i picked up an '82 RX-7 from a junk yard for $100. the body was in excellent shape....the interior, however, was a peice of junk, and there was no title. after reading an article on an '82 nissan 240z chevy v8 engine swap, i wanted to do the same with the mazda. if anyone out there has any info that could help me, as far as helpful tips, please let me know.

 

Evil Man- I can't believe you bought a Rotary Vehicle JUST to Bastardize it.

 

Don't do a Chevy V8. Do a Ford 302. Smaller, lighter, better engineered, and it fits real nice with a Fox body oil pan if you take out the front crossmember and rotate it 180 degrees so the bend is pointing towards the back of the car.

 

I won't hate you as long as you make it a FAST car.

 

www.grannysspeedshop.com

~T.J.

 

I got a chevy 350ci with T-5 swap if you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to show you the way. I would too recomend a ford swap though: cheaper to get factory fuel injection for and easier to find a T-5 for. Too I think they sound better.

 

As opposed to letting it get crushed in the junkyard?

 

peejay -

That's a good thing to recall whenever someone gets pissed about a V8 swap. I'd rather see the cars on the road than know they're being scrapped out.

 

You could also look at it like...

$100 FB+$300 V8/tranny=$3000 car...

$3000-($300 running FB+headers+exhaust+Webber manifold/IDA48+fuel pump+nifty sound system+nifty wheels/tires+swaybars/coils/bushings+Ebay interior pieces+stuff I'm forgetting)=like what, $500?

$500-$100 jy FB-$300 V8/tranny=$100 and a $3000 car to do it all over again yay!

 

if you check eBay under Mazda RX-7 there is a guy who always has a manual for sale on doing the v-8 swap. Sells for around 24.00. I see it all the time.

 

If you are dead set on the 350 chevy, I'd reccomed using a LS1, they are really light weight and pretty small. Aluminium block and heads with a composite intake. They are really cheap through a junk yard, find a 1998 - 2002 F body and you've got the engine and ecu. Plus if you find one with a manual it's a t56 six speed. Or if you want a totally new engine jegs sells a LS1 crate motor. I had planned to do a LS1 into my miata, but didn't have the place to work on it. Good luck and keep us posted

 

just went through a 302 transplant. definitely worth it. as far as i can see, the ford is setup the best way to change into the rx-7. there is a place called granny's speedshop located on the net at http://www.grannysspeedshop.com/. bookmark it, those people are fantastic. they got me all the parts i needed to install the v8. easiest way to start is to find a ford, lincoln or mercury 302 with a t-5 and go from there.

 

I agree, chevy motors sound like their exhaust is underwater... very gargley.

 

Not with long tube headers, dynamax mufflers, and cutouts.

 

Ive always wondered what you would do for wiring on a swap like this?

 

I would imagine that putting a V8 in is no different from any other custom engine install, wiring-wise.

BTW Spiderfly, good luck with the swap. Better the car gets used for something instead of going to the crusher.

 

http://www.torquecentral.com

Your 1 stop shop to getting questions answered. It's the V8RX7 message board basically. I got tons of help durring my swap. Also, feel free to ask me any specific questions you want. I'm helping 2 local people do these swaps, what's a few more over the internet?

 

I sent you a PM '85 GSL 302 a while back, did you ever recieve it?

 

The rotary gods are getting angry.........

 

Well like I said in another thread... It pays to be open minded.

I often look under the hood of my '85 and think how nice a 289 built to Hi-Po specs would be under there. Then I look under the hood of my friend's astoundingly rust-free '73 240Z and think, you know, a 12A just might fit between the crossmember and the firewall, thus allowing the engine to sit low enough to not have to cut up the trans tunnel for the tranny to fit. And it's a '73 so it doesn't have to pass smog, so a Truly Evil engine can be used.

Then I think, well, that L24 is a torquey son of a bitch and they can be built to make good power. Then I wonder if it'd look better than the 289 under the hood of the FB.

Engine swapping is a madness, it's not a question of is X better than Y, it's a question of "Can I do that? Let's find out..."