I've been waiting to update you guys on this until I got the car. Today I bought an 04 RX-8 GT. The engine was rebuilt 15k miles ago and ran great (I had to start it to park it in my driveway), the clutch was replaced a little before the engine. I am super excited to get started in this and keep everyone updated. The first picture is at the buying location and second is leaving to go to my house.






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Nice, it seems like it only has a light hit in the front. Just make sure that there is no broken wires, or anything else from the accident. Good find

 

Thank you! Everything seems great. I started removing the wiring for the 12A. The oil coolers on the 8 are untouched! Here's some pictures from moving the FB into position.



Apparently I've got a thing for blue since I own three blue cars (Honda Fit not in photo)





In position and ready for work.

 

bah, in position is on jack stands with no tires foo!

 

Put the 12A in the RX-8

 

I'm actually gonna see how well or not well the front subframes line up so I don't have to touch alignment as much if it doesn't work. There will be some funny pictures in time.

 

-Removed rad and support as a unit.
-Removed shifter boot and some center console wiring.
-Removed front brake lines and sealed
- Loosened trans mount to body bolts, steering gbx bolts, strut bolts, idler arm bolts, and 1/3 of front subframe bolts.

Tomorrow I'm aiming to have the subframe on the ground. And start working on the 8.

 

Why not just swap front covers and call it a day?

The 12a front cover will work (without OMP) or a GSL-SE cover will work with the OMP in tact. Then run a 12a or SE front drive and normal alternator.... booom booom booom DONE.

 

I'll keep the idea open but I trying to use the factory running gear, all of it. Do I have to use as much as possible

 

that's a pretty neat little score! as long as you have the aptitude, patience and time i think it would be well worth setting it up with the OEM gear. i don't mind sharing that i'm not a huge fan of the Can-Bus electronics in the Rx-8 and a big part of that is intimidation, but i am a huge fan of how that Renesis runs in the Rx-8 and it relies on electronics for much of the intake operation.

go for it and document as much as you are able to. oh ... and congrats!

 

i agree, the Rx8 runs so nice, the ECU is way better than any of the previous ones

 

i'm pretty sure that doesnt work. let me go play with my parts and see..
edit: yeah that doesnt work, the rx8 front is thinner and the 12a is deeper, also the rx8 omp is 3 bolt. two top one lower. its also mount much higher then the 12a. plenty of room to weld some alumin risers to some engine mount holes.. i could do it for you...

for the OP just weld on some threads to the rx8 front cover and bolt the end engine mount to that( like im gonna do)

 

I'm swapping the subframes due to the WSS being already bolted up. The hardest party I think will be the suspension and tire clearance.
The subframe will definitely be out tonight. The sway bar mounts, and trans mounts are disconnected. The only things still in are the 4 front subframe bolts. After the frame is out I'll be starting on the 8's subframe removal. Progress pictures below.



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-Detached powertrain and the Mazd is monster trucking!





-Removed complete steering system.<br/>-Removed lower dash, working on removing upper dash.

-Up next is the upper dash, removing old harnesses and starting on RX-8.

 

a lot of the rx-8 motors blew the side seals, ours went out at 35,000 miles. mazda gave an 8 year warranty, we just made it by 4 months. some people have gone through 2-3 engines. a lot of the problem was too much sealant on the oil pan on the remand. engines. if you can take a compression check.

 

a few things I forgot, the too much sealant over flowed into the oil pan & blocked some oil passages. the stock water gauge is junk by the time is says hot its almost always to late. I put in an adapter in my rad hose with a water sensor not electric. and to keep it cooler mazmart sales an up graded water pump that pushes more water, & also a cooler thermostat. I don't trust the omp so I put a shon adaptor on it & use an oil catch can for 2 cycle oil. speaking of that up to 05 its a good idea to use an oil catch can. the stock line goes from your filler neck straight into your intake.

 

Thanks for the info! I'll be purchasing an oil catch can at some point depending on funds. I'll check mazmart to see what they have. I just found out yesterday that the car has a mainly one piece harness that wraps around the whole car by the time it is pulled out.

 

e bay is where I found my catch can, $35.00 -$40.00. on the 04 &05 models the starters are very slow get your self an 07. they are much faster, I know the a/t fits not sure about the m/t. also the over flow hose is very short, I d/k where you are going to mount yours but the stock one is just above the power steering connector with the female end facing up. if it ever over flows coolant will get in there, so a lot of people run a longer hose to the bottom of the car. if this happens you must clean the connectors & zero in the steering. all that amounts to is jacking up the front end get the wheels straight & turn on the key for a few seconds, then let the car down.

 

its only needed if you're paranoid. they did revise the PCV system in 2007, but the retrofit kit is pretty involved (its an upper intake and plumbing)

i do recommend the faster starter though, unless yours has already had it, there was a service campaign to put the faster starters in the cars that had any complaint about starting. the dealership i worked at did every Rx8 that came in the door, but it seems that most other dealerships didn't know how to read, so ymmv!

if you want to PM me the vin i can check the warranty history

 

Hi all! Thank you again for the great support. I'll definitely be purchasing a catch can at some point. I know for certain it has the slow starter. On a full battery it cranks pretty slow. If anyone wants to buy parts from this build please let me know.

Update




Upper dash is out as is the whole harness. I found the connection to the rear harness under the bins.





Funny photo op.





I had to cut the firewall grommet to cut the harness through the firewall. The hood cable goes through the grommet, which is what the tin snips are for.

The 7 is ready for the RX8 powertrain, I just need to get it out of the donor. If you are swapping a whole subframe such as I am, be prepared to do some fabrication. I'll detail that when the time comes.

 

dang gone I wish I was there just to help & learn on this amazing project.

 

yes the 07 redone the oil return lines, but they piped them back into the intake manifold. that let all of the oil & gunk to be put right back into the chambers. & mess up the plugs & make more or a build up on the seals that's why I like the oil catch can...

 

Over the weekend we removed:
-RX8 airbags
-upper dash trim
-complete exhaust
-driveshaft w/ heat shield
-front brake lines
-front of main engine harness
-radio,LCD screen, and nav
-center console




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A tease for later

 

The 04 RX8 has a 23 tooth spline with two keyways.







Lately I've been working on the rx8 prepping it for the front powertrain removal. The steering column came out yesterday.

 

Good luck with the project!I was gonna do the same but instead i am putting a 08 renny with only 32k on my turbo 2 and swapping the REW that is on the fc on a 05 rx8.On the T2 i am planning to keep everything that came stock with the reny including the 6 speed trans that it has been modified to fit on the stock location and uses the fc trans mount.Right now i am looking at a way 2 use the fc engine mounts on the reny so the swap looks clean.I hate getto rigged popcorn welding fab.lol
I am in Allentown PA and i have a ton of renny stuff if you need any.