Field Report: V12 Swapped 'Pistachio RX7'.

How do you trigger both Mercedes and Mazda purists at once? This. This is how you do it, and we think it's awesome.

Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in

Tuning and wiring specialist Adam Peeling of Smart EFI (who we've spoken to previously at Pikes Peak) gives us a rundown on this build and his involvement.

Originally a 1993 FD3S but looking far from stock these days a Mercedes M120 6L V12 with custom rods, pistons, cams, valve train, 5-stage dry sump, ported heads and more is the new heart of the Pistachio RX7, which was previously swapped with one of those tiny wee V8 numbers too as well as having a pretty serious turbocharged rotary build via someone else's hands in the 90's (think OG Fast and Furious, but without the 18-speed Roadranger movie gearbox special).

The cable-driven Hi-Boost individual throttle body (ITB) equipped M120 is running 11.8:1 compression, a 1.96 rod-to-stroke ratio to match the 9,000rpm or so limit the team is gunning for 850hp to 1000hp using ethanol-based fuel to gain the upper hand over AMG's 720hp Pagani Zonda M120 offering/s (they had a few versions). The variable cam timing has also been removed and as Adam helps explain the use of an HGT Precision 6-speed sequential customisable ratios the car is setup to stay in 'the sweet spot'.

A distinct Live To Offend (LTO/Kyza) body kit wraps the shell which also contains a @haltech NEXUS R5 'Swiss army ECU' that has a ton of onboard features, including a 16-channel PDM. There are enough outputs to power this build, but the use of Kaizen relays is an easy addition if that changes in future.

Adam also runs us through some of the wiring work including how to work some magic when it comes to booting connectors that are not designed for it in order to fully seal the concentrically twisted harness along with some explanation on the use of 'Milspec' connectors vs the likes of Souriau offerings or the Autosport line from TE Connectivity.

While this is a build you could say is somewhat typical of SEMA when it comes to the fact it is not yet running, we think the historical achievements of @GooichiMotors and the team they surround themselves with ensure that this won't disappoint when it's time to put those Toyo tyres to the test. No pressure guys.

You can find Adam & Smart EFI here: https://www.facebook.com/SmartEFI/

Release date

Lydbog: 5. juli 2023