fd rx7 Archives

Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 29 – BRJ Radiator, GC Cooling Fans, and Hayden Auto Power Steering Cooler

Billy Johnson

Keeping a rotary engine cool is one of the keys for making them reliable. We designed one of the largest radiators ever made for an FD RX-7, keep it cool…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 27 – Fabricating the Exhaust with Vibrant Performance and SP Mufflers

Billy Johnson

Now that our turbo system is mounted, we started fabricating a 4” downpipe with recirculated wastegates and a 3.5” exhaust system for our FD RX-7 using SP Mufflers and Vibrant…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 25 – JP3 Motorsports RX8 A/C Upgrade

Billy Johnson

We upgrade the stock FD RX-7’s subpar A/C system with JP3 Motorsport’s A/C line kit that adapts the newer, more efficient, and more effective RX-8 A/C compressor and condenser to…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 16 – Installing the Ronin Ford 8.8 IRS Mount Kit using DSS Axles

Billy Johnson

We busted out the TIG welder and installed the Ronin Speedworks Ford 8.8” IRS Mounting Kit. Then we shipped off the subframe to get powder coated before installing the show…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 15 – Building the Ford 8.8 Differential with a Detroit Truetrac LSD and WPC

Billy Johnson

We take a junkyard Ford Explorer 8.8” differential and transform it by installing a Detroit Truetrac limited slip differential, hand deburr the ring and pinion gears, WPC treat the gears…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 13 – Porting the 13B REW

Billy Johnson

Increasing airflow and power can be achieved through different types of porting on a rotary engine. Each type has their own benefits and drawbacks, but there is a lot of…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 12 – Rotor Lightening, WPC and CTP Cryo Treatment

Billy Johnson

To kick off our engine build, we CNC-lightened the rotors of our 13B REW before shipping them off to be cryogenically frozen by CTP Cryogenics to improve strength and durability…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 11 – Engine Disassembly

Billy Johnson

We decided to tear down a 2,000-mile brand-new Mazda crate engine to turn it into one of the most highly-modified 13B REW engines on the planet. We started by removing…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 10 – Engine Fire Update

Billy Johnson

Owning an RX-7 is like riding a motorcycle. It’s not a matter of “IF” (the car catches fire) but rather “WHEN, and how bad?”. A small engine fire changed the…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 9 – Air Pump Removal and FFE Idler Pulley

Billy Johnson

To make a simpler and more reliable off-road (track-only) engine setup, we removed the factory Air Pump and Air Control Valve, then installed the Full Function Engineering Idler Pulley Full…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 7 -McLeod RST, the Ultimate Streetable Twin Disc?

Billy Johnson

For Project Restomod RX-7 we are taking a somewhat different approach to modding a car. We are striving to refine and elevate the FD RX-7 in every way to better…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 6 – Antigravity and MeleDesign Firm Battery Relocation

Billy Johnson

There are many reasons why relocating the battery should be one of the first modifications done to an RX-7. First off, electronics hate heat and there aren’t many engine bays…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 5 – Dry Ice Blasting Restoration

Billy Johnson

If you love your car and especially if you work on it, Dry Ice Blasting restoration is a MUST. Dry Ice Blasting is outright incredible. It is a cleaning process…

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Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 3 – SuperPro Front Swaybar and Steering Rack Bushings

Billy Johnson

We fix a bad clunk and steering issue with a stiffer SuperPro front swaybar and steering rack bushings. When Project FD RX7 Restomod was purchased, it had a pretty bad…

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Project FD RX-7 Restomod: Part 1 – Introduction

Billy Johnson

The 3rd generation (FD) Mazda RX-7 is one of the best driver’s cars to ever come out of Japan. Unfortunately, its turbocharged rotary engine has a bad reputation for being…