Papercup's V8 RX7
Discussion
Rawhide said:
Nice work mr Cup! That machine will be a missile now. If you do take it to the ring let me know as I'd love to come along as a passenger or can offer a towcar.
That looks like a great combination, purists be damned.
Definitely on the cards mate; this was the year I was going to get the Rex there, and plans are to make it more comfortable as well as faster so I'll be driving it there. Will need a passenger, so I'll definitely be in touch That looks like a great combination, purists be damned.
How's you? Had to delete you from MSN as you kept spamming me every day - i think someone hacked your account?
What you driving now, and where's my bloody invite?
pugwash4x4 said:
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
Billiant choice of motor. You'll love it, the sound is 
Will be reliable and return a good MPG considering the size of motor, mine will do 30mpg on run.Got the credit card bill today, so I know that the sump kit cost me £325 and the cam, pushrods and valve springs cost me £545. Another £40 on each of those in import duties and such.
Paid the duty, VAT and shipping extras on the engine the day before it was delivered; that was £750-odd.
Costs so far, including delivery and duty and such:
engine and box etc - £5700
sump kit - £365
cam kit - £585
= £6650
Oh, and the clutch and ECU sold from the Mazda, which means I've had £3300 back from that so far, with more to come.
Money spent so far: £3350.
Paid the duty, VAT and shipping extras on the engine the day before it was delivered; that was £750-odd.
Costs so far, including delivery and duty and such:
engine and box etc - £5700
sump kit - £365
cam kit - £585
= £6650
Oh, and the clutch and ECU sold from the Mazda, which means I've had £3300 back from that so far, with more to come.
Money spent so far: £3350.
Idiot Gimp Boy said:
I've long considered an LS2 RX-7 my ideal sports car.
Kudos to you for making it a reality. Very interested in this build process. Any chance of it making the Destination Nurburgring track day on 23rd August? Would be good to see it running.
I'd like to.....want to get there with it for sure. Kudos to you for making it a reality. Very interested in this build process. Any chance of it making the Destination Nurburgring track day on 23rd August? Would be good to see it running.
papercup said:
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.
Due to space limitations the Procharger would be the only supercharger option for the Rex I believe. There's room in front of the motor but none above at all; a standard bonnet has to have the bracing cut out of the centre to accommodate the intake; its that tight on top. Which means I'll lose my lovely aftermarket bonnet 
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
If you don't fancy the blower route and only want the ability to have more power when you need it, a proper nitrous oxide system with an electronic control might be an option. Very compact as the tanks could go in the boot.
The programmer will allow nice linear power increases and an LS motor should be good for a 150 shot on stock internals, many even run 200 shots but more for drag than circuit use.
300bhp/ton said:
papercup said:
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.
Due to space limitations the Procharger would be the only supercharger option for the Rex I believe. There's room in front of the motor but none above at all; a standard bonnet has to have the bracing cut out of the centre to accommodate the intake; its that tight on top. Which means I'll lose my lovely aftermarket bonnet 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
If you don't fancy the blower route and only want the ability to have more power when you need it, a proper nitrous oxide system with an electronic control might be an option. Very compact as the tanks could go in the boot.
The programmer will allow nice linear power increases and an LS motor should be good for a 150 shot on stock internals, many even run 200 shots but more for drag than circuit use.
Fit a D-1S Procharger I reckon, rated to 700hp so well on course for the where the other mods are taking this power plant.
You thinking of intercooling it aswell or is it that tight under there?
Flying Toilet said:
300bhp/ton said:
papercup said:
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.
Due to space limitations the Procharger would be the only supercharger option for the Rex I believe. There's room in front of the motor but none above at all; a standard bonnet has to have the bracing cut out of the centre to accommodate the intake; its that tight on top. Which means I'll lose my lovely aftermarket bonnet 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
If you don't fancy the blower route and only want the ability to have more power when you need it, a proper nitrous oxide system with an electronic control might be an option. Very compact as the tanks could go in the boot.
The programmer will allow nice linear power increases and an LS motor should be good for a 150 shot on stock internals, many even run 200 shots but more for drag than circuit use.
Fit a D-1S Procharger I reckon, rated to 700hp so well on course for the where the other mods are taking this power plant.
You thinking of intercooling it aswell or is it that tight under there?
D1 is a good blower, but you'll want an intercooler on it or else boost will be very limited that the £4k it costs for the kit would not be worth it IMO.
bales said:
How does a procharger differ to a Rotrex as it appears they are both belt driven centrifugal compressors? Just different brands or are internals slightly different?
I don't know much about Rotrex, but I suspect it's just branding mostly with only minor differences in construction.
300bhp/ton said:
Nitrous is cheaper and easier to fit in a vehicle though. Only reason why I said about it.
D1 is a good blower, but you'll want an intercooler on it or else boost will be very limited that the £4k it costs for the kit would not be worth it IMO.
This is true but I don't think Papercup is looking for cheap fixes by the looks of things.D1 is a good blower, but you'll want an intercooler on it or else boost will be very limited that the £4k it costs for the kit would not be worth it IMO.
Blower all day long for me, some run them without intercooler with success. If you really want to do it properly pop an ice tank in the boot...
Flying Toilet said:
Wow. Very cool.On a side note, Craig (guy that will be fitting this motor) is in the process of bolting two GT35s to the front of his LS.....
On the 22nd of May the Rex will be delivered to Dyno Torque to start having the work done. Nice to finally have a date to start. Craig has finished the Rex before mine, and has started the Supra that was next in line. In the meantime I am getting a few bits and bobs done to the rolling chassis, and mostly just getting bored and spending money!
I have decided to leave the engine stock apart from the cam kit. I was looking at 4" stroker kits, and heads, and intakes......but I haven't even driven the thing yet. So we'll see how it is this year and next year in February we make may the next step of forged bottom end and the jump to 6.9 litres. Do that all properly with hi-flowing heads and intakes and who knows, the year after one of those pro-chargers may turn up.
I've had it four years already and still no plans to sell, so I'll take my time. No point going mad now, as I won't be able to say 'its this much better' as i won't have had a starting point to contrast it with.
Also, with 255 rear tyres and no plans to mod the arches I am sure there is a point when it will become undriveable, and track times would start getting worse. Finding that point will be a giggle though eh?
I have decided to leave the engine stock apart from the cam kit. I was looking at 4" stroker kits, and heads, and intakes......but I haven't even driven the thing yet. So we'll see how it is this year and next year in February we make may the next step of forged bottom end and the jump to 6.9 litres. Do that all properly with hi-flowing heads and intakes and who knows, the year after one of those pro-chargers may turn up.
I've had it four years already and still no plans to sell, so I'll take my time. No point going mad now, as I won't be able to say 'its this much better' as i won't have had a starting point to contrast it with.
Also, with 255 rear tyres and no plans to mod the arches I am sure there is a point when it will become undriveable, and track times would start getting worse. Finding that point will be a giggle though eh?
Edited by papercup on Friday 7th May 17:45
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