Rotary Obsession – FD3S Mazda RX-7 Turbo Track Car
By Stephen Oyoung, Photography by OR Staff
Some people swap cars as often as the seasons. Sometimes it’s the looks that bother them, sometimes they run into more problems than they originally anticipated, and sometimes they’re just tempted by the proverbial fruit of another. Brad White is not one of those people.
The San Bernardino, CA resident has been a longtime third generation (FD3S) Mazda RX-7 enthusiast and has stuck with this 1993 project for years. An ardent fan of the platform since its release so many years ago, White bit the bullet after doing research with numerous magazines and books.
Much of his inspiration came from Japan, where the Mazda RX-7 is a popular competition-racing machine. Even to this day, despite its age, the third generation RX-7 enjoys a very large following among track day enthusiasts.
Never one to be satisfied with a “stock RX-7”, White began his adventure with simple modifications – a 1999 front lip, K&N air intake, custom exhaust and some Volk Racing wheels. But as any enthusiast will tell you, when the bug bites, it bites hard.
White daily drove his RX-7 to work and back, never wanting to miss a minute of the driving enjoyment. Two C-West body kits would come and eventually meet their fate to the harsh California roads. The engine also went after being upgraded with a RE Amemiya air intake, Tsudo downpipe, Pettit Racing ECU and HKS boost controller.
After an accident with the car, White decided that it was time to do things the right way. Although he briefly considered the roaring joy of a V8 engine swap, he decided to stick with the 13B-REW rotary powerplant. R&R Rotary Specialist rebuilt the two-rotor engine with 3mm apex seals and a street port. Inching closer to racecar territory, the Mazda’s emissions, power steering and air conditioning systems were all removed as well. The stock twin-turbocharger system was re-installed, converted to boost non-sequentially, but didn’t produce as much power as White liked. The final answer was a huge single GReddy T78 turbocharger kit.
Fed by a GReddy stainless exhaust manifold, the turbo then blows into a GReddy downpipe and out a custom 3-inch exhaust system. Compressed air is forced into a CXRacing intercooler, which is v-mounted with a Fluidyne aluminum radiator for more efficient airflow across the two heat exchangers. High oil temperatures on track, a known RX-7 problem area, are kept in check with dual CXRacing 25-row oil coolers. Boost is controlled using a GReddy 50mm external wastegate and an electronic E-01 PRofec boost controller.
Turbocharged rotary engines are known to be weak against heat and nothing gets things cooking quite like a bunch of hot lap at the track. With HPDE and track days on the menu, White knew that he had his work cut out for him. Massive 1300cc/min RC Engineering fuel injectors and a MSD ignition box help keep adequate fuel flowing and igniting, while the engine runs with a custom JRX Rotary-tuned A’PEXi Power FC standalone ECU. An AEM water/methanol injection kit is also on hand to help cool the intake charge with its fine mist.
Of course, at the track, power isn’t everything. Numerous corners link road courses and poise is just as important as horsepower. The third generation FD3S-chassis Mazda RX-7 is already a potent platform with aluminum suspension arms and a double wishbone setup. White added Tokico HTS adjustable dampers, which allow him to cruise softly on the street and also crank it up for the track. Racing Beat front and rear swaybars are also on board to limit body roll and fine-tune the balance of the car when on track. The factory brakes, already fit with front four-piston fixed brake calipers, are simply augmented with slotted Brembo rotors and EBC brake pads.
With bodylines that are still attractive to this day, the third generation Mazda RX-7 remains a highly sought after project car. Used car prices have stabilized at quite a high level for this car, speaking volumes about its current popularity and rarity. Following his accident with this RX-7, White decided to repair and rebuild the car instead of merely junking it. A Final Konnexion front bumper is mixed with Vertex side skirts and a Vertex rear bumper.
The updated look was then finished off with 1999 front marker lights and RE Amemiya projector headlights. Karmotion was tapped for the lightweight carbon fiber hood and hatch, which helped shave a few pounds, and APR Performance for the carbon rear wing, which is helpful at such high speed tracks as California Speedway.
Underneath the body kit, carbon hood and hatch, custom splitters and giant carbon wing lays a potent track machine. Just because this car happens to have style and looks doesn’t mean that it’s a slouch at the track. Besides the upgraded engine and stiffer suspension, this Mazda is sporting an Autopower six-point roll cage (with a removable front half), MemoryFab carbon bucket seats and five-point harnesses. It’s quite literally ready to get a fire extinguisher and kill switch to get ready for racing.
Working towards his goal of road racing and time attack with his Mazda RX-7, White has brought this car out to such local Southern California racetracks as Buttonwillow Raceway and California Speedway. Every car, especially a project car, has a few teething issues along the way. Brad White has stuck by his Mazda RX-7 through engine failure, accidents, numerous parts and the notoriously tricky maintenance of a rotary engine. And now he finds himself with a track-ready turbocharged Mazda RX-7. Sometimes obsessions do pay off.
ENGINE: 3mm apex seals, street porting, GReddy T78 turbo, 50mm racing wastegate, SUS turbo manifold, 3.5-inch down pipe, under drive pulleys and compression tube (throttle body elbow), HKS 50mm racing BOV, AEM water/methanol injection kit, CXRacing v-mount intercooler and dual 25-row oil coolers, Fluidyne radiator, MSD 6A ignition box, Cusco oil catch can, Carbing cooling panel, NGK plugs, Accel 8mm plug wires, custom 3-inch exhaust, Thermo-Tec turbo blanket and heat shielding, Amsoil lubricants.
ENGINE MANAGEMENT: A’PEXi Power FC ECU w/ Commander, 550cc/min primary injectors, 1300cc/min RC Engineering secondary injectors, 255lph Walbro fuel pump, AEM UEGO wideband O2 sensor, GReddy E-01 boost controller.
DRIVETRAIN: Exedy Stage 1 clutch kit
SUSPENSION: Tokico HTS adjustable dampers, Tein springs, Racing Beat swaybars and front swaybar brace, TCS tower braces, Megan Racing rear trailing arms.
BRAKES: Brembo slotted rotors and EBC pads.
WHEELS: Work VS-XX, 17×8.5 (F), 17×9.5 (R)
TIRES: Yokohama AVS ES100, 235/40R17 (F), 255/40R17 (R)
BODY: Final Konnexion front facia, Vertex side skirts and rear bumper, Karmotion carbon fiber hood and hatch, APR Performance carbon fiber mirrors and rear wing, RE-Amemiya projector head lights and tail light cover, ‘99 spec front bumper marker lights, Carbon Creations carbon fiber canards, Sparco hood pins, Rennen tow hooks.
INTERIOR: MemoryFab carbon fiber S58 racing seats, MOMO Monte Carlo steering wheel, GReddy shift knob, Autopower 6-point roll cage, 5-point racing harnesses.
Sources
Tokico Shocks
www.hitachi-hap-la.com/TokicoGasShocks
VIP All Access Energy Drinks
www.vipenergydrinks.com
CXRacing
www.Cxracing.com
Momentum GT
(951) 402-9941
wwwMomentumGT.com
Route66.net
Biggheds Parts & Accessories
(760) 927-0469
www.biggheds.com
Sweet car. Looks great.