the ls1 is a 350. 5.7L... DUH..

 

That's odd... I just ordered several items whose part numbers started with "FD01..." and they all bolted right on to my car. I guess it must still be an RX-7 after all.

 

no, Your camaro is no longer ugly and handles better (although not like a true rx7).

I would rather see a crashed FD than one with an engine transplant.

 

You must really hate those 20B conversions then...

 

Let's do some quick math...

bore x bore x # cylinders x stroke x 0.7854 = CID

3.90" x 3.90" x 8 x 3.620" x 0.7854 = 345.9 CID.

345.9 CID != 350 CID. DUH.

346 / 61.4 = 5.64 liters. Double DUH.

The LS1 and LS6 are marketed as "5.7 liter" engines, but technically they are not, nor do they displace 350 cubic inches. The Gen. II LT1 does, however...

4.00" x 4.00" x 8 x 3.480" x 0.7854 = 349.8 CID

 

I have enjoyed starting to read "the forum" again so I thought I would chime in on this one.

I admire that you have a running car and are working on a package to sell to others. Great American capitalism at work. In fact, I completely support your endeavor and hope you sell many of them. Hell, I will look at those blown engine FD's on ebay in a different light now. Picking up one of those and making a car seems more possible after seeing your site.

My main concern would be the folks that are quoting the prices on your site and thinking it can be done for that.

I can think of several subsystems alone that would probably run into the thousands of dollars. Sure, corners could be cut, but the project sure presents lots of things to redesign. Cooling, oil cooling, exhaust, gauges, transmission are just a few that come to mind.

I am eager to see some prices more representative of what it will actually cost.

I love my rotary engine, but I also love the effortless power available in the LS1. It is a very seductive option that I will certainly think more about.

As for everyone STILL giving Jim a hard time about his car: I can't believe that you people haven't given up yet.

He has gone so far beyond what any of you can afford or comprehend and in your efforts to bring him back to your level you complain about "weight" and the blastphemy associated with removing the rotary engine. Surely, you understand, these are factors that he has certainly considered more than you.

Jim doesn't need a defender, but damn. I last read the forum (regularly) over 1 year ago. I recently returned and the same posts are here giving him crap about his car.

You guys that are SO concerned about weight but most of you condone absurd fiberglas nose cones, huge useless wings, enormous 18 or 19 inch wheels.
How many of you have 125 pounds of speaker drivers, fiberboard, wiring and amplifiers in your car?

Like I said, I just started reading this stuff again but it seems like the movie Groundhog Day. If I was Jim I would just go away, finish my car and leave all the highschool kids and **** disturbers to their own devices. I guarantee each of you will be chasing him down for a ride (if he E V E R finishes it)

 

Ok, I can make 1 exception.

 

That's funny. Either way you have to think of it as extra engines and parts to pick from. I think that if the rotary engine was designed to be rebuilt after it goes, then there wouldnt be much need for this swap. The positives to this swap are many including 25+MPG and much more low end torque, the engine is easier to work on than either the 13B or the LS1 in the Fbody (which is a silly install IMO)
The negatives are that you lose a small bit of handling, and the relative smooth (when it runs) 13B.
On another note I think our man Brian may need to look for another rear diff, before attempting to hit the 11 sec club. I predict somewhere in the mid to high12s @ 114.MPH or so. You definately need good traction for the 11s and with the torque of the LS1 the torsen rear may just come apart.
Maybe someone should do a 13Brew in a camaro or maybe a Vette.

 

I had an old Trans Am with a 6.6l engine in it pumping out well over 400lbs/ft tq. Do I miss the torque? You bet I do. I still wouldn't disgrace (IMHO) the RX-7 this way. I bought it because I like the engine and the body. It's just me, but I'd keep engines from the same family. Besides, if you have ever heard a 20b at WOT, it sings

Well, the project most certanily seems succesful Let us know how it goes at the track so that us old engine-equipped FDs know what we have to put up against

 

I'm a car lover and I enjoy many cars of many different kinds. . . And I came upon this board and this is the first thread I've read too.

Sorry to say it like this, but it seems to many people have their panties in a bunch over the fact that someone "disgraced" an RX7 with an american motor, perhaps some feel they disgraced an LS1 motor by throwing it in an RX7 chassis, but personally I don't see anything wrong with that. An NA motor boasting 340fwhp, into a lighter weight body. Instead of ******* the concept, you should be applauding him to use the lighter and well balanced chassis of an RX7 instead of using the rugged F-body chassis and have to do many mods to perform as good or better than an RX7.

Plus I could see this as being a daunting task. I don't recall Mazda engineering the chassis to accept a GM motor being in the original blue prints. So even if your are a V8 hater, this is still an achievement to do. Hell even if he threw a yugo motor in there, it would still deserve some creditability to get it to work!!

10s are EASILY obtainable NA via head work, cam, and gearing.

V8Lover,

Good work on your conversion. However the only part I would con is achieving 11s on an LS1 motor, unless the motor has been heavily modified to actually produce the 400hp. Stock motor dynoes have shown to be roughly around the 340 mark and about 300 through an F-body drivetrain to the rear wheels. If I am mistaken and the motor has been modded a bit, I can see definite 11s for this car. Definite mid 12s, possibly low 12s, with a stock LS1 motor!

 

Thanks for all of your kind comments. The response to the project car has been great. We are currently filling the first orders now, and I look forward to helping some of you in the near future.

Kiflin - The LS1 is very strong from the factory, but the project car has some internal modifications to help boost the N/A power. The car is a 11sec car N/A and a 10sec car on the bottle.

