grafmiata wrote: This thread makes me miss my '88 GTU... Other than being so damn big and heavy, I really loved that car.
I had an 88 GTU too, loved the car, I didn't know what I had until after it was gone, it was my first car on this continent and I traded it against my new 94 Mustang GT
An FC is big and heavy?
Mine is tiny compared to my wifes 1st gen Mazda6.
The heaviest ones were still less than 3000#. My Turbo swapped (with a full interior) GXl weighs 2550#.
I amnot flaming you, I realize this is all point of reference stuff. Im curious what would make an FC big and heavy (other than the annoying lack of torque!)
Rob R.
For their size they are surprisingly heavy, but the pillars are thick and the body is pretty rugged.
Yeah, it's heavy for what it is, hence Mazda throwing in an aluminum jack and the trick machined spare. They knew they were overweight.
Luckily, you can cut a lot of it out as I am. I can't wait to put it on a scale as I know I've taken at least 200 pounds out from stock.
wvumtnbkr wrote: An FC is big and heavy? Mine is tiny compared to my wifes 1st gen Mazda6. The heaviest ones were still less than 3000#. My Turbo swapped (with a full interior) GXl weighs 2550#. I amnot flaming you, I realize this is all point of reference stuff. Im curious what would make an FC big and heavy (other than the annoying lack of torque!) Rob R.
That comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek. But I sat pretty low in the car, and all that open space under the rear glass gave me the perception that it was larger than it was.
And even with manual steering and no a/c, it was still probably around 18% heavier than my Miata.
I've flushed things that are heavier than a Miata haha
DaveEstey wrote: I've flushed things that are heavier than a Miata haha
You may want to consider making some changes to your diet...
Wow! Straight to poop jokes! 
I weighed everything that came out of my wifes (LeMons) FC the other day....
Plastic and vinyl of the dashboard 10# Rear hatch 75# Carpet 15# Seats (stock out 1 Ultrashield in) 45# Sound deadening 20# Door skins / glass / interior panel 50# / door Spare tire and jack 30# (not an aluminum one) Hood support 5#
All told we took about 300# out of the car and it is still street legal with lights, stock switches, etc.
I am hoping the final weight of the car is about 2250#.
Have you had yours on a scale? I am curious what it weighs. Our vehicles are pretty similar at this point.
Rob R.
Not yet. I need to put the cage in before I continue my cutting. That should be happening in the next few weeks.
Davies Craig alloy EWP and controller incoming. Got a great deal. One major step closer to rear-mount radiator.
pics not working at work! Tagged... I shall return!
haha, I should have some updates soon.... Need to overhaul my impact gun so I can get the rear axle nuts off.
I'm paying the price for buying a cheap impact gun...
Time to pony up some cash and buy one that can actually do the job.
Since I'm on hold with the rear suspension pending a new impact wrench, I went back to the engine bay. Got my air pump block-off gooped up and installed, put in new exhaust studs and fitted the RacingBeat dual header.
On to the next problem. #1 to remove power steering or not... I think I will. #2 what to do about the water pump. I have an electric one coming so it will be redundant.
So much room when you remove the OEM crap!
Manual steering on an FC is waay heavier than on a Miata. Heavy enough on 225 width tires that it would probably be unbearable on those meats you have.
Good to know. Thanks
I disagree.
Both my car and my wifes FC run 225s. They both have depowered racks. (the right way by removing the seals, etc...)
Both of them are easy to drive and park (even at slow speeds).
It is not as easy to park as it was when it had power steering, but it is not difficult at all.
Rob R.
I will have to ask dyintorace if his challenge FC had a factory manual rack or a depowered rack. That one made a challenge pro driver complain about the effort making it hard to autocross. I spent some time with his V8 FC with a manual rack on the tight Gainesville raceway track and the effort made turning a strength feat instead of a precision one. It is possible they were both depowered improperly.
Might have to track down an electric power steering pump.
DaveEstey wrote: Might have to track down an electric power steering pump.
I really really don't think it's necessary if depowered correctly.
Well, I'm not entirely happy with the steering ratio, so I'm thinking of a 1.5:1 quickener, which will also increase effort.
The power racks can be had at 15:1 and 17:1 ratios. Is 15:1 too slow?
The manual rack is 20:1
All of these numbers are IIRC.
Note sure which I have, it seems a little sluggish though.
Thread on RX7Club on how to depower a FC steering rack:
http://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-archive-72/how-de-power-your-steering-rack-right-way-440198/
It says the GXL has the 17.4:1 steering rack and tells you what cars you can find a 15.2:1 rack in. You may want to replace the 380mm transit bus steering wheel while you are at it.
Yeah, smaller wheel is coming.
Got an exciting package today:
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