I still have the SC300 as well, but bought a new toy to play around with and drive more often.

Not much to see really, it looks totally stock inside and out.

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/4333/minidsc004666rv.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/8571/minidsc004674kn.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/4860/minidsc004687xt.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5676/minidsc004699qr.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/664/minidsc004704ny.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/498/minidsc004716wi.jpg

First mod to come: conversion to auto.

-Ethan[/list]

Nice looking sleeper!

What does the dyno numbers look like?

My fried had a totaly abused 280Z with an Oldsmobile V8 that would pull wheelies from a stop.

Holy crap, that thing must scoot. Have you dynoed it yet? Where do you live Ebanks? I heard on STLstreetracing.com a year or two ago that a LSI RX7 was in the works somewhere in the Columbia, MO area. I'm guessing maybe thats your car.

I can't imagine how people react when u pull up to a stoplight and you have this deep, throaty roar coming from the exhaust.

I have to ask though... has the handling significantly suffered? I'd think changing out the tiny Wankel for the massive 5.7L has had to affect the weight distribution and such.

Sweet ride!

Holy crap, that thing must scoot. Have you dynoed it yet? Where do you live Ebanks? I heard on STLstreetracing.com a year or two ago that a LSI RX7 was in the works somewhere in the Columbia, MO area. I'm guessing maybe thats your car.

I can't imagine how people react when u pull up to a stoplight and you have this deep, throaty roar coming from the exhaust.

I have to ask though... has the handling significantly suffered? I'd think changing out the tiny Wankel for the massive 5.7L has had to affect the weight distribution and such.

Sweet ride!

I live in Kansas City. Weight Distribution stays 50/50, all you have to do is move the battery to keep it that way as the LS1 is an aluminum block and you get to remove a ton of turbo related crap with the rotary that weighs quite a bit.

At idle the car sounds normal and no one would guess it, but at WOT it is pretty loud. I don't have dyno numbers on it yet but is is basically stock (CAI, long tube headers, exhaust) so I would guess something like 330-350 RWHP and about the same torque. I doubt it stays that way for long though :)

-Ethan

Ethan, you have the coolest toys!!!
Is that the Hinson Supercars demo car?

Please take some vids if you can. :cool:

Wow, an LS1 in an RX7 - VERY cool!!!! Car must be a rocket.

very cool :thumbup: reminds me of the monster miatas with the ford 5.0 motors, but much meaner looking .

why do you want to make it an auto? are you going to take it to the track? does it have the vette rear end?

You might want to consider stronger aftermarket axles for reliability purposes if you plan on increasing power and torque.

congrats on the rotory ride

LS1 is for vetts... american engine, right? So there shouldn't be anything rotory about this car, right?

Congrats on the ride, by the way. It must be a rocket.

I still have the SC300 as well, but bought a new toy to play around with and drive more often.

Not much to see really, it looks totally stock inside and out.

First mod to come: conversion to auto.

-Ethan[/list]

congrats ethan, i remember you telling me how you were looking at getting one of these... Hadnt talked to you in a while, but I'm glad it worked out and you got a LS1 FD :) Cool car!

Very nice, I love the sleeper look. Did you but it with the swap or do the swap yourself?

wow looks good :thumbup:

that is exactly why you are the man Ethan!!! that is some cool ***** right there!!

I always enjoy seeing these cars man, they look so simple yet have so much appeal under that damn hood plus you can really make them look super nice. Congrats :thumbup:

SWEET... :eek2: :thumbup:

Looks cool. Great color!!!!!!!!!!

Does it have the Bose stereo with the bass "pipes" in the rear? Those sounded pretty good.

haha.... that is pimp.... I want to see it in action :)

Thanks for the compliments guys. Usually there is at least one person whining at me about not having the rotary in it, but no has yet on here :)

I am sure I will be able to have it at the track sometime soon (hopefully this month) to see what it wil do on this crap tire that is on it. It has a stock clutch and rear end/axles so I don't want to put a good tire on it right now because I don't want to replace any of that stuff yet.

They usually go 11.3-11.6 the way this one is set up on a decent tire, so I would hope for a 12.0@123-126MPH the way it is right now on the unsticky tire.

This has been something I have wanted to do for a long time... 30mpg, 350 hp, stock reliablity... All things you can't do with the stock motor!

-Ethan

that's awesome man. the install actually looks very oem. so is it stock mazda trans/clutch/rear end or chevy?

one more question, I don't expect you to disclose what you paid, but what is the ballpark price of buying a completed project like this?

very nice, I also always wondered if the stock drivetrain parts hold up.

nice rx7. i happen to think this is nicest model they have had under the rx7 line for a few years know. even better than the current model at least as far as looks

so why do you want to convert to an automatic... seems like that would take all the fun out of the car (not to mention weight). Unless you are planning to just use it for drag racing... :thumbup:

that's awesome man. the install actually looks very oem. so is it stock mazda trans/clutch/rear end or chevy?

one more question, I don't expect you to disclose what you paid, but what is the ballpark price of buying a completed project like this?

It's the stock 6 spd and clutch out of the chevy right now. It is mazda oem rear end and axles though.

Prices for these are between $20k-$25k depending on the condition and mileage of the actual car and all the swapped in parts and whatever mods are done.

-Ethan

so why do you want to convert to an automatic... seems like that would take all the fun out of the car (not to mention weight). Unless you are planning to just use it for drag racing... :thumbup:

2 reason really.

1. Quicker and more consistent at the strip.

2. Easier to deal with when I have it on road trips alone so I am able to hold a drink or talk on the cell phone between appointments, etc.

-Ethan

What an awesome conversion. The rotary engine that comes with the RX7 needs to be rebuilt after 3-5 years anyway depending on use/abuse. The LS1 looks totally at home in there too!!!!!!!!! VERY NICE!

2 reason really.

1. Quicker and more consistent at the strip.

2. Easier to deal with when I have it on road trips alone so I am able to hold a drink or talk on the cell phone between appointments, etc.

-Ethan

respect! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: