Pele

iTrader: (28)

Why is the truck RHD?

Where did you get the parts and why would you do that?

JSmith0101

iTrader: (6)

The truck is RHD because mini truckers are mad JDM.

Turbo II Rotor

iTrader: (2)

Good thing you put the brake and clutch master cylinder as well as the steering shaft on the same side of the engine bay as the intake and exhaust on a rotary. That should make the swap so much easier.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

At first, I had a little bit of faith in the OP...
I just figured he was not familiar with the rotary and all its variations throughout the years. but like I said, I give credit where it's due and anyone willing to plan and produce all that's involved with a mini truck...

I respect all things automotive... Custom bikes, track cars, even a well done Civic won't get any bad reviews from me.

But doing a RHD conversion on a vehicle that you're planning on putting a rotary in just shows a massive lack of planning, common sense, general automotive knowledge... something...

All anyone has to do is look at ANY engine bay pic or any rotary engine pic to see where the manifolds are... They take up space...

Anyone who's worked on cars knows exhaust manifolds get hot.

If you have the option to have things out of your way, you take that option...


Why in the hell would you both complicate and reduce the reliability of your vehicle for a purely aesthetic modification... Especially when it didn't come like that to begin with...

The purpose of modifying a vehicle is to add features... To enhance some aspect of it...

RHD conversions on US spec rotary powered vehicles not only put stuff in the way of the heat and crowd up that side of the engine bay, but also make the vehicle completely useless for Drive Through food, dropping **** off at the mailbox, Using the drive up ATM or teller window at the bank...

Bad move my friend...

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

ok. i took this into consideration. but as already been said, i am going to have to make a custom mani for the trubo, so i can relocate it out of the way. i have several options for a rhd, and as of now it is still in the works.

for now i flipped my steering and am trying to source a steering box from a courier or a jspec b series truck.

if this does not work, then i am going to swap out for a tacoma front cut frame and run toyota rack and pinion. there is a way to do this and clear the turbo. dont go throwing this out yet because i know it can be done..

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

also, this truck is not a daily driver.

it is strictly a show piece and to try new things and fabricate.

im sure this truck will never see a drive through window. it will never see a mailbox, and definately will not see an atm.

random cruise nights and trip around town is the most driving this truck sees...

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

ok. i am rerouting all of my wiring and my brake and clutch lines. i have been doing a lot of research on rotaries, and if i have to change out my whole steering to rack and pinion i will do this. like i said, there is a way to do it. there always is, but it may take a little ingenuity. i understand its not the smartest way, but if i can make it work, and im going to try my hardest, and it is functional, then i say i set out to do what i wanted.

all i want from this truck is something different that makes people say, how did he do that. u cant think so one track all the time. people break barriers all the time and come up with new, better ideas. i am not saying everyone should do a rhd conversion on their b series truck, and i in no way claim to be a jdm fanatic.

i understand ur guys' reasoning and concern, but i have already thought of this trust me.

dont throw me under the bus and think that i dont have a clue. i will be the first to admit i knew nothing about the rotary when i first got this idea, but i have researched quite a bit. im not saying i know a lot, but i have an idea of how i am going to tackle the install and where i am relocating my wiring and lines.

i am running a wilwood 180 clutch and brake assembly that puts the m/c's inside the cab and out of the way, so that clears up room. i am running no brake booster. and im pretty sure i can get the factory steering to mount up to the jdm box since i am, like i said, fabbing up or having fabbed a custom turbo mani to relocate the turbo.

thanks for second guessing me, and i hope i can still get help from u guys.

i wan to try and make it work, but i am not deadset on it. if there is not a reasonable way top make it work, then trust me, i will go traditional usdm steering.

thanks for reading..

JSmith0101

iTrader: (6)

I think you are underestimating the amount of work that goes into a manifold. It's not just "wiggle this and hammer that." It's a lot of work.

Good luck I guess.

I'll be waiting for the truck body when you put it up for sale.

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

no, i was planning a whole new mani that wraps out of the way. that is one of the reasons i want to go with the single turbo fc engine now instead of trying to relocate two turbos.
i am going to get the engine before i cut a hole in my firewall to mock up the steering.

the truck will not go up for sale. if the rhd is not doable, then i will go the conventional way. but im not giving up that easy just by being told it cant be done. im going to give it a legitimate try before saying alright, it cant be done.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Wait... Wait Wait WAIT...
You need to mock up the steering?

