Motor's in the car! (V8 warning)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 479
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From: SC
Motor's in the car! (V8 warning)
I'm sorry if it bothers you purests, but please keep your coments to youselves.
Anyway, I finally got the mounts finished and the motor's in the car for the final time. Another 40-50 hours of connecting stuff and figuring out how to get things wired and I'll be in good shape. Looks so nice in the car, i can't wait. I would have been done sooner but I keep finding myself in the car making engine noises as I pretend to shift it....
More recent pics are here:
http://people.clemson.edu/~summerr/V8/6302003.htm
and the whole swap is here:
http://people.clemson.edu/~summerr/V8/main.htm
Oh yeah, here are the seats if anyone's interested.
Car is being built for open track usage. Mainly to take to HPDE's and use for driving schools and as a weekend play toy. But for now, it's going to be daily driven.
Anyway, I finally got the mounts finished and the motor's in the car for the final time. Another 40-50 hours of connecting stuff and figuring out how to get things wired and I'll be in good shape. Looks so nice in the car, i can't wait. I would have been done sooner but I keep finding myself in the car making engine noises as I pretend to shift it....
More recent pics are here:
http://people.clemson.edu/~summerr/V8/6302003.htm
and the whole swap is here:
http://people.clemson.edu/~summerr/V8/main.htm
Oh yeah, here are the seats if anyone's interested.
Car is being built for open track usage. Mainly to take to HPDE's and use for driving schools and as a weekend play toy. But for now, it's going to be daily driven.
SpAz!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 1
From: CA
No comment, just one link
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=201403
looks like a nice job tho, congrats man. I hope you enjoy it.
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=201403
looks like a nice job tho, congrats man. I hope you enjoy it.
roadkill hats rock
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
nice work man, my bros about to do the same thing, but with and aod instead for now
i'd ditch that evil air cleaner though. my buddys car caught on fire cause it backfired and the foam went into flames =-o
i'd ditch that evil air cleaner though. my buddys car caught on fire cause it backfired and the foam went into flames =-o
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My wife bought me 2 RX-7s
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 3
From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Re: Motor's in the car! (V8 warning)
Originally posted by '85 GSL 302
I'm sorry if it bothers you purests, but please keep your coments to youselves.
I'm sorry if it bothers you purests, but please keep your coments to youselves.
All that aside, it looks like a very clean install.
Rotary Freak
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 5
From: Troy,Mi
just curious which rear end you are using.
you should swap over to gsl-se suspension and brakes for safety and better breaking, not to mention bigger sway bars.
btw the headlight conversion looks like it might turn out pretty good.
you should swap over to gsl-se suspension and brakes for safety and better breaking, not to mention bigger sway bars.
btw the headlight conversion looks like it might turn out pretty good.
'Last Minute' Rallying
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, England
yep never trust a cheap air filter .... or an expensive one for that matter ... http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/filters_test/2/
Originally posted by rotor vs. piston
Welcome to the "other side" brother. Now stop making noises and get that thing on the road.
Welcome to the "other side" brother. Now stop making noises and get that thing on the road.
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=201388
Looks good though
Function > Form
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,890
Likes: 3
From: Catonsville MD (baltimore suburb)
Hmm, I thought about going back to rotary myself, but if I do I'll just find another Rx-7 to save.
So luiml73, where can I get a full size picture of you car? It looks very good.
So luiml73, where can I get a full size picture of you car? It looks very good.
Thank's man, There should be some in the first gen photo Gallery.
I always thought that the reason people go to V8's, is because they've had bad luck blowing motors and had enough. I've only blown two in 8-9 years so the though never crossed my mind. Plus I love the high reving sound of the rotary. But hey, What ever ticles your pickle.
I always thought that the reason people go to V8's, is because they've had bad luck blowing motors and had enough. I've only blown two in 8-9 years so the though never crossed my mind. Plus I love the high reving sound of the rotary. But hey, What ever ticles your pickle.
Function > Form
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,890
Likes: 3
From: Catonsville MD (baltimore suburb)
I don't see your car man.
My decesion was made final when I didn't have the power to get in front of a Ford Sport Trac in my GSL-SE. After that day I vowed to put a V8 in a Rx-7.
