Mazda Rotary Club

Cars by Model Type => 2nd generation RX-7's => Topic started by: Jord on December 23, 2008, 03:58:09 PM

Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on December 23, 2008, 03:58:09 PM
Just put a deposit down on an \'88 N/A FC3S to use as a cheap drift/practice/fun type car. Basically another excuse for me to piddle away my hard earned. :Laugh
 
I have a few questions so I can crack on with it once I\'ve collected it.
 
1.)Coilovers - are they interchangeable between N/A and Turbo chassis? Does anyone have any for sale? Which ones really dump the car low. I like low. :Laugh
 
2.)Bodypanels - are the N/A and Turbo cars different in terms of fenders/bumpers etc? I have a pants looking UK spec plate on the back of mine, will a JDM-size plate just bolt right on?
 
3.)Fitment - I have some 17x9.5 ET+12 from my PS13 Silvia that I want to use on the FC - will these fit? I\'m not afraid of arch rolling/flaring.
 
4.)Seat rails - I have a side-mount Sparco Rev seat to use - whats the chances of finding some driver\'s side rails to suit FC [as I notice parts are a bitch to find for these - certainly compared to S13\'s!]. Or am I better knocking up some custom side mounts?
 
5.)Diffs - wleding the stock N/A diff OK? I \'m presuming its an open diff.
 
6.)Rear steering - I\'ve reading something about Mazda\'s rear steer system - would this car have it? If so, yuck. How do i bin it?
 
7.)Breathing mods - The usual air filter/exhaust thingies work? Rotaries are voodoo to me.
 
Thats all for now, I\'m sure you\'ll get suitable annoyed with my questions soon :D
 
Hi! :wave
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Prof on December 23, 2008, 04:07:53 PM
1) Coilovers - you may not want to run it too low - the exhaust can ground easily on even the mildest of speed humps.   I think fitment is the same between TII and N/A (EGI) - but TII rates will be harder.
 
2) Trim is different between the EGI and TII - the EGI models are in S4 Trim (square lensed backlights) - you can fit US/JAP style S5 rear light clusters and the smaller number plate holder as far as I know.
 
3) EGI models have 4 stud fixing - not 5 stud, ET is ideally between 35/40
 
4) Have a word with some of the vendors on here - they may have some seat runners.
 
5) As you suspect
 
6) Not sure the EGI models had this - but it\'s passive - they are a type of bush that deforms under a certain loading - you can get what\'s called DTSS eliminator bushing kits - that will take that off if you have it.
 
7) Breathing mods will help the EGI no end - Big open exhaust - and according to Brett\'s research - an aftermarket panel filter is the best option - He\'s the man to talk to for tweaks on EGI\'s
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on December 23, 2008, 04:15:19 PM
This is the car I\'ve bought -
 
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd12/yb52luo/DSC00156.jpg)
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd12/yb52luo/DSC00153.jpg)
 
It definately looks to be running 5 stud.
 
Thanks for your help though!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: mukumu kurubushi on December 23, 2008, 04:19:10 PM
Hi Jord!

I recognised your name, I think you know my mate Joe and Morf from the 180sx blog (I own the yellow fc :) Will be nice to potentially see another fc in the Peterborough area (occasionally visit my folks there)

Afraid I can\'t offer any advice as im a new owner myself and in the process of learning!

Good luck with your new ride, I\'m very keen to see how it turns out, I love your silvia, very cool car :)

:Santa
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: peterwolds on December 23, 2008, 04:20:37 PM
welcome, nice car
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Prof on December 23, 2008, 04:30:10 PM
Quote from: Jord;568099This is the car I\'ve bought -
 
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd12/yb52luo/DSC00156.jpg)
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd12/yb52luo/DSC00153.jpg)
 
It definately looks to be running 5 stud.
 
Thanks for your help though!

Someones converted the hubs then - which means a wider choice of wheels for you ;) - they are fairly standard 114.3 x 5 PCD.
 
Oh - and nice looking FC - I\'ve seen that one first hand at a Reading Jap meet - nice clean looking car :)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on December 23, 2008, 04:31:31 PM
Quote from: mukumu kurubushi;568100Hi Jord!
 
I recognised your name, I think you know my mate Joe and Morf from the 180sx blog (I own the yellow fc :) Will be nice to potentially see another fc in the Peterborough area (occasionally visit my folks there)
 
Afraid I can\'t offer any advice as im a new owner myself and in the process of learning!
 
