jdmfdrx7

Honestly I think people need to calm down first. I myself believe that the point of owning an RX-7 is because it has a rotary engine, otherwise with a V8 in it, the fc then just like owning a MKIII supra or some other import sports car. I really think the RX-7 is too much of a beautiful car to be ripping out the one thing that makes it among the most unique cars on the road. The RX-7 was made for a rotary and that is what is SO cool about it. Like I said, if you want to put a V8 is something try a different import sports car.

But then again this is just my opinion, do whatever makes you happy.




-if its not a rotor then its not a motor-(just had to give my opinion)

Blowtus

The rx7 is more than a container for a rotary engine... it's a damn fine rwd sportscar. This is why I own one. If you think it's just like a supra without the rotary then imho, you're missing out on the experience.

Charlie

wam

the rx-7 ...mazda wanted a rotary engine in it..and it has one...i think we all should leave our engines like they are.....we have a much diffrent car on the road than everyone else...so lets keep the love for our cars let they were ment to be my 3cent anyways..(tax included)

Turtle's TII

Vee, if you want the info you are looking for, talk to people who have V8 RX7's. Go here: Torquecentral

Vee

Yeah good idea thanks..Turtle man.

jdmfdrx7

I thinkThe rx7 is more than a container for a rotary engine... it's a damn fine rwd sportscar. This is why I own one. If you think it's just like a supra without the rotary then imho, you're missing out on the experience.

No, I think you missed my point. I own an RX-7 because the are so cool, and part of the reason why they are so cool is becuase they are unique, the reason they are unique is because they HAVE a rotary engine. I would take and RX-7(preferably a fd) over a supra or pretty much any other car, any day, hands down. The point I was trying to make is that if you want to put a V8 into an import car(a.k.a the 7), dont ruin the rx-7, rip apart a different import and put your V8 in there.

The fact is, I think the 7 way to cool to be ripping it apart, and putting other engines in her that really dont belong there. Then again do what makes you feel good, I just think it is stupid.

Detriuch

iTrader: (1)

dam right charles!! and v8s last longer to im sorry. and the 5.0 kit for the miata is outrageously priced. so much more cheaper to put it in a 7!

ssRaiderRX

Okay, first off you guys need to look at the facts, you keep going on and on about rotaries are hte only thing that should be in the rx7. Partially true, but to anyone who wants the real power and is gonna race their car, a v8 is a pretty good way to go. Let me address some issues, first off, with most v8's you will LOSE weight over a T2, keeping the 50/50 weight. Also yes, you can make 500hp out of a 13B but you will seriously lose reliability and that will cost A LOT of money, you can build a reliable pump gas small block to 500hp for about $1200 using decent parts. And the full conversion is only like $500. I know I have built one, I have a T2 and a NA that was switched to v8. Both are great but the torque (or lack there of) that the rotary has will never touch a v8. And you say V8's are unreliable, how many times have you seen rotaries blow apex seals? and $1800 for a rebuild GIVE ME A BREAK, you blow a v8 and its about 600 in parts and that is all new pistons, rings, cam, etc. You guys need to check out the facts before you start slamming on v8's. But rotaries are great too, just depends on how you like to go,

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

You people need to relax, a RX-7 is a car worth a couple of thousand dollars, not like its such a collectable
These cars will never be worth anything in your lifetime.
Do what you want to the car, who cares what other people say, for most of these people a RX-7 is thier first car anyhow.
And yes with aluminum parts the V-8 conversion CAN be light, and you can easily build a pump gas 500hp V-8 and go any local auto parts store and get parts to fix it DIRT CHEAP and readlily available, not to mention it will probably pass emissions easliy.
I dont know what Im talking about, stick to a nice 146hp N/A rotory, they are MUCH more fun.

TURB0 II

he loves these type of topics

dre_2ooo

NO!

Vee

surprise this thread's still going....I own other car before..300ztt, z28 and now turbo2...one complaint is the lack of cheap power especially torque from the t2..again guys like I said before..a car is a car..opinion is a good thing..

BogusFile

The car is going to handle better than you will ever need it to with a Rotary or a V8. I honestly think the car would handle as good if not better with an aluminum SBC or ford. Do any of you use your RX's handling to its limits on the streets? If you said yes, you need to be taken off of the road because you are a threat to other motorists. I don't really care about weight that much, so I used the most affordable Small block I could find. It is heavier than the N/A 13b that was once in the car, but that really doesn't effect the way I drive it. It still handles great, and it is much faster than it was before. I don't really see the need for such extensive suspension modification if you are going to be driving the car on the street. What good are ground control coilovers going to do you on your way to walmart? If you road race the car on occasion that is one thing.. but the fact of the matter is that most of our cars only see dragstrips. I actually prefer the way my V8 Rx handles over my TII. It doesn't understeer, and the front end feels much more planted. Now if you go the LT1/LS1 route you can enjoy all of the benefits of the RX7s chassis. The RX's chassis is rigid enough to handle a healthy dose of HP and torque so that won't become an issue unless you are putting out an ungodly amount of Torque... which is possible with some V8s. The only problem I have had with my RX has been a busted rear end. But that was mostly do to the fact that the rear was already on its way out, and the diff mount was in two peices. Its been a half of a year since I have replaced my rear, and diff mount and I have had no problems. No clunks no whining no nothing. I drive this car every day, and its at WOT whenever its safe to do so. Keep in mind... this is a 3.90 rear that was designed to handle 146 HP. If you put a TII rear and a good diff mount in it, you will defenitely be able to throw your worries out the door. What really sets the RX-7 and the MR2 apart from other Japanes sports cars available in the US is that it is in fact a sports car.