Conv.WS6 & Street King & artguy - The final costs for the project car are being added up now. That information will help us develop the turn key car price. Because the project car was a fire restoration, there are many different expenses to sort through. I should have that information available within a week.

Paw140 - Other than the engine/transmission/our conversions kit, the main components you will need are an after market radiator, upgraded fuel system, clutch master cylinder, and AC components. Almost all of the other stuff are pretty small nickel and dime items. Yes, we used the stock LS1 computer. Most used motors and transmissions include the wiring harness and computer.

Pomanferrari - A smog legal version of the car won't be a problem.

Jimlab - Thanks for your help with the weight distribution question. I will remove all doubts shortly when the car is weighed in two weeks. I can't wait to see your finished project. I know it will be outstanding.

cewrx7r1 - J I agree with you completely. The mufflers I bought for the car didn't fit properly, so the car is currently running straight pipes. This will be corrected shortly. I'm just waiting on Summit to come through for me.

cdk 4219 - I assure you that I'm already looking for a replacement differential. Assuming the car doesn't break on slicks, I'm standing behind my comments above. All doubts/assumptions/guesses will be removed soon enough.

To clarify any misunderstandings, the conversion prices listed on the website are for the necessary equipment to make the LS1 a bolt in setup. You will still have to find an engine and transmission for your car. We can assist you with this search.

 

Hey Jim, If you had a heart transplant from an animal that would make you stronger, faster and able to go all night like a teenager, would that bother you? If not then I don't see a problem with your FrankenSeven. I'm seriously thinking about doing an LS1 conversion myself: tired of coolant buzzer, the heart stopping feeling every time I see a puddle on the ground and the heat related fatigue on hoses, the 2 gears downshift (5th to 3rd) just so I can eat up a Cobra feeling ...


BTW, how is that HID light thing going? By the time you're ready to market it I'm probably gonna be 6 feet under....

Any way, what about employing the Sylvania Xenarc HID low beam lighting into a redesigned pod? I'm running a half height PIAA driving light but it sucks and I'm tempted to drop in the Sylvania HID X1010 light.

 

It's not the american part. It's the other other part. It doesn't matter to me where the engine came from. It's just the general idea.

Hey, I still Love V8s, and I someday still plan to get myself an early 70s Trans Am with either a 400 or a 455.
Would I ever put a cheby motor in that TA? Nope.
Are the parts for the Pontiac engines more than a cheby engine? Yep.
In case you didn't know, back then, Pontiac engines WERE pontiac engines. Early 80s is when GM decided to call the cheby 350s the "corporate" engine and started stuffing them in everything.

I guess I just believe too much in heart and soul

 

Ok...godda say that it's pretty freaky to hear teh 7 driving with that deep tone but it sure would be nice to have a solid, reliable engine in there...

I want to know the drop-off/pick-up price very tempting!

 

Flybye,

Don't get me wrong I like sticking with my own. But some of these "frankenstein" projects do turn out to be pretty sweet. Like the miata stuffed with a LS1 motor and 6 speed tranny, talk about a pocket rocket. Or the Datsun with an SUPERCHARGED LT1 crammed under the hood, leaving 100ft burn outs at 80mph! I think different is good, IMO. and sometimes turn out better than you think

 

the_glass_man has no long-term memory.

 

 

yeah what he said his car his choice. he loves his 7 just as much as you do. now who wants to help me put in a B16 w/ nawzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs of cource good luck jim. can't wait till you finish her up.

 

time to do a swap

 

I think it's a great and interesting thing, to be honest....I mean one of the great things about people, are their imaginations and their ingenuity.

It's amazing to sit back and see someone work so hard, and be able to accomplish something totally unexpected.

I'm certainly going to stick with the rotary but I have nothing but respect for those of you taking a different path. And leading the way in the process.

Jim, I'd love to have the chance to see you run that baby down the track after you're done with it.

 

I actually just wrote up a little comment on my view of plopping V8's in rx7's, but since you're trying to make a living at it, I'll spare you the negative energy...Actually, when I come to think about it, I'd rather have people own an rx7 with a reliable v8 in it than have some stupid kid own it with a 13B and blow it up before they can say "FATF is the COOLEST movie ever!" (I obviously don't apply to this stereotype, having an FD on the side of the house in need of a rebuild) Ohh well, live and learn atleast I didn't mod it, I was just dumb enough to buy it modded and not have the sense to get a compression test I wish you good luck with your business!

 

How many FDs you own, Chronos?

 

IMO, this is a disgrace, but to each his own. My car runs 10's and handles like a RX7 doing so. That RX/Camaro will handle like a titanic. If you want a camaro, by all means, grow a mullet and go buy one, but ya can't have half a mullet!
If you want torque, get a 20B....The whole V8 thing is the dumbest thing I've heard yet.

 

Actually..

I was kinda surprised at the fact that with most of the money spent on swaps...an RX-7 would be easily in the 10's and 11's. Yes..it might not be as reliable...but it did surprise me reading about PFS's RX-7 that was only mustering out 12's with the 20B in that article.

How fast do ya'll expect to run, and is it intentionally for drags? Or Road Racing? Or just an all-out performer?

 

Actually,
Ray WIlson of PFS runs a 13B(2rotor) in the 9's!! I saw that artical and rest asure whomever was driving (it wasn't Peter) didn't know how to drag race. And it was done on street tires. You cant drag race with a 20B on a street tires (or any high powered car) and expect not to spin the whole way down the track. SO, those times were NOT typical.