My decesion was made final when I didn't have the power to get in front of a Ford Sport Trac in my GSL-SE. After that day I vowed to put a V8 in a Rx-7.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 479
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From: SC
Sorry, my disclaimer was basically to try and not insite any of the flame wars that have happened with the other posts. That's why I'm not going to use this as a place to argue for or against this swap, just to share it with those interested.
Brakes will probably be needed eventually. For now I'm going to run a nice pad like a Hawk or similar, and i'm going to run brake coolers from the front scoops to the inserts on the GSL shields. Those should keep me safe for a good while but when it becomes a track car I'll probably upgrade to GSL-SE or maybe a big brake kit.
The car was wrecked when I bought it. The guys sister drove it into something or another. Very minor frame damage which is holding up the passenger side head light conversion. The fender and header panel will be replaced eventually. I wanted a header pannel with a scoop in it, but I have to wait for people to finish them up so I can buy one. Once the frame is checked and fix'd I'll finish the other head light.
As for the head lights, I haven't touched them in 2 months almost. The battery kit is still unfinished because I need to get the car on a lift. No battery, no lights. No lights and I can't test the kits display. But I do have a nice set of HID lights and Ballasts sitting in the shop waiting to go in when it's all finished.
Rear end is the stock GSL LSD with 3.933 gearing. It'll hold for a while until I can muster up some wider tires. There just won't be enough traction to break it. I might upgrade to a Ford 8.8 or 9" when the car gets some nasty rear tires for peice of mind and relyability.
Air cleaner was free. I might upgrade to a scoop with K&N though because everyone is telling me how shitty that thing it. Plus I'd get the cool shaker look
Most people I've met had rotory motors and hated either the lack of power or relyability. Personally, I love rotory motors. We race an '81 GSL with out autocross club and it's been the absolute best car I've ever seen. There's no end to the abuse that 12a will take. I love those motors and respect their strengths. I started this swap with the motor. I had the engine, and chose the RX-7 because it was the best platfrom available. Light weight and great handling. I'm actually one of the few people that actually took a running RX-7 and did the swap, but worry not. The old motor will live on in a pretty yellow GSL that is owned by the guy I bought the car from. And if it helps, the owner of my RX-7 took pretty shitty care of it. There were litterally 1/2 smokes cigarettes on the carpet, and it needed a cleaning really badly. Luckily there isn't a spot of rust on the whole car, and now that It's in my hands, it's going to be properly maintained.
Brakes will probably be needed eventually. For now I'm going to run a nice pad like a Hawk or similar, and i'm going to run brake coolers from the front scoops to the inserts on the GSL shields. Those should keep me safe for a good while but when it becomes a track car I'll probably upgrade to GSL-SE or maybe a big brake kit.
The car was wrecked when I bought it. The guys sister drove it into something or another. Very minor frame damage which is holding up the passenger side head light conversion. The fender and header panel will be replaced eventually. I wanted a header pannel with a scoop in it, but I have to wait for people to finish them up so I can buy one. Once the frame is checked and fix'd I'll finish the other head light.
As for the head lights, I haven't touched them in 2 months almost. The battery kit is still unfinished because I need to get the car on a lift. No battery, no lights. No lights and I can't test the kits display. But I do have a nice set of HID lights and Ballasts sitting in the shop waiting to go in when it's all finished.
Rear end is the stock GSL LSD with 3.933 gearing. It'll hold for a while until I can muster up some wider tires. There just won't be enough traction to break it. I might upgrade to a Ford 8.8 or 9" when the car gets some nasty rear tires for peice of mind and relyability.
Air cleaner was free. I might upgrade to a scoop with K&N though because everyone is telling me how shitty that thing it. Plus I'd get the cool shaker look
Most people I've met had rotory motors and hated either the lack of power or relyability. Personally, I love rotory motors. We race an '81 GSL with out autocross club and it's been the absolute best car I've ever seen. There's no end to the abuse that 12a will take. I love those motors and respect their strengths. I started this swap with the motor. I had the engine, and chose the RX-7 because it was the best platfrom available. Light weight and great handling. I'm actually one of the few people that actually took a running RX-7 and did the swap, but worry not. The old motor will live on in a pretty yellow GSL that is owned by the guy I bought the car from. And if it helps, the owner of my RX-7 took pretty shitty care of it. There were litterally 1/2 smokes cigarettes on the carpet, and it needed a cleaning really badly. Luckily there isn't a spot of rust on the whole car, and now that It's in my hands, it's going to be properly maintained.
