Rotary Revival: Jack Coxe’s Pristine Mazda RX-7 FD.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is pretty well known for it’s take on “The road less traveled”, that is, doing things just a wee bit differently than most. When I asked they guys at Gorilla RE, a local tuning shop near New Orleans that caters to rotaries, if they knew of any cool cars, Jonathan Bruce, owner of Gorilla RE said he knew just the person. About half an hour later, this great white beauty was thrust upon my rotary lovin’ eyes.

Now I know what you’re thinking. How is what looks to be a bone stock looking RX-7 taking the road less traveled? I’ll tell you right now in this day and age, the current trend for these rotary powered cars is to chuck the 13B and shoehorn a domestic V8 to make good reliable power. While that’s fine and dandy and ultimately not my decision to make, I somehow get the feeling that the rotary engines get a bad rap from today’s enthusiasts. After reading a few car forums, it’s pretty safe to say most people get discouraged about rotaries and even more don’t yet fully understand it’s simplicity. We’ll save the piston versus rotary debate for another time, but being a rotary fanatic myself, it always makes me smile to see an FD3S with it’s Wankel Wonder still sitting where it belongs, behind the front struts of the engine bay where it nestles low and as close to the center of the car as it was intended for that perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Sticking with the rotary, to me, makes that road scary, but also gratifying.

Jack, the owner of this meticulously clean 1994 example, is no stranger to the FD world. He’s owned multiple copies with this one being his last and greatest. He’s also a stickler for details, so as I checked out his 7, I kept staring at all of the small details that one might not notice, the black powdercoated StopTech BBK’s that match the powdercoated Volk SE37A’s (don’t see too many of these anymore), the matte black Mazdaspeed front spoiler and rear diffuser, and the rare Mazdaspeed seats rewrapped in black leather. These black accents contrast extremely well with the much sought after original white paint only found in the last two years of the FD’s production.

But it’s not just the subtleties on the outside that make this RX stand out. Once Jack popped open the hood, it all became clear. Not only was this FD3S super duper clean and pristine, it was a workhorse as well. No part under the hood was left alone, not even the bolts that hold the fenders, everything was replaced with something better or shinier, but always for something that performs. It’s a good thing it wasn’t sunny outside, or our photographer Danh would have been blinded by all of the polished parts (it’s okay, he’s asian, so he has natural sunshades -i.e. slanty eyes)

Wait, sunny weather? Um, no. One thing you can always count on in Louisiana is the constant afternoon showers and today was no different. Much like Thien’s CRX photoshoot, it was destined to rain yet again on our outing at the Metairie Cemetery according to our weather apps on our phones. I had texted Jack the night before asking if he was okay with the rain. I had expected about an 80% chance that he would tell me no solely based on the fact that since the car rolled off the assembly line in Hiroshima Japan, this particular car has only seen rain a handful of times, and with it absolutely pouring outside, I was sure he would turn me down, which was totally fine. To my surprise Jack told me he was game, and to the cemetery we went.

Shooting in absolute downpour has it’s advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, we had the entire place to ourselves and didn’t have to worry about other cars being in the shot, and in the other, it was freaking pouring. Luckily, most all of our gear is weatherproof. I said “most”. While me and Jonathan held up the strobes, Danh was clicking away, trying to get the best shot possible while wiping away the rain from his glasses every 5 seconds. After a few shots, we lost both flashes to the rain as they both fired their last flashes before shorting out. We were completely drenched from head to toe, and even Danny and Newton couldn’t escape the rain as we were also trying to shoot video during the rain. I did take a few moments to check out the cemetery however. Pretty creepy, but now I understand why the graves are above ground- it rains every freakin’ day!

After Danh snapped off the last few shots under the covers of a nearby parking garage (not something we normally do, but hey, it was raining ok), I got butt ass naked and changed into some dry clothes, and while doing so, asked Jack why he loved FD’s so much. Trying not to look at me and lose his lunch, he simply said that RX-7’s aren’t for everyone, but for those who own and drive them, they “get it”.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Maybe Robert Frost had a 20B powered RX-7? Nah, his old ass probably only had a two rotor 13B.

