Im doing some research on rotary engines,FCs and FDs.I can learn better when I have something in front of me to look at and mess around with instead of reading.Is one more reliable than the other or are they about the same?I have the money to get a FD and I want to get an FD but I kinda like the FC and wouldnt mind having one.Damn.....where to start?? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683358.gif https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif

How much would a nice 90-92 FC with a rebuilt engine run me?I dont want a NA.

I would say get an S4 they are cheaper and not as flawed. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...DIR#>/wink.png That S5 MOP sucks nuttz! and there is NOTHING wrong with an N/a. They will be an easier learning tool because theyare simpler and cost less money to buy/repair. an S5(89-91) Is going to be VERY hard to find in good condition. Good luck on that. I personally like the S4 over S5 but hey if you want to spend a lot more cash for two or three years and more potential head aches so be it.



Good reliability mods: Full tune up. Replace all parts that may cause problems in the future such as the plastic tank radiator with a full aluminum one. Make sure you get a FCD if your going to jump into modding and up the boost. After that upgrade the fuel system so you don't pop the motor by running lean. Also Premium fuel is recommended to help keep detonation away.

What year is the best year for the FC?

You will never get an answer to that question. The s4 guys are always argueing with the s5 guys. But not to burst your bubble yet again. I wanted a TII also. But I needed a daily driver at the same time. Most TII are getting sub 10mpg. But those are just the ones I know.

Get an s5 t2 if you can find one, if not s4 t2 will have to do... FCs are way more reliable than fds....

S5 T2 would be my first choice also if you can find a decent deal. I think mileage is very important too. Many over 100k I notice will have a rebuilt/replaced engine but you need to keep in mind all the other things that can go when the mileage gets up there. Or just get the extremely rare 10th AE... I see a different one every week for sale on ebay https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif

I don't mean to start an argument over this, but I know S4 TIIs are lighter and you can boost more since they have lower compression rotors.



I personally love my S4 NA, its light and agile, not too quick, but i think it will be good enough once I get some mods on it. I could be wrong but don't S5s tend to have more electrical problems than the S4s?

4kRotorRocket- Look Age doesn't matter much when all the cars are already over 10 years old. Forget mileage. YOu said you want to learn about the engine right? Well then get a nice bodied S4 TII with an engine that is ok or going out. Order a new engine from mazda and drop that one in. Take apart the old engine and start learning! https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



S4 cars have many advantages the only one that they don't have is age. Power you can probably make the same power or more with an S4 block than an S5 block since boost is more easilly cooled than compression in the engine. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...DIR#>/wink.png



I personally have an 88 S4 N/a block at my home that I am studying and using for reference when I talk about internals and things of that nature to my friends that are not so fortunate to have a parts car.



S5 parts are MORE expensive and RARE to find among things engine peices, MOP's, TPS, ECU, harness, etc.

there really isnt any best year for the fc. the early ones are built a bit better, but the later ones have slightly better electrics. the later ones look cooler, but the early ones are 150lbs lighter. the early ones are about 3x more common, because they were a lot cheaper. the later cars have some wierd expensive electrics (mop, rare ecu etc), but they have a black interior.

early btw is s4, 86-88. and late is 89-91, s5



mike

don't the s5's have lighter rotors as well, and made slightly more power? (which I'm guessing was offset by the weight gain)

yep, i forgot to put that bit in there



mike

wow, I feel special https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png

simply put higher compression means you can't run as much boost. On an N/a higher compression is good but with boost lower compression is better. I had already stated that.

higher compression can spool a bigger turbo faster.

Thanks for the info its very usefull people. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/boink.gif So the S5 has more compression than the S4?150lbs isnt much of a weight difference.

well i have an S4 T2 and i have a serious electrical problem that keeps blowing turn signal balbs and **** and much much more so S4s dont not have electrical problems.... but i have to say i think FDs are ALOT quicker then FCs if i understand right (LOL) so it all comes down to what you really want.... to learn or to really ****** fast

hmmm..... https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif gotta start somewhere..... https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/BURNOUT.gif

That sounds like a good idea 1987 RX7Guy,about that engine an all.In the video burnoutquest2001 on the forum,what was that red one an S4 or a S5?