So you HAVE or HAVE NOT converted the truck to RHD?

As the truck sits RIGHT NOW... What is it?

Because I coulda sworn you said:
You're gonna get way in over your head trying to do too much **** all at once.
Get the damn engine mounted up, then play with your RHD and interior brake and clutch cylinders.

What are you doing with this project? Just cobbling crap together? Do you or do you not have the Wilwood brake and clutch master setup? Or are you just pulling random things you've seen out of the Jegs or Summit Racing catalog and offa CarDomain.com?


Small bites man.

Engine in, get it moving first... Then relocate the driver's controls if you insist on it... Then build the custom manifold around it.

JSmith0101

iTrader: (6)

Some people think I'm too angry, so I just let you say what I think, and then agree.

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

ok. as it sits right now i have switched the steering linkage to rhd. i am just waiting on a parts sourcer in japan to locate a rhd steering box. sorry i was misleading.

i just finished my shaved firewall, so as it sits i can cut a hole on either side of it when i figure out the steering issue.

i plan on ordering the engine with my tax returns since i already have the stock engine sold and am saving the money from that to purchase the rotary.

i already have the wilwood kit. it is a 180 kit that runs the m/c and clutch m/c on the inside of the cab as i mentioned before. i ordered it from speedwaymotors.com and it has been sitting in my garage for the past 2 months waiting to get mocked up.

i do appreciate the replies and u guys trying to help me out. the plan was to get the firewall done, then order the right engine that will fit the best. then put it in and build the rest of the truck around it.

this build turned into a snowball effect. it all started with a wire tuck and went downhill from there. i figure if im going to have the truck torn apart i might as well do everything i want to do to it the first time so i dont have to tear it apart a million times.

i admit, the rhd was a last minute deal, and it is something i would love to accomplish, and i still think it is doable. it is not going to be easy, but that is not the point in this project.

as of now, the truck is sitting back on the ground at a standstill waiting for the engine.

so i guess back to the same old question. which engine is going to have the best chance of fitting(rhd aside)?

is the s4 or s5 my best bet or should i just go for the TT and make it work?

i am leaning way towards the s5 with engine and tranny, ecu, uncut harness, starter, dizzy etc.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Get whatever you can afford. The bare keg has the the same dimensions, be it N/A or Forced... S4, S5, S6, whatever...

I already told you about the mounting locations... The 3rd gen (Twin Turbo) has a power plant frame that attaches the engine and transmission through a skeleton like structure to the differential...

Use the second gen engine, use whatever engine you can find, build it and mount it using a custom crossmember that will easily weld into the truck chassis.

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

ok. i am currently looking at an 88-92 s5 complete swap.

thank u for the info!

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

alright, i got my taxes done yesterday so i am ready to order the swap.

anyone have any suggestions on where to order a turbo II engine that im not going to get screwed over on?

i dont have a problem paying a little more for an engine that is going to be lower mileage and more reliable..

any help is appreciated.

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

any help on where to get an engine from online would be great!

JSmith0101

iTrader: (6)

Didn't you say you already had an engine?

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

no i was looking for an engine.

i am looking for a good reputable site to buy one from.

i started this thread asking what engine would be best and now i am set on an engine and am looking to buy.

TonyD89

iTrader: (10)

Try Japan2LA. He's a vendor on this board and has a good reputation.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Just get one from the local scrap yard.
Find a parts car on CraigsList...

FC engines are a dime a dozen.

JSmith0101

iTrader: (6)

Yeah... a rebuild would be recommened through just about all channels, regardless of whom you purchased it from.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

^ **** that ****.. Test the compression and let it roll.

JSmith0101

iTrader: (6)

**** that ****.

If OP doesn't do it right, here's what will happen:

"Hey I installed the engine and it cranks, but sounds really awful."

"I rebuilt the engine, how should I rebuild it?"

"I bought a rebuild kit, but don't know how to rebuild it."

"I rebuilt it, what kind of kit should I buy?"

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

mymmeryloss

iTrader: (13)

i found a site that has video compression tests of the "actual" engine u r buying.

there is no rx7 anything here in colorado. not even on craigslist..
trust me, ive been looking.

thanks for the help even though im pretty sure u all think im ******* retarded...