Track car research

[Innocent]

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

[BlitzBoy]

Im 5ft11 and I struggle, im looking into drilling extra holes so I can mount the seat rails further back

[mjwebb48]

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.

[Innocent]

then 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?

[logicalChimp]

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...

[Martiny]

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!)

[logicalChimp]

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...

[Innocent]

I 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

[logicalChimp]

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)

[Innocent]

Otherwise, 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?

[gmogle]

I think it is Bilstein but I dont think it is adjustable, the ones on the Spirit R arent.

[JohnnyP]

Don\'t forget you have to wear a helmet for track days. I\'m 6\'3" and headroom with a helmet is tight.

[FDRZRich]

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

[Archbish]

Im 5ft11 and I struggle

He\'s talking height, not width....:yes:Giggle

[Lil-Steve]

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