Which car to choose? - Toyota Yaris Forums

CompanyXPaladin · 09-12-2007, 12:56 PM

I have somewhat of a dilemma. I have a 1988 RX7 Convertible N/A. Its a track car. A friend of mine had a project fall through and is practically giving me a 1UZ-FE, for which the converter plate, T-56 6 Speed, and twin turbo equipment on order. My initial thought was to put the V8 in the RX7, however I've been a huge fan of the rotary engine for a long time. Now, just a few days after I obtained the engine, another friend of mine told me he could get me a 1930 Ford Model A Pickup body for dirt cheap. So, essentially, my question is: Do I ditch the RX7 (For which there is already a very enthusiastic buyer), and build a 1930 Model A hotrod; or do I keep the RX7 and do some extremely serious work? Either way I'm looking to spend about $7k more than I already have on the drivetrain. I can't keep the RX7 and build the hotrod - I share a house with a couple of my friends who each have one car to my 2 cars and a motorcycle. So I have more than my fair share of parking already. Either way, the Yaris is my DD, so the other car will be my track/show car. Anyone have any opinions? Thanks in advance.

eTiMaGo · 09-12-2007, 01:41 PM

tough decision! I'd choose the RX-7, FC, right? They are hot, especially convertible... but yeah, swapping out the rotary for a Toyota V8 would seem sacrilegous...

On the other hand old skool hotrods are awesome too... good luck deciding, I would nto know what to do either

kurokoma-kun · 09-12-2007, 02:03 PM

I vote for the rat rod!

but will it be as much fun on track?

I listened to my bro and his friend go round and round about this same idea last year--he had a 89 rx with engine that needed rebuilding but no rotary mechanic within 200 miles.

He decided that swapping out the rotary would add weight, change the handling characteristics of the car, and make it tough to sell later. Lots of guys have done the v8 conversion though. See http://www.grannysspeedshop.com/ for kits.

WindUpToy · 09-12-2007, 02:07 PM

i think at the end of the day..the 1930 ford will be the BEST investment. with the toyota v8 or not...

the rx7's are cool..but sh*t..a 1930 rat rod always makes everyone look.

or you can sell your rx7 and drop that v8 into a 1980 te72 corolla..and make that your track car.

CompanyXPaladin · 09-12-2007, 02:29 PM

Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I know the swap is possible. I'm on lextreme, rx7club, and torquecentral, among others, and the swap is certainly possible. But at the same time I kind of always wanted a badass rod. The RX7 is a lot of fun on the track, but it doesnt have the pick-up-and-go of a V8. It has a street port, intake, and exhaust, and throttlebody, and runs around 200 HP (guesstimate). With the V8 I'm shooting for 400 HP (I wouldn't complain if it went over that....). And etimago has it right - the V8 RX7 seems sacriligious. The weight and handling characteristics of a V8 RX7 are actually very similar to a REW RX7. With some mild weight reduction on the car and battery relocation the weight distribution is the same and you can even get it lighter than stock.

I should be able to make the rod handle about as well on the track....

Still undecided...

ChinoCharles · 09-12-2007, 07:10 PM

My family has a mint-condition 1988 RX7 GXL that they are holding on to for me. I cannot wait to own that car. ROTARY FTW!

Black Yaris · 09-12-2007, 07:11 PM

TURBO Wankle FTW

Black Yaris · 09-12-2007, 07:13 PM

we actually have a couple guys running LS-1's in RX-7's here... pretty sick

ChinoCharles · 09-12-2007, 07:13 PM

!!!!

CompanyXPaladin · 09-12-2007, 07:29 PM

Don't get me wrong - I love the Wankel. The sound, the response, the handling, the feel of driving the car, are all fantastic. I could definitely go for some more power, especially since I have the N/A version. The REW swap costs as much as the 1UZ swap. I could definitely go for some good old Toyota reliability - it seems like I spend as much time under the hood of that car as I do behind the wheel, which I'm sure has a lot to do with it's age. The last time I took her to the track (Buttonwillow kicks ass), my alternator gave out on the way home - new alternator, battery, cables, and ground kit. I love the engine, but I fear it will nickle and dime me to death while still only making mediocre power.

