'88 5.3L T56 slacker build. Now with lovely assistantS!

[ilovemybike]

I'm new to the forum and to RX7's, but I figured I would throw some photos up of my progress.  I have built other cars through the years, a turbo Acura, a turbo SAAB, and I'm still building my Jeep. I had an El Camino and a Trans am and I was getting sick of building front wheel drive cars so I started looking for rear drive platforms that could handle well and possibly have some American power.  I found my car on CL with a blown rotary and I picked it up.  Looked around for Ls1 drivelines and found next to nothing.  So I decided to go the truck motor route.  My brother has an '04 Sierra, and I love the 5.3 so I figured it won't be bad in a lighter car with me rowing the gears.  Here are some photos of early progress.

Gratuitous Jeep photo for street cred.

Bringing her home.  I forgot to mention that I am a bit spoiled as I work at a shop so I get to use the ramp truck to pick up cars, or bring mine back home when they break.

Scuffed and masked engine bay.

Granny's holding the LM7 in place.

[ilovemybike]

Belly shot with trans in.

Spoiled rotten living quarters. For the car not me.

Friend of mine has a plasma table, whipped these out for me.  I hate drilling holes

Tacking it in. 

Getting somewhere now.

Damn you Granny's.  Not much room, but everyone else fit it so I guess I'll have to.

Threw two rims in the powder coat oven to see how they looked white, I don't mind it.

[ilovemybike]

I jammed some washers on the front to see how it would look with the wheels out farther, it gives me some clearance at full lock with the front sway bar.  Has anyone had any luck with spacers on the inner tie rod ends getting a little more lock?  I was thinking of that before I get spindles done.  I would like to be able to do some drift events and getting more angle would be nice.
I plan on running a Y after my transmission crossmember and then running 3" to the back with a Magnaflow muffler on the passenger side.

One of these to be specific.  I just need to order it and the V-bands, but it all adds up to a bit more than I was planning for exhaust, but I guess it will be worth it.

[digitalsolo]

Progress is looking good. 

[ilovemybike]

Thanks man, I a little intimidated by the wiring and tuning.  I guess I'll deal with that as it comes.

[digitalsolo]

Wiring isn't difficult, just tedious.    Just learn how to read the factory diagrams and the guides on this site.    Only cut what you're 100% sure can go, and take your time.

[ilovemybike]

Is there anyone around the NH area who has done FC swap wiring?  I wouldn't mind paying to have it done right.  I also have heard different things about the NA rearend's durability.  Is it even worth seeing how long it will last, or wiser to put a TII in?

[stormdrop]

i dig the jeep, i got yj wrangler. like the pics, ill be doing this soon too to my fc.

[ilovemybike]

i dig the jeep, i got yj wrangler. like the pics, ill be doing this soon too to my fc.

Thanks, it is a ton of fun.  I built it so I could drive it fast and hit jumps, and then crawl as well.  It is still streetable, but I don't like to drive around on soft $800 tires that wear fast on the street, thus the RX.

[JUGGIN]

Clean car 

[Pez]

Is there anyone around the NH area who has done FC swap wiring?  I wouldn't mind paying to have it done right. 

I do FC wiring, but you have to send me your harness, and wait in line.  I stay backed up.

I also have heard different things about the NA rearend's durability.  Is it even worth seeing how long it will last, or wiser to put a TII in?

NA rear will last about 2 weeks, or 2 passes at the strip, with sticky Mickeys.

[ilovemybike]

How much do you charge and what is the wait time looking like?

[theantirotor]

ive always liked that silver

[stormdrop]

i hear ya, mines just a 2.5 so its got no balls. i hoped you swapped that d35 out to take that kinda abuse unless you got one with a 8 1/4.

[ilovemybike]

i hear ya, mines just a 2.5 so its got no balls. i hoped you swapped that d35 out to take that kinda abuse unless you got one with a 8 1/4.

It's on it's fourth rear axle.  It came witha D35, then I swapped a 8.25 in, then an 8.8 and now it has Waggy D44's front and rear.  I know the 8.8 may or may not be stronger than the D44, but I had the set so I went six lug.  Having real bearings instead of the D30 unit bearings was worth doing the swap alone.