1988 Mazda RX-7 FC Turbo

Description

2026 SPEC LIST:

Interior:

OMP HTE-R Seat

(factory seat)

OMP 300MM wheel

Powertune Digital Dash + GPS speedo

Autopower 4-point roll bar w/extinguisher

Exterior:

Turbo hood with reverse RE-A style hood vent

RE-A Type 2 rear spoiler

Corksport lip

Engine/Drivetrain:

S4 motor with new S4 turbo housing

S4 turbo rotors

S4 NA Irons

S4 Turbo LIM

S6 FD UIM + adapter

GReddy intake elbow

Custom low V mount layout intercooler w/ ducting

Street Ported engine

BNR turbo running low boost at 220WHP

Racing Beat downpipe

Haltech 1500 tuned by 7sins

All emissions removed

ACT clutch + flywheel

340LPH DeatschWerks Fuel Pump

DeatschWerks inline fuel filter

Peterson inline oil filter

Twin Setrab 25-row oil coolers custom mounted

Koyo radiator w/ custom Taurus fan

Turblown baffled oil filler neck

FD PCV System + custom vibrant vacuum system for brake booster

Vibrant vented high capacity catch can + custom drain system

Custom baffled oil pan

IBR Flex Fuel E85 sensor

Custom vented fuel tank

1050 + 1300 ID injectors + fuel rail, AN lines, fuel pressure regulator

New genuine GM LS coil packs w/ custom mount

HKS 3" Exhaust + straight pipe

Greddy Inix Air filter custom mounted in front of radiator

New rear camber bushings

New DC Power alternator

Replaced and re-wired factory fuse box

Brand new Red top battery

New engine mounts

Turbo II Trans and rear diff w/ all new competition mounts and bushings, brand new ACT clutch and flywheel

Suspension & Chassis:

All bushings replaced

Fortune Auto Coilovers

Racing beat sway bars & endlinks

Factory GTU/Turbo 4-pot calipers w/ Hawk DTC pads

Aftermarket toe arms + Camber link

Front/Rear Cusco strut bar

Wheels:

Rays Volk Evo 3 17x8 front and 17x9 rear w/ Maxxis VR1 tire

New Engine Components:

New S4 Rotor Housings (2)

New Inner Apex Seal Springs

New Outer Apex Seal Springs

New Competition Rotor Bearings (2)

New Oil Pump Chain

New Corner Seals

New Corner Seal Springs

New Main Bearings (2)

New Inner O-Rings

New Outer O-Rings

New Oil Control Ring Seal Set

New Side Seals

New Side Seal Springs

New Front Inner Oil Seal Spring

New Front Outer Oil Seal Spring

New Rear Inner Oil Seal Spring

New Rear Outer Oil Seal Spring

New Complete O-Ring / Engine Seal Set

New Oil Pressure Regulator

Racing Beat Competition Oil Pressure Regulator / Front Housing Shim

Build history

This is the fourth FC RX-7 I've owned, so it's fair to say I've had a bit of a soft spot for these cars over the years. I bought this one as a GTU, which gave me a great starting point. The GTU came with many of the desirable Turbo II chassis components from the factory, but without the turbocharged engine, along with the relatively rare wiperless rear hatch.

During my ownership, the car has undergone a fairly extensive transformation. Rather than simply adding a turbo to the original naturally aspirated setup, it received a complete Turbo II drivetrain conversion. The rotary was also rebuilt using new S4 rotor housings, S4 turbo rotors, new bearings, seals and other internal components. From there, I built the car into the FC I wanted rather than chasing a particular horsepower number.

The current setup uses a BNR single turbo controlled by a Haltech Elite 1500, along with a Haltech digital dash, FD intake, custom intercooler setup, upgraded exhaust and twin Setrab oil coolers. It's currently running relatively low boost and makes around 220 WHP. There's considerably more potential in the setup, but I've deliberately left it at a conservative power level. For me, the goal was always to have a responsive, usable FC rather than build a dyno car.

The rest of the car has been developed to match. The suspension, sway bars and bushings have been upgraded, and the brakes have received upgraded pads and new rotors. I've used the car both on the road and at the track, which is exactly what it was built for, while still retaining the character that makes an FC enjoyable in the first place.

More importantly, this isn't a freshly completed project that still needs to be sorted out. Anyone who has extensively modified an almost 40-year-old car knows that installing the parts is only the beginning. The real work is the R&D, troubleshooting and refinement that follows: finding the weak points, fixing the inevitable issues and getting all of the individual systems to work together as a complete car. I've already gone through that process with this FC. The car has been driven, tested, developed and improved over time, and the result is something that is genuinely ready to get in and enjoy.

As you'd expect from a 1988 car that's actually been driven and enjoyed, it isn't cosmetically perfect. There are various age-related imperfections, and I've tried to show those honestly in the photos rather than present the car as something it isn't. The A/C is currently removed, although I have the components to go with the car, along with a number of spare and original parts I've accumulated during my ownership.

Lately I've started wondering whether it's finally time to try something different. I'm not desperate to sell it. If the right buyer comes along, I think this would be a great opportunity for someone who wants a properly built turbo FC without having to spend the next several years building and sorting one themselves. A lot of time, money and effort has gone into getting it to this point. It's been built to be driven, it's been sorted by being driven, and it's ready for the next owner to simply get in and use it.