A local shop owner is selling his 93 RX7 with a 20B conversion out of a Cosmo. How reliable is the 20B compared to the 13B? Is the 20B a good engine for a daily driver or road trip?

 

have you ever driven a fast RWD car before? and how much is the selling it for?

 

Is that Steve from Gotham Racing?

 

It's as reliable as the one that built it.

thewird

 

The reliability of this engine (and any other engine transplant) is directly related to it's conversion and supporting components.

 

No, it's not Gotham Racing. It's in Texas.

 

Gotham racing is in Texas

 

I drive a 01 Mustang GT 5 speed with some bolt ons and I have driven my friend's 04 Mystichrome Cobra with Whipple S/C, 589RWHP. The guy who's selling it specializes in RX7 and RX8's and he's the one that did the swap didn't tell me how much he's selling it for.

 

^^Probably Tito from Alamo Rotary.

 

It is twin turbo, 20B with about 13K miles and I don't think it's more than $30,000. I would rather not say his name or location for privacy's sake. I will tell you it's in Texas, and it's not Tito, or Steve from Gotham Racing.

 

Even if its not, rebuild it and put it back in. 30k is very goods.

thewird

 

without more info, who knows.

they're no more or less reliable than a 13b, they're the same motor with 1 extra rotor.

 

Twin turbos as in the stock 20B turbos or something else? Is this a Pettit built 20B?

 

I'm not too sure, I need to check, but I'm planning on buying the RX7 within the next week.

 

The car looks great because it's totally stock on the outside, no body kits no aftermarket headlights, stock wheels, and interior is black and no cracks on leather, stock Bose system. and I plan to keep it stock, except the Vintage Red is a little faded but I've read how it fades and that's a factory problem. Once I get the RX7 I plan to work on the paint, but I'll see what happens when I buy it.

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions and hope to hear more.

 

Buy it.. if the price is right and the install is correct..

 

Gordon is right about the twins being enough for a very fun ride. The stock twins will make about 4000 WHP but not much more. The torque is very different than than a 13B and it will definitely give you a nice big kick back in the seat upon acceleration. It's a very fun ride.

I asked about it being a Pettit 20B because I didn't have the best experience with mine. Feel free to PM me for the details if you'd like. My advice to you is to find out who did the engine. What parts were used? New or old? Is it balanced and blueprinted? This is a big deal with the 20B and if it's a Pettit, then it isn't balanced no matter what they say.

Finally, please, please get it compression checked. You don't want to buy the car, only to find out it needs a fresh rebuild. My Pettit built engine made it a whopping 3,500 miles before we found metal shavings in the oil. Not good and very costly.

 

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the importance of the engine series.

If it has not been rebuilt, then shy away from 20b's that are not "C" or "D" series.

 

You are correct sir, the C and D series are the way to go. And rebuilt A and B series might not be great considering the irons are weaker.

 

From my understanding, with a safe, conservative tune a turbocharged 20B can make a very reliable daily driver. HOWEVER, in this age of $4/gal gas, I can't think of many who would want to daily drive one or take one on a long road trip for that matter.

With a turbocharged 20B you're probably looking at 10-12mpg city and maybe 16-17mpg highway if you stay out of the boost. Get on her a lot, and say hello to the single digits!