I definately dont plan on doing a hack job if i take this project on. Im the kinda guy that can spend 18 hours working on a car in a day and wake up and do it again the next day.
The only hesitation Im having right now is i have tons and tons of people saying "dont do a hack job" and none saying, 'this is how you do a good job" with a walkthrough with pictures, or dimensions on how to build motor/tranny mounts, wiring, etc for those of us that know how to work on a car, but have never done a inter company swap before.
V8RX7 your site is awesome, I was wondering if you would be able to pull some strings or work on convincing some of the guys that have done this a couple of times to make a writeup of their project with pictures, specifications, dimensions etc. If I could get an actual layout of what everyone has required to do this swap (for various motors and trannys naturally) and an approximate price list I would plunge into this project at first opportunity.
i do really like my talon a lot, but after owning a CRX and the Talon and driving various v8s i realize im a muscle car guy at heart, minus the misery handling.
Terrh, you still around buddy? Id love it if you could find someplace with info on the 4.9 (sure its not 4.6?) NS, That sounds really origional, and this project is (somewhat) about origionality.

P.S. Im 18 years old and will in all likelyhood not have anywhere in the vicinty of the cash to do a LS-1 swap.

 

First: You will do better at www.TORQUECENTRAL.COM than here.
There is not much support here for conversions.
Well, common sense goes a long way.
Since you are only 18 I can only guess at your experience and abilities.
Hack job? Using a coat hanger instead of a muffler hanger. Or cutting a piece of sheetmetal because it is easy, rather than re-engineering something.
The problem with swaps (and I have done a lot of them) is people tend to cut too many corners to get the car on the road.
If you wouldn't want to buy something because it is too "Mickey Mouse" then that was a hack job.
Do your swap, and get help from the 'other side'.
Good luck!!

 

I suggested that the moderators kill this thread because it has been argued time and time again, and it's getting really old. A V8 does ruin an NA RX-7 because of the added weight. I have never asked about converting my NA into a Turbo or a doing a 20B conversion either, for the same reason. Where does that leave me in your generalization?

On the topic of sending all future V8 conversion questions to V8RX-7.com, I'm all for that. Why fill up a RX-7/rotary forum with something so off topic anyway?

Isaac

 

Ive definately been haunting torquecentral ever since i learned of its exitence, but there are a lot more people here who post more frequently, including some people who do advocate the v8 swap very enthusiastically. I am definately not going to say im a mechanical expert, but I have spent quite a bit of time under the hood of my Talon(being my only primary field for mechanical experience) and consider myself a pretty intelligent and competant person. But i definatley subscribe to the theory "do it right, do it once." It appears most of the flaming for this post is over with, so if the v8ers would still like to help out, Ill be here to listen and ask questions. Thanks all
Ed

 

i suspect one thread is not filling up this thread. And its not off topic because It has a great deal to do with rx-7 tech. And this thread was not supposed to be argued, I came here for information, its the rotary enthusiasts who have turned it into an argument. Why cant you just leave this thread alone and let the v8 enthusiasts help me with my situation, it really wuoldnt affect your life that much. I dont think the point has gotten across that a 302 ford weighs roughly the same if not less t han a turbo 13b. Just divert your attention to rotary questions and you should be all right.

 

This whole forum is all about the new guy asking the same questions that have been covered a million times. AND we help them.
(Flooding - oil leak - BOV - OMP - 5 speed conversion - wings - cats -etc)
Your prejudice is showing.
By the way, lighten up.
You don't choose my girlfriend or house or clothes, why my engine?
This is supposed to be fun. If it's not fun for you don't do it.

 

How is it off topic? Does it involve second gen RX-7s? You need to lighten up.

Jarrett

 

On the weight balance issue. It is by no means still the same as a stock RX. But my friend has and old engine 400ci.

You would do good on weight with the LS1 or an LT1, if money is an issue. http://car-part.com/ You can find engines in junk yards any where in the country. Shows locations and prices. I found several LT1's in Ohio for just over a thousand dollars.

I agree with J-Rat. This is a valid thread. This is not a debate. It is a guy asking questions. I would not do the V8 swap myself, but that is my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions?????


Arcknight02, best of luck on your project.


Halo

 

It is off topic because it has to do with completely replacing the engine the RX-7 was designed for. If the RX-7 came from the factory with a piston engine would it be as much of a legendary sports car?

Message boards are for trading information and presenting opinions.

Actually, if you used something called a "search button", you'd know that the weight difference between V8s and Turbo 13Bs has been argued many times over. However, there is no weight advantage when it comes to replacing a non-turbo 13B with a V8.

Isaac

 

Im sure the 100lbs (maybe) that he will gain will be greatly offset by the 200+ HP and torque that he will gain Seriosly though, people need to lighten up. I am also debating a V-8 swap into my N/A. I was planning on a rebuild with a monster streetport with S5 rotors and the whole deal, but thinking of spending close to $2000 for a car that will be in the low 14s in the 1/4, just kinda pisses me off. Or I could get a T2 and spend a couple grand and be in the 12s, then have to worry about my engine blowing. Or I could swap a v-8 into my FC for like $3000 ,and run 12s or lower, and have a reliable engine that i can readily get parts for if needed. It amazes me that some people drool over 3-rotor FCs (which weigh a lot more than a LT1, and would make the car handle even worse), but look down on v-8 swaps. Look at cars such as the Shelby Cobra, or the Sunbeam Tiger. All very lightweight cars that originally had small displacement engines in them. Once someone swapped a V-8 in them, they were awesome and winning races left and right. With a properly built engine and tuned suspension, a V-8 FC would handle just as well as a rotary FC. Only this one can pull the front wheels off the ground

 

"It is off topic because it has to do with completely replacing the engine the RX-7 was designed for. If the RX-7 came from the factory with a piston engine would it be as much of a legendary sports car?"

