The car in question is a fairly stock, low mileage(79,000) 1983 RX-7, and I would like to improve performance as well as clean up the engine compartment. I have read a little bit about removing the "rats nest" , but due to being new and not having enough posts, I have yet to be able to access the tutorials that appear to be here regarding some of that. Since I live in Yuma county in AZ, and we currently do not have smog testing, keeping the car as it left the factory is not an issue.

I do have questions for those that have possibly experienced a few of the carb options. We already have a "Racing Beat" header and complete exhaust installed. My first thought was that I would choose to use the "Racing Beat " intake/Holley carb. However, I did see that there was another option that looked possibly more attractive, and at a considerably lower cost. That option would be using the factory carb, and having it cleaned up and reworked by "SR Race Engineering". Their suggestion was the "Improved Touring Legal Nikki". Does anyone here have some experience/words of wisdom where either of these options are concerned?

Since I should soon be able to access the posts regarding the removal of the "rats nest", I may be asking some stuff that is not needed, but I will ask and HOPE I don't annoy with the questions. If the air pump is maintained for the second belt on the water pump, is it worth gutting it to keep the drag down? I assume there is no need for it, IF you are removing the rest of the items associated with either carb option and the removal of the rest of the mess? What about removing the engine driven fan, and going with an electric fan instead? From what I have read, that would possibly eliminate the need for two belts on the water pump? However, since I am in the heart of the desert, and we do have some pretty extreme temps, will the electric fan provide ample air flow, or at least equal to the factory fan?

 

You need to use the Search Option every question you are asking you will find the answers there .

 

Gerald,

I appreciate the point in the direction of the search option, but I have done that. If you would do that as well, you might see that there are NO other posts that address the particular question in regard to the two carb options, period. I can't find one single post where the Improved Touring Nikki is concerned. I have spent at least 10 hrs plus, just reading in the 1st Gen area and hoped that I MAY find some experienced individuals that would share their feelings on the comparison there.

 

I don't have direct experience with either is those carbs, but can add some info. There is a ton of information on this site. http://www.sterlingmetalworks.com/ He used to mod nikki carbs, but no longer does it. 'sterling carbs' are modified stock units that offer great performance without having to buy a new carb and manifold adapter. Sounds similar to the improved touring unit you are looking at. Also, regarding the e-fan, http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/efanmyth.htm. Re: the search error, make sure you change the date criteria under "last visit" is changed to "and older"

 

I really appreciate the reply.
From what I have been able to gather, the carb I mentioned would be the option to replace the now unavailable Sterling carbs. It would seem that Rich DeBerardinis (SR Race Engineering) picked up where Sterling left off. Here is the link to the carb in question. (http://srraceengineering.webs.com/ap...s/show/2620148)
I had read everything aaroncake has posted about the fans as well. Surely seems like retaining the stock fan would be the prefered choice, as the ONLY reason for thinking about eliminating it, was for engine bay esthetics.

 

Sounds like you now have more carb knowledge than I do!
As far as the fans go, there is another option if you want to retain you stock clutch fan and remove the air pump. You can replace the air pump belt with one of these http://www.pineappleracing.com/yoohoobelt.aspx or a generic equivalent. The routing is shown on the label. There is some debate over what kind of associated wear it creates, but it's an option.