Has anyone put a Renesis into a 1st Gen RX-7
11-07-2010, 01:27 PM
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Has anyone put a Renesis into a 1st Gen RX-7
I just wanted to know if anyone has put a Renesis into a 1st Gen RX-7. I have been thinking about a swap like this for a long time now. If anyone can give me some info or even a link to somthing about this topic it would be a big help. Thanks.
11-07-2010, 02:51 PM
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11-07-2010, 03:07 PM
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First gen has timeless styling and very good handling for a strut front and solid-axle rear car. But it comes with barely 100 horses and all the quirks of a carbureted car. RENESIS would more than double that without a turbo.
11-07-2010, 03:44 PM
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It really needed more HP from 100hp 12a going too 232+! I remember when in May of '78 the RX-7 first came out. I had already had two RX-2's with 12a's and then two RX-4's with 13b's with 20+hp. I got the first one off the boat and loved it but....it was back to the weaker 12a. It was hard.....then the wife saw I had A/C and wanted it installed in my old "4" and it added so much weight to the front end it wasn't as fun to drive anymore.
11-07-2010, 04:44 PM
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You hit it right on the head with that one. A Renesis powered 1st Gen would offer me a number of benefits that include Power, Reliability, Drivability and Newer Technology in a old school car.
11-07-2010, 04:49 PM
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Last edited by secret8gent; 11-07-2010 at 04:51 PM.
11-07-2010, 05:01 PM
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It really needed more HP from 100hp 12a going too 232+! I remember when in May of '78 the RX-7 first came out. I had already had two RX-2's with 12a's and then two RX-4's with 13b's with 20+hp. I got the first one off the boat and loved it but....it was back to the weaker 12a. It was hard.....then the wife saw I had A/C and wanted it installed in my old "4" and it added so much weight to the front end it wasn't as fun to drive anymore.
11-07-2010, 05:07 PM
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11-07-2010, 09:04 PM
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11-08-2010, 07:21 AM
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Lots of services locally and online that will take your photos and digitize them for pennies a shot if you don't have a scanner or don't want to do it yourself. About $0.20 - 0.25 each for high-resolution scans.
11-08-2010, 08:26 AM
#14
My S2 was fun. The S3, with the bigger 13B less so. The thing just felt heavier. More than the 100 lbs that the SCCA had for the minuimum weights for the two cars.
The biggest problem putting a Renesis in a first gen 7 would be getting an engine computer to play nice. You would probably have to go with a motec.
Check my photo gallery for pictures of my 7's
The biggest problem putting a Renesis in a first gen 7 would be getting an engine computer to play nice. You would probably have to go with a motec.
Check my photo gallery for pictures of my 7's
11-08-2010, 11:52 AM
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11-08-2010, 03:03 PM
#20
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You could always install a big Hemi in it and get that 95/5 f/r weight distribution that makes a car handle so well! Actually a big V8 in that car might be appropriate. It still has a solid rear axle. 
11-08-2010, 06:28 PM
#21
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Because the first Gen 7's were just so damn pretty and had a great setup just no POWER!!!
I would do this in a heartbeat if money was available, I so miss my 84 GSL charcoal grey/ red leather.
I would do this in a heartbeat if money was available, I so miss my 84 GSL charcoal grey/ red leather.
11-08-2010, 08:33 PM
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If I were you I'd take a look at the 13BT from the FC or swap appropriate turbo parts on a FC n/a block. That swap is well documented on the RX-7 forum, less expensive and easier (swap the front cover from a FB engine and it mounts up fairly easily). The power potential is greater as well. With the stock turbo you can be in the high 200HP range easily. Go with a nice GT30 or GT35 setup and you've got a psychotic car. The downside is that the cheaply available parts are getting pretty tired. Honestly, I don't think the Renesis gets better fuel economy either.
11-09-2010, 09:30 AM
#24
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The Renesis gets much better fuel economy. The problem with people's perceptions of it is based on the fact that it is in a 3000# car as opposed to a 2500# car and in a car that has such a worthlessly aggressive rear end gear ratio that it is always at a higher rpm than it needs to be. This was done to get all that extra weight moving. If you put a Renesis in a light car like a 1st gen RX-7 with far more realistic and useful gearing, that car would get great gas mileage. 30+ on the highway would be no problem and 20+ in normal city driving would be doable as well. The engine is actually quite nice. It just needs to be installed in a vehicle that can showcase it for what it does well.
11-09-2010, 10:25 AM
#25
The Renesis gets much better fuel economy. The problem with people's perceptions of it is based on the fact that it is in a 3000# car as opposed to a 2500# car and in a car that has such a worthlessly aggressive rear end gear ratio that it is always at a higher rpm than it needs to be. This was done to get all that extra weight moving. If you put a Renesis in a light car like a 1st gen RX-7 with far more realistic and useful gearing, that car would get great gas mileage. 30+ on the highway would be no problem and 20+ in normal city driving would be doable as well. The engine is actually quite nice. It just needs to be installed in a vehicle that can showcase it for what it does well.
Paul.