First of all.... it is not off topic because it has to do with an RX-7.

Secondly.... the RX-7 is not exactly "Legendary". It is definetely Notable, and a great representation of a sports car.

 

RXMFN7: "Only this one can pull the front wheels off the ground"

I doubt it would pull the wheels off the ground, but it would squat like a SOB!

 

Man, you have as many posts in this thread as the originator...you know you like arguing about the same thing over and over

 

Are there any rx-7 trader boards? I would probably be looking for a rex with a blown motor/tranny etc. Are there any boards dedicated to the selling of parts/cars? (like for instacne in the DSM community we have DSM trader.com) or am i sentanced to using autotrader as my best resource? The reason I am most seriously considering a carbed 5.0 is because motor and tranny could probably be had for under a grand (not to mention 40 hours for the install, a EFI version would probably tack on another 20 hours), and Im only gonna have roughly $5500 (plus whatever I can earn at my job before then) and I have been spooked by people saying "take what you think it will cost and double it" an lt-1 t-56 combo is typicall (ebay anyway) up around 2500 and a t-5WC woudl definately not stand up to the abuse it would most liekly recieve from a lt-1. But I still have to see how much money I can make before then.

 

Check out the "rx-7s for sale" forum. Post up a wanted ad for a blown rx-7. Im sure there are plenty i know Node is trying to sell his , its an auto but it runs good, hes selling for cheap. Try www.thepartstrader.com too. Also Arcknight02, I replied to one of your threads at torquecentral...

 

Once again, I don't care about the added hp and torque a V8 swap brings to the table! A V8 weighs more than a NA 13B, and so it will negatively affect the handling.

People drool over 3-rotors because they were never sold here and they pack a lot of power for their size, just like all rotaries are well known for. Who cares about weight when you have such a unique engine anyway?

Since the people who usually post on here about doing a conversion are looking for the cheapest engine possible, I don't think those same people are willing to invest large sums of money into a properly built suspension. Besides, the car will never handle like it used to because of the added weight of the engine. Period.

Isaac

 

I am pretty passionate about the subject, I will agree with you there.

There also is the fact that no one has yet proven to me that any V8 weighs less than an NA 13B, and no one has successfully argued that weight (no matter where you put it) will not affect the handling of a car such as the RX-7 in a negative way....

Here I go again,
Isaac

 

No, I consider it to be off topic because it has to do with ruining an import with domestic power! But seriously, if you don't like the rotary you don't really like RX-7s.

The definiton of "Legendary" is certainly debatable. I would argue that the RX-7 is legendary because of it being the only sports car powered by a rotary to ever see mass production. The rotary and the RX-7 still serve to mystify ignorant automotive enthusiasts and mechanics alike.

Not to mention the fact that the Rx-7 has won the following:
GTO class, 24hrs of Daytona 10 times in a row.
From 1980 to 1990, 10 GTU manufacturers championships. (These are but a few examples)

How does that not make the RX-7 an automotive legend?

Isaac

 

yeah, a v8 makes it faster, but I would never put that american trash in my car. It's up to you though, your money. BTW, it was pretty dumb to ask us, we're all biased toward the rotary.

 

True

 

I really like RX-7's with or without the rotary.

Isaac: If we don't agree with you that doesn't make us wrong.

As Tonto said to the Lone Ranger;
"What you mean we?"
Not ALL of us are against swaps.

Isaac; You need to lighten up, all that negative energy is not good for your health.

 

Does anyone know of a local SW Ohio/ N Kentucky/Indiana REX message board? Ok well a complete 5.0 weighs 460 lbs. How much do rotaries weigh, turbo and N/A. Ok this is gettin kinda ridiculous. Ok i dont need a touring car with slot handling because I will probably never be a top competitior in any road coarses or autocross tracks. I dont care about the extra weight a v8 brings over a rotary because I want the torque. I dont think it was dumb to ask you because not only is this an rx-7 board with a lot of peopel with a lot of konwledge, but it would have taken me a much longer time to findo ut about torquecentral if i didnt come here. But the bottom line is it that were talking about my damn car, and I will ruin it if i want to. It is not your place to tell me what to do or convince me from doing it because I didnt ask for an opinion on whether I should do it or not. So Isaac if this topic bothers you so much, go post on some other thread and talk about how great the rotary is, please im trying to get constructive information and I would prefer not to fill this thread with more crap than is already on it. Repeat: this thread is not to talk about whether YOU care about the added torque a v8 brings and how it affects the handling.

 

Everyone that has done the swap, How much have the custom exhausts run you? Can you also tell me whats the difference performance wise between true twin exhausts and an X/H pipe? I konw it creates a different sounding motor but I was wondering what kinda performance differences it makes such as flow, turbulence, etc.

 

Sorry to break it to you man, but the world is full of negative people. If you can't beat them, join them.

Isaac

 

You may not care about ruining your car, but I care if you ruin your car. You didn't ask for my opinion, but you're gonna get it anyway.

Isaac
P.S. This is a public rotary forum, not everyone here is going to praise your "neat" swap.