Hi all,
I\'m new here, just starting my research for a track car for next year. Been looking at a few things, but nothing excites me more than the thought of owning a gen 3 rx-7. Always fancied the pants of them since they first came out, and the fire was stoked again when i saw one at an autosolo yesterday! Now i\'m just looking for some advice on the car.
My first criteria when i\'m looking for a car always has to be \'do i fit?\'! I\'m 6\'7\'\' tall and so often have problems.....
The owner kindly let me sit behind the wheel, and to be honest, things were really tight. All my height is in my legs rather than body, and i couldn\'t move my left leg around at all, mainly due to the position of the handbrake.
Could anyone please give me some advice on what options are available for making more space inside? This car had the standard wheel, which can obviously be swapped, and also was a +2. Does the driver seat sit further back without the +2 behind it? Whos the tallest person you know to drive an FD and how do they get on?
All help appreciated,
Cheers, Andy
Im 5ft11 and I struggle, im looking into drilling extra holes so I can mount the seat rails further back
Im 6 3" and its fine. Will have to go away from standard seat which I imagine you will anyway. May have to use side mounted seat but then you can create much more room by fixing them much further back in the car.
Quote from: mjwebb48;520080then you can create much more room by fixing them much further back in the car.
That was always my intention until i looked inside this one yesterday and found that theres only a few inches room to move it back before the floor goes vertical at the front of the kiddie seats. Is there a lot more room behind the seats on the 2 seat version or are there storage bins to get in the way?
Also, does anyone know of any easy way to modify the handbrake to give the knee a bit more clearance?
Hi
If you\'re fitting buckets, you should be able to get them slightly further back due to them not having the reclining function, etc, and perhaps having less padding.
if you\'re keeping the frame for moving the seat back\'n\'forth, either get brit-spec seat runners, or mod the jap ones - allows the seat to go back another 6" or so.
If you fit a 50mm spacer (or a quick release catch), it brings the wheel forward off the knees - makes life much more comfortable for both knees...
Combine all the above with a 320mm or 300mm wheel (stock is 350mm iirc), and you shouldn\'t have too much trouble, and shouldn\'t need to move the handbrake either...
oh - and to answer another question - the cars that came with no rear seats had bins fitted instead...
I suspect you sat in a Jap import (Martin Hassetts car by any chance?) :-)
The UK cars had more travel to the rear for the driver\'s seat. The Jap rails can me modified to acheive this, though I dont know how much further it goes.
My car will be for sale soon. It actually did a fastest time at one Autosolo (can show you the slip!)
Well, there\'s a few lanky folk pootling around in them, so it is doable...
Another option might be to pop in at Rotorstock in a couple of weeks - it\'s looking like there will be a large turn-out of RXs, a few of which will have been modded/stripped (i think). Might give you a better idea of what\'s doable/practical...
While you\'re there, you might also be able to test-fit yourself in a couple of other cars (eg mine) that have had the seat rails modded, and other work done (eg i\'ve got smaller wheel on a quick-release stud, and should have buckets by then)
Probably a better option than buying the car, doin loads of work, and then finding you still can\'t drive it comfortably...
Quote from: Martiny;520097I suspect you sat in a Jap import (Martin Hassetts car by any chance?) :-)
Got it in one! So is your car UK spec? Is it modified? I\'m looking for either an untouched RZ or a lower model with suspension work done. At least i will be (april-may time next year). Either way i want a fresh rebuild with absolutely no engine mods, and the highest power model possible.
Hadn\'t thought about a wheel spacer! That could solve a few problems. Wonder if its possible to fit a spacer and a quick release, i\'ve got long legs and normal arms!
Martin mentioned that i should head up to Santa Pod, i guess thats rotorstock?
Great help thanks people, with the seat a little further back and the wheel a little smaller and further up i recon i should be fine. I\'m used to driving in cramped conditions anyhow in my Mk3 MR2, which doesn\'t exactly fit like a glove!!
Andy
I think you need to fit an aftermarket wheel to use either a quick release or just a spacer... in which case I can\'t see any reason why you shouldn\'t be able to use both! (it is something I am contemplating, but am going to wait an see how things fit with the buckets in first)
And yeah - Rotorstock is being held at Santa Pod (9/10 Aug, iirc)
regarding engine power etc - iirc they all have the same engine. However, some of the later models came with a slightly different turbo, which gave them slightly more power (255hp -> 280hp). Otherwise, there is no power difference between the different models (just trim levels, etc, for the most part - or so i believe)
Quote from: logicalChimp;520137Otherwise, there is no power difference between the different models (just trim levels, etc, for the most part - or so i believe)
Am i right in think though that the later model RZ\'s have Bilstein adjustable suspension?
I think it is Bilstein but I dont think it is adjustable, the ones on the Spirit R arent.
Don\'t forget you have to wear a helmet for track days. I\'m 6\'3" and headroom with a helmet is tight.
I think the UK cars had slightly less power due to the 2 cats (about 255bhp), the imports had 265bhp. The later 99- had different turbos which upped it to around 280bhp.
The RZ\'s do have Bilstiens, not adjustable, but pretty good for a standard setup! The Recaros they have also sit lower allowing the taller driver more headroom and more legroom. I\'m 6\' and can\'t press the clutch all the way down if I move the seat fully back.
Oh and my RZ is for sale if you\'re interested! Price is negotiable, see http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48584 (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48584)
Quote from: BlitzBoy;520075Im 5ft11 and I struggle
He\'s talking height, not width....:yes:Giggle
Year vs. poweroutputs:
92-95 - 255hp including UK and JDM.
