www.RX7fb.com

Hello all,

My name is Aaron and I'm a long time lurker
I got this 82 GSL RX7 exactly a year ago with a Maria Mode One wide body kit on it and no engine/tranny. The car itself was in amazing condition having been in storage for more than 6 years.

Here is the car when i got her last year
[YouTube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9qW48HIkE4[/YouTube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9qW48HIkE4

Since then allot has happened, except paint Here are the parts so far, i kow i am forgetting lots of little things.. but you get the idea

[YouTube]CAkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAk-hLSrPPkhLSrPPk[/YouTube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAk-hLSrPPk

82 Mazda Rx-7
Mariah Mode One Wide body

S5 13b Turbo - Rebuilt & Street Port
RA 2mm SuperSeals
Mazda Springs, Side Seals/Springs
Atkins Solid Corner Seals, Viton oil rings
S8 Bearings, Customized 12A OMP & Cover
FB Oil Pan, FB Poly engine mounts
Atkins Dual Alt Pulleys
Racing Beat Front mount
FC Coils, RB Wires, NGK 7&9's

Champion 3 Core Aluminum Radiator
Flex a Lite 16" Slim Fan
CX Racing Oil cooler w/ custom -10 lines

Haltech E6K, 720cc & 1600cc Injectors
-6 & -8 Fuel lines, Aeromotive Filter
Aeromotive Phantom Stealth Intank 340lph pump
Aeromotive FPR & Gauge
RCI Custom 17gal Fuel Cell, New OEM Fuel level sender
Borg Warner S300sx w/ .88 AR Ex
Tial 44mm MVR Wastegate
3" Charge Pipes, HKS SSQ3 BOV
3" Downpipe/Exhaust

Stage 3 Clutch, Shortened S4 shifter linkage
Custom Driveshaft, GSL LSD Diff
FC Struts w/ Koni 8160 Adjustable Inserts
FC Spindles w/ 5 Lug, FC 4 piston brakes
Custom drilled 5 lug rear axles
Poly bushings all around
17x8.5 +15, 17x10.5 +20
Toyo Tires

Recaro Leather bucket seats
Defi Din Guages (oil pres, oil temp, water temp)
Innovate Motorsports SCG-1 (boos, A/F, Controller)

I have done some unique swaps from what i understand and thought i would share some of them.

FC 5 Lug & Coilover Swap
I took a very unique approach to the 5 lug swap, I used 626 ball joints in the lower control arms that are the same size as the FC ball joints, this allowed me to use the FC hub, spindle and brake assembly. I then used the stock FB inner tie rod and adjuster bolt, but then fitted adjustable outer tie rods to be able to adjust the bump steer etc.. you need to swap the FC spindles Left to Right for the steering knuckle to mount to the tie rods/steering on the FB.

Then i took the FC struts and cut em open, pulled out the stock shock, and got myself a pair of Koni 8160 yellow adjustable inserts and T3 coilovers and made myself some nice adjustable coilover suspension.

next was my gas tank mod, i couldnt find a good one locally, so i got a 17gal RCI tank found on ebay and its fits perfect into the stock location, i then used an aeromotive stealth 340lph phantom intank setup. works perfect, great solution for those looking for a new tank.


Anway, everyone love pics

here is when I first got the car a year ago..






And here is progress of the build and parts used, have hundreds of photos all over the web and more detailed write ups on different mods, will try to post and share all

Now that's how you introduce yourself!

Nice to see another Mariah kit.

What's the specs on the black centred wheels? GSL is 4x110 so always interested to see decent 4x110 wheels.

Great info on the FC strut swap. I'm hoping to convince someone else to do a swap. I've got a thread here about it:

http://rx7fb.com/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2710

What was the impact on the ride height and camber angle using this set up?

PS welcome lol

Hell of a car, dude! Awesome

Thanks guys, car is finally on the ground and driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrDXZcMJWPs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdyth4gaDxk

TOOL wrote:Now that's how you introduce yourself!

Nice to see another Mariah kit.

What's the specs on the black centred wheels? GSL is 4x110 so always interested to see decent 4x110 wheels.

Great info on the FC strut swap. I'm hoping to convince someone else to do a swap. I've got a thread here about it:

http://rx7fb.com/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2710

What was the impact on the ride height and camber angle using this set up?

PS welcome lol

those were 15" elipsons (15x8+10 15x9+0), wouldn't have cleared brakes and IMHO just looked too small on the Mariah kit with modern tires.. 17's seem the way to go IMHO.. I'm gonne be ditching these cheap ebay wheels for some works wheels eventually.