Blowtus

jdfm, what other 'import' could I buy for the same price that was reasonably light, front engine, rwd, and handles beautifully?

Charlie

BogusFile

240sx
But it would be blasphemous to take out the heart and soul of such a rare sports car.... long live the 2.4!

Dyre

Make this stop please....

Rx7-88na

To expensive to fix? At least you can find parts for them... And due to their popularity the aftermarkets are ridiculous with competition AND the prices are so so cheap!!!

NEXT ! Horrible gas MILEAGE??? I was getting about 12MPG out of my little 1.3 in my 89... However MY 73 Mach 1 with a 390 CID (thats about 6.5 liters kids) gets about 11 miles and it is an AUTO!

Not so horrible.

I love the rotary, never have I felt a smoother delivery of power, and I love the lofty revving engine... But I will not denounce piston engines because of this... Please thing before you write...

Thank you..

rx7_ragtop

Quote:

Also yes, you can make 500hp out of a 13B but you will seriously lose reliability and that will cost A LOT of money,

If you mean "crank" hp, that's not true. I've seen 425 reliable HP to the wheels for what it would cost to built an aluminum V8 (has to be an aluminum block to keep the weight equal- let's compare apples to apples!) not counting all the extras it takes to do the conversion.

Quote:

you can build a reliable pump gas small block to 500hp for about $1200 using decent parts. And the full conversion is only like $500.

Really? $500 for the engine, tranny, and all related parts, and the labor? COOL! Wait... you mean $500 for the parts for the conversion + $1200 for the engine... ok, still not bad I guess... Oh... you mean using all cast-iron parts, weighing MUCH more than what was originally there. I get it now.

Quote:

I know I have built one, I have a T2 and a NA that was switched to v8.

And you are telling us that the V8 has the same weight distribution, with the same accessories installed? (Power steering, air conditioning, etc?) Yeah, right.

Quote:

Both are great but the torque (or lack there of) that the rotary has will never touch a v8. And you say V8's are unreliable, how many times have you seen rotaries blow apex seals? and $1800 for a rebuild GIVE ME A BREAK, you blow a v8 and its about 600 in parts and that is all new pistons, rings, cam, etc. You guys need to check out the facts before you start slamming on v8's. But rotaries are great too, just depends on how you like to go,

Hmmm... how many times have you seen a V8 "blow a rod" (put one through the side of the block for example?) I've seen LOTS of them. Or how about float a valve and destroy the valvetrain and 1 or more pistons? I've abused rotaries harder, and NEVER blown one yet... but I've blown SEVERAL piston engines... some of them very dramatically. (big bang, parts everywhere, oil all over the highway...) Also, can you "limp home" on a blown piston engine? A blown rotary will USUALLY still run. As for "checking our facts before slamming on V8's," we aren't the ones coming to a V8 forum advocating swapping a rotary into your (insert Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, etc. here) are we?

Brad

BogusFile

Alot of the piston engine failure you speak of sounds like the result of over revving the engine. Sure people blow rods, and melt pistons etc.... People blow engines because we make mistakes.... it's often not a result of the engines build quality. Browse the the past few pages of the 3rd gen forum and tell me how many "I think my motors dead" threads you find. You will probably find one per page. Sure alot of theses guys are misdiagnosing a busted vacuum hose as a blown engine... but the fact still remains that rotary engines go to. Sometimes without any warning at all. I have never had any bad experience with rotarys. My TII has lasted 160K miles and its still going strong.

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

400+ ft/lbs of torque in any RX-7 makes it a wild ride. The car just keeps pulling and pulling thru every gear and some LT1/LS1 converted FC's are getting 28mpg on the highway (with stock RX-7 4:10's and the stock T56 6speed from the LS1/LT1).

Vee- Buck the norm..... and do what YOU want. When someone says to keep an anemic high revving unreliable (when turbo'd and modified) 13B vs. a near stock V8 that will provide double the torque, total reliability, better gas mileage, can keep it totally smog legal (even here in CA), and be one of the fastest cars in your area for a reasonable budget......... the decision IMO is clear.

double the torque..... go with the V8 conversion.

You know how slow your current 13B makes the car.... why not turn it into an animal by doing the V8.... and with upgraded suspension they handle great still.

90% of the people on this board can't drive their current RX-7 "to the limit" safely anyway..... so that argument doesn't hold water. LT1 (iron block/alum head) vs. LS1 (all aluminum) is about 70lb difference..... and probably won't be able to tell the difference when the car is done (handling wise).

Investigate both options thoroughly before choosing either. But ask yourself how long a modified rotary engine lasts (over 300hp)..... and you will find a yearly rebuild budgeted by many of those that drive modded 13B's (turbo'd setups) as something goes awry in the 13B when pushed past stock. An N/A 13B is a little more potent..... yes it will rev to 10,000 ....... and still make very little torque like stock and idle like sh*t.

The RX-7 is a great chassis and I love the looks/design. I'm just not a purist baby and make the thoughts and influence of others dictate what kind of car I will drive. I want a car that handles well, hauls ***, and gets pretty good gas mileage.... I have it. MY idea of a further engineered RX-7 listed below that can be driven by the masses and very affordable.

-GNX7

RotaryRevn

If you wanna go v-8, find a pist-on car to put it in. Don't ruin a 7

eViLRotor

iTrader: (2)

Barwick

NO

Crionics

I was gonna do this back hen I got my RX7, but the rotary won me over. However, if you are gonna do it, then I would suggest you look here first.

They make the swap very painless, and they have been doing it for a while.