Long time lurker, first time poster, so be gentle

I've read the FAQs, both N/A & TII, on what to look for when looking for an FC.

But my question to you guys would be, what is more cost effective?

Buying a TurboII from the get-go, or buying an N/A & then swapping a TurboII engine in?

I know that TurboII's in good to fair condition are HARD to come by (especially where I'm located, Buffalo) and I also hear that the S5 FCs are the models to get.

Also, how much do front clips from a TurboII go for with decent milage and are they easy to come by?

I'm not a n00b to cars or turbo cars, I have a 91 MR2 Turbo and an 03 Evo 8 currently.

I want to sell the MR2 for an FC

So, any kind of input is welcome, thanks again!

 

im awaiting a front clip i got at a good deal for my fc not saying how much yet, anyways.
it depends on what your planning to do with the car.
i bought a beat up 86 gxl NA FC cuz of the power windows etc....
i used to have roll up windows and i got tired of rolling up and down. yea the window motors weigh the car down more, but im not looking into drag so i dont mind. and i dont know much about turbos and turbo lag since i've never had one so i didnt want to jump into one just yet, so i stuck with my n/a and test it out for a bit, turns out its not really what i was looking for so im about to do a turbo swap this month when i go pick up my front clip. i think i've read that the best fc for drag racing would be the SE with a 5 lug conversion. a friend has an se, i dont see much difference in power so the extra goodies mine has must not make much difference. again, it all depends on what you want to do with it. im building my car for autoX and some drift.

 

Cheapest - blown engine TII
Easiest - good condition TII
Most cost effective overall - fair condition TII with low engine miles

Also don't forget about the convertible. Best RX-7 in my opinion.

 

Ugh, really you think so?

I hate the convertibles.

 

tuff it out for a T2 man. there is a lot involved in the swap, unless you can find a donor.

 

I'm surprised by the random comments on this thread. I'm in the same thought pattern as Cyanide. I too am a lurker, for I do not own an FC! However, I've come up to the conclusion to buy an NA model, I don't care which, so long as it has the 4 piston brakes and is manual. T2's are defienetly hard to come by, and I won't be able to trust the engine to last for long. Therefore, an NA car with the intent to swap a T2 motor as soon as it dies, or I grow tired of the engine. I would recogmend buying an S5 chasis, being that I would want the S5 T2 engine. If I were you, I would sell the Evo and keep the Mr2! Evo's are nice and all, but hell, it's a mitsubishi. Mr2's still fetch a pretty penny, as they should! Great cars =)

 

I love my Evo & I love my MR2, but I've had my MR2 longer than I've had the Evo, and I'm getting bored of my MR2 just sitting there.

I guess I'll try to find an S5 T2, but if all else fails, I guess an NA > turbo swap isn't out of the question too I suppose.

 

I would definitely go for finding a T2 over getting a NA and converting it to Turbo. I would also go with a s4 over a s5. Just seems to me to be slightly higher quality and the 180HP stock vs. 200HP doesn't really matter once you start modding.

 

reason i'd pick the s4 over s5 is that the electronics and compression numbers get alot tougher to keep goin aren't they? i kno the s5 compression has to be higher than an s4.. or does it only apply to NA?

 

Keep going, this is a great discussion

I was always under the impression that the S5s were the ones to get?

 

s5's are heavier, rarer, and more expensive (generally). Its really not that big of a deal which one you get especially if you're going to swap engines.

 

I searched for almost a year before I found a TII that was "the one". I ended up getting an s5 just like I wanted, in good running condition, with original engine. I am glad that I waited it out for specifically what I wanted. I wanted the s5, just because it was a newer car, had some updated technology, specifically the turbo, and I have to admit I like the taillights better .

That said, even with my car in good shape, it has had some down time while I do various preventative maintenance, working out some minor problems, etc. If I had settled for a beater, or went with an NA to swap, it would be laid up even longer, with much more work involved.

BTW, I have seen FC front clips pop up on the For Sale section of the forum a few times, you may want to search there to get an idea of price/availability.

Good luck!

 

yeah, have to give it to the S4's. they have better electronics, even the little stuff like window switches are so much better and serviceable than the S5, thats why i have S4 window switches in my S5 CONVERTABLE! HA!

 

^HA s5 w/ manuel everything owns that. My windows will never be stuck! :-p

 

probably just jinxed yourself, lol. still curious why the s5 need higher compression numbers than the s4.
piscorpio, how much did you pay for your TII ?

 

s5s have higher compression rotors. Dunno how manual windows would ever get stuck...

 

You're gonna be better off buying a decent TII that has good history than trying to convert an NA to TII. Some folks do the conversion for the challenge, but you'll be riding faster if you buy the TII.

Now, if you could find a decent vert with a crap engine, and swap in the whole TII driveline (engine, tranny, driveshaft, and rear suspension including subframe)... that would be a very interesting project

 

Will the setup be for street, drag, or drift?

 

+1

if you want a t2, just start out with a t2.

 

Street, with some autox & drag thrown in...

I've decided I'm just going to wait for the right TII to come along. I'm moving to Florida in a month or 2 and I'm just going to look for one down there.

Thanks for all the advice though, I'll definitely be asking more questions when I start looking & even more when I own one

 

NP. Ask the Florida RX-7 club to hook you up with a TII.

 

$4000