Ok, I have to say something here. i'm not going to say wheter a v8 swap is good, bad, or otherwise. I am going to point out that the rx7 has a LOT of excellent qualities in additon to the engine. It seems like the general consesus is that the rotary is the only thing that makes our cars worth having. Its insulting, I mean, how can guys be so into these cars and not realize that our cars are MUCH more than lightweight shells with rotary engines in them. I'm not defending purists, I'm not defending v8 swaps, I'm defending the rx7 ENTHUSIAST who can appreciate the car as a whole. If you see your rx7 body and chassis merely as packaging for your rotor, you are truely missing out.

 

Well said.

 

so, what was the wheight then? and why is everyone comparing wheight with stock stuff (pumps, manifolds...) on the rotary and not on the V8?

 

What is it about RX-7's that make them so special then?

Objectively speaking, it's a partsbin car with truck suspension and steering, a stylish body and an underpowered engine. The rotary is the only unique thing about the car, the rest is either budget crap or directly derivative from other vehicles.

Of course, ones tastes are hardly ever objective, and I'm of the opinion that Mazda managed to take a partsbin car and make something truely great. The thing is I can't put my finger on just what it is that sets the RX-7 apart from the crowd, if not the rotary engine.

 

^better said

lol...lets just say that we all love tha 7!

 

It's all about the rotary engine for me. I don't have a RX7 I have a Datsun 1200 which is rotary powered and I've owned 2 RX7's in the past a 1979 and a gslse both were fun cars but they just didn't do it for me. I drag race soo weight plays a major roll in my type of racing especially when it comes to small engines like a rotary. I now have a car that weighs under 2000lbs with me in it and will have over double the horsepower, at the wheels, of a stock 13brew motor. Simply put the engine is what makes it for me.

 

I dont post very oftain because my views are different than most peoples, but I have decided to contribute to this topic. RX-7's are special because of the styling mazda decided to use. Almoast all other cars back in the early 80's were boxy as hell, just pure uglyness. Even some of the high end cars had that boxy trend (the lamborghini) of all the 80's cars i have concidered buying, I have to say that the RX-7 and the C4 corvette are probably the only ones I actually like. And since I dont have the cash for a C4 yet. The RX-7 is a definate alternative.
but thats just my opinion.

If Mr Shelby hadent swaped a big old V8 into a small european car, we wouldent have such amazing cars as the shelby cobra, shelby mustang, the dodge viper, and the ford GT40 and thats just a few of the cars he was responsible for bringing into the world. I say, if it makes you happy with a V8, then do it. I would do it, I just dont have the cash. That being said, I'm currently taking on a turbo 12a project. So its all good.

 

^ what about all those people who call these cars 240s/280s/300ZXs?

They were produced in the 80s.

Just a thought.

=Eric

 

Not to mention the Toyota Celica and Supra. Also the Ford Probe... all the sports car had the basic same shape.

 

I personally dont care who does what with their car so long as their happy, but as mentioned, I personally wouldve used one of the other cars from the era. Ive always wanted to put some big *** built 350 or something in a 280

~T.J.

 

I personally like the RX7 the way it is...with that said, if the engine blows....i will probably drop a 350 into it as I can get the parts for it alot cheaper than a rotary around here.

 

So what was the weight difference once you pulled off all of the accessories on the V8 and then made it fair by putting on twin turbos, stock manifolds, all accessories and the AC compressor on the rotary?

Now, I HAVE to post my thread concerning this heresy with real world data from real grassroots racers....yet another surprise for the 2nd and 3rd gen crowd, but affirmation for the 1stgen loyalists....

 

I'm with the Belgian. You compare a fully built, ready to run to a barebones V8 and say the weight is the same??? Get real! I've been around both and if you think you can get a fully built V8 down to the same weight as a fully built rotary without dumping big $$$$ on an aluminum block then I've got a bridge you can buy. Personally, if you want a V8 go for it...but at least be honest about the matter.

 

Yea, honest without getting banned....

 

A real sports car is NEVER front wheel drive. The name says it all RX ' Rotary eXperimental'. The RX isnt an RX without a rotary, nuff' said.

 

I was talking about early 80's sports cars, the toyota celica from the early 80's is a box on wheels, so is the supra (they are practically the same car only one has a different front end) now as for the nissans, they do have a nicer shape than most early 80's cars, but they still have harsh edges and they look "cheep" which is very unfortunate. I think if nissan had spent more money and time developing better wheels to match the sporty lines of the car, it would have been a nice car. The engine in those cars were awsome, very potent and they sound so nice with the orriginal exhaust. Also, if its front wheel drive it is not a sports car, it is an economy sport compact car. It is cheeper to manufacture a front wheel drive car than it is a rear wheel drive car, thats a fact. So the car companies cheeped out on the drive train set up which altered the overall performance capability of the car. I also forgot to mention the Delorian when I was talking about 80's cars I like... but thats just because it is an oddity, just like the Bricklin. But again this is just my taste. But I'm sure all of you can agree that nothing sounds as good as a rotary engine at high rpm. I love that sound

 

I thought the x stood for export.