96-98 (series 3-4) - 265hp due to better and faster mapping from 16-bit ECU upgrade. Touring type x and auto models still 255hp
99+ (series 5)- 280hp from new turbo setup and map to suit for everything execpt Type X and auto still 255hp.
Thats to the best of my knowledge
Quote from: JohnnyP;520291Don\'t forget you have to wear a helmet for track days. I\'m 6\'3" and headroom with a helmet is tight.
Sure, thats never a problem, i\'m the same as everyone else when i\'m sat down, I\'ve just got ridiculously long legs.
Quote from: FDRZRich;520336I\'m 6\' and can\'t press the clutch all the way down if I move the seat fully back.
Thats good to know, if thats the case i shouldn\'t have any problems. Really like the look of your car btw, just a shame i\'m not in a position to buy for another 10 months! Think its just what i want though, and compression looks good. Is it typical for there to be a difference between the ratings of each rotor?
Im 6\'4" and i fit fine. I changed my steering wheel to a 320mm, 80mm spacer to clear my knees.
Chair wise I have a Bride fixed back seat on Bride Runners and i have a fair bit of leg room. I also have a good clear 4" of head space so enough room for a helmet
Yep.
It was my car Andy sat in. It\'s a \'97 RS, very stock, rear seats, not bins. stock (big size) steering wheel
The closeness of the handbrake to the wheel bothered Andy, cos he couldn\'t get the seat back and hence his knees down.
Andy needs to go to Rotorstock and sit in lots of cars owned by tall blokes.
Here is my car at an earlier autosolo revving it\'s nuts off.
I must have lost my way and turned the lights on for inspiration.
The other pics are of some of the opposition at Sevenoaks DMC North Weald Autosolo.
The odd looking midget with a fibreglass frogeye bonnet had Zetec power with a ford rear axle with a LSD and got FTD, beating two Westfield SEights anf the V8 ginetta !!
The Alfa looke good but was slow. Even I beat it !!
Martin H
Hi Martin, a few good pics you\'ve posted up there! Thanks for showing me around the car. Was my first time at an autosolo and i really advise anybody to give it a go, its really good value for money to get some kicks. Still prefer sprinting i think where you get chance to get out of first gear and get some real high speed ball shrinking moments! This was definately better value for money though, although i recon you\'ll make up for the cost in clutches and tyres by the end of the season!
My second major criteria for a car is that it has to be competitive in its relevant class in sprints. For an RX7, this means road legal production sports & saloons above 2000cc, which is a class dominated by Scoobies and Evos.
So does anyone know how competitive the RX7 could be? Anyone have any experience driving the 4WD big guns? Does anyone compete against any on the track?
Cheers,
Andy
Quote from: Innocent;520645Hi Martin, a few good pics you\'ve posted up there! Thanks for showing me around the car. Was my first time at an autosolo and i really advise anybody to give it a go, its really good value for money to get some kicks. Still prefer sprinting i think where you get chance to get out of first gear and get some real high speed ball shrinking moments! This was definately better value for money though, although i recon you\'ll make up for the cost in clutches and tyres by the end of the season!
My second major criteria for a car is that it has to be competitive in its relevant class in sprints. For an RX7, this means road legal production sports & saloons above 2000cc, which is a class dominated by Scoobies and Evos.
So does anyone know how competitive the RX7 could be? Anyone have any experience driving the 4WD big guns? Does anyone compete against any on the track?
Cheers,
Andy
Hi Andy,
If you give me a call I can give you some info that you are after.
01635 255545 or 07877 632369.
Regards
Carl
Pop over to //www.fduk.org/forum and sign up, lots of members are track junkies, Max is running in the all nippon so he would be a good person to talk to about it.
Or you can chat to us....we know a thing or 2 about track cars!
What about your arms? If you have ridiculously long legs, presumably your arms are only as long as your body, so you will need to sort out a spacer for the steering wheel.
Quote from: AtomicRex;520695What about your arms? If you have ridiculously long legs, presumably your arms are only as long as your body, so you will need to sort out a spacer for the steering wheel.
By the time you have a momo boss and a q/r, it\'ll be a few inches further back already. If its still not far enough, you can fit spacers np.
At 6\'7 you will struggle a bit, even if you are all legs. By the time you have a cage in and a skid lid on you wont have much room left for your head. I dont think you\'d have any option but to use a bucket on side mounts bolted straight to the floor.
Very interesting that the RX-7 is well represented on track. So what is the most popular competitive use for it? Is there a dedicated sprint or race series? Would be really interested to come along and have a look when theres some in action (drift and drag aren\'t my thing though).
All Nippon has Max and Tony. Is Atomic racing in that yet?
Time Attack has a few FDs but it\'s not racing... its time attack ;)
Andy,
It is best not to judge what a FD will do by my performance!!! LOL
I\'m probably older than your Dad!!
Martin H
Quote from: Innocent;520710Very interesting that the RX-7 is well represented on track. So what is the most popular competitive use for it? Is there a dedicated sprint or race series? Would be really interested to come along and have a look when theres some in action (drift and drag aren\'t my thing though).
Proper racing is what you want, have a look at the thread that is linked in my sig (the \'here\' part in \'follow the build\'), next race date is also there.
Quote from: TonyC;520812Proper racing is what you want
....it certainly is! However, my budget definately wont stretch anywhere near what would be needed. Love the look of your build though! Really gets the heart pumping thinking about strapping into that beast. May well be coming along to have a look around at some point. As far as my means go, sprinting is what i\'ll be limiting myself to for now. Looks like theres plenty of people around who will sort out the few tweaks i might need for that.