When I first saw the RX-8 at the Detroit auto show, the idea of having that engine in my '83 got me grinning from ear to ear! When I asked the guys working the Mazda display about the dimensions and hook-ups of the engine, they only responded with, "Would you like a free brochure or calendar?"
Now that the engine is finalized, does anyone know about the possibility of getting a hold of these engines for a 'transplant operation?'

 

The last guess in the other forums was about $8k in parts to get it in your car.

 

Ouch!!!

 

Humm the induction system is different, the exhaust system is different. And who knows if it is even the same rear housing patter to a old tranny, not to mention the purchase of a Rx-8 one... Now with that said, I bet 8k is pretty generous. I bet you looking at more like $10k for a base motor, maybe plus induction system, and exhaust. And that leaves out a computer or igntion? Who knows about that... Untill some of these get out there an established, this is all a shot in the dark...

 

Oooops by the way when in doubt use the Mazda RIP OFF RULE OF THUMB.

Rule 1: Take what you think it will cost and multiply by ten, if you want horsepower double it again...

Rule 2:when in doubt refer to rule #1

 

I don't know, i don't reckon that the motor would change that dramatically. I bet you that if u stripped down the renesis motor just so you had the block, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between that and a normal 13B block. Anyway, can't wait till these motors become more common...

 

I always had the same idea....No dont buy a new engine for **** sake....get a jap import....wif tranny and im sure some other parts i rekon heaps of ppl will be doing this in Australia wif older cars...itll be cheap in 5 years....till then.....suffer

 

'cept of the side housing exhaust ports your probably right.

 

And really, if you're going to stuff a Renesis in your rex, you're not keeping the stock exhaust anyway, so even that's not a problem. 250 HP N/A, man that is the ticket. I'm going to be hittin' the junkyards right after they hit these shores. I'm sure there'll be casualties when infidels buy the cars and drive them crazy not realizing what they've got under the hoods....can hardly wait....and what's sweet is that these engines, even stripped of all their normal emissions will run cleaner than my current set-up with the same cat system scrubbin' Renesis exhaust...

 

Oh man just think what a turbo and some fancy tuning woudl get you. o yea, that'd would be sweet.

 

Just build up a street port 13B.... less hassle

 

If you're concerned about emissions and performance, that's not a real option. The renesis gets around the emission problem by having some of the heavier unspent HC's come around to the intake cycle for another chance to get burned as opposed to being flung out a periphereal port. You'll be able to pick up a Renesis in the boneyard for a coupla G's, soon, and I don't think you can build a 13B that'll make a clean 270 HP at 8500 RPM and pass emissions for that price...que no?

 

But it won't sound as nice

To be emissions legal you've have to convert the whole car, meaning use the RX-8 computer, swap in EVERYTHING that is related (including the annoying stuff like the post-cat O2 sensor(s) and the fuel tank pressure pump/tester module). Take a lot of $$$ and time.

 

That's to run the ULEV standards which 20 yr-old cars don't have to worry about. It's 400 ppm HC now, so you can run the bare Renesis and your current header/cat system. Just get the front section and manifold flange redone and 286 HP clean and easy, yowza!! All for $1500 now!! YYEESSSS, SSSSIIIIRRRRRR!!!

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"You'll be able to pick up a Renesis in the boneyard for a coupla G's, soon"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

A few here and there maybe, but belive me, those are already spoken for.

and are we going to throw the Nikki on the Renesis?

 

Nah...I figure with Renesis emissions, I'll finally get to run Webers that'll pass...down here, a 12A sitting in an '85 with a wiped out rear-end can be had for $100 if you pull it. It' sitting in the boneyard right now with the air cleaner still on it. The only thing picked off it so far is the ignitors ...a 2ndgen is out there, too, with the rt side front wheel well torn off. Engine is in that one for the 1st $500 interested in pulling it...see where I'm going? You know some fool is going to wreck the car almost right off the bat, you just gotta be in the right place at the right time.............................................d awg.........

 

Actually, for it to be a smog legal swap, the emissions controls must be the same as the engine's model year. So your 20+ year old car would be classified as a 2003 as far as emissions are concerned.

before you ask - no, putting an older engine in a newer car isn't legal

 

Removing the thermal reactor is illegal, but I did and had a cat put in with the air pump supplying air below 3000 RPM via a special switching system fabricated by Ari and Chris at RP in Garland. It runs cleaner than the stock '80 with that nasty 'ol reactor, so no one that has inspected it so far has noticed that I broke the law. Think they'll notice the difference between a Renesis and a 23 yr-old 12A? Exactly.......306 HP clean and easy for $1200 US, here I come!!

 

I still wanna see you get a renesis for $1200 installed in the next 5 years. maybe in 10 years you can do it.

 

In five years, I'll cart the engine out of the boneyard for $800...200 shot NOS and then, 510 HP clean and easy for $1100 !!!! Oh yeah!!

 

HELLL YEAH!!!! You gonna let me drive? Oh well, it was worth a shot

Laterz DAWG!

 

Japanese know how to gouge on parts. Rule 1, don't let any product line bolt up to another. Chevy aftermarket is so huge based not only on units sold, but on matching bolt patterns. Mazda don't want no stinkin' aftermarket parts on their cars, they want pure Mazda. Here in Seattle, there is a place where they install options before they hit the dealers. You know what they do with the extras?(Spare wheels, seats, etc) They crush them on the spot to prevent any sales, dealer or otherwise. They want all the biz in parts. I am sure the patterns are just far enough out on the Renesis to prevent simple crossovers. On the other hand, the Germans and Americans specifically designed the Beetle to be tuned and aftermarket modded. There were new Beetle tuner parts out before the car even hit the dealers. So they nailed all the chick sales with the cutie car and picked a load of other folks too. And look at the number of units they sold. It was huge. And forget about boneyards unless you work at one. The boneyards and local rotary guys are so tight it hurts. The shops get first pick on engines and drivetrain. We get the carcass.

 

And I thought sterling was a big conspiracy...um...guy ...


I work for SBC, so I "repost" this observation...

I left out the dawg reference....

 

That's why you don't tell them what you have under the hood. DUH!!!