Good luck with your new ride, I\'m very keen to see how it turns out, I love your silvia, very cool car :)
 
:Santa

Hi! Yes I am the same Jord :D I\'ve seen the pictures of your FC, looks awesome!
 
I\'ve always fancied an FC and I couldn\'t turn this one down. Hopefully it\'ll be badass and make girlies run screaming towards me.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: rxv8 on December 23, 2008, 04:37:39 PM
hey jord see ya chatting about buyying an fc on dw...find jits thread on the fc forum as he is selling loads of parts...
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on December 23, 2008, 04:47:33 PM
my s4 is 5 stud too. Maybe its the early s4\'s that are 4 stud?

nice fc youve got there rxv8, saw it for sale drift works, looks to be a cracking car.

:D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: TiddlesRX7 on December 23, 2008, 04:53:02 PM
Yeah this car was owned by someone on here last. Can\'t remember his username off hand though.
Oh welcome to the club by the way. Hope you enjoy your FC. From what I\'ve heard the EGI\'s love being thrashed. Just let it warm up first.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Retro_Boy_G on December 23, 2008, 05:26:06 PM
Mine are 5 stud also.

I\'m going to be adding a set of Turbo II side skirts to mine over the next 2/3 weeks man. I will be adding pictures of the process so you can see the difference. At first i didn\'t think it was much but when i hold the TII skirts next to the car you will see its a massive difference.

Welcome along dude! :)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on December 23, 2008, 05:34:58 PM
Quote from: adereed;568115From what I\'ve heard the EGI\'s love being thrashed. Just let it warm up first.

and the turbo\'s don\'t ? :burnout
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Will66 on December 23, 2008, 05:58:01 PM
N/A Rotaries are great as you don\'t have to worry about what the turbo\'s doing! 9000rpm ftw!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: pdtaylor18 on December 23, 2008, 06:07:44 PM
On the rear wheels the lowest offset will be a 9.5J and 20 or ideally a 25
The fronts can go to a 8.5J and I would say a 25 offset.  Any lower offset and you will have the wheel and tyre outside the rim, for drifting you may well want to bear this in mind with body roll etc.

The number plate holder for the rear is made specifically for the JDM or UK market but are interchangeable, plenty of cars being broken at the moment with them on.

pretty much all the body panels are interchangeable in one way or another but yours being the S4 type the trim is different and different to the later S5.  Just by adding some TII side skirts,front splitter and a rear spoiler it will transform the car.  Lower the thing with those alloys and it will look mean as hell without spending hardly any money.
I once saw my mates Golf and it looked wider and serious as hell, upon asking who supplied the kit he said there was no kit....just lowered and the widest alloys to fit under the arches.  I do have a rear spoiler you can have for next to nothing.

Oh yes move the number plate higher up the bumper and then cut the rad opening bigger, simply removing the centre bar thing and having a play with the airflow will get cooler air to the rad and engine which you will defo need for drifting.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on December 23, 2008, 06:30:03 PM
Oh if your gunna remove that centre bar jump onto rx7club.com

they have series 4 turbo\'s over there so a lot of people do it for front mounts.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on December 23, 2008, 09:12:19 PM
Sound advice guys. I\'m running 225/45 on the wheels currently so that pulls the tread inside the arch a bit. I\'m determined to make these wheels fit with some hammertime and camber. Fitment should look sick.

I\'d agree on the lowering and right wheels. Offsets and widths MAKE a good looking car. I do think overfenders look horny as hell on FCs but I\'d love to get away with just rolling and flaring.

I plan to fit a square front plate, off to one side like I have done on the PS13.

(http://images38.fotki.com/v1276/photos/4/43405/5358257/IMG_2008-vi.jpg)

Those are the wheels. They WILL fit haha :D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: mukumu kurubushi on December 23, 2008, 11:28:32 PM
Oh my! :2eek

That is a beautiful ps13! Given the choice thats the only car i would have over an fc.. if only they weren\'t so expensive!

+1 for lowering and good width/offset. If you can get those wheels on an fc that would look mighty sexy!

low, wide and scraping off the ground ftw :D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: beezy on December 28, 2008, 01:02:33 PM
Whats up darlin!
Stop showin that Datson crap on ere!
 
Kit, wheels and slam-it, i will look amazin a few skids in that and PS ill be goin up for sale im sure ;)
Overfenders over rolled arch any day sun shine!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Brett on December 28, 2008, 01:27:56 PM
Only the really low spec US cars were 4 stud - they also only had single piston callipers at the front too.  All UK cars were 5 stud.