brickhardmeat · 09-12-2007, 07:53 PM

1930!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YES

09-12-2007, 12:56 PM	#1
CompanyXPaladin Drives: 08 Yaris 5-speed Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	Which car to choose? I have somewhat of a dilemma. I have a 1988 RX7 Convertible N/A. Its a track car. A friend of mine had a project fall through and is practically giving me a 1UZ-FE, for which the converter plate, T-56 6 Speed, and twin turbo equipment on order. My initial thought was to put the V8 in the RX7, however I've been a huge fan of the rotary engine for a long time. Now, just a few days after I obtained the engine, another friend of mine told me he could get me a 1930 Ford Model A Pickup body for dirt cheap. So, essentially, my question is: Do I ditch the RX7 (For which there is already a very enthusiastic buyer), and build a 1930 Model A hotrod; or do I keep the RX7 and do some extremely serious work? Either way I'm looking to spend about $7k more than I already have on the drivetrain. I can't keep the RX7 and build the hotrod - I share a house with a couple of my friends who each have one car to my 2 cars and a motorcycle. So I have more than my fair share of parking already. Either way, the Yaris is my DD, so the other car will be my track/show car. Anyone have any opinions? Thanks in advance.

09-12-2007, 01:41 PM	#2
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	tough decision! I'd choose the RX-7, FC, right? They are hot, especially convertible... but yeah, swapping out the rotary for a Toyota V8 would seem sacrilegous... On the other hand old skool hotrods are awesome too... good luck deciding, I would nto know what to do either __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

09-12-2007, 07:11 PM	#7
Black Yaris der Zeck View User's Garage Drives: '05 Audi A4 1.8t quattro Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 5,231	TURBO Wankle FTW __________________

09-12-2007, 07:13 PM	#8
Black Yaris der Zeck View User's Garage Drives: '05 Audi A4 1.8t quattro Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 5,231	we actually have a couple guys running LS-1's in RX-7's here... pretty sick __________________

09-12-2007, 07:53 PM	#11
brickhardmeat Lonesome Cowboy View User's Garage Drives: 2007 WHITE HATCHBACK Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Inner City, Dallas Posts: 2,995	1930!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YES __________________ SPONSORED BY

09-12-2007, 02:03 PM	#3
kurokoma-kun Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: my own little world Posts: 1,256	I vote for the rat rod! but will it be as much fun on track? I listened to my bro and his friend go round and round about this same idea last year--he had a 89 rx with engine that needed rebuilding but no rotary mechanic within 200 miles. He decided that swapping out the rotary would add weight, change the handling characteristics of the car, and make it tough to sell later. Lots of guys have done the v8 conversion though. See http://www.grannysspeedshop.com/ for kits.

09-12-2007, 02:07 PM	#4
WindUpToy Drives: Tacoma Xrunner Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 70	i think at the end of the day..the 1930 ford will be the BEST investment. with the toyota v8 or not... the rx7's are cool..but sh*t..a 1930 rat rod always makes everyone look. or you can sell your rx7 and drop that v8 into a 1980 te72 corolla..and make that your track car.

09-12-2007, 02:29 PM	#5
CompanyXPaladin Drives: 08 Yaris 5-speed Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I know the swap is possible. I'm on lextreme, rx7club, and torquecentral, among others, and the swap is certainly possible. But at the same time I kind of always wanted a badass rod. The RX7 is a lot of fun on the track, but it doesnt have the pick-up-and-go of a V8. It has a street port, intake, and exhaust, and throttlebody, and runs around 200 HP (guesstimate). With the V8 I'm shooting for 400 HP (I wouldn't complain if it went over that....). And etimago has it right - the V8 RX7 seems sacriligious. The weight and handling characteristics of a V8 RX7 are actually very similar to a REW RX7. With some mild weight reduction on the car and battery relocation the weight distribution is the same and you can even get it lighter than stock. I should be able to make the rod handle about as well on the track.... Still undecided...

09-12-2007, 07:10 PM	#6
ChinoCharles Banned Drives: LB Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: OH Posts: 7,787	My family has a mint-condition 1988 RX7 GXL that they are holding on to for me. I cannot wait to own that car. ROTARY FTW!

09-12-2007, 07:29 PM	#10
CompanyXPaladin Drives: 08 Yaris 5-speed Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	Don't get me wrong - I love the Wankel. The sound, the response, the handling, the feel of driving the car, are all fantastic. I could definitely go for some more power, especially since I have the N/A version. The REW swap costs as much as the 1UZ swap. I could definitely go for some good old Toyota reliability - it seems like I spend as much time under the hood of that car as I do behind the wheel, which I'm sure has a lot to do with it's age. The last time I took her to the track (Buttonwillow kicks ass), my alternator gave out on the way home - new alternator, battery, cables, and ground kit. I love the engine, but I fear it will nickle and dime me to death while still only making mediocre power.

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