I finished the mechanical and interior and just have to get it repainted over the winter. Its been done and seems pretty bulletproof over several thousand miles of driving it. The NA 3 rotor motor has been simplified a good bit and the more trick things were a big waste of time and money. We misjudged the level of machining necessary to add the 3rd plugs and primary and secondary throttle butterflies. So, we eliminated them. The motor is now a fairly straightforward NA motor with ITB\'s and a fair amount of porting. Still a fairly lux-touring exercise, since at age 66 I\'m less into track mode. Heck, I can barely turn the steering wheel at parking speeds with the Atomic Rex manual rack...
G
Here\'s a few pictures of the engine bay.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2109_zps565c945c.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2109_zps565c945c.jpg.html)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2110_zps4d838436.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2110_zps4d838436.jpg.html)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2111_zps564cacde.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2111_zps564cacde.jpg.html)
The dual in-bumper exhaust works well and there\'s been no issue with heat. The aluminum under valance has lasted pretty well. The sound is great.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2059_zps2ab44675.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2059_zps2ab44675.jpg.html)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2061_zps28c7b77b.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2061_zps28c7b77b.jpg.html)
The front aluminum grille surround has gotten a few nicks from stones, but held up pretty well.
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2067_zpsa9b05682.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2067_zpsa9b05682.jpg.html)
Wheels are off my old 1994 Porsche Turbo...
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2073_zps66b994de.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/IMG_2073_zps66b994de.jpg.html)
All leather interior and modded Spirit R seats are comfy...
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Interior%20Photos/IMG_0141.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Interior%20Photos/IMG_0141.jpg.html)
That engine is soooo beautiful!!!! :) Car looks awesome too, I like those wheels
A shame the trick modifications didn\'t work out, it\'s always good to try something new even if the end result isn\'t what you hoped it was going to be.
Car looks great. Will the car be finished once painted or can you not resist the temptation to tinker with it?
A perfect FD
Love this build
re_japi... Thanks much. I like the looks without the socks better, but worry about getting something in there.
Gordon
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%20Presentation%20Photos/20130512_205805_zps61089593.jpg) (http://s234.photobucket.com/user/gmonsen/media/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%20Presentation%20Photos/20130512_205805_zps61089593.jpg.html)
Grant... Honestly, the problem with machining could be overcome, but I just don\'t want to redo everything now. :( But the car drives great and pulls very well everywhere. There is about 240 foot pounds from 2000-7000 rpm. To make up for some things not working, I really opened up the exhaust ports more than I wanted and sacrificed a little civility at idle, but I\'ve decided I like the sound so much that screw it. If you haven\'t already seen these quick takes, click on the videos below and you\'ll see what I mean.
Gordon
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/th_MVI_2107_zpsc95872ed.mp4) (http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/MVI_2107_zpsc95872ed.mp4)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/th_MVI_2108_zpse765cc09.mp4) (http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee255/gmonsen/Mazda%20Rx7/Rx7%2007-20-14/MVI_2108_zpse765cc09.mp4)
Sounds lovely and that sort of torque spread must be nice for driving on the road especially as it\'s not exactly a heavy car.
Looks wicked, out of interest what\'s your mpg?
Had heard that 3 rotors were awful, and wondered your experience as done quite a few miles
Marf... Thank you very much. I bought my first one new in 95 and had Peter Farrell tune it, then tried Hitachi T25\'s keeping it seq. Then, went single in 1998 with a T78. I bought this R1 in 02 and went 20B NA over the next few years. Tried a lot of stuff. I wanted this to be a more upscale car thinking of Aston\'s "Gentleman\'s Express".
Will66... The sound was really important to me. Thanks. The fact that NA rotary torque is essentially completely flat across the entire power band (say 2000-7500+). This may be extraneous, but the issue I had with a lot of power from the turbo 2 rotor was that you could see torque go from 125 ft lbs to 300 ft lbs in 1500 rpm, for example. That makes for some real control issues when either road racing on track or on back roads. With NA, the torque is always the same everywhere and you can move your foot a little bit and the motor responds just as much as you told it to. Also, you note the car isn\'t that heavy. My car weighs less than stock despite the 20B and the leather interior and a sub enclosure.
CharlieP... Hehehe. I get about 18 mpg and that\'s fine with me. I got less with the single turbo.
Sounds and looks awesome aye! Nice work building this beast :)
Thanks, Hobbawobba.
Gordon
Whatz up everyone, is it capable of making an NA eninge in a 3 rotor NA, and if yes how can this be done, thanx!!
Thanks,
Alfie Stewart
Bike Accident UK (http://www.mc-ams.co.uk/)