1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

S4 to S3, what can and should I swap in?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-12-09, 07:54 PM
  #1  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
S4 to S3, what can and should I swap in?

i heard that the intake manifold is a direct fit and am just curious what else can I swap in that is beneficial. is the alternator a direct fit? i heard of people swapping those in.

also i'm planning on removing my air pump as soon as the weather get better here, and i was wondering what can i do to prevent my other pullys from breaking, i heard if i take off the air pump it puts my water pump at risk. any really cheap or free fixes?
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 08:10 PM
  #2  
The Planet Smasher
 
slow5oh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AntonL
i heard that the intake manifold is a direct fit and am just curious what else can I swap in that is beneficial. is the alternator a direct fit? i heard of people swapping those in.

also i'm planning on removing my air pump as soon as the weather get better here, and i was wondering what can i do to prevent my other pullys from breaking, i heard if i take off the air pump it puts my water pump at risk. any really cheap or free fixes?
ive never heard anything about the water pump breaking when the air pump is removed. ive been running no air pump for a while now with no issues. the intake is a good swap and has better flow than the S3 intake, however, some mods need to be made. I dont know everything off the top of my head, but there is a writeup on the archives i think. one thing you will for sure have to do is either plug the 2 extra injector ports, or install the s4 computer and wiring harness along with the intake and s4 injectors. another mod that helps out during this swap is to bypass the coolant ports on the upper intake to help keep the air temps down in the intake. i believe the alt is a direct swap as well.
slow5oh is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 08:39 PM
  #3  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
oh wow, so this is kind of a bold on swap but then again not... would the computer swap mess with anything?
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 08:43 PM
  #4  
The Planet Smasher
 
slow5oh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AntonL
oh wow, so this is kind of a bold on swap but then again not... would the computer swap mess with anything?
personally i wouldnt bother with the computer swap. it would be much easier to just plug the extra injector holes. also keep in mind, all the plastic **** in your engine bay WILL be brittle unless its been replaced previously. your going to have to remove the OMP plastic lines and lots of vacuum lines, as well as several electrical connectors during the swap. any or all of these could break due to being brittle, so be prepared to replace them if needed.

[edit] really the only bolt on part about it is the fact that the intake will bolt to the engine without modification, everything else may require slight modification. that being said, from what ive read it can be done in a few hours. ill be doing one soon once i get an intake.
slow5oh is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 08:47 PM
  #5  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
well the S4 manifold is supposed to have 2 injectors per side which id like to have use of, im kinda planning to replace alot of hoses and crap pretty soon, just need the money right now, college is robbing me blind...
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 08:48 PM
  #6  
The Planet Smasher
 
slow5oh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AntonL
well the S4 manifold is supposed to have 2 injectors per side which id like to have use of, im kinda planning to replace alot of hoses and crap pretty soon, just need the money right now, college is robbing me blind...
the extra injectors arent reall needed. yes it has 4 instead of 2, but they are smaller. bottom line is, if you want to use all 4 you will either need a standalone (haltech) or the S4 ecu.
slow5oh is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 09:26 PM
  #7  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
how much would a haltech run me? and what would an S4 change?
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 09:34 PM
  #8  
The Planet Smasher
 
slow5oh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AntonL
how much would a haltech run me? and what would an S4 change?
haltech can be had for about 1k new last time i checked. s4 would have 4 small injectors that engage sequetially instead of 2 large ones that run all the time. as for the other differences in the ECU, i dont know of anything noteable. personall i like the S3 system better. Every S4 ive had, had a stumble when the secondary injectors kicked in, the S3 doesnt have this.
slow5oh is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 09:38 PM
  #9  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i see, would i lose any power due to smaller injectors? what about mpgs? im all for gaining any at this poing lol, i get worse mpg than my friends SS El Camino with a 350 small block lol
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 09:42 PM
  #10  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
now what if i did a complete S4 swap? would that be any better?
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 09:43 PM
  #11  
The Planet Smasher
 
slow5oh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AntonL
i see, would i lose any power due to smaller injectors? what about mpgs? im all for gaining any at this poing lol, i get worse mpg than my friends SS El Camino with a 350 small block lol
my suggestion would be s4 intake with stock s3 computer. direct fire ignition, RB header, removed emissions components, full exhaust. electric fan is nice too, but power gains are minimal.
slow5oh is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 10:17 PM
  #12  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i see, well i was curious because i found a motor on craiglist, its out of an 86-88 rx7, so an S4, and if its complete id want to just take the whole thing and either swap parts form that or swap the whole engine in.

and iv seen posts about the direct fire but how would i do that, can someone post a link directly to a step by step how to?

Last edited by AntonL; 04-12-09 at 10:19 PM.
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 10:22 PM
  #13  
The Planet Smasher
 
slow5oh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AntonL
i see, well i was curious because i found a motor on craiglist, its out of an 86-88 rx7, so an S4, and if its complete id want to just take the whole thing and either swap parts form that or swap the whole engine in.

and iv seen posts about the direct fire but how would i do that, can someone post a link directly to a step by step how to?
i dont have any links, but the main two ways ive seen being used are 1. second gen coils firing directly to the plugs, bypassin the distributor, or 2. (the way im doing it) msd box firing two blaster coils for leading, and eliminating trailing.
slow5oh is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 10:30 PM
  #14  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
and what could i expect from the two ways? which one would you recommend? i would think it would be better to have 4 plugs firing instead of just two right?
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 10:38 PM
  #15  
Stu-Tron Get Yo Groove On

iTrader: (4)
 
Jeezus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Huntsville AL
Posts: 8,405
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
S4 alternator is a direct bolt in.

Adding the S4 manifold is too much work, you might as well get the S4 engine you found.
Jeezus is offline  
Old 04-12-09, 10:44 PM
  #16  
Dr. Drift
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
AntonL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salem OR
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
why is that, i dont mind the work i just want the best outcome. iv got a life time to work on it. the only problems right now are the money but i can do all of it little by little.
AntonL is offline  
Old 04-13-09, 02:27 AM
  #17  
Lives on the Forum

iTrader: (13)
 
Rx-7Doctor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 10,584
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
Ok newbie you need to spend some time reading about these things. They have been covered many many times. :-)

Also had a thread recently again about what can be used from the S4 into our cars.

Start going through the archive threads and starting reading!
Rx-7Doctor is offline  
Old 04-13-09, 02:35 AM
  #18  
Lives on the Forum

iTrader: (13)
 
Rx-7Doctor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 10,584
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
If you are getting poor mileage with your se then i would check your driving style first then make sure that the all the tune up parts are in good condition because I have gotten up to 33.5 mpg on my Se.
Rx-7Doctor is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
09-16-18 07:16 PM
Wehavetocook
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
09-23-15 11:04 PM
gtcd
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
3
09-17-15 01:15 PM
gabescanlon
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
2
09-15-15 06:57 AM
jakeishness
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
11
09-11-15 11:33 AM



Quick Reply: S4 to S3, what can and should I swap in?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:16 AM.