:wave
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Moonwrap on January 07, 2009, 06:04:35 AM
Quote from: Brett;569019Only the really low spec US cars were 4 stud - they also only had single piston callipers at the front too.  All UK cars were 5 stud.

:wave

LOL! I was going to say the same! :) The wheels on there are the standard UK (stock) EGI ones (5 stud) :)

Also there were two versions of finish on the same style wheel (for the two versions of the EGI) - earlier was matt and later was shiny :)

Congratulations on your new EGI Jord - enjoy! :)

:wave
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on January 11, 2009, 06:55:45 PM
Collected this today and I\'m pretty pleased. Needs some tidying up doing, a new set of wheels [one has a ding and the other a BIG ding], could do with a rear spoiler too as its been removed at some point.

The bits I\'m pleased with are the CLEANEST engine bay I\'ve ever seen, not one bit of rust on the chassis that I could see and a full record service history from 1992 as well as the original sales invoice from 1988 for £17000! Its certainly been looked after.

I\'ll get some pictures up on Tuesday once I\'ve washed it.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Retro_Boy_G on January 11, 2009, 07:02:10 PM
Hey man, does it take a spoiler that comes down from the top or one that looks like it bolts onto the back? I have the one that bolts on the back.. but i think from the pics it looks like you need the TII style spoiler..
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on January 11, 2009, 08:35:01 PM
Looks like it wraps round the bottom of the rear window, its had one on it before.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on January 11, 2009, 10:53:08 PM
After doing this maybe I\'ll keep it :)

(http://images42.fotki.com/v1372/photos/4/43405/3386349/fc3s-vi.jpg)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on January 11, 2009, 10:59:49 PM
i like what you plan to do with the front, that looks awesome

get some series 5 rear lights and your sorted!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Retro_Boy_G on January 11, 2009, 11:00:12 PM
ha ha check the camber on that bad boy! That looks fantastic! It\'s amazing what some mods to your suspension can do to a car.. Make it look like that dude and your onto a winner!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on January 11, 2009, 11:06:01 PM
im still waiting to see yours like that retro boy :D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Retro_Boy_G on January 11, 2009, 11:10:14 PM
haha.. maybe one day.. but i think mine certainly needs the alignment sorted as the wheels look abit positive and negative on the old cambers..
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on January 12, 2009, 09:30:52 AM
OK a couple of questions -
 
1.) What should the oil pressure read at on the dash pressure gauge? When cold and when warm? Mine seems to fluctuate.
 
2.) Exhaust systems - I hear a load of power can be free\'d up with these, but rarely see any for sale. Are the NA and TII systems the same cat-back [and interchangeable?]. Any power increase from fitting a TII system?
 
3.)Anyone breaking an FC, I need some trim bits? :)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on January 12, 2009, 10:26:58 AM
2) you free up most power by getting an aftermarket header and losing the emissions stuff. The racing beat header removes the baffles on the engine block (i think) and eliminates the cat. remove the air pump, and get a free flowing cat back and an air filter and its possible to see up to about 30bhp. I currently have a racing beat header and TII cat back. I did have a 3 inch single exit cat back with a jap can, but be warned, these get extremely loud
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: vonrumble on January 12, 2009, 11:30:41 AM
Roughly how much is a racing beat header and where from? :)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on January 12, 2009, 11:44:51 AM
not sure on price. mazda rotary parts sell it as they are a UK dealer for racing beat (or something like that) but i don\'t know if they will sell just the header. Rotechniks also are racing beat suppliers and i hear they have re-opened or are re opening. but when i tried to get a catback off them they said they could only sell me an entire system. Or you could go to racing beat direct in america http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda2.htm
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: lil ben on January 12, 2009, 11:46:11 AM
Quote from: Jord;5738093.)Anyone breaking an FC, I need some trim bits? :)

External or internal trim ? Let me know what you need and I\'ll see if I\'ve got it.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on January 12, 2009, 12:15:04 PM
Thanks dthebuk, useful info - I\'ll look into the air pump removal especially. This is a budget project so removing stuff is preferred over buying stuff :D
 
lil ben - I\'ll have a list done tommorrow, its mostly interior bits I need, like the sill trims and stock speakers etc.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: TiddlesRX7 on January 12, 2009, 12:35:02 PM
I might be able to help out with trim bits too if need be.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: yb52luo on February 05, 2009, 01:49:42 AM
i miss rex :(
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on February 05, 2009, 12:20:55 PM
I sent you a text yesterday Stew - did you get it - re: V5?
 