Tennis, anyone
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 4
From: SoCal.
I like it !! but then i'm a ford freak and a member of the ford drag club with a 69 mustang in shelby trim.well i used too.
Question ??? why a 302 ?? what year is the engine ?
and i hope you go T5 transmission. I'd like to see a clean 7 (stock)(or a sleeper to some of us) with a couple of subtle but says alot,, badges..a cobra right where it says mazda rx7 on the fenders. then pop the hood and the first thing you see,,are cobra valve covers and an oval cobra air cleaner,,all tucked under the hood/no scoops ! for safety , untill you 9' inch it, i'd employe a safety hoop/loop, around the driveshaft, and brace the front strut towers to each other, and the firewall to the strut towers. I also think that somehow use the stock tach and guages would be unique.
Question ??? why a 302 ?? what year is the engine ?
and i hope you go T5 transmission. I'd like to see a clean 7 (stock)(or a sleeper to some of us) with a couple of subtle but says alot,, badges..a cobra right where it says mazda rx7 on the fenders. then pop the hood and the first thing you see,,are cobra valve covers and an oval cobra air cleaner,,all tucked under the hood/no scoops ! for safety , untill you 9' inch it, i'd employe a safety hoop/loop, around the driveshaft, and brace the front strut towers to each other, and the firewall to the strut towers. I also think that somehow use the stock tach and guages would be unique.
Last edited by MarkPerez; Jul 2, 2003 at 01:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 479
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From: SC
You can use the stock tach and guages but I'm using my digital ones for accuracy and easy of instalation. I'm to lazy to solder on resistors to the tach to get it to fuction properly. Also, the speedo would cost me near $200 to get calibrated, and I have a free digital one sitting beside me that I can do for free.
As for the drifeshaft, it's getting a loop installed with the exhaust. I'm way ahead of you on that one.
If I ran EFI the car would be scoopless, but since it's carb'd, I have to cut the hood slightly, which means a scoop or cowl is necesary. The engine is an '89 HO with a summit rebuild, and the tranny is a T5 upgraded to T5z specs with a full rebuild.
I had the engine already. It was left over from my roomates Factory 5 kit car project. They ended up with a crate engine, and this motor was from their donor car. So they gave it to me and I build it up and found a car for it. Chevy 350's seem to be better swaps for these cars, but I'm happy with how mine turned out. It should be a lot of fun.
As for the drifeshaft, it's getting a loop installed with the exhaust. I'm way ahead of you on that one.
If I ran EFI the car would be scoopless, but since it's carb'd, I have to cut the hood slightly, which means a scoop or cowl is necesary. The engine is an '89 HO with a summit rebuild, and the tranny is a T5 upgraded to T5z specs with a full rebuild.
I had the engine already. It was left over from my roomates Factory 5 kit car project. They ended up with a crate engine, and this motor was from their donor car. So they gave it to me and I build it up and found a car for it. Chevy 350's seem to be better swaps for these cars, but I'm happy with how mine turned out. It should be a lot of fun.
Boing
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Bellevue
Originally posted by gamble302
nice work man, my bros about to do the same thing, but with and aod instead for now
i'd ditch that evil air cleaner though. my buddys car caught on fire cause it backfired and the foam went into flames =-o
nice work man, my bros about to do the same thing, but with and aod instead for now
i'd ditch that evil air cleaner though. my buddys car caught on fire cause it backfired and the foam went into flames =-o
Again, nice, clean swap. It's coming along nicely.
As for the disgruntled folks, sorry! It's hard to resist when the complete conversion is about HALF the cost of building a rotary that makes HALF the power! My daily driver is an 82 GS 12A that I love...but I can't afford to build a rotary powered racer, so that's why the 85 is getting the boinger option. To each their own!
