Crap Can Racing - New Member

magpiemini · 03-28-2012, 01:31 PM

I hope I don't offend anyone but I have just acquired a 1984 RX7 GSL-SE for $200 and intend on racing it in the 24 Hours of LeMons and ChumpCar series.

Hello, just want to find out a few things. I have heard that this model has some weird rear linkage in the rear suspension that I should get rid of if I want to race it. I have no idea what this could be. This is my first rotary car.

We have been racing a 1978 Triumph Spitfire and the first race for the RX7 will not be until December 2012. We have plenty of time to autocross it and take it to track days, install the roll cage and prep the car.

If you are unfamiliar with this form of racing, check it out. You take a crappy car, add the safety equipment and go endurance racing, trying to keep the crap can running.

Any advice on this model will be welcome, I will be searching the forum for advice too.

http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

magpiemini · 03-28-2012, 03:20 PM

I think the linkage I am referring to above is the Watts Linkage

GySgtFrank · 03-28-2012, 03:22 PM

The weak parts of the FB rear suspension are the Watts link and the upper control arms. The Watts link is supposed to keep the rear axle centered, but because of space and manufacturing constraints, Mazda located it in a far from ideal place. The upper control arms aren't parallel and will bind with a side load. Fox body Mustangs have this same problem as do some others. Most of the guys into hardcore cornering usually put in a panhard bar and a parallel 4 link setup in the rear. Then again, if it's a low budget series, you can run it as is, if cornering speeds aren't going to be very high. A lot of people run the stock suspension without too many problems.

magpiemini · 03-28-2012, 03:47 PM

Any suggestions on where to get the panhard bar and a parallel 4 link setup?

The RX7 would be a class A car, fastest class. Some of them corner pretty hard, especially those out front. We race on tracks like Sears Point, Buttonwillow, Thunderhill and Chuckwalla out West and the cornering gets pretty fast and hard even on our Class C Spitfire.

GySgtFrank · 03-28-2012, 03:57 PM

I got my panhard bar from G Force Engineering. He's closing up shop so I don't know how much stock he has left. Another place that has a lot of rear suspension stuff is Granny's Speed Shop. I'm sure there are more out there somewhere.

03-28-2012, 01:31 PM	#1
magpiemini Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Escondido, Ca Posts: 75 Rep Power: 14	Crap Can Racing - New Member I hope I don't offend anyone but I have just acquired a 1984 RX7 GSL-SE for $200 and intend on racing it in the 24 Hours of LeMons and ChumpCar series. Hello, just want to find out a few things. I have heard that this model has some weird rear linkage in the rear suspension that I should get rid of if I want to race it. I have no idea what this could be. This is my first rotary car. We have been racing a 1978 Triumph Spitfire and the first race for the RX7 will not be until December 2012. We have plenty of time to autocross it and take it to track days, install the roll cage and prep the car. If you are unfamiliar with this form of racing, check it out. You take a crappy car, add the safety equipment and go endurance racing, trying to keep the crap can running. Any advice on this model will be welcome, I will be searching the forum for advice too. http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/

03-28-2012, 03:22 PM	#3
GySgtFrank Professional Stick Poker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stafford, Ks. Posts: 1,012 Rep Power: 16	The weak parts of the FB rear suspension are the Watts link and the upper control arms. The Watts link is supposed to keep the rear axle centered, but because of space and manufacturing constraints, Mazda located it in a far from ideal place. The upper control arms aren't parallel and will bind with a side load. Fox body Mustangs have this same problem as do some others. Most of the guys into hardcore cornering usually put in a panhard bar and a parallel 4 link setup in the rear. Then again, if it's a low budget series, you can run it as is, if cornering speeds aren't going to be very high. A lot of people run the stock suspension without too many problems. __________________ 1988 N/A SE 2+2, dead stock and staying that way. 1979 SA22C stock? Not so much. http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ad.php?t=15585

03-28-2012, 03:47 PM	#4
magpiemini Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Escondido, Ca Posts: 75 Rep Power: 14	Any suggestions on where to get the panhard bar and a parallel 4 link setup? The RX7 would be a class A car, fastest class. Some of them corner pretty hard, especially those out front. We race on tracks like Sears Point, Buttonwillow, Thunderhill and Chuckwalla out West and the cornering gets pretty fast and hard even on our Class C Spitfire. Last edited by magpiemini; 03-28-2012 at 03:50 PM.

03-28-2012, 03:57 PM	#5
GySgtFrank Professional Stick Poker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stafford, Ks. Posts: 1,012 Rep Power: 16	I got my panhard bar from G Force Engineering. He's closing up shop so I don't know how much stock he has left. Another place that has a lot of rear suspension stuff is Granny's Speed Shop. I'm sure there are more out there somewhere. __________________ 1988 N/A SE 2+2, dead stock and staying that way. 1979 SA22C stock? Not so much. http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ad.php?t=15585

03-28-2012, 03:20 PM	#2
magpiemini Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Escondido, Ca Posts: 75 Rep Power: 14	I think the linkage I am referring to above is the Watts Linkage