Putting a V8 in a 85 RX-7
Alright, check it out. Today, I got a 85 RX-7 for FREE

The problem is that the engine is totaly dead.
I dont have the money to get a new rotory engine.

So heres my delema. I wanna get either a V8 or a large V6 but I dont know if it is leagal in California to do. Im sure that I could make it smog leagal.

I can get a engine for cheap at the local Pic-N-Pull and I have the resorces to rebuild it but I need a conversion kit.

And if you have done it before, about how hard is it if I buy one of those granny kits and about how long would it take?

Ive seen how harsh some people are here about this type of thing, so Id like this to be kept somwhat civilised. I knowthat there will be some people trying to rip me a new one for this.



Thanks.

 

I think its technically illegal in some states. But thats only if you tell them. Just bring it to some private inspection place and have them do it. Here in NJ they don't even pop the hood on our cars, so I could get it through no problem.

 

Nothings illegal until you get caught .

~T.J.

PS - My Dad taught that one to me...Great influence eh?

 

By the time you spend all that time and money on a converting the frame to hold some piston piece, rewire, fit a transmission, exhaust, etc. only to wind up with a nose heavy, ill-handling, poor braking mutant. You could more easily find, and fit, a rotary mill that would give you back your Seven as it was meant to be. You'll be much happier with a properly balanced and handling car, and won't be faced with trying to sell it after you find yourself constantly changing this, fixing that, modifying something else, just trying to keep your mutant on the street, and from killing you!

Choose your path carefully,
That Retro-Cowboy,
Denny

 

I've been slowly converting this MG Midget over to a fuel injected 13B for quite some time now. And I think I could chime in with some words of advice that will be applicable towards any conversion process.

My first word of advice is, go find yourself a running donor car. This will save you more time and money than you can imagine. I tried piecing it together from components, and I wish that I had just gotten myself the donor in the first place. This is especially true if you are seeking a street legal, smoggable, car. Unless you are a technical expert (you wouldn't be if you are posting a question like this one) there is no way for you to be able to anticipate everything that you'll need. And buying them component by component even from a junk yard will cost you more. Plus the donor will act as your test bed while you prepare the engine for removal. For example, rip out the electronic and see if you car hook it up again and run the car with the wires sitting outside of the car. That's what I did after tagging all of the wires.

I bought an -SE for $500, and drove it home. Pulled out everything include the rear end and still sold the shell for $150. Net cost $350. Yeilded nearly everything I needed. And spent less time finding everything.

You could always find a running RX7 that's been hit from the rear or side and use that engine. At least you wouldn't have to fabricate anything.

Invest a thousand dollars into the tools you will need for the conversion. MIG Welder, air compressor, various air cutting tools, engine puller, sawzaw, band-aids, and many miscellaneous hand tools.

And think about opportunity costs. Aren't there other things that you can be doing besides this engine conversion? It's going to take a ton of hours. I'm not trying to dissaude you, only speaking from my experience. It is never as easy as it seems.

 

All I did was convert my MG Midget from a '73 12A to a '74 13B and it's still not street ready. Still lots to do.

 

Yea you see thats my problem. I have choices right now.

I can SELL the RX-7 and use the money to fix up my 68 Malibu thats been sitting in my grandparents yard for a year.

I can SELL the Malibu and use the money to fix up my RX-7.

Ive pretty much ruled out the engine swap idea basicly cause Id need a 85 engine or newer thanks to the laws her in CA.

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You could swap in a TurboII engine from a 2nd gen rx7 if you need an engine thats '85 or newer, and it's a well documented swap(check sticky thread at top of page). It will be much more powerful and also have much more potential than a 12a.

 

First time I've ever seen Denny get terse with anyone...probably due to the recent onslaught of V8 threads... Stick with the rotary path. Popping in a '79 12A engine into an '80 chassis would seem like a no-brainer, but I ended up splicing the wire loom on the engine into the '80 chassis loom after buying the factory electrical diagram manual for both years and comparing power routing. Even that wasn't a simple trick and that's as close to a "simple" swap as it gets...

 

V-8 or V-6 ?

People like this just **** me off

Dude sell the 7 to someone who appreciates them and go *** yo Malibu

 

Aint nothing legal in California, you got 2 options, move somewhere w/o bullshit like in Cally and do any swap you want or 2) put the same motor back in there and cross your fingers you pass emissions...

 

do they really check the numbers on your engine to see what year it was made? Can't you just get another rotary engine and swap your intake, exhaust, and accessories onto it? I mean, my girlfriend had a brand new engine put in by the dealer and it was only like two grand. You will probably spend that rebuilding another engine and then converting the car over, ending up with an unsellable nightmare.

 

Edited by Acuspeed who says "Keep is civil. If you have nothing constructive to say, then say nothing and move on."

 

So much for being civil. As far as CA laws go... as was said before, ain't nothing legal. Everything has to be Mazda Factory and that gets expensive. Especially as far as Cats go. $3000 for all three. Oh well. But I am sure there are ways around everything if you look closely.

Chris

 

A fuel injected 302 can be CA legal, its been done.

www.grannysspeedshop.com

 

Read the label:

Warning: This RX-7 contains pistons known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Dispose of pistons according to Federal, State and Local regulations.

Hopefully that helps you decide the path of your seven

 

What doesnt cause birth defects / reproductive harm / cancer / warts in SoCal? (And why doesn't it cause problems elsewhere?)