Jack Coxe’s Official Mod List: 1994 Mazda Rx-7 with Popular Equipment Package with approximately 112,500-miles on body and 45,000-miles on motor. Built/modified by myself and GorillaRE.com Engine: RP/rx7.com street port, 3mm apex seals, balanced rotating assembly Unorthodox anodized full pulley set (main, w/p, alt) Mazdaspeed engine mounts Garfinkle oil pan brace Intake: Ground Zero / Excessive lower intake manifold (with Gorilla RE extra injector bung plugs) Gorilla RE upper/lower intake manifold port matching Gorilla RE ported throttle body Double-throttle – AWS – wax rod removed All unused Upper Intake nipples removed/plugged Jet Hot cerama-chrome coating upper/lower intake manifolds Turbo Blown LIM heat shield blanket Sport Tuner throttle body polishing with nickel plated linkage Turbo: A-spec 500R with long runner manifold (Gorilla RE prepared: smoothed compressor inlet, rough casting – welds – flanges – protruding bolts ground smooth) Tial 44mm waste gate Gorilla RE 1-3/4 inch waste gate dump tube Tial 50mm blow off valve Blitz sbc-id boost controller Earls -4 & -6AN super stock hose & fittings for water, W/G & BOV lines ATP -3AN stainless steel oil feed line Earls -10AN Perform-O-Flex stainless steel oil return line with swivel seal fittings K&N air filter with Gorilla RE 45 degree aluminum inlet pipe & 45 degree blue silicone coupler Sport Tuner high-temp black ceramic coating exhaust manifold & turbine housing Sport Tuner cerama-chrome compressor housing DEI black fire sleeved oil, coolant, & wastegate lines Thero-tec heat sleeve a/c lines & misc. wires Thermo-tec adhesive backed heat shielding on fire wall, ABS shield and inner fender Intercooler: Crooked Willow stock mount IC (Spearco 13×17-in. core with carbon fiber duct) Gorilla RE polished aluminum piping Greddy throttle body elbow Hose Techniques blue silicone couplers with Breeze clamps Exhaust: Gorilla RE 4-inch stainless steel downpipe RP/rx7.com – Greddy 3-3/4 inch race exhaust DEI titanium wrapped downpipe DEI fiberglass wrapped mid & rear muffler sections Thermo-tec muffler shield on mid-muffler Fuel System: Injector Dynamics 725cc primary / 2000cc secondary injectors KG fuel rails with Sport Tuner cerama-chrome coating SX Performance fuel pressure regulator with -3AN stainless steel boost line Apexi BNR33 pump Chuck Westbrook fuel pump wiring mod (direct power to relay, 10-ga. power wire from fuel pump relay to pump, extra ground at pump) Earls -6AN feed/return Perform-O-Flex hose with swivel seal fittings (routed using Earls hose separators mounted on OEM feed/return brackets undercar) Hyperion surge tank cover Kinsler ANO-BRL 10-micron in-line fuel filter Ignition: HKS Twin Power amplifier Turbo II leading coil Magnacore 10mm wires Gorilla RE remote coil mount bracket (in place of removed power steering pump) NGK R7420-9 & 10 spark plugs Engine Management: Apexi Power FC with commander FC datalogit Dudeman fast acting air intake temperature sensor relocated to intercooler outlet pipe Gorilla RE tuning Race Logic traction control OEM map sensor with -4AN super stock hose and fittings Cooling: Koyo radiator Mazmart remedy water pump Evans coolant FC thermo switch Thermo-flex radiator hoses Earls -4 & -6AN super stock hose & fittings Sport Tuner cerama-chrome water pump & thermostat housings OEM polished coolant filler cap Oil System: Crooked Willow dual oil cooler kit using Mocal 19-row coolers, Mocal thermostat, Aeroquip -10AN lines & fittings, carbon fiber ducts RE-Speed oil filter pedestal adapter