I am thinking about resurecting my $2004 Challenge RX-7 as a $2010 car. Since the '04 event the engine and transmission have grown above the Challenge budget. My personal finances this year mean that I need to stay under both the Challenge budget and stay as low as possible for my personal budget. I want to redo the RX 7 using as many of the parts that I currently own as possible. I can remove the current engine and transmission and generate cash for the "personal" budget. It has an aluminum head 350 Chevy w/ ceramic headers and a built 700r4 that should be relatively easy to sell.
So.. what I have available to replace the engine is a 6.0 LQ4. I have 2 LS1 intakes, and the exhaust manifolds, water pump, crank pulley, and injectors from an 01 Trans Am. My dilema is what transmission to use. I have a T-5 from an 87 Mustang and a 4l60e from a 93 Buick Roadmaster. The RX 7 was originally an automatic, which was why I was able to buy it really cheap in great shape. I would love to convert the car to a manual. It would be more fun and the t5 would be easier to adapt to run the speedometer. I have read that the F-Body V8 T-5 cars used the ford bolt patern to bolt the trans to the bellhousing. What would I need to make the Mustang T5 work behing the LSx motor? I know that the T5 isn't likely to last long behing the LSx so please for the sake of this arguement, don't try to tell me that the t56 is way better... I know that it is ... but if you can tell me what bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and hopefully hydraulic throwout bearing would work, it would be a big help.
The 4l60e is probably the easier solution (although less fun), but I also have questions about making the one that I have work. It is an electronically controlled 4L60e, but is an earlier version from an LT1 car. What flexplate and torque converter combination will work? I have the flexplate from both the LT1 and the LQ4, but I only have the LT1 converter.