I\'ve had the 17x9.5 ET+12 wheels on the car, but need to wait for some slim wheel nuts to arrive as the RX ones are too fat and my slim Nissan ones are the wrong thread pitch. When I lined the wheels up they looked like they should fit with a bit of camber and a slight rear flare.
 
Otherwise I\'ve treated it to a clean and a fresh set of numberplates including a square front plate off to one side, looks better already.
 
I need some coilovers!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 05, 2009, 03:05:23 PM
pete is selling some for £350 i think

check the parts for sale section :D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: FlikstRR on February 05, 2009, 06:09:05 PM
might be able to have my turbo2 spoiler jord once i take if off if u like... need to see what dmg is done on removal etc..

planning on de-spoilering mine. My torques will be goin on my FC too rofl.. this gonna be funny.

Some good info on here.. ill be doin the same \'removal\' mods first too.  sound deadening,  abs/ air con (if it has one???) and other cheapo breathing mods etc..  Ben will be picking ure brain alot as well as beezy. :)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: FlikstRR on February 12, 2009, 06:06:10 PM
MANIC DAY today...


Will be doing a huge build thread on this one.. but for now..

Jord
I have a TON of interior gear if you want it.. but let me know fast before it gets  binned. I also have a rear spoiler and pretty much ANY Dash as i got practilly a whole cars worth of spares...


I have 2 radiators
1 intercooler
2 sets of mirrors
2 clutches + pressure plates (practically new)

..list keeps going!
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 12, 2009, 07:00:52 PM
what intercooler and what rad ?


:D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: m1tch on February 12, 2009, 07:25:35 PM
Quote from: FlikstRR;583894MANIC DAY today...


Will be doing a huge build thread on this one.. but for now..

Jord
I have a TON of interior gear if you want it.. but let me know fast before it gets  binned. I also have a rear spoiler and pretty much ANY Dash as i got practilly a whole cars worth of spares...


I have 2 radiators
1 intercooler
2 sets of mirrors
2 clutches + pressure plates (practically new)

..list keeps going!

Are they the TII mirrors? my passenger side mirror is damaged :(
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: FlikstRR on February 12, 2009, 09:27:21 PM
Yup TII everything.

I have a Custom made IC going on (or at least we are trying too) so the Standard TII one is up for grabs (2 of them infact)

same with the rads.. just boggo standard ones I think. Good nick tho.
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 13, 2009, 01:12:46 PM
ah ok, not interested, cheers anyway :D
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on February 15, 2009, 03:31:20 PM
Just need to claify something - will an aftermarket TII cat-back exhaust fit the stock system on an EGi?
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 15, 2009, 04:55:11 PM
yes i have one. whats currently on your egi? i may swap :D

edit: wait a tick i have a stock TII cat back on my egi
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 15, 2009, 11:45:59 PM
Jord are getting new wheels for the car? if so can i nab the stock wheels off of you?

i only need one but would be willing to buy two, maybe 4 if i have to, but don\'t really want to
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: Jord on February 16, 2009, 09:31:57 AM
I\'m after some more stock wheels for now as two of mine are fubared. So I need two :)
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 16, 2009, 01:09:00 PM
well i have 3 good wheels with 3 good tyres.....if i can find something aftermarket for cheap then i can sell you the set?
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: dthebuk on February 16, 2009, 01:14:05 PM
brett has a load, check my other post
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: vonrumble on February 16, 2009, 04:08:07 PM
Quote from: FlikstRR;583894MANIC DAY today...
 
 
Will be doing a huge build thread on this one.. but for now..
 
Jord
I have a TON of interior gear if you want it.. but let me know fast before it gets binned. I also have a rear spoiler and pretty much ANY Dash as i got practilly a whole cars worth of spares...
 
 
I have 2 radiators
1 intercooler
2 sets of mirrors
2 clutches + pressure plates (practically new)
 
..list keeps going!

 
 
The clutch need mine changing its slipping like a bitch also reverse light switch ....ed. Can you give me a price on a decent clutch below 150 and the reverse switch?
Title: A Newbie to FC3S
Post by: FlikstRR on February 16, 2009, 11:30:39 PM
Dont want to steal Jords thread.. I will be doing a for-sale thread tomorrow evening, so keep your eyes peeled. :)