RX7 Hillclimber Build Thread

what are you doing different with the pedals and why?

Thanks!

Rob R.

Getting rid of the stock boosted brakes (engine won't make much vacuum anyway) and I'd like to be able to change the bias as well. Floor mount will make it easier when I expand the cage into the front end as I'll have nothing attached to the firewall to relocate.

Plus this way I can move the seat, and my weight, a little further back in the car to help with distribution. This can have some real effect given the 200lb lump that will be occupying the driver's seat.

Third reason - because they're awesome and I got a good deal on them.

Plus you'll get a bigger crumple zone if you relocate the seat back.

Not that you'll need it of course

I don't want to think about crashing this thing yet hahaha

Found some cool videos illustrating how different LSDs work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEdnH7_7_yc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeLm7wHvdxQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEiSTzK-A2A

What pedal set up are you getting, show us your bling!

DaveEstey wrote: Getting rid of the stock boosted brakes (engine won't make much vacuum anyway) and I'd like to be able to change the bias as well. Floor mount will make it easier when I expand the cage into the front end as I'll have nothing attached to the firewall to relocate. Plus this way I can move the seat, and my weight, a little further back in the car to help with distribution. This can have some real effect given the 200lb lump that will be occupying the driver's seat. Third reason - because they're awesome and I got a good deal on them.

Watching this with excitement. Please take many pictures. I'm planning on doing a pedal cluster in the civic similar to what you seem to be implying. Not for any particular reason that I love floor mounted pedals and it's my "race-car."

Adrian_Thompson wrote: What pedal set up are you getting, show us your bling!

Not buying from these guys, but Wilwood disabled hotlinking.

-5 degrees out so the cars came inside for the night where it's in the mid-20's thanks to a small electric space heater running on low.

I hope the Prius doesn't rub off on the Mazdas.

Why does the gas pedal need a hydraulic cylinder?

It doesn't. That's two masters on the brake pedal. Photo makes it look like one is on the gas.

it really does...

If you follow the shaft up it leads to the balance bar on the brake pedal

In reply to DaveEstey:

I think he was agreeing, saying the photo "really does" make it look like one is on the gas. I thought the same thing initially also, it took pulling it up on the wilwood site before I could tell what was going on.

Twenty degrees WITH space heater?
Berkeley that, I start complaining when it drops to 20 degrees outside

SnowMongoose wrote: Twenty degrees WITH space heater? Berkeley that, I start complaining when it drops to 20 degrees *outside*

Very small heater. With my main heater running I can have it in the 50's easily and 60's if I want it there.

Got the trans tunnel cleaned up and painted in prep for the drivetrain going in the car, which should be soon since Mazda finally accepted my race results and let me order parts. Apparently they've been busy dealing with cheaty Miatas...

Then I decided it was a lovely day and I needed to make some smoke:

I cut out some more sheet metal and did a lot of cleanup in prep for the radiator mounts going in.

Oh look, I made a spot for my battery where the jack mounted too! I left the tow points for easy rear diffuser mounting later on.

Question for the masses. I'm back in parts buying mode as I gear up to start putting stuff back into the car.

I'm reusing the factory solid fuel lines, but getting to them and them from then to the regulator etc is a question. I don't feel like shelling out for steel braided everything, but I want better than normal fuel line giving the temperatures this thing can crank out. Any experience with this stuff?

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=3290

I'm on the hunt for a TII starter as well. The drivetrain will be going back in the car this weekend.

Bah I just sold my rebuilt t2 starter. You should have told me!

DaveEstey wrote: Any experience with this stuff? https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=3290

I used Fragola's Series 8000 textile/braided stuff for pushlok fittings - rated for 300F/300 psig. Stout stuff - comparable to what you found at Pegasus. Only issue for me is that it was not rated to limit permeability and the smaller molecules "osmoze" ( grin ) their way right through the hose. No leaks of liquid - just a never ending smell of gasoline/fuel in any enclosed space the car was parked in - like my garage. Ended up taking it all off and going with hard aluminum lines (with proper hangers) and SAE30R9 rated hose for the flex connections on either end. No more smell.

So I'd have some questions for Pegasus or the manufacturer's rep about that -- if you don't want the nice new workshop strongly smelling of fuel.

Awesome feedback. Thank you

Once again this thread is of interest to me. Between the problems my RX-8 has been giving me and the articles on hill climbing in the mag, I've decided I'm going to build a car, and I figured an FC would be a good place to start.

Hill climbing will ruin you in all the right ways.

My first experience with cars/racing was my dad taking me to see "TV Tommy Ivo" and his 4-engined 4wd dragster at a 1/4 mile track in Augusta, GA in 1961. My second experience was dad taking me to see cars race in a hill climb in Hockenheim, Germany in 1962/63. Definitely ruined me in all the right ways.

Edit - got me researching - the Ivo machine was at Augusta International on Nov. 5th, 1961, but was being driven by Ron Pellegrinni as the movie/TV studios didn't want Tommy driving such a dangerous machine. Some things don't change.

Today I was offered two running FC RX7's for $2k.

One is a good runner, the other likely needs a transmission. I'm thinking of buying the cheaper of the two and turning it into a Lemons car teammate for our Datstang

Both for 2k, or 2k each?