I let my mechanic talk me into placing a V8 into my 1980 RX7. I hated it. I've had it taken out. Now I would like to find a replacement engine and transmission. Ive been told to move up to the 13B, because 12A's are so hard to find, and are to unreliable now. Can anyone point me to a vendor who sells the 13B engine, transmission, and conversion kit that I need? I've been poking around on various sites, and all assume I know in detail exactly what I need. I do not. I would like to buy a 'package' so I don't have to hunt the part X that I did not know I needed.
thanks
in advance

 

Are there any rotary shops in your (general) area? If the car was still original it would be fairly straight forward to swap a 12A out for a 13B. You would only need the new motor, 13B engine mount/brace, and fuel parts for whatever intake you wanted (carbed or FI).

But with everything that has been converted to V8 running gear, you need an engine, tranny, drive shaft, new ignition, intake & exhaust, fuel system, possibly cooling and whatever was changed for dash/harness wiring.

Did you save any of the original parts you removed for the V8 engine swap?

 

Nobody makes a complete "kit". You'll need to find an experienced rotary shop if you don't want to do this yourself.

It also depends on which version of 13B and if you want to maintain the factory mounting that comes on each version originally.

I would fist determine if you want to stay carbed or fuel injected. Turbo or not. It will also depend on budget. Regardless of the path you take, if you have someone do this you're looking at $10K plus.

 

unfortunately, I do not. However, I have bought a donor car that should have everything i need. and it has a running 12a. so I may just put it back like it was.

 

I asked this same question about going from a 12 to 13b when the apex seals blew. Basically you need a 13b FB donor car.

What didn't you like about the v-8 conversion?

 

The car just felt heavy. Power was great, but it was no longer the fun little scooter bug that I wanted. It just did not feel right to me - and most importantly, I did not enjoy driving it. The idea was intriguing, but the execution was lacking.

 

i do not spending the money - as long as it works at the end! I suppose that is where the experienced rotary shop comes into play. Being in rural western Kentucky, those are few and far between.

 

I would use the donor car and swap everything over you need. I have plenty of pictures of my original 80 that I can help if you are stuck with where something goes or how the wiring is routed. If any of the front crossmember/engine mount was modified, you may have to swap over the crossmember from the donor car. Plus, the original engine just looks so good in there:

 

Great! I may take you up on it!! Thanks in advance...

 

One gotcha that caught me in my 1980 13b swap is the 12a subframe is different from the 13b in the GSL-SE. One solution is Racing Beat 12a to 13b front mount:

Front Engine Mount for 12A to 13B RX-7 Engine Conversion - Racing Beat