"I actually blew a motor already," Ben says, "I also burned some harnesses and ruined a lot of mechanical parts under the hood." So he took his RX7 to the rotary experts at Aerodyne Industries, which is known to have performed miracles on these lightweight engines. Along with the V-mount, Aerodyne built Ben's RX7 with Power Enterprise fuel injectors, Aeromotive fuel pump and a Random Technology high-flow catalytic converter. Ben didn't get the chance to dyno his car before this article so he doesn't have horsepower and torque number to show, but with the engine setup makin' moves with all the mommies under the hood, it's guaranteed the rotary is making enough to feed the needy.
Of course, without the proper driveline, all that power wouldn't transfer well to the ground. So Ben opted for the Cusco LSD and Power Enterprise dual-disc racing clutch to do the steam work under the shell, where the chassis is controlled by an epic array of suspension pieces. Headlined by a set of ZEAL Super Function coilovers, the RX7 rocks the grooves in all types of weather. The Super Function coilovers use a lightweight aluminum body with race-tested SWIFT springs, a favorite among the drifters and racers in Japan. To stabilize the FD is a set of Tanabe front and rear antiroll bars, a Nagisa Shakitto shock tower plate, a Carbing under brace, and four-point roll cage, all of which will help Ben turn like doorknobs on any track he chooses. Aside from the RX7's impressive product list of the proverbial T-bone steak, cheese eggs and Welch's grape, it's really built as an all-purpose car. It can race in a Super Lap Battle, go drifting, blast down on the quarter mile and even pick up the groceries, given that Ben isn't shopping at Costco.
The RX7's versatility is a reason why Ben went all out on the rest of the car since it should be able to handle any obstacles the road gives out. The wheel, tire and brake setup was the first area to perfect, seeing that it's also the first line of defense. He selected a set of 19x9 SSR MS1 wheels wrapped in gluey Falken FK452 tires. A fresh collection of Project works the braking system, with its six-piston racing calipers, brake pads, and brake lines ready to stop the P.J. Bonifacio-painted candy-deep red FD from swimmin' in the women like the breast stroke. After all, Ben needs to protect himself inside the car, especially when he's sitting on a cushy Bride high-end Kevlar bucket seat and enclosed in a decoration of custom-red Kevlar door panels from Seibon. The RX7's interior is a venerable heartthrob, with DEFI gauges, Nardi Orido-style steering wheel and Project pedals.It's fully equipped, ringing bells like bags from Chanel.
So if you ever wonder how you can get on the cover of Super Street, follow in the footsteps of Ben, who hit it and split it in two: "Do some research first," he advises, "The RX7 is fun to drive and has a lot of potential, but it has to be built right, otherwise you're just wasting your time and disgracing the FD3S. Building a car doesn't just involve money. You need to have a lot of creativity, knowledge of what's out in the market for your vehicle and most importantly, friends!" And to that, I say, "Word up and mabuhay!"