How much hp can a last gen RX7 handle?

[RedRooster]

I'm looking into about a 93 or 94 RX7, apparently with the stock twins they're putting out about 255hp. I've never owned a rotary, and never looked into modifying rotary engines. What kind of room for growth does the RX7 have regarding drivetrain/engine modification? I suppose it would cost alot more to to anything with rotary engines as well, eh?

 

[geno]

I've seen them handle around 550HP with stock internals/28lbs of boost...

 

[vash]

You want power, you can get it with the RX7. A local mod shop sold his RX7 monster. 484 HP, 515+ torque in a 1.3 liter engine. It was a monster, but he sold it to buy a Mercedes for his wife and son.

The rotaries were made for power, but have a higher maintenance. Think about that when you buy one.

vash

 

[RedRooster]

So basically just crank the boost up to ungodly levels should net those huge hp numbers? If I'm gonna crank the boost, I might as well just get a generation before(~88-90 or so) and then when the motor dies in 10K I can park it in a ditch a little easier than with a $25K car.

 

[BooneRebel]

Yep. I wouldn't go overboard with the last gen RX7. They're too pretty to tear up. Get a late 80's and have a ball. They're disposable.

 

[BCYL]

rotary engines are very tricky to modify and tune... one wrong move and BAM! byebye engine... they require a lot of care even in stock form, and even more so when you are running high boost...

I once read in a magazine (Sport Compact Car to be exact), that some guy blew up his RX7 by just modifying his intake and exhaust... this is how much care the RX7 needs...

so no, it is not just crank the boost up to ungodly levels should net those huge hp numbers... without proper care, your engine will likely blow up once you get too excited with the boost controller...

 

[yakko]

A stock gen 3 RX7 does damn fine without any modification.

 

[RedRooster]

I test drove an 88 one time, wasn't too impressed. It was the GXL(turbo 2).
I'm still intrigued with the RX7 though, it seems like it would have a lot of potential. If I did buy a '94 though, I guess I'd probably only drive it stock. Like BooneRebel said, they look too good to tear up.
So it looks like a 3rd gen?(87-91) might be more what I need for now. Anyone know any good fan/info sites?