4rotorrocket- don't worry about S4 or S5 just find a TII. That will cost you around 4-6k buy a new mazda remaned engine for around 2k drop it in yourself to save cash and then take apart the old engine. So far that is 8k dollars. Now if you could afford a 19k FD that means you now have 11k dollars to play with. Fix all the bugs that it will have and have fun. With 11k you can probably pay for the TII's upkeep for the next year.

and drop a 20b in it too https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

Im gonna start looking around for an S5 or S4 but im still going to check out more FDs also,its probly gonna take till I graduate to come across some nice ones that are good deals.How is the handling between the FC to the FD?What does a S5 run in the quarter mile stock? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/BURNOUT.gif

Tell that to a drag racer, or a lot of people on this forum who have taken out p/s and a/c to improve performance (which is less than 150lbs total by the way). You obivously have not driven to many fast cars alone, and the again with a passenger. The difference is extremely noticeable, and will make a difference in every performance aspect of your car. To many people think that the best mods you can do to your car are in the engine. Weight reduction will do everything your engine mods will, plus improve breaking performance, improve handling, and improve gas mileage. Next to a good set of tires, I think weight reduction is the best bang for the buck mod you can do to your car. Don't overlook this fact.

I have owned an '88 N/A, '88 TII and an FD....



The most reliable was my TII. My N/A was a learning experience. The FD was a freaking disaster(that fixed itself with a lot of time, patience, and Igy/Chris power).



I personally like the S4 TII's for the mechanical OMP. Add a haltech to it and can still keep the OMP is a cool feature.

Compression can not be cooled unlike boost. with an S4 you can run more boost making more HP than an S5 but it will lag a bit more(not too much more). Its also safer to run the same amount of boost on an S4 compared to an S5 for the same reason.





150 pounds not a big difference eh? I have a Sport which stock weighed 2650 pounds. I have since gone bare block and removed some things inside the cabin I would estimate my cars weight with gas at 2600 pounds or less and if my girl gets into the car I can tell the difference. and she weighs 130!!!

stock to stock the fd is a little faster cornering, but the fc is easier to drive. the fd is demanding on the driver and the fc is not.



mike

Thanks again NOPISTON club members only!



https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683894.gif NOPISTONS 4 LIFE https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683894.gif

4rotorrocket- I have been a member of this forum and the other forum longer than you have been around on any RX-7 forum. I would also venture to say that my posts(not in your threads) are more valuable than any of yours so don't act like I am giving you shitty info. I am talking about HARD FACTS when I said what I said about boost and compression.

Woooo..... easy there huge!I don't care if you been here or on any rx7 forum longer than me,I dont care does that make you special?I know you know more than I do and I know your giving HARD FACTS.Where did I say you gave me bad advice? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif

BTW we have an S5 TII and 89. We are making it our Drag car. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png



I will let you know about trouble spots I find. Like I said keep cool and I will do the same.



Santiago

Sounds good bro!BTW <what does that mean?

btw=by the way

s4's cost less, but an S5 is well worth the money. Everything about the car is nicer.

If you want a race car, go S4. If you spend 99% of the time on the street (as most of us do) go S5.

The FDs still calling my name,Im gonna hold off for awhile and do some thinking.I also need to drive an S5 still,is it pleasing to drive as the FD is?

It probably won't be as quick but definately nice. RX-7's have a personality that really grows on you. When I first test drove mine I didn't want it. But the longer I drove it the more I wanted to buy it. S4 interiors are very plain and almost junky compared to other cars (at least my base model) . . . plastic pieces are usually broken on S4s and of course they have their electrical problems. But all that didn't convince me that my car wasn't worth a $1200 offer, which the seller accepted and now the car is my true love in automobiles. If you spend a while with an RX-7 you might get attached to it.

Hrm...I know i was considering getting a Prelude over a Turbo II but i think i might go back to the rotary. Especially after this post and my brief experience over at Honda-Tech.com where people arent nearly as friendly as they are here.

well, you definitely shouldn't buy a car based on which forum has nicer people. The moderators on my MR2 forum are ******* Nazis, but I still love my MR2 more than I ever did my RX-7.

I think this pic from Aggie sums it up:

I love that pic!

I know, I laughed hard for a good half hour on it.. that pic in the context of it's original thread in Gen D has to be the funniest thing I've ever seen on this forum.



Nice front bumper by the way!