The FC struts setup.. I am using the FC strut tubes cut open and the insert removed and then used a Koni (8610) adjustable insert that in fixed from the bottom (had to drill a hole on the bottom of the FC strut tube) they are amazing, I am using T3 coilovers (250# springs) and T3 camber plates with spherical top hats etc.. Using the stock FB tension bolt, but RX2 outer tie rods which are slightly longer than the FB, but I still need more adjustability when it comes to lowering the tension rod to avoid bump steer.. (if you look very very carefully at the vid i posted of the mechanic backing the car out the garage, you'll see the wheel/tire turn as the other tire goes down out the driveway into the street.) - also the mate the FC spindle and brake to the FB/SA lower control arm, you need to remove the FB/SA ball joint and press in a 626 ball joint, (i tack welded it in) - the FC spring will not fit in the FB/SA chassis, you can use the FB spring i guess.

626 balljoint (555 part number)




The camber on the setup as it is sucks... its at dead 0* maxed out, but this is easily fixed a few ways, you can slot the top strut mount/camber plate mount holes and bring the mounting points further in.. as you are using a coilover for this setup, you have lots of room to do this. the other option (which i am going to do) is getting adjustable lower control arms, I am going to be using the T3 weld on adjustable LCA kit for the AE86 corolla and other makes. Also as you have swapped to McPherson struts you can get the Eibach and other make camber bolts for the struts, had these on my S13 and datsun B110 with S13 suspension swap and they work really well for about 1-2* extra, and on a FB/SA -2* front camber is allot with the stock steering

the rears are mustang koni adjustable (8041-1186SPT) with Racing beat lowing springs, very nice setup, very simple to install, i also plan on using the T3 rear strut shackles to lower the strut lower mount to get more travel as these Konis can be set very soft for the street and absorb all the bumps without unsettling the car.

AS per steering and the rest of the suspension, my plans are a bit grand. I will be swapping out everything in the rear for the T3 adjustable arms, adjustable sway bar and adjustable rear spring perch (another T3 part for the AE i think). The steering, I am keeping the rear mount geometry, but swapping in a manual steering rack from a Datsun 910 bluebird (if you want a power option you can use the S13 power rack) once mounted in the stock location of the OEM suspension, everything should remain the same, but allow the benefits of rack and pinion.

Lots to take in, I like to post lots of pics, but i see this forum you have to host photos, so i gotta upload my gallery to my server.. and come back and edit, oh and if someone can tell me how to post videos properly that wold be awesome

Cool. Epsilon mesh gotcha. Thanks!

15x9 looks huge in the back.

TOOL wrote:Cool. Epsilon mesh gotcha. Thanks!

15x9 looks huge in the back.

they looked huge cause i got em with 295/60R15's on them..
Now i'm running 17x8.5 +15 front and 17x10 +20 in the rear

OH and i am now looking back and I think you may have been referring to the 18" 5 star wheels (black with chrome lip)
those were off a FD, 18x9 +45 with like 2" spacers.. was only for rolling the car around with the big brakes and 5 lug already done, before i got the 17's.

Hey! Just popping in

I'm just lovine the car! sine last post, i;ve installed a bunch of T3 parts and have lots and lots of parts to install,

hilux 4.1 diff with a eaton LSD to install,
FC rear disc brakes and callipers (new fc front callipers and pads waiting too)
a MR2 electric power steering pump & fluid cooler. (will try it with the stock power steering box, then do the s13 rear power mounted rack
water meth kit,
fuel cooler
T3 weld in LCA camber kit
T3 rear drop shackles
T3 rear lower/upper and watts adjustable linkages.

when all this is done (along with some electrical work), the car will finally get paint hopefully before easter

What color?

some recent-ish pics

Hi Aaron,
this is an awesome build.... I've been following it on RX7club.com........ top work!
I'm doing a S5 TII swap on my car and was thinking of flipping the turbo manifold to get it away from the steering box..... I saw that you thought about doing that too..... any reason why you didn't and bought the J2 manifold instead?
That J2 manifold looks really great, I'd love one of those..... how did you get on with the downpipe clearing the steering box, I remember that you were a bit concerned about it, any issues?
Finally, have you got any idling issues without running the BAC, did you mod the throttle body?
Sorry for all the questions but it's great to learn from your experience building this car..... inspirational stuff bud!
For what it's worth, I'd go with black for a paint job.... all 1st gens look stunning in black but especially wide body cars.