering pump, AC pump, pedals, etc etc) was $6250. Shipping was $1150 meaning complete drivetrain to my door was $7400.
Edited by papercup on Wednesday 31st March 18:19
Edited by papercup on Saturday 3rd April 19:24
300bhp/ton said:
papercup said:
Diesel Meister said:
Nice. I'll be lucky to get £100 for left over bits from my conversion
Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
Buying an LS7 or 9 would be a waste of money. Not only do they not fit in the Rex at all well, for what they cost I could make more power out of the LS2.Re. stroker - you may as well. But then you could also fit this stock and keep the difference for either (a) the inevitable budget overruns or (much more fun) (b) an LS7 / LS9 (I think you're looking at £12-15k shipped though....)
LS2 engine and box from breakers with all running gear and belt-driven stuff - $6500
LS3 engine and box from breakers with all running gear and belt-driven stuff - $10000
Difference between LS2 and LS3 - 200cc and about 20bhp. For $3500 I can get the 2 making WAY more power than the 3.
The above are real prices, from the breakers i got mine from.
LS7 engine only - $10000+ then need everything else. Call it $15000 dollars. For that I could get LS9-power out of an LS2, with change. Cam kit is $800. Custom heads are $2500. Stroker kit is $2500. Supercharger kit is $??? but it all adds up to less than LS7/9. Oh, and they won't fit, of course.
The LS2 makes the most sense, money-wise. I have done my research You can just keep adding things as you can afford them and each upgrade is worthwhile.
Its tempting to go mad. Its strange; most people tune their cars and some never even get 400 horsepower. My Rex made just over, but it took some doing. This LS2 starts with that, and adding another 50 at a time with these mods just seems like child's play. Half an hours clicking on a few american websites and I've got $10000 in the 'basket' and 600 horse at the crank.
I haven't even driven it yet!
I really must get it built before I spend everything i own!
There's a guy on the East cost somewhere with a 346ci (5.7 LS1) with forged internals, after market cam and heads, bolt ons and a descent Procharger blower. On high octane street fuel it was running a reliable 750rwhp in a Vette through a T56. And for less money than a stock LS7 engine.
For those that don't know; the Procharger is a supercharger that looks like a turbo, just its belt driven instead of exhaust gas. Very compact.
I haven't ruled out supercharging at some point in the future; 'been there, done that' with turbos but never had a supercharger, but I am looking forward in the short term to having a normally aspirated big-power car.
The T56 gearbox is said to take 1000horse without complaining. Impressive stuff. However its also said to be a bit agricultural, has strange ratios, and a very long throw and accompanying heavy gear knob, to make the best of that heaviness of change. We'll see; quickshift kits are available, but I'll see what its like first. I guess I'll lose my lovely carbon Mazdaspeed gear knob as well
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