1980 S1 RX7

chud · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:28 pm

Hey guys,

I don't usually post outside the walls of the UK scene apart from the odd one on rx7club but as I recognise a few of the rotors off ausrotary I thought I'd slap my rig up into the mix too. She's a 1980 SA originally from Switzerland so LHD and what was most important to me apart from being a S1 was that it's got no sunroof and wind up windows.

I'll just throw some pics up shall I.....

Cheers all, loving your work.

Camshaft · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:50 pm

I'm in love. Wow. :shock:

chud · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:23 pm

Camshaft wrote:

I'm in love. Wow. :shock:

Thanks. It took a while to get to this point but love it to death.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:55 pm

Right well now I've a bit more time to elaborate I'll tell the story so far. It all started with an S2 called Nev who I picked up off ebay for super cheap with a blown engine. Really tidy and in Maya Gold.

Farted around in him like this for a couple of years and then plans were spoke of over a couple of beers to make him a bit quicker.

Into the shed he went and started a bit of this...

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:57 pm

Meanwhile some bits were gathered.

Series 4 13BT (low comp rotors :tu:

)

Also....
GSL-SE sump
12AT front cover

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:00 pm

So now I had the basic ingredients required and got going. Engine was of unknown health but was said to be running great when pulled so was a bit of a gamble but was cheap. Turbo was known to make great boost anything over 3rd gear so suspect wastegate was apparent but would do for the minute due to budget.

Transporting between workshop and shed hillbilly styles.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:01 pm

And in it went.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:05 pm

The shopping continued - scored the exhaust off the same car the turbo came off so all made ready to fit...

Cosworth intercooler - got a bit carried away but figured I'd make it fit somehow.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:19 pm

And a Microtech LT8 until I can afford a Link. Any time I was at home but not in the shed was spent at the dinner table making the wiring loom for the M'tech.

Camshaft · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:21 pm

More, please! I'd ask about the RX2 but I don't want you to get off topic.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:29 pm

Around this time thought I'd better set about seeing if the intercooler would fit anywhere. Turns out it would, but needed a little help. The brackets had to come off and be welded at right angle as it would have to sit angled forward quite a bit.
Then I drilled and tapped the chassis rail and sat it on rubber mounts...at this point I'd like to slap up loads of pictures but I keep getting told my images are too high hence the number of seperate posts lol.

Anyways, after some swearing it was in there.

Loom had started to go in by this point too with ecu hiding in glovebox.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:33 pm

Because of my lack of space thanks to the stupid intercooler I bought, fans were tricky to get. In the end I went to a breakers with a tape measure and scored whatever would fit - this turned out to be a set off a eurobox hatchback but they are very pokey so good enough.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:34 pm

With this build, the interior wasn't in the car so gearstick position wasn't too much of an issue, it came out 20mm too far back as expected so the whole was 'adjusted' to suit.

Onwards - intercooler piping done and oil cooler piped up and mounted...

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:43 pm

Fuel system was led by a Bosch 044 and swirl pot with stock pump taking lift pump duties. I foolishly put all of this in the rear spare wheel well area - anyone who's lived with an 044 will tell you this is stupid as they are loud! This was changed but more of that later.

Meanwhile - test fire!

Then a bit of road mapping with nothing but enthusiasm and an Innovate AFR meter.

And that was that, for a year....

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:11 pm

He served me well in that year, we went to many shows and had lots of fun. This was until he gained the effections of a pickup truck.

Damage wasn't major, but he didn't drive right and on closer inspection discovered that the lower arm was a touch bent.

:shock:

Around this time I'd been sniffing around a Series 1 which I'd known about for 10 years, it'd been sat in a local rotorshed for 18 years and I formulated a plan to extricate her. The 12A in her had not taken the 18 year sabatical too well so this is where two plans collided.

In with the deal came another Series 1 - not looking too happy with life but a good score all the same...

So got them home, bit of scrubbing later I had this...

And very pleased I was too!

While all this was happening I pulled the 13BT out of Nev and put him in the shed to await some attention (somewhen!), but not before inviting a couple of mates over and going for the weekend 13BT swap challenge.

The gearstick position would also be altered for this swap as after the brain destroying experiences of Nev without interior I was well over that.

And a little bit of timelapse fun...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLb7kfWzDYs

You may remember the problems with the wastegate - this was sorted with a rebuild of the bushings...

And all slapped in. That brings us up to date really, with the edition of the SSR's and fenders. Thanks for reading.

chud · **Posted:** Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:13 pm

Camshaft wrote:

More, please! I'd ask about the RX2 but I don't want you to get off topic.

No worries dude! It belongs to a mate, I was storing it for him - alas not mine. :roll:

silverarrow · **Posted:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:14 am

Mmmm mmmm. Loving your JDM style. Ticks all the boxes. Slammed, arched, SSR wheels with dish. And all on a Series 1 RX7. Hard to beat in my book.

Keep up the good work.

1980 S1 RX7

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