78Z

I have been wanting to do a project car for a while. I was sort of thining about a Datsun 240/260/280Z with a 350 and a T-56. The swap is fairly straight forward and well documented. But unfortunatly 240Z are expensive and all of them rust - badly. So donor cars are fairly expensive. But I think I may have come up with a better plan. I came across the http://www.grannysspeedshop.com/ web.
They sell kits and parts to put in a Chev or Ford V6/V8 into any generation of RX-7. The 2nd generation styling has never appealed to me but I love the first generation ones. They are plentiful and can be had for not much money (especially one with toasted apex seals). There is also lots in boneyards so parts are easy to come by (and cheap). So my revised plan is the following:

get a 81-85 RX-7 that is in good shape besides engine/tranny for say $700 Cdn
get a 84-90 Camaro or Firebird 305/T5 with good motor tranny and who care about the rest. $1000
get the 305 to around 200hp by removing emissions stuff
get the kit from Granny's site $800
and if I figure that it will cost my say another $1000-2000 to do the swap then I have a care with an almost
50/50 weight distribution and can run the 1/4 in low 13s/high 12s for under $5000.

Then later when more money comes around I swap the 305 for a mild 350 with 300ish HP and I'd have a autocross and drag champ that could humble most cars.

So what do you guys think? Anyone out there done this swap?

For you purists out there I'd be buying one with a toast motor so it would going the boneyard otherwise.

SilverRocket

There's a few guys on here that have done the blasphemy of which you speak. Can't remember off-hand who exactly, but search the forum and you'll figure it out. Give them a PM or something, I'm sure somebody will talk to you. As for the rest of us, well....

1stgenlover

Dude, I admire your sick mind. If you're only looking for 200-300 HP, buy a car in good condition for about $2500 US and slap on a supercharger. If you like the sleeper vibe, that'll do it.
If you do stick a V-8 in there, I'd love to hear about it.

Leshrak

Question:
If you're shooting for 200HP and are not worrying about emmissions wouldn't a half bridge be a cheaper solution?

Nothing against V8 swaps, just offering another possible solution that may worth looking into.

setzep

I'm glad you said 5-speed, my friend has a 358/turbo 350 combo in his car (2nd gen) and that thing is spinning 3000rpm @53mph! Very anoying when you want to actually drive somewhere on the highway. But I would sugest not going with the 305 (even though you can probably get one for $3) start off right and go with a 327/350/400 or something of that nature and you won't regret it.
My friend got his "kit" to mount his engine in his 2nd gen from grannies and he had to modify every piece that he got from them (except the driveshaft)! The engine craddle was two narow, the trans crossmember didn't fit right and the slave cylinder mount (he has a 4-speed manual in it before the th-350) that they gave him was totaly worthless so beware! Maybe their 1st gen stuff is a little better but I'd check with others that have got their stuff before handing over the $.

Good luck

Cam

Manntis

There's a dude in my local ReX club with a Ford 305/auto trans/Mustang rear end in his 84 SE.

Pros: Lovely burbling bass from his exhaust, off-the-line torque

Cons: Everything else about his car. The recirculating ball steering, questionable as stock, has its weaknesses exacurbated by the heavy detroit iron under the hood. The driveshaft is now only about a foot long and has trouble following the diff through suspension flex. The near 50/50 weight distribution that made the car such a darling in the twisties is shot to hell.

Milk 200hp from your rotary. There are a plethora of ways to do so, all available online in forums like this one and connected sites.

If you MUST put a boinger under the hood, why not slap in a 4 banger already making over 200hp like that of an S2000 or older Esprit? That way the engine can sit against the firewall where it belongs, all nice and light, and weigh about 1/2 as much. You can even supercharge a Miata engine.

Then hide from rotary fans for ReX abuse.

eddierotary

iTrader: (7)

my opinion, if you want 200 hp buy a turboII engine and put it on a 1g rx7. the only thing that a V8 does is ruin the image of the car

coldy13

How much more would a turboII engine weigh than a stock 12a?

