SP Rides: The Best of Both Worlds
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Jesse Garo
Age: 29
Occupation: Mechanic
Hobbies: Cars, travel, painting
Year/Make/Model: 1993 Mazda RX-7
Color: Innocent Blue Mica
Engine: 2002 GM 5.7 v8 LS1 swap. T-56 6-speed transmission, custom k member, custom trans mount, custom rear differential mount, custom 1 piece driveshaft, custom intake/radiator setup, Spoolin’ long tube headers, custom y-pipe, Tsudo catback, custom fuel system, supra fuel pump, Monster stage 2 clutch and 18-lb. flywheel, custom short throw shifter.
Exterior: JDM 99 spec front lip, side skirts, rear wing. Shine Auto carbon rear diffuser, custom hood.
Interior: JDM 99 spec RZ recaro carbon kevlar driver seat, Takata Drift2 4-point harness, Prosport oil pressure, water temp and volt gauges, custom 4-point roll bar, JDM 99 spec Nardi Torino steering wheel, Steeda tri-ax handle, Hurst shift knob, fire extinguisher.
Suspension: Ohlins coilovers, Samberg tie rods, Super Now bushings.
Wheels/Tires: Varrstoen ES2 18×9.5 +30 front 18×10.5 +30 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE 760 255/35/18 front 265/35/18 rear.
The 1993 Mazda RX-7 is a timeless classic whose status as one of the best handling cars ever is known throughout the import world. Even today, 23 years after its first U.S. production run, the automobile remains highly sought-after by enthusiasts and it’s still featured in everything from comics, anime, movies and video games.
Jesse Garo grew up admiring the automobile form — gazing at posters hung on his wall that featured exotics and playing games such as the ever-present Gran Turismo. His father owned a 1986 Corolla SR5 back when the car wasn’t a drift king, and eventually handed the keys to Garo. Using the Corolla as a learning experience, Garo began familiarizing himself with the makeup of automobiles. Today, as a certified mechanic with the National Guard, he’s been able to take the necessary steps that have enabled him to create the beast you see on these pages.
This is no ordinary RX-7. In fact, many rotary purists would probably view this hybrid monster as blasphemy on four wheels. That’s because within the Innocent Blue Mica shell beats the heart of a raging LS1 5.7L V8. Purchased in 2003, this beautiful machine has been modified to an extreme extent since then. After two blown rotary engines and mounting frustration within a limited budget, Garo, at the suggestion of his wife, began researching the idea of converting from blown apex seals to domestic muscle.
This conversion required substantial time in addition to sourcing the donor parts. After some serious searching, both on the Mainland and locally, Garo was able to obtain a salvage-title Pontiac WS6. Using a Samberg Performance conversion kit, Garo discovered how easily the motor slipped into the wide engine bay. Although the firewall needed some minor modification for the shifter linkage, the rest of the conversion went smoothly — from the installation of a T-56 6-speed transmission to a custom k member and trans mount, not to mention a new rear differential mount. Together with additional performance mods, this car cranks out 338WHP/348TQ on the dyno with improved gas mileage and tons of reliability.
The transmission takes the power from this setup and passes it through a Stage 2 clutch and 18-lb. flywheel, then through a custom driveshaft and to the ground via Varrstoen ES2s at 18×9.5/18×10 in the front and rear. Garo runs with Bridgestone Potenza RE 760s as his chosen rubber and, of course, this FD3S features suspension components for additional handling performance.
As for its exterior and interior, the car is quite reserved, but added details give it a bit of updated style. The ride features JDM 99 Spec front lip, side skirts and a rear wing. The stock hood was modified and vented to help handle the heat while the rear features a Shine Auto carbon fiber diffuser. The cockpit has been prepped for control and features a rare JDM 99 Spec RZ Recaro seat, 99 spec Nardi Torino steering wheel, Takata Dfirt2 4-point harness and a bundle of gauges. Samberg again provides with a custom 4-point roll bar.
Photographing this car was pure joy for myself. As an owner of a 93 spec RX-7, I appreciate the car immensely. Hearing the vicious rumble of a V8 was a little weird, but Garo explained it perfectly. “Build your car for you, because at the end of the day, if it makes you happy, then that’s all that matters,” he said.
