LS1 Rx-7

[BOTLFEDLT1]

Glen,
I have similar respect for you as you as well. A lot of trash talk happens at the forums but rarely makes its way onto the tracks.
Mike

Originally Posted by SevPP

BOTLFEDLT1: You've got my respect for being one of the very few that actually gets out on a racetrack and has a go. So many people talk but never do sh1t.

Cheers, Glen.

[SevPP]

Thanks man. I actually had a track day on the weekend and since the RX7 is out of action (stripped, waiting for new suspension and brakes to arrive) I took out a dead standard '83 Celica and still managed to have a blast!

450-500rwhp is considered reasonably big rwhp in rotary circles but not entirely uncommon either. But considering the weight of the vehicles it comes in, that sort of power is good for low 10's without an issue (I'm talking in RX2/3/4, 1st gen 7s). These are 'generally' the rotaries most people will refer to here in Australia when rotaries are brought up in conversation. There is one guy on Ausrotary that ran a high 10 with only 270 odd rwhp in a 1st gen7 so massive power isn't needed in these cases. I'm gonna make an assumption that in the US/Canada it is more about FC's and FD's. These aren't as popular to modify due to weight (FC) and cost (FD).

The problem I see with many v8's with decent rwhp is that they weigh far to much, ie, the ls1 Commodores weigh in at around 1800kg(3960lb) iirc. An RX3 weighs in at 860kg (1892lb). But I guess comparing a 70's sport/economy car to a 90's/00's lsport/family car isn't the best comparrison.

I guess the packaging of the individual engines plays a big part of it....The reason behind the initial thread, in a way, I guess!

[BOTLFEDLT1]

You are right - most of the time in n/a, we are dealing with FC/FD's.

V8's can be made "reasonably light", depending on which platform and how far you are willing to whore your car out. Corvettes weigh 3100 lbs or so. Camaro's are heavier, but can be lightened if you are willing to strip it. The lightest 4th gen camaro I know of is 2800 lbs, but that is pretty drastic. I think the lowest you can get it and still have it look somewhat stock is 3100 lbs.

Originally Posted by SevPP

I guess the packaging of the individual engines plays a big part of it....The reason behind the initial thread, in a way, I guess!

This point was key. 3100 lb f-bodies have gone 10's with just heads and cam - imagine what you can do in an FD, which weighs considerably less to begin with let alone stripped, with the same motor....

[SevPP]

Originally Posted by BOTLFEDLT1

This point was key. 3100 lb f-bodies have gone 10's with just heads and cam - imagine what you can do in an FD, which weighs considerably less to begin with let alone stripped, with the same motor....

That a very good point. One problem I see is the irs rear end in the FD. Last time I checked F-bodies had a live rear axle (I don't keep up to date since we don't get these cars in Aus) which is easy to make work and is a known quantity. Supras obviously being a prime example of power down irs problems.

There is a number of FD's that have gone into the 11's (mid/high from what I've seen) with stock turbos/engine, Apexi Power FC, down pipe and free exhaust. Well heads/cams are equal to porting, so a 10 could be a (remote imo) possiblilty. These mods are again hard to compare. Porting doesn't cost much, but removing the engine/ pull down/assemble and re-install all adds up whereas the LS doesn't need to be removed for those mods-heads cam. I know the workshop I deal with charges ~$1200AUD (~$940USD)for FD engine removal without anything else! Prick of a job apparentlly.

What I'm getting at is that I think its possible that the FD could go 10's with what is essentially similar, basic (in theory) mods. But it is more work to do the modifications. But swapping engines completely, well I guess it kind of balances things out and really does swing things in favour of the LS when it comes to easy mods (fu(k I dunno if that makes sense!!!). But if you go to that trouble you can always go bigger mods on the 13b. It never ends eitherway

[Soup]

I think we finally came to the answer.

[s.c]

Originally Posted by Souperduck

I think we finally came to the answer.

are you telling me you know what this aussie cat is saying

[JDMRevolution]

originally i planned on writing a a long post, but after reading this whole thread....im tired..so ill jsut say this.

stock ls1>stock 13b

That is all.