rotor vs. piston

I want to build something that's fun to drive FUEL EFFECIANT, rear wheel drive. Of course I love RX's no matter whats under the hood, so I'm thinking what engine has good power and still average in the high 20mpg range? I thought about a 3800 V6 out of a camaro/firebird, but I like 4 bangers as much as V8s. So it just hits me after thinking about this for 3 months now, use a 1.8 out of a miata. Why not just buy a miata you ask?? I'm not a fan of convertables and they're just so many of them on the road (mainly because they're just so many of them on the road)

Give me ALL of your input, good/bad if someone else has already done this, etc...

Thanx for reading all of this!!!!

rotor vs. piston

BTW, I want what ever I build net to me my daily driver

comradegiant

I think the Miata motor will bore the hell out of you. The US spec Miata has a crap motor compared to the rest of the world. I've seen it done, but I don't recall that the person was entirely happy with it. I don't like cross-brand swaps, but the KA24DE from the 240SX would be a decent motor. If you don't mind paying a bit of money an SR20DE from a Q's Silvia is a nice motor, has good power and better gas milage than the turbo motor. Or go with a 4A-GE from an older GTS Corolla, that has plenty of kick for a light car.

rototiller1

I have afresh, hopped up chevy 2.8, for sale 1400.00
bored .040 over, custom intake, holley 600, crane cam
272 duration, 490 lift, heads modded comp cam springs
guides cut for 1.6 rocker arms, hardened stainless valve seats. This price gets you the whole truck, drive it home.
Its not even close to broke in , I put 200 miles on it

exodus82

Why not just put a 13BRE in it. Those 1.8's are not very powerful. My brother Mercury Tracer has one in it and its slower than my stock FB.

rotor vs. piston

Keep in mind the fuel consumption bit. I've owned both GS's and 'SE's and for the performance the economy sucked, but were inded great cars to drive.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

I'm thinking you'll be pretty hard-pressed to find something that'll do both 20mpg and have the kind of power you want... Though I guess I don't really know exactly what kind of power you're looking for.

"enough power" while being "efficient" for me would be to take a stock 12a, "mildly" street port it, then remove all the emissions, add DLIDFIS and lighten the car. Removing the emissions increases mpg, so does DLIDFIS (however little). E-fan adds maybe another .5mpg... If you have a carb tuned right, you can get alright power keeping it within acceptable mpg... but still no real power here.

Yeah, rotaries are not known for their fuel efficiency unfortunately, and I don't know enough about boingers to make a recommendation. You probably already know every bit of what I've said so far, so I guess I'm just wishin' you the best of luck

I still don't *like* the idea of a non-rotary-powered 7, but at least you're trying to keep the zoom-zoom spirit, I've gotta give you credit for that.

Jon

jorx81@aol.com

iTrader: (6)

Ford 2.3 turbo

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Agreed, few of those have been impressive to see.

Off Topic, but which one did you get, and how do you like it?

V8kilr

Ive seen quite a few v6 rx7's go on ebay.
but if it was such a great decision then why would they be selling them


But IF I did it I would go with the 3800, if your board with that go 3800 supercharged.

Junia

If you can find a way to fit a honda b series motor it would be pretty nice. Nice power and very good gas mileage. I know alot of people hate on hondas but you gotta admit that they do have great gas mileage for the performance.

comradegiant

People who hate on Hondas don't know what they're talking about. Honda builds some of the best, and I would argue THE best,NA motors anywhere. R-Type cars are just about the only FWDs that I respect, those and VW Siroccos and Corrados. And if you could find a way to longitudinally mount one, it would indeed be a sick car.
Just for S&Gs, since I doubt its affordable: what about an S2000 motor? That would be a unique swap.

eViLjAy

Dude just find a chap escort to put around in and throw more money into making your rx fast with the rotary. Switching to pistons no matter how many or what size is a step backwards!

SERIES 1 XLR8

do you know of the nissan exa?

The N12 had a e15et, Light, with a fair bit of power & lots of potential too! it gets about 600km per tank also!!!!!

The Newer N13 model, has targa tops, has either the CA16DE, CA18DE, or if your damn lucky, the CA18DET!

These are very economical too!

They are also very nice cars, my brother has one.

Go to www.nissanexa.com for the forums etc....

comradegiant

The CA series is rad! Its a shame we only got the CA18ET and CA20E state side.
Were the DOHC CA engines dual plug like the SOHCs were?
And they would definitely be a consideration, if you really want to go piston.

SERIES 1 XLR8

they are not that heavy either. dunno how much tho.

Second2none

dude for the money your gonna spend on the swap, you'll have a like half a year to a years supply of gas. just keep the 7 rotary. and buy a cheap 4banger for going to and from work.

-Rob

KingFish

This is what ya need to do....

http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/1...fiinstall.html

My 86 Mustang GT Conv gets 25 mile to the gallon on the highway and that's with 3.55 gears in the rear.

I hope to have this done in the next couple years.

The rotary engine is kick ***, but nothing compares to the raw power of a Ford 5.0L!!

Junia

We got the CA18DE in the states.

anthrax

If you want lots of torque, and high fuel economy find a TDI VW and put the Deisel engin in.

The new 4cyl TDI delivers 100HP @ 2000 RPM and 177 foot-Pounds of torque @ 1800 RPM, plus gets 45-50 MPG, and its tubo charged

not sure how hard the swap would be but, it will give you what you want.

rotor vs. piston

"going piston" read the sig man, I have a V8 FB already. I have a legacy GT (Subaru) thats my daily driver, great car, love the AWD but low on power, poor gas milage for the performance, and just kinda big. So I just want something small, light, and economical, yes and I want it to be quick. I looking for around having no less than 170hp and hopfully will not wiegh over 2300-2400lbs.

anthrax

That is a pritty tall order to fill and have it reamin Fuel efficent.

Performance costs...

comradegiant

What did the ca18de run in over here? One of the Sentras? Just curious because I want to see about head swapping a ca18de head on to my 84 200SX's CA20,

r0tary noob

tis is old, but the ca18de ran in the n13pulsar se iirc, thats the second engine I will buy, after I get the turbo 2, i'm getting an 18de for my sentra also for more info on nissans, go to www.nissanforums.com the reason i'm here is this place reminded me of it alot, i miss my little sent, blown engine also, the ca18de head, at least to my knowledge has not been adapted to the ca20e block although the idea has been floated alot

Rotor13B

i thought honda engines spun the opposite way of "normal engines" or was that just the s2000?