Hi All,
This is my first time posting on here, after a while of lurking. I\'m very much considering purchasing an SA22C and converting it to 13B power. (Hence my great interest in the chronicles of a 13B swap thread, great going Captainbizzaro.)
I do however have a few questions.
How much work would be involved to fit an FD gearbox to an SA22C ?
Would a Moroso sump aid fitment of the 13B engine (lower one on this page http://www.moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?CatCode=10940 ?)
Would the Racing Beat front engine mount negate the need to use a 12A front plate?
http://www.racingbeat.com/RX7-1975-1985/Engine-External/11832.html
(I just noticed RB sell an early 13B oil pan, so the Moroso sump question doesn\'t need much of an answer).
Many Thanks, and please excuse my ignorance if there is a definitive page or thread telling me all the answers about SA22C 13B swaps.
Hi,
welcome to the forum!
the tried and tested sump for this conversion is to use the American spec GSL-SE sump as this will bolt straight up and clear the 1st gens front cross member.... no point trying to re-invent the wheel IMO!
Most 13b engines available in the UK are from 2nd gens ( 1986 onwards) and I don\'t know how useful that mount would be with these engines.
.
well you learn something every day, i never knew that the first gen was also known as an SA22C, and i have owned 4 of them.
It is failry easy to put a 13b into a first gen as long as you are not fitting a turbo. Dont bother using an FD gearbox, just go for a turbo 2 gearbox, it uses a centre chassis mount rather than the power plant frame the fd uses and fits straight in the car, has a proper clutch and is stronger and cheaper.
You dont need to mod the sump either, and as for engine mounts, i made brackets for the 13b engine mounts to attach to the subframe, it is better than messing around mounting from the front plate. There is a reason mazda stopped using the front plate to mount the engine 30 years ago.
You just need to be able to do some basic fab work and you shouldnt have a problem.
Hiya mate, firstly that sump-I don\'t reckon that\'d fit as the steering link bar runs right across the front of it and going by the side view technical diagram there doesn\'t look to be enough of a cutaway. You\'d need a sump from a US spec GSL-SE which I think Pip at WGT has a few of. In my thread it shows an RX4 sump as we thought that\'d fit but alas it wouldn\'t.
With the front mount I wouldn\'t bother with the expense of that as you can pick up a 12A front cover for bobbins and then you just tap an oil return from the turbo into the side of it.
Glad you\'re enjoying the thread, anymore questions just ask.
Thanks very much all for your quick replies:)
How about brake upgrades? With relevent associated mods, can FC3S hubs be used? (plus 5 stud wheels too?)
Quote from: antnicuk;750123well you learn something every day, i never knew that the first gen was also known as an SA22C, and i have owned 4 of them.
I wondered if Shellac didn\'t mean a 1st Generation car in general rather than an \'SA\'?
We\'ve worked out some time back that the Series 1 was an \'SA\' without a doubt and I for one just assumed that the Series 2\'s and 3\'s were all \'FB\'s\'.
Then a few weeks ago 2 fairly early series 2 cars came up also listed as \'SA\'s\' so I\'ve taken to thinking that the S1\'s and just an early few of the S2\'s were \'SA\'s\' - all the later cars from about 1981/82 being \'FB\' series 2\'s and on into S3\'s as all being FB\'s.
The thing is Shellac, it\'s going to be a bit harder to find an SA than an FB.
Confusing I know - if you know exactly what you want already Shellac that\'s great and apologies for the boring bit.
What kind of bhp are you planning on running ? I\'ve still got a S3 gearbox fitted to my 13b but it is only running 125bhp at the flywheel.
Shaun
Quote from: David Nock;750225I wondered if Shellac didn\'t mean a 1st Generation car in general rather than an \'SA\'?
We\'ve worked out some time back that the Series 1 was an \'SA\' without a doubt and I for one just assumed that the Series 2\'s and 3\'s were all \'FB\'s\'.
Then a few weeks ago 2 fairly early series 2 cars came up also listed as \'SA\'s\' so I\'ve taken to thinking that the S1\'s and just an early few of the S2\'s were \'SA\'s\' - all the later cars from about 1981/82 being \'FB\' series 2\'s and on into S3\'s as all being FB\'s.
The thing is Shellac, it\'s going to be a bit harder to find an SA than an FB.
Confusing I know - if you know exactly what you want already Shellac that\'s great and apologies for the boring bit.
Not at all boring, thanks for pointing out the roughly where one ends and the other begins. You\'re right in thinking that one of the cars had expressed an interest in was indeed advertised as an SA22C. Therefore unequipped with the knowledge you have provided assumed it was such. I had worked out myself that later Gen 1 RX-7\'s were FB\'s, but had no idea where this designation started and began.
Quote from: shaunwil;750226What kind of bhp are you planning on running ? I\'ve still got a S3 gearbox fitted to my 13b but it is only running 125bhp at the flywheel.
Shaun
I\'m thinking Shaun that I would need a Turbo II gearbox.
Quote from: Shellac;750256Not at all boring, thanks for pointing out the roughly where one ends and the other begins. You\'re right in thinking that one of the cars had expressed an interest in was indeed advertised as an SA22C. Therefore unequipped with the knowledge you have provided assumed it was such. I had worked out myself that later Gen 1 RX-7\'s were FB\'s, but had no idea where this designation started and began.
forget the chassis numbers.... all you need to know is that 1st gen production is broken down into 3 series in the UK...... series 1. 2. & 3.
If you\'re intending to modify it for more performance, you\'re best starting off with a series 3 as they have uprated brakes, a better pcd giving you more wheel options and other factory fitted mods that all help
Quote from: Shellac;750258I\'m thinking Shaun that I would need a Turbo II gearbox.
Depends if your running it with a turbo I would have thought. The gearbox I have is the original that came with the car and it could have done 145k miles, I know for a fact it has done about 30k, because I have done that with the 13b !
I\'m not all that soft on the car either, I like to show people up who try get past me at the lights in bog standard new cars !
Shaun
Mazda MX5 Gearbox can also be used.Some small amounts of machineing and swap the centre section of the MX box for the rxbox = better ratios
Brake upgrades. Why? After years of campaining my circuit car on std discs with upgraded pads I never ever had a problem. If you were doing 20 lap races with 250bhp and dicing for position then yes go for an upgrade( fully adjustable pedal box(easier than it sounds, been there done that) and some 4 pot willwoods or similar)
But with more power you will want better handling.
GAZ will do adjustable coilovers for the front for about £130 a corner. Ring them first to check on the price. No bulk order needed.
Upgrade anti roll bars and rear shocks(bilstien Ford escort GP4 non coilover items fit straight in and uprated springs
Any ways enjoy
I also have a factory manual from mazda touring car days with suspension geometry setting somewhere gathering dust
Cheers
Brian
If you could dig out and scan that manual Brian, I\'d be very interested to have a look!