Help me estimate the weight of some RX-7 parts

Someone on the Mazda3 forum I frequent is willing to cut a killer deal on some FC RX-7 parts, including two JDM S5 13BT engines, three transmissions, a Turbo II rear end, new front brake calipers, and a near-complete black interior. He lives in St. Louis, which is 1200mi away from my home in Mass. but the price is worth it.

Here's my question: About how much do you guys estimate all of this stuff will weigh? Difficulty: I will have to cram it all into a Mazdaspeed3. The owner has a tow hitch from his old Mazda3 he's also willing to part with, so I could attach it to my MS3 and rent a small U-Haul trailer when I arrive. However, I'm still worried about overloading the MS3. I don't have a truck or SUV I can borrow for this.

Buy a harbor freight tiny trailer and assemble it on site.

MrJoshua wrote: Buy a harbor freight tiny trailer and assemble it on site.

With a small, single-axle trailer, do I have to get it registered and such?

RexSeven wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: Buy a harbor freight tiny trailer and assemble it on site.

With a small, single-axle trailer, do I have to get it registered and such?

You are supposed to. You have a really good story though so I wouldn't sweat it. I would even get the really reflective red/white tape to put across the back of the frame and fenders and skip lights. Flame suit-----On!

Is the RX-7 forum down? ;) I believe the FD Yamaguchi book has the S5 TII drivetrain weight. I once had it memorized, but my brain can't recall . I'm going to guess 350lbs for an engine (long block with accessories), 120lbs for a transmission, 75lbs for the diff. I'd imagine you can pull it in a trailer, but what does the owners manual say?

I found this. Icemark was THE FC guru (R.I.P.). I assume he means 13BT long block and transmission:

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=811881

Technically, you're not supposed to tow with a Mazdaspeed3... However, I can probably get all of that into either the trailer or the car minus the third transmission. The MS3's better brakes and torque ought to help.

Fly down rent truck drive back

(Just an idea...)

You can tow with anything, even a Smart car.

I'd guess it weighs about 1200 pounds on the high end, depending on how dressed the engines are and what type of transmissions they are. NA transmissions are way lighter than a turbo transmission.

If you want to stop by Raleigh and pick up an aluminum hood, s5 tail lights and an s4 sport spoiler, let me know.

Brett

noddaz wrote: Fly down rent truck drive back (Just an idea...)

Cheapest I can find so far would cost $855 to rent. That + airfare = Not happening.

Will the seller palliatize it all and ship it freight for a few bucks more?

Freight shipping looks too expensive too. Sounds like trailering is the way to go.

I would not go this far if it weren't a screaming deal. This is a Challenge-worthy deal!

fly down, buy $300 truck you find on the local CL.. load it up.. drive home..sell $300 truck for $500..

what could go wrong?

Pretty sure a T2 tranny weighs less than 120 lbs. That, or I'm a total stud. I've got a spare about 4 feet off the floor on a shelf and I put it there myself.

If you figure 1200 lbs, you should be in the ballpark, if a little high.

And hey, I want some S5 tails!

Come get the S5 tails. You'll get the super Grassroots Motorsports deal of a price I can't name on the internet because it is INSANE!

I think I might even have two sets ofs5 tails, but I'd have to look.

I have some other parts laying around, too. Like two sets of engine bolts, lock cylinders and a heap of misc. crap that I'd love to just give away.

Brett_Murphy wrote: Come get the S5 tails. You'll get the super Grassroots Motorsports deal of a price I can't name on the internet because it is INSANE! I think I might even have two sets ofs5 tails, but I'd have to look. I have some other parts laying around, too. Like two sets of engine bolts, lock cylinders and a heap of misc. crap that I'd love to just give away.

Raleigh, eh? That's pretty close to Richmond. Wonder if I could make it down and back before the kids got off the school bus....

novaderrik wrote: fly down, buy $300 truck you find on the local CL.. load it up.. drive home..sell $300 truck for $500.. what could go wrong?

Mass. doesn't issue temp. plates and requires you to insure any vehicle you put on the road?

I'm going to ask the seller a few more questions. IIRC, he said the engines were fresh from the Japanese wreckers, so they could still be on pallets.

And yeah, this screaming deal? $250. For the whole shebang. I had to ask if the seller was missing a 0, but he said it's either he sells it to me or they go to the scrapyard. Even if both motors turn out to be duds I can still flip everything.

RexSeven wrote:

novaderrik wrote: fly down, buy $300 truck you find on the local CL.. load it up.. drive home..sell $300 truck for $500.. what could go wrong?

Mass. doesn't issue temp. plates and requires you to insure any vehicle you put on the road? I'm going to ask the seller a few more questions. IIRC, he said the engines were fresh from the Japanese wreckers, so they could still be on pallets. And yeah, this screaming deal? $250. For the whole shebang. I had to ask if the seller was missing a 0, but he said it's either he sells it to me or they go to the scrapyard. Even if both motors turn out to be duds I can still flip everything.

what are these temp plates of which you speak? and insurance is easy if you go thru one of the bigger insurance companies- just get on their website and add the truck and drop it back off when you get home..