For those of you who have done the conversion, what parts did you use, and what did it cost? I have already checked v8rx7.com, and looked through the information on granny's speed shop. I was planning on using the Delxue Chevy conversion kit (with driveline) and using a T56 transmission (unless someone recommends otherwise), and need to know what I need in addition to this kit. Also, what problems did you have with the swap, and are you pleased with the result? Have you kept the AC and P/S? I know this is not an easy conversion to do, and that many of the board members disagree with it, but I've had three too many 13b's (actaully, 2 13b-rew's and 1 n/a motor) blow up on me. Thanks for your time. (And yes, I've searched the boards, but everytime somsone asks for help, it just turns into a flame war)

 

Oh, just to clarify, I did not personally blow up those motors. They all self-destructed within a week or less of owning them (I've been through 2 gen3's and 1 gen2 n/a). First one was due to seals, second due to last owner over-boosting, third due to radiator hose that burst and dumped my coolant...

 

^^ back to the top....

 

Whats wrong with a Camaro or Firebird? You can probably save a lot of time, money, and headaches for roughly the same results. Why rape a perfectly good RX7? If you have a 3rd gen with a blown motor there are many people who would die to get their hands on it. 2nd gens seem to be the norm of the conversions, but still, why? WHY? There is just no reasoning in my mind.

 

I plan on doing the same thing someday. Im right there with ya. There really isn't a whole lot of help on this subject, I can also attest for that. I can understand it though- Im an avid FBody fan, and Id cringe if someone told me they were putting a 4V 4.6 cobra motor in an SS Camaro. I can appreciate everyone's woes here.

But, the idea for me, came along when I decided I was going to ditch the motor in my 96 Trans Am 6sp, and get an A.R.E. 383 this winter, with an ATI 8psi supercharger. Right now, my trans am is a weekend warrior, and the RX7 is my daily commuter. My wifes Sentra is paid off next March, at which time, Ill be driving it as my commuter (we're getting her an Escalade). The T/A will have it's new setup, and the mazda will have no funtion anymore. Oh but wai- Ill still have a perfectly good running LT1 laying around too. Perfect match for each other!!! I plan on running a t56 too.

From the research Ive done, Ive found that is easy as heck, with an n/a non-computer controlled motor swap. The tranny brackets, engine girdle and motor mounts from grannys, and the rest is bolt up (driveline customization too). But, fora computer contolled set up- IE: an LT1, things ca get tricky.

Seeing as how Ill have plenty of projects anyways, and no huge rush to do them- Im just going to dive in head first, and give it a whirl. Whatever obstacles i hit along the way, Ill work around somehow. Im sure theyre be plenty... all the way from fitting headers in, to making sure the A/C still works, to making sure the shifter lines up right.

Sorry I couldnt be of more help- but, I just thought i'd give a little insight.

 

The problem with a Camaro or a Firebird is that it's not an RX-7.

You're right though... it's much better to just send the RX-7s to the junkyard and sit there and watch while the yard sends the car straight to the crusher without even taking any parts off of it...

 

Simple.

F-body's are heavy, inadequate brakes for their weight, solid rear axle, big, heavy, heavy heavy heavy.

There's your reasoning.

PaulC
(who owns an F-body, gasp!)

 

I was saying, If your going to put a V8 in an RX7, then what the **** is the point? It wont handle like an RX7, it wont drive like an RX7, and it sure wont SOUND like an RX7. 7s are meant to have the ROTARY ENGINE for Christ sake!!!! Who the hell came up with the bright idea to put v8s in RX7s? Why not a ******* Supra or a 300ZX? I have NEVER heard of a ******* V8 Supra or 300ZX. Who decided to MOLEST the ROTARY??!! ****, just get a 78 Impala and BE HAPPY WITH IT!!!

 

Who do you think you are to tell someone what to do with their car? Don't like it? Don't read about it.

We don't need to get into the anti-V8 wars, the point's been made on both sides.

PaulC

 

Blue94-

Some people understand why you would want to this swap (myself and others), and purist rotorheads will always think you are crazy. The woes of popping multiple 13B's gets old after a while and the higher performance you build one for the touchier they are. The 2nd gen handles well and the 3rd gen is awesome for handling. Both are light, look good, good aerodynamics, good brakes and strong rear differential for abuse .

Go EFI and not carbureted or you will ultimately wish you had. EFI is not that much more expensive and the potential for power upgrading in the future is nearly limitless with it.

The swap is pretty straight forward even though it seems like a major PITA. I assume you want an LT1/T56 setup from either a Camaro or Firechicken and it sounds like you want to keep the p/s and a/c as you are in FL where it gets pretty warm.

(A LS1 is about 70lbs lighter due to the aluminum block and they have better factory designed heads and make more hp per bolt on. HOwever they are about $2K-2.5K more expensive than the LT1).

Buy the Granny's engine cradle and transmission mount. You literally bolt these up and plop in the LT1/T56. Next comes the harder part like getting the a/c and p/s working (meaning some custom hoses/piping). You will need a custom driveshaft $220-250, wiring harness with everything labeled $450 (makes it a snap vs. figuring out the stock harness), the stock radiator from what I've heard works on the 3rd gen conversions (just get better fans), if smog on the car is not a concern shorty headers fit the engine and then you will need to either run dual 3" out the back or a single 3.5" exhaust. Otherwise the stock manifolds will work (cringe).

If you truly want this swap to happen you need to make up your mind from the beginning and follow thru with it. Expect it to take at least 2-3 months as vendors don't always have parts in stock (meaning Granny's).

I would personnally do an LS1/T56 swap but of course you need to determine your budget first. There are 2-3 people doing this swap on v8rx7.com and one guy will be releasing engine cradles/trans mounts soon. Granny's doesn't have an LS1 cradle yet. A guy ordered one from him and it fit like crap and ultimately he made his own!

V8RX7.com on the messageboards will provide you with the info you need. Here you go: http://www.torquecentral.com/vb225/f...?s=&forumid=11

GNX7

 

It's what I like!Yeah, it will! You're right...probably better!That one I will give you, but you can't have everythingThose who think OUTSIDE of the box!
Because I like the styling of the RX7 better, supra's are heavy and nissan's rust out.Naw...I lke what I got and it does not matter what others think..as long as it suits me.

Let the flames begin!

 

Hey GNRX7....did you used to be on the "old" (sigh) FC3S mailing list? I remember someone emailing me pics of their RX7 with a Grand National engine in it....man talk about a sleeper! Still liking the setup?

 

I would agree with gnx7. If you are going to go to the trouble go with multi port fuel injection. It is true the installation is a bit more complex but there are sources to help there. A company called painless wiring makes wiring harnesses for the street rod crowd. These harnesses allow for the use of stock fuel injection set ups to be run in 40's era cars, or for that matter any body you want to install an engine in.

Check out a company called JTR (Jaguars That Run). They have a very long history of Chevy V8 swaps into just about anything with wheels on it. Their publications can save you a world of trouble later on down the line. Trust me on this one. They deal with the fine details on engine swaps more so than the rough mechanical aspects. Many people assume incorrectly that the major problem is getting the engine/trans to fit. Not so. The details like fuel gauges, speedo, throttle and trans linkage, etc can run into a monstrous headache.