Papercup's V8 RX7
Discussion
ooh toys are arriving from across the pond 
Thats would be the custom ground cam, bad boy valve springs and cro-moly rods, from Speed Inc. Its the 'SI5 - 231 237 .589 .595 112' one.
The cam was $380, but adding the uprated springs and rods adds a further $280. Including shipping, just under $800.
Thats would be the custom ground cam, bad boy valve springs and cro-moly rods, from Speed Inc. Its the 'SI5 - 231 237 .589 .595 112' one.
The cam was $380, but adding the uprated springs and rods adds a further $280. Including shipping, just under $800.
Edited by papercup on Wednesday 31st March 18:16
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.
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
Also on the way from Nook and Tranny (what a great name!) is the 'F Body Sump Kit' which moves the sump from the front of the motor to the back (or is it the other way around? I can't remember) as the wrong sump will leave you unable to fit the motor in an RX-7.
This was $470 including shipping.
This unfortunately went not by UPS (or it would be here, like the cam is) but by the US Postal Service. Not a bad bunch of peeps, but they deal at this end with Parcel Farce which is why it hit the UK shores around the same time as the Cam but I have so far heard nothing.
This was $470 including shipping.
This unfortunately went not by UPS (or it would be here, like the cam is) but by the US Postal Service. Not a bad bunch of peeps, but they deal at this end with Parcel Farce which is why it hit the UK shores around the same time as the Cam but I have so far heard nothing.
Craig Taylor of Dyno Torque will be doing the work to install the engine and other bits and bobs. He charges £5000 to do this. Having met Craig at a few Fighting Torques, knowing of him before that (he used to tinker with KTM and I'm into my dirtbikes as well), spoken to him on several occasions and visited the workshop where he is in the middle of another V8 RX7 conversion right now, i trust him to do this. He makes several bespoke parts for this process and its a big job, but as he has now done so many (mine will be the 14th i think) he knows the process inside out.
I haven't broken it to him yet that i want the air-con working. Apparently its a bit of a sod, purely because of space issues. But what the hell, i want the whole lot if I am going to all this trouble. The Rex used to have aircon, there's a button on the dash....and its a black car with lots of glass. It can get very uncomfortable in there when stuck in traffic, for instance.
With the engine and sump kit probably arriving in the next week or so, I am now simply waiting for Craig to finish the Rex he is doing right now. He'll only do one at a time, which is an idea I applaud. While i really want him to start mine NOW (!), when he has I want it to get all his attention
I haven't broken it to him yet that i want the air-con working. Apparently its a bit of a sod, purely because of space issues. But what the hell, i want the whole lot if I am going to all this trouble. The Rex used to have aircon, there's a button on the dash....and its a black car with lots of glass. It can get very uncomfortable in there when stuck in traffic, for instance.
With the engine and sump kit probably arriving in the next week or so, I am now simply waiting for Craig to finish the Rex he is doing right now. He'll only do one at a time, which is an idea I applaud. While i really want him to start mine NOW (!), when he has I want it to get all his attention
Edited by papercup on Thursday 29th April 18:57
I spoke to Craig about cams and such and he recommended one from a place called Thunder Racing, but I found this which caught my eye. Its a little more agressive than the one he recommended, which would have been ideal for a car driven daily, but i want to angle the car towards track a little more than most, while keeping drivability as well. We'll see what its like.
Can't argue with 524 horse and 518 foot pounds either
Its nice to know what to expect; that car has the same stock LS2 with the same cam kit. So mine ought to be similar numbers.
By the way, that car was one build by Craig in November/December last year.
Can't argue with 524 horse and 518 foot pounds either
Its nice to know what to expect; that car has the same stock LS2 with the same cam kit. So mine ought to be similar numbers.
By the way, that car was one build by Craig in November/December last year.
If you are keeping a running total in your head while reading (and believe me, I am) then you'll be getting close to £12k. Yes, pounds, not dollars. I was expecting little change out of that.
But its been a nice surprise what the contents of the engine bay from the existing car have been worth. Its all been removed and is waiting to be sold at the people that look after my Rex, Re:Worx in Portsmouth.
I gave them whats left of the block (one knackered rotor and housing, one good one) in exchange for pulling it all out. Whats left all gets sold on. We've decided on:
Turbo kit - £1500
V-Mount Intercooler - £500
ECU - £500
Clutch - £500
Boost Controller - £100
Gearbox - £300
I also have various other bits and bobs like boost gauge, carbon fibre gear knob by Mazdaspeed (very sought after apparently), complete Aqua Mist water injection kit, oil coolers, engine damper, etc etc.
It should all shift as a complete job lot really, as you basically have a complete single turbo build for someone right there.
So thats over £3k coming back my way
But its been a nice surprise what the contents of the engine bay from the existing car have been worth. Its all been removed and is waiting to be sold at the people that look after my Rex, Re:Worx in Portsmouth.
I gave them whats left of the block (one knackered rotor and housing, one good one) in exchange for pulling it all out. Whats left all gets sold on. We've decided on:
Turbo kit - £1500
V-Mount Intercooler - £500
ECU - £500
Clutch - £500
Boost Controller - £100
Gearbox - £300
I also have various other bits and bobs like boost gauge, carbon fibre gear knob by Mazdaspeed (very sought after apparently), complete Aqua Mist water injection kit, oil coolers, engine damper, etc etc.
It should all shift as a complete job lot really, as you basically have a complete single turbo build for someone right there.
So thats over £3k coming back my way
Edited by papercup on Wednesday 7th April 18:38
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.
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.
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!
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!
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
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?
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