looking to get an 87 fc TII need opinions

[AtenzaNY62]

this one im looking at had the motor rebuilt and ported, 127k on the chasis and 2k on new motor, it has some nice mods too... im just wondering how long do the trannies/clutch on these usually last?? are they expensive to fix or replace? how strong is the 13b t2 motor? how much power are they capable of pushing??

 

[ArtsRx7]

More info needed, turbo size,ecu,i/c,fuel inj.,etc.........pretty reliable and parts are average to low in cost.

 

[AtenzaNY62]

stock turbo, everything stock i/c etc except for the motor that got rebuilt and there is an intake thats from a jdm s5, and a 3.5 tbe.. thats pretty much it.. at least thats what it says in the description, he hasnt responded to me yet... it didnt say the tranny or clutch had ever been replaced

 

[ArtsRx7]

I'd say 180-200hp range, as far as power goes the 13b is the powerplant in almost all 2 rotor drag cars.

 

[AtenzaNY62]

how long do those trannies usually last for? you're saying with those mods the car is pushing 180 to the wheels right? well im looking to evetually get a new turbo, fmic etc. if i get that car, i just want to know whats the most power that the engine can take... i've always loved rotary engines and i was looking at msp's before this, but i rather have something cheaper and more fun to mod

 

[ZoomZoomH]

good luck working on a now 21 year old car...

 

[CorkSport]

The transmission really depends on the previous owners. The gearbox in my 87 FC turbo is in ok shape for being as old as it is. When cold it wants to hang up on the 1-2 second gear change so I have to take it slow for the first few shifts.

I have seen a few 400+ hp cars on the stock gearboxes. Just dont try and launch one in second gear with that much power. We had a customer damage a gearbox doing that.

Clutches that can hold the power are available all day long.

 

[amp]

good luck working on a now 21 year old car...

the convenience for parts may not be as good as younger rides..
may also be a lot more work.. but for an enthusiast.. that shouldnt matter..
even with the frustrations..theres more satisfaction with buildin a car with this age than new imho..

 

[AtenzaNY62]

good luck working on a now 21 year old car...

young'n rx8 show some respect for the uncle lol, 21 years, still fast and hauls ass, looking decent too

 

[Signal 2]

I agree with CorkSport, I think the transmissions are pretty robust and generally speaking, can handle alot of power. I believe the TII differentials are similary strong too. But it boils down to how it was driven and maintained by the previous owner(s). The rest of the car will likely give you hints to that. A change to a good synthetic gear/transmission lube sometimes can do wonders.
As for remaining clutch life, if your really concerned, you might be able to get an idea of how much material is left by looking through an inspection hole. I think a quality upgraded clutch disc and PP capable of handling significant power mods would run ~$400. A few other incidentals..clutch fork, throw-out bearing, flywheel resurfacing etc...maybe another $120.

 

[mazdadude]

Ditto on the TurboII Transmission, they are significantly more robust than the NA 13b trannys. Second Gear synchro is usually fairly worn, and slow when cold, but that can be improved with some redline/ synthetic gear oil. Also the idler pilot bushing/bearing can cause some trouble, and the throw out/clutch release bearing can get toasted also. (You will hear it easily when in neutral, and you push in the clutch pedal.)

Personally, I think the main gremlins with an older STOCK 87-88 TII are the interior electrical components (Wiper switch, headlight switch, heater A/C unit, electric antennae, to name a few) and leaky/worn fuel injectors that weep gas when motor is off flooding the engine, and thinning the oil out with fuel.

My next Turbo II will be an 89-91 model, as they made alot of nice improvements, and upgraded the engine from 180hp to 200.

 

[Epik Rotary]

I guess I'll through my 2cents in. For the tranny other than what has been stated 13bt trannys are used for 20b swaps and from what I've read and herd they are very good in that aspect(400ish HP 300ish Ft/Lb). As for power out put it comes down to not how much it can make but how much do u want. And do u want it on the street or track.

{and if anyone is gonna say anything about the 20b being rated at 280hp i think ill cry 13b-rew + 1more rotor = closer to 400hp actual dyno}

 

[AtenzaNY62]

that fc was sold before i can even check it out... =(, but the s5 t2's are a lot rarer to find... i've only seen a few for sale on forums and stuff, but ive seen a lot more s4's for sale

 

[mazdadude]

That is totally true, You will find 10 1987 TII's, before you see 1 89-91.

I am not sure what the actual production numbers are, but I am sure they probably reflect a steep decrease of turbos from 87-91.

Now if you want to find a convertible, that is another story, there are TONS.