 

Yeah, I thought is stood for Export too.

 

The rotary also sits lower and farther back in the engine bay. Better weight BALANCE and lower center of gravity is one of the the biggest contributors to handling. Its just simple engineering.

BTW a 12A with a dellorto, header, alternator, waterpump, dizzy, and RB aluminum flywheel weighs in around 225 on a bathroom scale. My brother's 350 complete minus PS pump, AC compresser, and the stock fan is around 600 pounds as per the estimate by the guy who helped him build it.

And lets not forget that the top speed of the V8 RX-7 will be around 100-110 because the V8 can't rev. Ask my brother, he tried to hit "high" rpms with his 350 and as stated in the paragraph above, his engine is being rebuilt. Six of his pistons fell right out of the block when disconnected and they are supposed to be kinda tough to remove. He also broke one of the skirts and everything was scored up. I've had the old 12A to 8000 various times, when I blew a little rubber o-ring and started leaking oil, I took it apart. No considerable wear anywhere (except the rubber stuff and a few spings were out of spec). The engine has 131500 miles.

There you have it, "hands on" factual information without direct insults (we wouldn't wanna hurt anyones self esteem because it could be detrimental to their development as a person).

 

it doesnt matter if its an rx or not, so what if its not an rx without the rotary, its still the same car, and it still has the same style, and you could pull the engine out, and just let me drive down hills and I'd still love the car. I love the rotary, but I love the car its in even more. Like I said, I'm not debating the rotary vs v8 thing. I'm debating that the car is still a worthy car even if you change the name. The name issue is just a cop out, its a lack of imagination and creative reasoning. I just can't stand the narrow minded logic that if the engine goes, the rest of the car is worthless. Thats just ridiculous

 

Does anyone know the full weight of a LS1 with all accessories on? That would be including the water pump, intake and exhaust manifold. And also what's the weight of a T56 transmission? I'm about to yank my motor out of my car and would like to make a comparison. All the plumbing for the turbo just got completed and I will take an accurate account of the weight of my engine. My motor is bare bones I don't have anything stock on it. No power steering, no smog anything, no AC and no stock turbo or exhaust manifold. It has a custom stainless steel manifold that doesn't weigh anything. Point I'm making is yes stock for stock the weights may be close, but who keeps anything stock, atleast I don't. You can get rid of alot of weight off the stock 13brew motor and like I said I will weigh it when I get it back from the muffler shop.

 

^^^ an ls1 is still pretty heavy, correct me if im wrong but the Ls1 came with an iron block..... I know the T56 transmition is a heavy unit too, but its also really beefed up to handel more power. Im sure your REW is lighter than an Ls1.... how much power are you puting out with that by the way?
I was on this forum a while ago and someone was asking about fitting a jaguar V12 into there first gen. I would love to see that

 

Same exact setup as a friend of mine. Different efi system and different turbo. He was running a Haltech F9A I have a Microtech LTX12S and he ran a Turbonetics T72 I'm running Precision PT74GTS. He made with that setup 580rwhp @28psi boost on VP C16 race fuel. That was over 3years ago. Look at my VB garage and it will give you a better idea of what I'm building. Oh it's not an rx7 it is in a Datsun 1200 and the funnny thing is I have a 80mm throttlebody off of a LS1 corvette on my intake.

 

Hi all.
I got to tell you when I first wrote this post I was Mad that people would lie about handling and how it would effect my cars. I am new here and was reading a lot of old Archives on the RX7club like I was told to do, FAQ That needs to be in there. Like how heavy will my car be in the front if I change to a V8. Or a little V8scetion! I have two shells and 2 V8 motors. The one I just got will be my daily river. The other for Drag racing for me and my Girlfriend.

Hey I love the Rx7. I hate people ******* them for being a big pig if there a V8 in them.
It’s there all out lie. I am at the point if anyone wants parts welded up for them You pay the shipping SS or Steel or Aluminum and I will Tig weld it up for you that’s on this forum. I have about 2 to 4 hrs a day here I go out to my shop and make things But I am all most done with my Protects. Hey I will help people out on here. My email is
thefunksyourbrother@yahoo.com

 

IS there a Blow Though section some where?
I am going to twin turbo both cars. 5.0 for the road car..
427 Windsor w/ Cleveland heads w/ 2.195 intake Valves For the Drag Car.

I will be building SS headers for bough cars. Thanks