SA22C (first gen RX7) conversion questions

[Razkal]

anyone here ever did or knows a friend who did a steering box to steering rack conversion on a first gen? i wanna know if the FB steering rack is feesable to use or is there another rack that can be used, with as little cutting/welding as necessary.
next question is: anyone locally did an independent rear suspension conversion from the solid rear axle? right now i have a nissan cedric swap on the back end with the rear disc brakes but i wanna go independent, prob FB as well, that way there are a lot more options for an LSD and quaiffe and kaaz both have excellect LSD upgrades for FB3S applications.

just upgrades i thought wud be nice since the car is more or less a daily driver n solodex is the only kinda mo.spo. we have officially now to compete in. if it turns out either one or both conversions are headache, i wont bother but help is appreciated.

Razkal.

[Cosmo Business]

Dude, 1st of all , you got your models mixed up... the FB is really a 1st gen Rx7
SA22C / FB = 1st Gen Rx7
FC3S = 2nd Gen Rx7
FD3S = 3rd Gen Rx7.

So, now that we got that out of the way, you want to do a conversion from steering box to rack. I have seen a couple guys install a HC33 power steering rack, I believe its from one of the laurel medalist cars. Other than that, a few 1st gens did come with power steering box setup, but are very rare and hard to find. I personally prefer ORIGINAL ting, so I am confined to manual for now.
As for the rear end mod you have in mind, its probably possible, but you need to get it done professionally, which would cost a pretty penny too.

Laterz

[Razkal]

^i know this FB was used to designate the later models of the 1st gen, SA22C is the original chassis code...its on the plate in my engine bay, thanks tho

and yeah i prefer the weight of the steering also, just that the rack is so much easier to work wid and parts easier to find.
i knew the rear end conversion was gettin a lil too excited, but i want my car to sit and handle well, and i really cant see much dexterity coming out of a 20+year old 'live axle' set up out back
lovin the avatar tho!

[ziig]

i used a ford pinto rack with sepherical ball ends..works great but for raod use may need constant srvice...or use some type of covered ends for dust protection...as for a rear end you can use a second gen rear , but it will mean using all of the sub frame etc. not impossible but requires work and set up and fabbing..

[Razkal]

just for closure on this incomplete thread..

i've ended up with a complete FC rear end swap, and FC front frame with p/s rack. all poly'd up and now looking for an oem FC lsd diff until i can afford a proper aftermarket unit.

car works and feels like a charm!

[nismotrinidappa]

hmm how much did the fc front cost and how hard to install? was it bolt for bolt?

also would love to get more info on the c33 steering swap?

razkal i may keep the car and finish it off and sell off throw out extra parts so let me know what you were interested in

[Razkal]

well the swap was more staright forward than it appeared.

the swap costed about $5K or thereabouts in total.
started with an oem FC3S front complete subframe, the both subframes (sa and fc) mount with two bolts, either side, unto the chassis.
-the front bolts line up directly and is probably the best place to start, it widens the car wheelbase by close to an inch though, which, imho, improves highway feel alot.
-the rear bolts need to find new holes. so mark, drill and sleeve the chassis accordingly with appropriate grade steel bolts and sleeve etc.
-the shocks line up properly and the tower needs slight widening of the shock bolt holes to accommodate the fc shock head.
-the stabilizer bar bushing mounts will have shifted forward and need some fabrication to get them mounted properly. i didn't getlinkages with my subframe so i used shitty looking substitutes, think they're 323 replacements or something. stock FC units are beefy and aluminium!
-i'm using FD oem 16"wheels and need a 0.75" spacer to clear the stabilizer bar when locking completely over. problem can be fixed with better offset wheels.

that was pretty much it. except for sump modifications which only rb men like yourself and I would have to endure.
nismo, the car feels 110% better with this subframe and p/s system suporting the rb's weight out front.


gonna have to make some time and check you man. long overdue. will hit ya a pm or FB msg this weekend.

[Razkal]

steering column!!
forgot to mention the steering column!:oops:

-removed the entire box and column
-cut off the wormtail end of the column and used two joints and some welding fabrication to introduce the column to the rack.
-lines and reservoir location is just a matter of "what-functions-best-where" kinda thing, i ended up moving around mine until they looked neat enough.

i'm experiencing a small leak issue, pump it would seem. but other than that, the swap functions fine. i drove down to camden twice this weekend and drive everyday otherwise

[nismotrinidappa]

sounds good man.. 5k for front and rear not bad,, that includes installation etc? pm me ur number would love to see the car in person..

[gready123456]

How hard was the rear end conversion ? how much fab work was needed ?

[Razkal]

its gonna be alot easier and straightfroward with an FC rear flooring. i had to have shock towers remade, and used some angle steel to recreate a mounting point directly above the diff. the front mounting points of the subframe are just appropriate grade bolts through a sleeved hole in the chassis. oversized washers on both ends.

i'll be on a ramp later this week to do an undercheck before solodex, i'll snap a few pics and post them of the install.

plan to stitchweld the chassis at year's end and then hopefully find a decent OEM lsd for the FC, i've seen articles where guys rearrange the plates inside to increase grip and engagement, would like something aftermarket, but too expensive right now.

[Razkal]

you guys should come up to solodex on sunday, i'll be there and you can see and check everything out first-hand. it handles wayyyy better than any first gen ive driven and that's with busted coilovers and no lsd.

[gready123456]

thanks for the heads up i am looking at this conversion right now , i will take in to consideration the FC rear flooring

as for the front subframe swap i noticed the wheels are pushed a bit more forward than the stock suspension setup is there any way to correct this ?? ie have the wheel centerd under the arch ??

[gready123456]

ok so i got some advice on solving wheel placement issues . Apparently most ppl when doing this conversion uses the existing FB front mounting bolt to mount the front of the FC subframe this places the subframe about an inch or two forward . Most ppl do this because its easyier . but this results in the wheel begin a little closer to the front of the wheel arch.

To correct this just drill a mount about a inch and a half behind the FB mounting bolt this will shift the subframe back hence centering the wheel in the middle of the arch .

[Razkal]

^yup. spot on

but i chose to leave the increased wheelbase since i have an rb underhood and its a bit front heavy, the car handles great this way. secondly, i have some ZG flares on the way that i wanted to install on the car when body work time rolls around. so these are gonna be centred over the front wheels to 'normalise' the look

trimming some fender material means i can use all the good 16 tyres available for track use, which have a slightly higher profile than the 225-40-16 i'm forced to settle for now.


on a related note, been hearing a weird knocking noise from the rear end since autocross on sunday, i may drop the entire rear subframe down to investigate properly the following week. if anyone is interested in seeing the process, feel free to pm

[chunks_21]

did u guys get tru wit d conversion ?