Hey guys, I see a guy here locally has a 86 RX-7 GXL for sale with a 350 V8 swap, I checked it out the other day...But he wasn't there, so I didn't get to drive it then.

I have since talked to him and expect to drive her maybe on Sat. or Sun?

It has the stock 15" GXL wheels, but he says he has a set of Turbo II 16" wheels for it.
411 gears
He also has Turbo II seats in it...
The body looked pretty good with a clean interior.
Headers & dual exhaust, no cats...

Its got a Auto tranny with a shift kit...

It might be interesting?

Anyone have any experence with these?

Any imput is great thanks!

 

We are mostly rotary purists on this forum.

Put on your flame suit & duck to the "other engine conversions" forum..

 

I have owned a ton of RX-7's...I think it will be interesting to see/feel a 350 V8 in one?

 

I drove a local guy's 302 powered (312rwhp) 5 speed 87 GXL. IT ran really well...more straight line power than a rotary (duh) but definitely anemic on top end. I was afraid of driving it hard into the corners like I would throw my own car around, for fear of overrevving the engine, since I wasn't used to this engine or the ratios. The car didn't handle all that bad, really, but I didn't push it. The conversion probably adds 75-100lb to the front end, which isn't the big deal people here make it out to be.

All in all it wasn't bad at all, and though that isn't my thing, if it is yours then fine. Just don't hack the car in doing so.

 

Like any hybrid it will have many quirks.

For sure it will be a handful to drive.

 

I have owned 4 Turbo II's...and I know it will add weight to the front...
Not sold on anything, but its worth checking out...

 

go drive it any let us know what you think...im kinda intrested as to what itd be like, ever tho id never think todo the swap myself.

 

I have had 2 of them, I still own the second one. Can't beat it. It is great. Mine is a 90 GTU with a 93 LT1/Auto with an open diff. It runs a 13.2 in 1/4 bone stock with 130,000 on the engine/trans. As some said before they do have alot of quirks. If you are handy with a wrench then you can manage it just fine. There is a board just for v8 RX's. Here's the link.
http://www.torquecentral.com/index.php?

For all of you purist's, The RX is a great car and the rotary is unique. It's time to quit rotary expermenting and get with the program.

Later

 

THIS is the program we run over HERE... these are OUR cars. rotary powered and rotary pure. it's time to quit V8 experimenting with OUR cars.

slap it in some other piston powered hunk of metal.

 

Keep this thread clean and friendly. That means NO V8 bashing, and NO rotary bashing.

 

sorry Aaron, but i don't even know why this thread should be here.

if you want to find out how a v8-7 drives then why not log onto torque central and find out.

 

Hey slick, ease up. I dont bash your motor, why bash mine?

 

V8 or not its still an RX-7, I've never driven one but i've seen some that somehow maintained the 50/50 wieght distribution without adding wieght to the rear, seems that with taht 50/50 set up it would be alot of fun, couldn't imagine tourqe like that at such a low rpm in such a light car

 

Yes guys,
Were all car lovers.
I did get to pop the hood open and was very interested to see how far back & low the 350 sat while being very close to the firewall...

 

First, a brief rant. I highly disagree, since the R stands for rotary. Its an MX-7 perhaps, or a VX-7, but no longer an RX-7. An RX-7 that does not redline at 6500+ rpm and enjoy being there is not an RX-7 any longer by simple characteristic of the vehicle's behavior, if not by engine designation alone. R = rotary. No rotary, no R. That's my $0.02. Rant over.

OTOH, to keep in on topic, if I WERE to use any V8 (not in my '7 but that's your call) I'd use a 4.6 Ford small block and supercharge it like they do on the 'stangs. Those things, since they have a smaller block, less mass, rev higher and are way more fun to drive than the bigger, slightly more powerful (although that is up for discussion too since I've seen 4.6's run circles around 5s) but more rpm limited, 5+ L units.

 

Sorry about the rotary jab earlier. I have taking alot of rx purists' crap. The first rx I owned had the rotary in it and was burned. I went to many salvage yards and the dealer and got it back on the road. Purred like a kitten and with about as much bite. I did not even know that people were putting v8/v6/other engines in them. I checked it out and the cost was a lot less than a rebuild on the rotary. The first one gained all of 200 lbs with a cast iron block, heads, and intake with a 55/45 weight. The one I have now I have not got to weigh yet, but it has alum heads and injection. It handles better than my T/A and heck of alot faster. I get 18 mpg city.

The RX7 is a great platform. I'm sorry that some people treat cars with more respect than thier fellow humans and neighbors. In 20 years if you drive your cars much at all will be worn out rust buckets, this includes mine, and most of us will have owned 10 different cars by then. So lets quit bickering over what power plants we have and have fun and be happy for the next person, what ever engine they have.

 

when i was looking for my 7 i test drove a carburated 302 5 spd 7 and i thought at the time , why don't i just buy a mustang if i want a v8 with a 5 spd rear wheel drive. but i like the challenges and how special the rotary is

the car drove gross, first gear was lawnmower speed and the motor is prolly 180hp anyway

 

Couldn't have said it any better. The part I underlined was the best statement there too. I favor the rotary side more than I do the piston side when it comes to the rex... but I'm CERTAINLY not going to sit there and talk **** to another person over what engine they put in their car, or whether or not they still call it an RX-7. And whoever said that... got news for ya, mazda NEVER published what RX stands for. It does not "officially" (any comment from mazda) stand for rotary experimental. Get over it. Anywho, don't want to start another bickering...

Good luck with the car man, if you decide to buy it. I would always like to drive a RX with **** loads of torque (im used to an N/A ). The lack of high-revving is what would kill me though. I have become QUITE a-custom to keeping my car at 6K without worrying about it . Do the right work on a V8 however, and you can do that as well.

-Jon

 

fc auto tranny or the v8 tranny??

I woudln't stick a V8 infront of the FC auto trany.... I don't think it'll last long at all.

 

i'll take a turbo LS1 over the 1.3 wankel anyday
2.0 is another story

 

first off, sorry to be completely off topic..
i want an 89 mustang coupe with a monster 3 rotor. good thing i dont have the money. i'd have rotary-***** and muscleheads alike comin at me. then those bowties that hate rotaries and fords.
with that, good luck on your search.
me? a dohc cobra engine. try to fit it under there. hell, good displacement, high revs. potential for power.

 

The v8 tranny's fit with no problem what so ever.

Later

 

my friend has a 350v8 gxl its got tired old suspension but man! it rips!. and i was at our local sports car club meet one day and a dude has a fully tracked out tII with a chevy v8 swap. this is the most impressive car i have every ridden in in my life. not only was it faster than anything in the srtaits, he had it set up to autocross. man i honestly couldn't beleive the cornering g forces. it was like a big badass gokart with a 12 second 1/4 mile

 

Interesting!
I like finding new limits, testing new designs & concepts!
Its all very interesting to me!

 

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