still in a slump on what to do with this engine situation.

options are:

1. replace headgasket properly on the 1.6, and turbocharge (~2000 dollars)

2. Rx-8 engine swap (~2000 dollars)

3. NA 13b rotary (~1000 dollars)

4. TII 13b rotary (~2500 dollars)

fuck balls.

Depends on which class you're trying to stay in. RX8 engine if you want to stay in the naturally aspirated class. TII would be cool, but hard to stay competitive in the turbo class. How competitive are you in your current class?

eh mid to low pack due to inexperience. But they have talked of just grouping the two classes together since results can be so intermixed between classes anyway.

non turbo would be simpler and easier to keep cool

I have a 12a transmission and drive line....got a RB intake Mani and carb and an off road header..

You could see if the axles from a ranger/mustang/ or a explore will work. They have the same bolt pattern as a 5-lug RX-7. Not to mention a mustang from 94+ has rear disc brakes, as do most explores around 99.

I've considered it over the toyota 8" but my concern is the weight. She is a portly axle.

hmm... i would have to get creative with mounts. Why don't you have 13bs!

concur. IRS.

IRS? tax evasion?

8" solid axle from a prerunner or the like.

IRS. independent rear suspension

Lot of work for little benefiet.

The game plan is to replicate the Ford Motorsports prep manual for the Mk2 escort. Four link / panhard bar arrangement.

lol :iagree:

I couldn't say the same for my RX3 rally car. It had NO traction lol, but it did throw large rooster tails of dirt behind it. I was told the track marshals took to standing a bit further back from my RX3 so they didn't get pelted by dirt and gravel. (sorry guys)

Truth was my RX3 was not at all competitive in the rally-x's I competed in. Even a geo metro got around the tighter stages faster then I could. But I got points for style and the meanest-sounding car. That counts for something :p

Anyway just wanted to comment that after I put that RX3's bridgeported 12A (also running Weber 48 IDA's) into an FB that engine really came alive. The FB was faster than my RX3 in every way.

I was watching some old rally-footage from the 80's recently and it got me thinking of making an FB rally car again. So when I saw your build it really got my juices flowing. Very cool!

ooo Rx-3 rally car! 2s and 3s were pretty popular in the day. Issue was the stock geometry in the rear was even worse than the Rx-7s (which is bad too).

Im guessing it was a twitchy mess?

Flying miata head gasket kit and arp studs have been ordered. Should help resolve a variety of issues