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Thread: New Repu owner... got a question
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted January 31, 2005 02:22 PM |
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New Repu owner... got a question
Just picked up a Repu around here that has been sitting around for a while. Hopefully I can restore it and may it look good again.
I was curious, how much can these things tow stock?
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repuguru
Redlining
Posts: 319
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posted January 31, 2005 02:49 PM |
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Specs
I can vouch for the fact that the truck will tow more than it will stop.
The largest thing I have towed with mine was a Toyota Landcruiser FJ40. On 33's with a winch and custom iron bumpers on each end, it tipped the scales somewhere over 5000lbs.
The truck obviously was not designed to tow enormous items, but its powerful engine allows it to surpass most any other small 4cyl truck new or old.
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted January 31, 2005 02:54 PM |
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jeez... how much power do these things push stock? i think i really underestimated the power of the rotary engine lol
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 446
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posted January 31, 2005 03:05 PM |
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I've been working on my back yard, filling a raised bed with reject-sand and silt from the local rock & dirt place. I normally put about 1 to 1 1/2 tons of dirt in the bed... I've done the trip about 10 times, and can agree, the truck will pull like crazy, but watch out stopping!!! Luckly, the rock&dirt place is downhill from my house, so I don't have to worry about stopping too much, just pulling the load up the hill.
I actually started out getting 3/4 ton loaded in back, and saw the truck could haul a whole lot more.. so the next time I went up to a ton, then a ton and a quarter, then a ton and a half... Just over a ton seems to be the sweet spot... That and after spending a few hours unloading the pickup bed into wheel barrels, a ton is just enough for me to carry around back!
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I'm The Admin, thats why!
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted February 01, 2005 06:28 PM |
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These things seem to tow better than I ever thought they would. Most likely I'll swap in a Turbo II engine for even more fun (considering the stock power is a bit low from what I've found) but anyways... I'm very excited to getting this thing going again. Found out today that it has right under 60,000 miles on it (according to the title). So, either the engine was blown up much earlier than I thought or these things have rollover gauges. I haven't looked at the odometer yet to find out.
I've been reading that the stock trannies have some syncro issues yet are pretty strong and that the RX-7 trannies don't have the syncro problems but aren't as strong. What would be a good tranny option to handle the power of the turbo engine yet be able to tow pretty good?
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kansei
Redlining
Wankelized
Posts: 423
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posted February 02, 2005 05:25 PM |
 Edited By: kansei on 2 Feb 2005 20:29 |
Stick with the T2 trans...
The T2 transmission (R5) is one of the most stout transmissions you're going to find for what you want, at least as far as stock Mazda transmissions that readily bolt to the rotaries. The RX-7 transmissions that are often described as weak are the SA gearboxes from the 1979 and 1980 model year cars. I have read that the issues with the REPU, Cosmo and RX-4 gearboxes (all nearly identical, save a few changes between models and years) have to do with the synchro rings not being "double-ground", and the alloys being a little on the weak side, although they are more than suitable for the 13B 4PI engines they were mated to. Despite the REPU, Cosmo and RX-4 gearboxes being the "ribbed" case style, and slightly stronger than previous gearboxes offered on some of the earlier model cars (R100, RX-2, RX-3), the R5 T2 trans' internals are actually refined and upgraded versions of the internals from the RX-3 transmissions, yet the T2 has the ribbed case style like the REPU's (and Cosmo and RX-4 models). I mention this because alot of people (esp. customers) I have met over the years often assume that since the cases look similar, then the REPU, Cosmo and RX-4 transmissions must be very close to that of the T2s. Not so. If you do swap in a T2 engine, just stick with the T2 trans. Don't even think about using one from an FD (something alot of people with RX-7s assume is an automatic "upgrade"). Believe it or not, the synchros on the FD manual transmissions are actually weaker than those of the T2, not to mention the complexities involved with using those transmissions due to the use of the PPF, rather than a conventional trans mount.
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Neal A.E. Swigert
Greenville, Michigan
1974 REPU Resto Project
1976 808 Wagon
1977 Cosmo
1978 Savanna RX-7 GT
1980 Leather Sport RX-7
1980 Petty Targa RX-7 #11
1985 GSL-SE RX-7
1988 RX-7 10th Ann
1993 RX-7 VR Touring
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sparky
Redlining
Posts: 299
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posted February 02, 2005 06:02 PM |
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RX-8 Tranny
How about the RX-8 tranny? 6 forward gears are alot better than 5. Anyone heard any info on reliability or how strong the tranny is? Is it better than a T2? Just considering the future.
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 446
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posted February 02, 2005 06:55 PM |
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quote:
How about the RX-8 tranny? 6 forward gears are alot better than 5. Anyone heard any info on reliability or how strong the tranny is? Is it better than a T2? Just considering the future.
