Mazda Rotary Club

Cars by Model Type => 1st generation RX-7's => Topic started by: antnicuk on July 25, 2006, 09:24:22 PM

Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: antnicuk on July 25, 2006, 09:24:22 PM
I may be returning to tha land of First Gen ownership.

I have an elford turbo with a complete series 4 turbo set up in stock form but due to the turbo hitting the stock steering box RX motors converted the steering to rack and pinion from an FC EGi.  

On our tripple FD we put the whole cosmo front end into the fd, which has the whole suspension set up, steering, brakes subframe and engine mounts.  This made mounting the engine really easy.

I was considering doing this to a 1st gen, that way i get the good brakes the good steering and the engine will be easy to mount.

I have heard that this has been done before in aus but i couldnt find anything on ausrotor.

I would just take the whole turbo II subframe and offer it upto the chassis rails on the FB and then weld what ever is needed to attach the subframe to the chassis.  

Any ideas anyone?
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: kiwimazda on July 25, 2006, 10:32:44 PM
Aha yes it has been done. Gaylord on this website has one sitting in his garage in Epsom. He is doing a really good job.
I am sure if you get in touch he will be only to happy to talk to you
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: MikeLMR on July 25, 2006, 11:23:39 PM
seen it done in the US and it seems to bolt up really well, only a few mods needed to literally bolt the subframe in. The website the guy hosted all the files on is now defunct though :(
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: MikeLMR on July 25, 2006, 11:30:18 PM
BTW my view of small modifications may differ from the "normal" view :2Confused
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: kiwimazda on July 26, 2006, 06:27:29 AM
yes you are only doing a small job on your 323.
Is time relative to the task taken in hand?
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: banned advertiser on July 26, 2006, 08:28:42 AM
Pete on here has now a 1st gen with TII in it, not sure hows its been done though.
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: travellinbob on July 31, 2006, 09:50:29 PM
I know it is completely different but I am about to attempt to put a front suspension ste up from a turbo II to my morris minor. I will have to fabricate strut towers and a whole heap more. I guess with a 1st gen the things you have to look at are the diference in width of the front end, and height of the 2 different struts and as the steering rack is going to run under the chassis rails. Alot to think about. I am quite useless with computers but thanks to dubber(steve) I have a great photo of a turboII front end that I will send to Mike to post on this thread for all to have a look at.
 cheers, michael.
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: MikeLMR on July 31, 2006, 10:00:57 PM
there you go Michael
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: Mazdarotaryparts on July 31, 2006, 10:03:13 PM
Quote from: travellinbobI know it is completely different but I am about to attempt to put a front suspension ste up from a turbo II to my morris minor. I will have to fabricate strut towers and a whole heap more. I guess with a 1st gen the things you have to look at are the diference in width of the front end, and height of the 2 different struts and as the steering rack is going to run under the chassis rails. Alot to think about. I am quite useless with computers but thanks to dubber(steve) I have a great photo of a turboII front end that I will send to Mike to post on this thread for all to have a look at.
 cheers, michael.

Hi Michael,

Why not just graft the whole gen 2 front end on less outer wings and front panel, I know someone who did this to convert a Minor to front wheel drive with a Civic front clip and yet it still looks like a stock Minor from the outside.

No Such word as can\'t in my book, in other words substitute "can\'t" for the words "I haven\'t worked out the solution yet" :cool
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: travellinbob on July 31, 2006, 10:30:33 PM
Hey Clive, oops shyauto, I kinda did think about this but just the whole  \'getting the stuff to me on the rock\' would have been quite difficult. Once I get my new front end I will \'offer it up\' tp the poor unsuspecting moggy and then take a few photos for people. I reckon it would work on a first gen too. Obviously loads of work but definately do-able.
 cheers. Oh Clive I sent a pm to you just to say g\'day and cheers for RSII but apparently your inbox was full.

 also a big thanks to MIkelmr for posting the photo for me. On ya mate!
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: antnicuk on August 02, 2006, 10:02:13 AM
that front end looks like 4 bolts to me!!!   cant be too difficult
Title: Turbo II Front end into a First Gen? Will it go?
Post by: rotary emotions on August 07, 2006, 03:55:59 PM
to get back to TII/first gen: my car has a TII engine in it, which is a very easy swap. I have had a lot of trouble to get it running, but that\'s another story ;-)
Anyway, this is what you need: GSL-SE oilpan (you can order those from the local dealer, if he\'s willing to help), and a 12A or GSL-SE front cover. Then you need a modified engine bracket. This is simply a bracket that is lenghted a bit to move the holes for the engine mounts by 20 mm. That\'s basicly it for the engine. If you want to use a first gen gearbox, you\'ll need to add a flywheel (I used a lighwheight flywheel and 13BT auto counterwheight). Or you can go for a TII box, but then you\'ll need a custom driveshaft Either way is rather simple.
When you really want to take it further, there\'s a better solution: the entire front end (everything from firewall forward) can be fit to a first gen. It has been done:  http://www.mazda-motorsport.de/sa_fb_200_ps.html
What they did was drilling out the spotwelds, so the parts could be re-used. The ended up using the front chassis legs, which mate up to the first gen very well (same distance etc), and added subframe etc.
Basicly everything in front of the firewall is FC dressed up to look like an FB.