15" wheels for the mazda

i need a little input from those in the know. The rx7 is at a point where i need to decided if im going to restrict myself to 15" wheels or not. trade off is superior breaking. the brakes with the four piston calipers will not clear the 14" wheel. are these going to be inferior for gearing or anything else im not aware? the tires are easier to get at least.

i know nothing, but 14s are cheaper and lighter...

Quote
Gravity Fed
i need a little input from those in the know. The rx7 is at a point where i need to decided if im going to restrict myself to 15" wheels or not. trade off is superior breaking. the brakes with the four piston calipers will not clear the 14" wheel. are these going to be inferior for gearing or anything else im not aware? the tires are easier to get at least.

There traditionally has been NICE short 15s called "14-62 x 15" by Michelin, don't know if the marketing geniuses at "Beeee Eff Geee" think its worthwhile making them...

Where's the contact with the 14s?

http://www.subesports.com/products/cat/Tires/brand/BF+Goodrich+Rally/prodID/2202

That's the equivalent of the Michelin L82 compound 14/62-15

RX-7 four-pots, so... everywhere?

On the RX-7, you are NOT going to fit 65cm tires in the front without structural surgery. 62cm (185/60R15) tires barely clear the upper chassis rail with my FC strut/Escort top bastardization at full compression, which should be the same height as FB struts. (Are you still going to be using your FB spindle/FC hub doodad?)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/2010 08:18PM by Pete.

Quote
Pete
RX-7 four-pots, so... everywhere?

On the RX-7, you are NOT going to fit 65cm tires in the front without structural surgery. 62cm (185/60R15) tires barely clear the upper chassis rail with my FC strut/Escort top bastardization at full compression, which should be the same height as FB struts. (Are you still going to be using your FB spindle/FC hub doodad?)

PETE!

Stop talking all that JDM bullshit shit.
Call the fucking things MkI and MkII so that some of us involved in this project know what the fuck you're talking about
Call them 1st Gen or 2nd gen.
Leave that Fucked Crap and Flimsy Bastard crap for the pimple squeeze forums.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hey at least I didn't get out the big guns and start talking about Series 1 or 2 or 3... and those are all 1st-generation and all have different struts from each other! FC = 2nd, FB=later 1st.

im running the fc (mk2 aka series 4 aka 2nd gen) subframe.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2010 12:55AM by Gravity Fed.

pete, didnt you just whack a mole the shit out of the offending areas til it worked?

Only because I moved the axle center forward.

It didn't take much beating, and it was all for clearance at the maximum stuff/maximum toe-in interface. The rear had acres of room and the top was sufficient.

ill make it work

Slightly off topic, but hey, at least it's the same car.

I'm sorta in the planning stages for a 1st gen Gr2 build, why the 2nd gen subframe? Just the rack and brakes... and bolt on struts... and lack of tension rods on the lower control arms... and non-idiotic bolt pattern for wheels? Okay, when I put it like that it sounds like I answered my own question a bit. Also, what're you guys doing for suspension and the other stuff? From doing EProd stuff on asphalt, I don't have that great of an opinion of the off the shelf crap.

Quote
mekilljoydammit
Slightly off topic, but hey, at least it's the same car.

I'm sorta in the planning stages for a 1st gen Gr2 build, why the 2nd gen subframe? Just the rack and brakes... and bolt on struts... and lack of tension rods on the lower control arms... and non-idiotic bolt pattern for wheels? Okay, when I put it like that it sounds like I answered my own question a bit. Also, what're you guys doing for suspension and the other stuff? From doing EProd stuff on asphalt, I don't have that great of an opinion of the off the shelf crap.

I'll be starting on the Second Gen struts as soon as Sean Medcoft remembers to bring them down...
But if you're interested, contact me directly.
I only build to order, I can't have $2000 MORE tied up in a variety of inserts so after discussions I order the inserts to the car...
Pm works sorta, email is better, phone the best.

There IS however some very serious medical stuff going on right now in the family so I can talk now but next week may be hectic.

Quote
mekilljoydammit
I'm sorta in the planning stages for a 1st gen Gr2 build, why the 2nd gen subframe? Just the rack and brakes... and bolt on struts... and lack of tension rods on the lower control arms... and non-idiotic bolt pattern for wheels?

"It was there".

Also I got tired of trying to locate ("big bearing" strut housings because the snouts would bend, and the tubes would bend so I couldn't pull the inserts back out. And my hard-to-find power steering box was developing scary play under load, like something was cracking inside. And the rest of the front end was in need of maintenance, so it was actually cheaper to just throw the 2nd gen subframe under the car.

I have the fastest rack available (three-port power unit from variable-assist models) and it's a hair slower than the 1st-gen power box. But it is FAR easier to find, and there's room for a quickener under the hood. The front end geometry isn't as good as what's coming out, either, the control arms are shorter and mounted lower. The upsides are better than the downsides.

I actually had a small collection of the weirdball 110mm wheels. It took me a long time to find a couple sets of the 4.5" pattern wheels so I could do the switch. Strange but true.

The easiest way to do it involves also using the engine from the donor vehicle. You'll want to do this anyway because it's just plain better internally. (Yes, I just built engine #5 for this year, what of it?)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2010 09:05PM by Pete.

Makes sense, Pete; bending snouts and crap was a factor I hadn't though about. I was intending to go 5x4.5" and fab a subframe anyway instead of using the stock 2nd gen one so... best of both works possibly? Pretty sure I know you from the '7 forums too; Kenku over there.

John, I'm sorry to hear about the medical stuff. I probably will be contacting you when I'm further down the road on this thing; I've seen pictures of the work you do and it seems about perfect. I have some drawings and some cut apart B46s that was starting to work towards the same thing you're doing (albeit for road course work) but I've no idea where to start for rally stuff and having a starting point from someone who does would be well worth the cost of admission.

... once I have the scratch for it and am a bit farther along. Funny how much time these things take to build.