The RX-8 6sp is weaker than the good old 5sp. In fact, in testing some factory turbo's, Mazda put the 5sp back because the 6sp stripped synchros too often.
In fact, anyone here, with an RX-8, looking to put a turbo kit in, better look into importing a 5sp from the 4port manual sold in Japan... since that 5sp is basically the FD tranny, which is basically the Turbo2 tranny!!
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I'm The Admin, thats why!
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kansei
Redlining
Wankelized
Posts: 423
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posted February 02, 2005 07:46 PM |
Edited By: kansei on 2 Feb 2005 22:47
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Can't say too much about the RX-8 transmissions..
...since I don't have an 8 yet, and haven't worked on one yet, either. All I can say is just having another gear is not necessarily better. What the ratios of the other five gears are, coupled with the sixth gear and final drive is what really makes the difference (look at the six speed Miatas- everyone who has driven one says the sixth gear is useless). All I can say about the RX-8 six speed is that it is an Aisin transmission, the same company that made the transmissions for the six speed Miatas. I have heard that the guts, at least as far as metal composition for the gears and synchro rings are very similar, and that's where the weakness comes from. The Miata six speed was engineered for that car from the beginning (as far as I know), and since the car is anemic at best to start with, the transmission components would be stretched in anything more powerful. When I drove an RX-8 when they first came out (six speed w/o nav.), I could tell right away that they (Aisin & Mazda) shortened the other five gears to make room for the sixth one, making it more of a novelty than anything else (just like in the Miatas). I'm still curious why everyone is trying to find a replacement for the T2 trans?
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Neal A.E. Swigert
Greenville, Michigan
1974 REPU Resto Project
1976 808 Wagon
1977 Cosmo
1978 Savanna RX-7 GT
1980 Leather Sport RX-7
1980 Petty Targa RX-7 #11
1985 GSL-SE RX-7
1988 RX-7 10th Ann
1993 RX-7 VR Touring
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted February 02, 2005 09:00 PM |
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so all years of the T2 5-speeds would be a good choice?
also, which engine should i go with? i read somewhere that the FD 13B is stronger than the T2 13B however they changed the motor mount locations which would make it a bit more difficult to bolt in. they said the T2 13B usually had troubles above 400 hp or so if i remember correctly. i probably won't be aiming for any more than about 300 but i'd like to keep it somewhat reliable.
thanks for all of the info!
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paulsrepu
Hauling
Posts: 107
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posted February 02, 2005 09:28 PM |
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Hello, as someone who is rather familier with Mazda's I would recommend the T2 engine. 87-88 vintage is a little easier due to the mechanical oil metering pump and simpler electronics. You need the front cover and oil pan from your original 13B engine to swap. I have personally done this swap and the truck is very quick with T2 power. So far I have had no problem with my stock ribcase 5 speed and then you do not have to mess with the shifter location, the rear mount modification and the driveshaft modification. Good luck.
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted February 02, 2005 09:36 PM |
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Have any recommendations on a good place to buy these engines? Also... what kind of general price would I be looking at to get ahold of one of these things?
Thanks again for all of the help guys!
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klaus42
Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
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posted February 03, 2005 10:14 AM |
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Unless you find a 'good' used one for cheap
...you could easily spend thousands. Whatever you end up doing, IMHO, if your cab is nicely intact, and will remain so, I'd consider 'using up' trans. after trans., before cutting up the cab to fit the T2 tranny. Just my $0.02 ...
Racing Beat, Atkins, Hayes, Pineapple Racing are among the shops that have consistently been in business for years and years now... I'd trust experience with my hard-earned $$$$ .
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted February 03, 2005 10:19 AM |
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Ahh, so I have to do some chopping to fit the T2 tranny in there?
With as much stuff as I do to my cars I'd be up for it but I guess I'll see how the engine search goes first.
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klaus42
Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
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posted February 03, 2005 11:00 AM |
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The shifter location...
...is several inches rearward from the stock one... it requires the hole to be cut farther back... potentially having yet more conflict with the 'couch', and requiring the original location to be patched.
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted February 03, 2005 09:25 PM |
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Took a look at the truck today and now I see what you mean. I thought the shifter was further up for some reason. I was planning on throwing some bucket seats in there anyways so it might work out then... but I'm not sure.
Are the shifters directly in the tranny or do they use linkage?
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klaus42
Rotorhead
Posts: 1877
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posted February 06, 2005 10:44 AM |
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Directly.
...next fun part: finding buckets that actually leave room for you to steer (!)...
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mtcookson
Newbie
Posts: 10
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posted February 06, 2005 11:58 AM |
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I was thinking I could use the seats from the 280Z and make some custom brackets to raise it up a bit. The stock seats in the Z are very, very thin yet are quite comfortable during long drives. I'm planning on going to more of a race seat for the Z since I need something that can hold me in during corners.
I think these seats, raised up a bit, and a smaller steering wheel should be pretty nice.
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