with -10AN outlet & gauge ports (passages ported by Gorilla RE) Gorilla RE bell-mouth modified pick-up tube Gorilla RE aluminum OMP oil supply block off plate Earls -3AN hose/fittings for premix supply to Gorilla RE modified OEM oil metering pump Afgmoto1978 black pre-mix tank in place of OEM vacuum canister RE-Speed filler neck Valvoline 10W-30 VR-1 motor oil Idemitsu Racing rotary synthetic pre-mix Jaz 1-pint breather can on Gorilla RE bracket with -4AN super stock hose & fittings to oil filler neck & rear iron’s unused oil drain Instrumentation: SPA oil pressure/temperature gauge SPA water temperature/fuel pressure gauge PLX egt gauge using Temp Rip sensors in turbo manifold Innovative XD-19 wide band gauge and sensor with Gorilla RE aluminum heat sink Defi D-gauge mechanical boost gauge Electrical: Odyssey PC925 battery in passenger side rear bin with Jegs aluminum battery tray mounted to Gorilla RE bracket that uses existing rear seat belt mounting points Gorilla RE bracket for OEM battery fuse box Phoenix Gold 200-A circuit breaker at battery Phoenix Gold 1/0 positive & negative battery cables (both routed battery to starter, positive from starter to main fuse box) Phoenix God 4-gauge ground cables at numerous points OEM engine harness (unused wiring removed, re-wrapped with split loom, fusing tape, electrical tape, exposed portions wrapped with Thermo-Tec heat shield tape) Sport Tuner 140-Amp alternator, cerma-chrome coated, blue painted stator Wheels/Tires: Volk SE37A 18×9.5 (F+45 /R+45 with 5mm spacer) powder coated black Falken RT-615 265-35-18 F/R tires Muteki black lug nuts Suspension: Aragosta 15-way adjustable dampers with 10.3/7.8-kg F/R springs Suspension Techniques F/R sway bars Improved Racing adjustable sway bar end links Widefoot front sway bar mounts RP/rx7.com trailing arms M2 toe links Cusco front strut tower brace Drivetrain: Atomic Rex manual steering rack Exeddy D-core twin disk carbon clutch RP/rx7.com stainless steel clutch line Mazdaspeed short-throw shifter Pettit 80-durometer differential mounts NEO 75W90 synthetic gear oil in transmission & differential Brakes: Stop Tech front big brake kit with piston sized to match 99-spec rear & slotted rotors 99-spec OEM rear calipers with Precision 2-pc slotted rotors Mazda 929 master cylinder N-Tech front rotor backing plates Stainless steel lines (Stop Tech front / rx7.com rear) Motul RB-600 Brake fluid Rotary 13B1 anodized blue rotor shaped brake/clutch fluid reservoir cap Exterior: Original Chaste White Paint Shine replica Mazdaspeed front lip Shine replica RE-A street diffuser Front lip and diffuser sanded then coated with Dupli-color truck bed liner OEM mud guards Smoked front turn lamp housings LED tail lights, marker lights, turn signals, reverse lights, license plate lights 20% rear / 50% side window tint PIAA platinum series super white headlight bulbs Interior: Original 1994 unless otherwise mentioned Mazdaspeed Type F seats recovered in BMW black leather Momo Super Anatomic shift knob Momo Monte Carlo 350mm steering wheel Flyrx7 3-gauge 52mm center speaker gauge pod Saab 3-gauge 52mm din panel RE-Amemiya Steering column gauge pod Redline.com black leather shift & parking brake boots TNT rear hatch carpet LED dome and cargo lights Misc: Himni Racing stainless steel hardware throughout engine bay Black powder coated brackets, hard water & brake lines throughout engine bay Aba stainless steel hose clamps for air filter & wastegate lines Be sure to check out Gorilla RE! –David– David@maydaygarage.com