78Z

setzep - that is more negative things I have heard about granny's. And most people seem to do a 2nd generation car. Why didn't you buddy at least put in an overdrive slushbox?

I have heard that there are drivability issues with those bridge ports and this would be my daily driver so I am hesitant to go that way.

I think I may look into this Turbo II engine swap. I assume it would be easiest to start with fuel injected 13b car and good from there.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have a couple months before I can get started so I some time to plan the perfect swap.

setzep

Well he WAS going to go with a built 200-r4 but at the last minute he found out how cheeply he could have a th-350 built for him (got the trans for $20 and had a guy rebuild/ make it stronger for $350). I'm sure as he starts to drive it more he will regret not having the OD.

I'm guessing you could get close to that 200hp from just a simple 13b streetport and I'm sure that would be reliable for you. You woulden't have to get a different trans, custom drive shaft$$$ and mounts. There is 1000 other things you probably haven't even thought of yet (trust me I've watched my buddy pour $ into his 2nd gen). I think a light weight-to the point 13b carb'd would do more than enough to make a 1st gen rip around on a daily basis.

T2 swap, a lot of people are doing this swap right now (well at least a turbo engine swap). I'm in the middle of putting together a 83 with a 13B-RE from a mazda cosmo and a T2 trans. This isn't probably the way you want to go (the way I'm doing it) because I'm sure it's won't deliver that day to day reliability that you are looking for. But on the other hand if you have another car to drive in the meantime it might be a good choice, the T2 engine with just a different air cleaner and 3" exhaust will have 250hp at the flywheel. Something to consider I guess. Spend some time using the "search" feature and you will learn A LOT.

good luck and hope you decide to go rotor

Cam

Defprun

EEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Defprun.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

FORD-V8 into 1st Gen
Here is the Part that interests me...
Does that mean I could go ahead and order this rear end already, and not have to worry about my rear end later? I plan to push close to 350-400Hp now, maybe more later. I know my stock SE rear end will NOT hold up for hard launches? I have to make a custom driveshaft anyway.. Will the brakes bolt up to it?

Anybody?

Kerry

I have a 5.0 in my '82, and love it. Still running stock diff housing with 3.63 gears, but I don't race. My weight distribution is 51.5/48.5, with A/C. I added ~200lbs to the car. I'd recommend a Ford rather than a Chevy because of weight.

Good luck,
Kerry

78Z

Kerry - do you use Granny's or did you fadricate yourself? How hard was it and how much (approx) did it cost in the end? And lastly would you consider doing it again? Thanks.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

remember its not just front to rear weight but how high the weight is. rotaries afford a low roll center such as a flat 4 or 6.

Dyre

****, if your going to put a boinger in a rx-7, at least pick a half decent one. Not some POS chevy 305 TBI.

The only use for those things is ancors. Even a god-old ford 5.0 would be a better choice.

Kerry

Wow! No flames! Thanks, everyone!
I bought Granny's kit, but decided to make my own instead, I used it as a pattern. I just don't like adaptors. Granny's kit will work well as-is. I would definitely recommend the radiator kit. I did not buy it, and half my work has been on cooling system. I spent 6 months doing the swap. It'a a lot of work, but it's relatively easy as far as swaps go. SBF fits like it was made to be there. If something happens to this car, I'll do it all over again... I like it that much.

Kerry

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

Oh my ears please make it stop, your stupid as hell to ever consider a v8 in a rx-7, you ruined the car1 man you been smking crack, damn man oh please not the poor 7

IM FREAKING JOKING, I thought Id flame everyone...

But Im starting to wonder why I didnt put a 400 in mine... Should have it would have been way cheaper and Id been DONE! Not to mention if I needed someones help they would have popped the hood and went oh yeah this goes here and this goes there etc But oh well theres soemthing I like about being different and I bet theres not but maybe 50 cosmo powered 1st gen in the US

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

mike still has issues on his project. once he starts his medication he'll be fine.