Additional Torque Rod needed?

Discuss engine swap details here!

Moderators: notoptoy, S Allen, Solex68

Jdflyer
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 246
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:50 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by Jdflyer »

Currently planning my swap and trying to work through all the details. I have a 1970 roadster and I'm looking at doing the S15 SR20DE (maybe DET) swap. It looks like part of the swap it is necessary to swap the rear end to the RX7, but I'm wondering if I will need to add a second Torque Rod to the axel also.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.
1970 SPL 311-29311
Phoenix, AZ
User avatar
spriso
Vendor
Posts: 1629
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2003 9:20 am
Location: Oregon
Contact:

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by spriso »

We have built a LOT of RX-7 axle conversions (for stock or conversion cars) and have never put an additional torque rod on any of them.

Just makes for building the exhaust even more difficult...

Michael
Spriso Motorsports
http://www.spriso.com
Instagram https://instagram.com/spriso/
SR20 Powered Roadsters
Engine swap kits Available! See my website!
User avatar
pebbles
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3931
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:00 am
Location: Washington

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by pebbles »

planning a boosted launch?
David




"When we were standing next to the motor while on the dyno, and the motor hit VVL, eyes went watery.."
User avatar
RCMike
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 2460
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:58 pm
Location: Pomona, CA

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by RCMike »

I think so much of what's 'needed' depends on what you intend to actually do with the car..
aspitfire
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 123
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:39 am
Location: Minneapolis MN

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by aspitfire »

RCMike wrote:I think so much of what's 'needed' depends on what you intend to actually do with the car..
Couldn't agree more!
Jdflyer
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 246
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:50 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by Jdflyer »

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback.

I'm guessing for what I'm doing, 99% street, occasional track day, shows, taking my daughter for ice cream and scaring the bejesus out of my wife during semi aggressive acceleration I should be fine with only one torque rod.

Thanks again
1970 SPL 311-29311
Phoenix, AZ
User avatar
RCMike
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 2460
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:58 pm
Location: Pomona, CA

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by RCMike »

Well, I would not want to drive an SR roadster without them, especially since it really is not very difficult to put it in..

But that's just me..
SABLT194
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:55 pm
Location: Gardners, PA

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by SABLT194 »

I'm not running any torque rod right now. I have an 8" Ford rear and SR20DET running 12 PSI boost. Everything seems to behave just fine at rolling start 1st gear full throttle stab. That being said I have not (nor plan on) doing any 6K clutch dumps.
Regards,
Steve
1966 1600 SR20 DET Restomod
1969 Ford Thunderchicken 429 BBF Suicide Door Car
1994 Pontiac Formula - 355 M6 435 RWHP 11.54 @ 125 MPH
1971 Dodge Dart - Next Resto Mod Project Gen 3 392 Hemi with T56
2017 Ram 1500 Daily Driver
User avatar
denniswagnerusa
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 159
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:56 pm
Location: Orlando, Florida

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by denniswagnerusa »

Maybe there is something unusual about my RX7 axle swap but adding a second torque rod was necessary to avoid a sideways jerk when shifting hard on my SR20DET roadster. My mechanic used adjustable rods and they work very well. Yes it was difficult fitting everything together.
User avatar
TurboRagtop
Roadster Nut-Site Supporter
Posts: 317
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:15 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by TurboRagtop »

Anyone have a pic of a stock torque rod? I have no idea what it is or where it goes.
Karl Payne, Gilbert, AZ
1966 1600 roadster, 2.3L EFI Turbo Ford engine, FMIC, 2.5" exhaust, T-5 trans, 300ZX big brakes, stand-alone Megasquirt ECU/TunerStudio
User avatar
pebbles
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3931
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:00 am
Location: Washington

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by pebbles »

TurboRagtop wrote:Anyone have a pic of a stock torque rod? I have no idea what it is or where it goes.
Recent discussion
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... Torque+rod
David




"When we were standing next to the motor while on the dyno, and the motor hit VVL, eyes went watery.."
User avatar
TurboRagtop
Roadster Nut-Site Supporter
Posts: 317
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:15 pm
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by TurboRagtop »

Thanks, now I get it!
Karl Payne, Gilbert, AZ
1966 1600 roadster, 2.3L EFI Turbo Ford engine, FMIC, 2.5" exhaust, T-5 trans, 300ZX big brakes, stand-alone Megasquirt ECU/TunerStudio
User avatar
denniswagnerusa
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 159
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:56 pm
Location: Orlando, Florida

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by denniswagnerusa »

I am rethinking my advice about the second torque rod. I posted before that the second adjustable torque rod seemed to be necessary because my rear end was doing all kinds of strange things on acceleration and when I hit bumps. The second strut helped but did not eliminate the problem. It turns out my drive shaft was too long and may have been causing all my problems. A shortened drive shaft was recently installed but the car is not drivable right now so no way to test. Give me a month. The measurements for the drive shaft were made when the axle and engine were newly installed and something must have shifted with use. The drive shaft was shortened by an inch. Error on the short side when dealing with a chassis that is not "settled". Other swaps have had this problem.
C.Costine
Roadster Nut-Site Supporter
Posts: 1737
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:08 pm

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by C.Costine »

Jdflyer wrote:Currently planning my swap and trying to work through all the details. I have a 1970 roadster and I'm looking at doing the S15 SR20DE (maybe DET) swap. It looks like part of the swap it is necessary to swap the rear end to the RX7, but I'm wondering if I will need to add a second Torque Rod to the axel also.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Don't forget, the early roadsters had none.
located in Chester NH
1967 1600 in restoration
2013 Arctic Cat F-1100 turbo
Ford F-350 6.0
Ford 9000 puller, Ford 960 puller, Ford 901show, Ford 971 worker, Oliver 70 waiting its turn
User avatar
Nissanman
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3452
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:07 pm
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Contact:

Re: Additional Torque Rod needed?

Post by Nissanman »

But the early Roadsters didn't have the power or torque of later models :(
Nissanman, just trying to help.
1965 SP310 Engine No. G-93326 Car No. SP310-10817
https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/60141836519
On the road again!
Post Reply