1984 RX-7 Race Car with BP! (almost a Miata)
#145
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Wow. I just read this entire thread, and thank you so much for posting this!
You said you've had 10+ years of just building race cars, it also looks like you have a LOT of engineering experience too, wondering if that was part of your formal education?
Regarding the exhaust, doesn't the new Viper GTS-R also do something very similar? I recall an article in Racecar Engineering recently that highlighted the development process of those cars, and I think that's the way they ran the exhaust.
Your fab-work is mind-blowing, if I had 20 lifetimes to study this I'd still never be that good. Subscribed for sure!
You said you've had 10+ years of just building race cars, it also looks like you have a LOT of engineering experience too, wondering if that was part of your formal education?
Regarding the exhaust, doesn't the new Viper GTS-R also do something very similar? I recall an article in Racecar Engineering recently that highlighted the development process of those cars, and I think that's the way they ran the exhaust.
Your fab-work is mind-blowing, if I had 20 lifetimes to study this I'd still never be that good. Subscribed for sure!
#146
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Wow thank you! The race car building has been a hobby, a very time consuming, 2nd job type of hobby!
I am an en electrical engineer and my day job is building design engineering, so you did guess that right! There is definitely some engineering that has gone to the car. But most of it comes from seeing over the years what works and what doesn't work and having a pretty good ability of imagining the final product!
Oh, I haven't looked the the new Viper in detail, but perhaps I should. It is one of the easiest ways to be able to have a flat bottom on the car as well as balances the driver's weight very well.
Fab work is just experience playing around with stuff and trial and error. I still have to redo some things after I build them, mostly due to rushing it and not thinking about it enough! I have definitely been lucky to get involved in racing right after high school. That way I had access to some veery knowledgable and experienced group of people as well as their equipment.
Anyways time to go pick up some parts from my mailbox and finish the rear suspension!
I am an en electrical engineer and my day job is building design engineering, so you did guess that right! There is definitely some engineering that has gone to the car. But most of it comes from seeing over the years what works and what doesn't work and having a pretty good ability of imagining the final product!
Oh, I haven't looked the the new Viper in detail, but perhaps I should. It is one of the easiest ways to be able to have a flat bottom on the car as well as balances the driver's weight very well.
Fab work is just experience playing around with stuff and trial and error. I still have to redo some things after I build them, mostly due to rushing it and not thinking about it enough! I have definitely been lucky to get involved in racing right after high school. That way I had access to some veery knowledgable and experienced group of people as well as their equipment.
Anyways time to go pick up some parts from my mailbox and finish the rear suspension!
#147
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Yeah, after re-reading that article (its in October's issue if you want to pick it up at a local store and thumb through it), I believe that the exhaust exits the OEM way - or close to it, since there are 2 manifolds, and 2 exits on either side for the exhaust, so they must be running it under the firewall below the cockpit area, but I imagine they've still come up with a solution that lets them use a pretty flat floor.
Slightly OT, but I'd love to see pics of some of the other cars you've built!
Slightly OT, but I'd love to see pics of some of the other cars you've built!
#148
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Interesting. Will check it out for sure!
I will have to check the computer in the shop, I have pictures there. I typically don't take too many pictures unless it is my own car, hehe.
Well the rear suspension is finally done. The brackets arrived and are welded now. I partially mounted the exhaust too and it has the proper clearance I was planning on!
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/57476d1350187040-1984-rx-7-race-car-bp-almost-miata-img_0371.jpg)
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I will have to check the computer in the shop, I have pictures there. I typically don't take too many pictures unless it is my own car, hehe.
Well the rear suspension is finally done. The brackets arrived and are welded now. I partially mounted the exhaust too and it has the proper clearance I was planning on!
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/57476d1350187040-1984-rx-7-race-car-bp-almost-miata-img_0371.jpg)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/57477d1350187040-1984-rx-7-race-car-bp-almost-miata-img_0373.jpg)
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#157
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I mounted the dry-break connector yesterday and put the body panels back on. Now the work on the body panels starts! As well going to start the plumbing and wiring so I can start it and run it and make sure no welding or brackets are needed before the chassis gets painted! See the light at the end of the tunnel!
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/68775d1362074461-1984-rx-7-race-car-bp-almost-miata-img_0820.jpg)
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#159
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Thank you! Yes the wing is GTC300. I was planning to get the 500, but Tony at APR recommended against it as he said the car is too light for that much downforce. it is only a couple of inches wider anyways. Very nice wing for sure!
Yeah the v-mount system was finally decided after building and 3d modelling a few setups.
Yeah the v-mount system was finally decided after building and 3d modelling a few setups.