1979 RX7 LS 5.3 + s400sx3 = (8.93 @ 153)

Chassis...

1979 Mazda rx7.

Currie 9 inch with 35 spine moser axles and spool.
Competition engineering ladder bars and wheelie bar.

2850 race weight.

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Motor mounts are done.

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LS1 is off to the machine shop.

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S400SX3 (75MM) with 1.10 housing.

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Got a little time to cut up and weld the manifolds. Used a mig and tri-gas. Actually welds nice, for me anyway. Played around with the cast steel manifold too. It seemed to weld great. I would have used them If I could find one that fit! Tried them all.

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Ended up facing the driver side manifold down. Barely squeaked by the steering. This view is looking up fron under the driver side.

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Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Nice! That thing is going to move!

What internals are going in the LS1?

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

lookin good

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

interesting build i wonder how the traction is going to be on that car

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Picked up an ls6 rotating assy with under 10k. Just cleaning the block and installing new cam bearings, checking surfaces, honing, etc. Then arp studs with LS9 gaskets. Once the kit is setup I plan on using junkyard motors and just swapping them out when they let go. 4.8/5.3 whatever I can find cheap. May even sell the LS1 if the price is right.

Nothing stellar unless I go to a 4-link I'm sure. Chassis only has a roll bar at the moment anyway. I plan on some really tall gears (2.91) and a 30-31" tire to make it highway friendly (running a glide). Shooting for 10.0 at 150.

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

can you tell me a little more about the "tri-gas" you used, and what material the vband rings are made out of that you're using on the exhaust manifolds? where did you buy them?

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Vband flanges are 304SS. Bought them on Amazon.com. Trigas is a helium mix used to weld SS. Usually 90% helium, 7.5% argon, 2.5% carbon dioxide. Can be bought at any welding gas supply.

Info on manifolds here.

https://www.theturboforums.com/smf/...ld-welding-suggestions/msg1554231/#msg1554231

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

did you use any special wire?

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Sweet build man.

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Nice, I was wondering what you were up to with all the LS posts on various forums. (If you don't know already, DSMs)

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Sexy man, I love it!!

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Sweet build. S480's are badass!

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

if you dont go 10.0's burn it to the ground! i just went 9.92@133 weighing 3100 with a 6.0 on 15lbs pumpgas.....you should be shooting for 9.0 lol

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Yea, thats a nice setup you've got! I was checking it out the other day. You've got the 1/8th dialed in pretty well to be in the 9's at 133 though... and I did say 10.0 @ 150...

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

lol still have more to sort on it and give the suspension on yours a little credit. should be able to hook up pett decent with some tinkering. hell a guy im friends with has gone mid 7's on a ladder bar/dr setup so they do work

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

With the back-to-back 100+ degree days progress has been slow. I did manage to cut a BFH in the fender. I think this will be the turbos new home. Was hoping for more room in the fenders, but these mazdas are tiny everywhere. Packaging is going to be the biggest obstacle with this thing. Also brought the harness in the basement to start on it. Should have it finished soon. The AEM EMS unit arrived as well.

I'll be running E85/E98. Still debating if I have enough room for an intercooler. If I go A/A up front I'm having a hard time finding a core that can flow 800hp worth of air in the limited to a 26x12' space. I suppose I could just deal with the horrible pressure drop across the core. Probably better than no IC at all. Been looking into W/A units too, but the only place I have room to mount it is in front of the radiator. I don't want to block the airflow since I feel I'm already in a bind with only enough room for an 21x20 radiator. So I'm torn. I really don't think I'll need the efficiency of a W/A unit w/ e85. Not to mention the added hassle of water tanks pumps and lines. Anyone know of a smallish IC that flows 1200cfm or so? I won't need to take a ton of heat out of the charge with the E-85. I can always add some water/meth injection down the road too.

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Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Temps here in KS finally dipped below the 100's.

The quick and dirty hotside is pretty much done. Still need to mount WG and I'm waiting on some 4" piping for the DP. I know the "T" style merge isn't the best way to go. It's actually not a direct 90* bend but it's close. I'll have the WG on the opposite side of the "T". Should work well enough for my goals.

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Wiring harness is done. AEM EMS is here and waiting. Radiator is mocked up and test fit. May need a larger unit. This ones core is 17x17x4.5" 3 core. It's an odd ball unit I picked up for $80 hoping it would work. If my math is correct on this radiator sizing chart it should work. Using the Taurus "super" fan as well so that should help.

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

Are you sure that is an 80mm? The 80s I have seen look much thinner around the inducer.

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

I was just thinking the same thing ...... my 80 is very thin.

 

Re: 1979 RX7 LS1 + S480

You are correct. It's been so long since I posted I for got to change it. Turbo was a craigslist special listed as a T4 s480 NIB from daves turbos. After contacting Dave he told me it was a 75mm S400SX3 with the smaller 83X74 turbine and 1.10 housing. Dave thinks the smaller exh. wheel will be a much better match for the stocker junkyard motors I'll run.