CLICK ANY THUMBNAIL TO LAUNCH SLIDESHOW

IMMACULATE DECEPTION - LT1 POWERED MAZDA RX-7
story and photos by Dan Hankin

On the outside this Mazda RX-7 looks fairly stock. Be that as it may, car builder Chris Daniels hasn’t gone too far out of his way to fool anyone. If the “No Rotor” license plate doesn’t tip you off, the deep rumble burbling from the tail pipes should confirm that there are indeed no rotors spinning under the hood.

Why a V8 powered Mazda? Daniels’ wife, Shanna, had been hitting the drag strip in her naturally aspirated Subaru 2.5RS. When she decided she wanted to go faster the Subaru was traded in for a Nissan 350Z, and Shanna promptly began bringing home 13-second time slips. When Shanna found the Z to be uncomfortable day-to-day she began looking for a sporty, but more suitable daily driver.

Years ealier Chris had owned another red Turbo II. He loved the car, but hated the rotary engine. Since he had already built and driven an 11 second Firebird Daniels thought it would be cool to combine brute V8 power with the agility of a four wheel independently suspended RX-7. He bought the Mazda and a wrecked 1995 Pontiac Firebird Formula to donate its LT1 and six speed transmission.

The LT1 short block was built by Kurt at Magnum Machine and was topped with a pair of aluminum Trick Flow heads and the stock LT1 intake. Ace welder R.J. Hyrniewick made the induction piping and handled some necessary modifications to the radiator. A Delteq ignition system was installed to replace the GM Optispark, and Jeff at Carolina Auto Masters chose the cam grind and tuned the car to 364 rear wheel horsepower.

Daniels used a Granny’s Speed Shop V8 swap kit to mount the small block in the Mazda frame rails. Granny’s specializes in kits to mount alternate drivetrains in the RX-7. The headers are Hedman pieces intended for a SBC/Jeep swap. Gary at Superior Automotive fabbed the custom dual exhaust, using Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers.

The B&M shifted T56 transmission sends power through a Ram HD clutch to an aluminum F-body driveshaft, shortened by Gregory’s Fleet. A stock Turbo II limited slip rear end spinning 4.10 gears effectively turns the tires to smoke.

Any time you significantly increase a vehicle’s power output you’re going to find a weak link. Daniels found the RX-7’s in the independent rear, snapping a half shaft at Richmond Dragway. He did manage to put the car in the 11’s before breaking it though, following up a 12.0 at 120 mph with an 11.9 at 115 in the quarter mile.

In street trim the Mazda rolls on a set of 18 inch Shuk BS1 wheels and BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW-2 tires. Daniels upgraded the Mazda’s suspension with poly bushings, Zeal B6 shocks, and custom rate H&R springs. Daniels’ buddy Glenn Kopp helped to dial in the suspension setup.

The Turbo II left the factory with impressive four wheel disc brakes and four piston calipers all the way around, but Daniels did the factory one better with Hawk brake pads, cross drilled rotors, and stainless steel brake lines.

Inside, Daniels made a custom dash insert for the gauges and stuffed it full of Autometer Cobalt gauges. The Mazda’s interior remains otherwise stock, with supportive bucket seats covered in factory black leather.

Shanna Daniels didn’t share her thoughts with me regarding the Mazda’s comfort level. Come to think of it, every time I’ve seen the car Chris was driving. I also heard a rumor that the Firebird grenaded its motor, so maybe Shanna Daniels isn’t the one with a new car after all. As I said before, Chris Daniels hasn’t gone too far out of his way to fool anyone.