PDA

View Full Version : tranny question


chris13
05-03-2006, 07:34 AM
well my girlfriends dad is giving me an 86 rx7. only thing i dont like about it is its an automatic. how hard is it to swap it to a manual? this is my first mazda never really worked on any other than a mazdaspeed miata. any info would help. thanks
chris13
05-03-2006, 07:47 AM
also can i swap a newer rx7 motor into this car? if not whats a good motor to go with. they said it probably needs a new motor anyway. sorry yall like i said im new at the whole mazda thing.
Cool Cat Racing
05-03-2006, 11:44 AM
Its not much harder on an RX7 to do a manual swap than anything else. Unless the motors been well maintained it probably does need a new one. You can put a newer motor in it but the best bet for that chassis is to go with a Turbo II's motor and drivetrain. You can buy them as a set from MazMart and many other junkyards. The REW motor is great but will bring you many headaches for not a lot of gains.
David88vert
05-03-2006, 08:30 PM
If it's an 86 auto and needs a new motor, you are better off parting the car out than spending a lot of money on it.
Trust me, I do know what I am talking about.
chris13
05-03-2006, 09:44 PM
its an 86 auto turbo car. why would it cause so many headaches? j/w
NinjaHobo
05-03-2006, 09:48 PM
rotories are bitches to work on.
chris13
05-04-2006, 07:04 AM
im mean im not looking for this to be a weekend project to swap everything, see i lost my license until sept 23rd so i got a while and im not new to motor swaps i just havent ever really done any swaps with rotories.
Doppelgänger
05-04-2006, 06:56 PM
no turbo cars in the US in 86.... no turbos came with a autofor the 87-91 RX-7. If the body/interior is in good shape, follow David's advice and part it out. Other wise you'll be spending 2-3times the amount you would for a decent FC (2nd gen RX7) and some mods.

Previous RX-7 owner myself.
Doppelgänger
05-04-2006, 06:58 PM
im mean im not looking for this to be a weekend project to swap everything, see i lost my license until sept 23rd so i got a while and im not new to motor swaps i just havent ever really done any swaps with rotories.
the motor swap itself isn't that bad... You's also be better off rebuilding one rather then a used one..unless you find a rebuilt one with paperwork showing the rebuild. Few 86's are worth reconditioning...better for track cars.
Cool Cat Racing
05-05-2006, 08:52 AM
Take the suspension parts and drivetrain, get a new motor and buy a Locost 7 chassis to put it all in. Its the best use for an RX7 drivetrain I've seen yet.
David88vert
05-05-2006, 06:43 PM
Take the suspension parts and drivetrain, get a new motor and buy a Locost 7 chassis to put it all in. Its the best use for an RX7 drivetrain I've seen yet.

That would be pretty cool.:)