Dilemma: Rebuild, LS3 or sell?
12-04-13, 11:27 PM
#26
Rotary Freak
+1
Cars and planes are tough hobbies to support together.
Let alone FDs and planes.
Slap it together and see if you can turn it into an unfinished kit fox, avid, JA etc... If you want a project.
Or punt it as a project and buy a bird under 1320 gross like a Taylorcraft or one of the above home builds.
It's always interesting when people post these "what do I do with my FD" threads on here. It's certainly a good place to come for moral support if you're frustrated but in your case it's simply a matter of deciding which hobby is more important to you.
Cars and planes are tough hobbies to support together.
Let alone FDs and planes.
Slap it together and see if you can turn it into an unfinished kit fox, avid, JA etc... If you want a project.
Or punt it as a project and buy a bird under 1320 gross like a Taylorcraft or one of the above home builds.
It's always interesting when people post these "what do I do with my FD" threads on here. It's certainly a good place to come for moral support if you're frustrated but in your case it's simply a matter of deciding which hobby is more important to you.
12-04-13, 11:36 PM
#27
If you want to pull for an LS swap, why not put the car back together with stock internals, sell it and buy a C5 vette? There going for pretty cheap now and days, you get a car that looks like an FD with the LS. Personally, i would never do a ls swap and i honestly hate seeing rare r1's and r2's get converted to ls swaps, i respect it, just personally don't like it.
12-05-13, 12:05 AM
#28
I dont really get whats going on here. Take option 1, shitcan the stupid 19" wheels, wide fenders nnd fog lights, buy a $1500 gt3582r and make 400whp @1bar with water injection for safety and call it a day. Or go for the small block Chevy if you enjoy the company of men in your private time, Im not going to judge.
12-05-13, 01:31 PM
#32
If you want to pull for an LS swap, why not put the car back together with stock internals, sell it and buy a C5 vette? There going for pretty cheap now and days, you get a car that looks like an FD with the LS. Personally, i would never do a ls swap and i honestly hate seeing rare r1's and r2's get converted to ls swaps, i respect it, just personally don't like it.
I can tell you why most people get rid of a 3rd gen. Its due to engine failures. Its expensive to do either way but its more expensive to keep doing it when a rotor motor loses compression and you get to do it again. Even with an LS motor in GM cars and trucks its only a power plant.
I bought an RX-7 for how it looks, handles and drives. It is still the car I fell in love with so long ago, just without the problems that the Rotary always gave me.
Can you keep a rotary engine in top running condition for a long period of time and miles? Yes I think you can leaving them stock.
That's been my experience. I can seperate the car and the motor that powers it. Its never all or nothing.
You may even love it more with a swap, who knows.
12-05-13, 02:02 PM
#33
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Wow what a response! The guy posts once and gets 2 pages of replies. It would seem that many people have a strong opinion of the v8 or not v8 issue.
In my personal journey I bought a ls3 rx7 that was not totally finished took me about 6 months to get it running and reliable, did all my own work, and I am really pleased with the result. It's got crazy power at all rpm's, sounds incredible and is the center attraction at any local car show or autocross.
If I was to do this again it sounds like your car would be a great candidate. I would look for a car that is already tricked out with all the aftermarket body, wheels brakes shocks ect and a non working engine. Then I would go to town on it, with the ls3 swap.
Though it sounds to me you are cash rich and time poor so getting Samberg and Jordan to do the work would be your choice.
Or you could sell your bits and buy a finished swap like Lane's http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=70.0
My LS3RX7 is my poor mans Ferrari except it is reliable.
In my personal journey I bought a ls3 rx7 that was not totally finished took me about 6 months to get it running and reliable, did all my own work, and I am really pleased with the result. It's got crazy power at all rpm's, sounds incredible and is the center attraction at any local car show or autocross.
If I was to do this again it sounds like your car would be a great candidate. I would look for a car that is already tricked out with all the aftermarket body, wheels brakes shocks ect and a non working engine. Then I would go to town on it, with the ls3 swap.
Though it sounds to me you are cash rich and time poor so getting Samberg and Jordan to do the work would be your choice.
Or you could sell your bits and buy a finished swap like Lane's http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=70.0
My LS3RX7 is my poor mans Ferrari except it is reliable.
12-05-13, 03:56 PM
#36
I have a single turbo rotary and a v8 car right now. I enjoy them both but I've discovered something about the v8 car. When I take my rotary out, I feel like I'm driving the fastest thing on 4 wheels. It just seems so different than any other car and it makes it more of an occasion. When I take my v8 out, it just feels like I'm driving a really fast car and that's it. I could turn my v8 car into a 600hp monster and I'd probably find the rotary more exciting.
That probably applies to many non-turbo boingers.
KISS.
There are plenty of people running reliable high hp rotaries:
TheWird broke 3 trannies on his track20b this season and hasn't spit an apex seal yet.
GoodFellas Red FD held together like gorilla glue.
ErnieT got 830+ hp to run for multiple seasons, before he did what he always does.
Enzo got 535hp out of a reman with a t3 gt35.
Some people can hack the rotary.
Some people cant, get all butthurt, say mean things about the rotary, and switch to a different team.
It's user error.
12-05-13, 06:20 PM
#37
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I suspect the reason a LS3 EROD was mentioned is that it will pass CA CARB requirements so it can be licensed to drive. LS7 is only possible if you can pull one from a later model vehicle along with all the smog equipment and install it to the satisfaction of a state smog referee. Possible, but not an easy task.
12-05-13, 08:22 PM
#38
What is the likelihood of rotary engines becoming harder and harder to come by, especially since Mazda is no longer planning to release another rotary powered vehicle in the near future?
If rotary engine parts become scarce and the cost of rebuilds gets driven up, going V8 might be the most cost effective option going forward.
If rotary engine parts become scarce and the cost of rebuilds gets driven up, going V8 might be the most cost effective option going forward.
12-05-13, 08:48 PM
#39
Believe it or not there is alot of love for the RX-7. I have loved the car decades and owned em both with Rotors and Pistons.
I can tell you why most people get rid of a 3rd gen. Its due to engine failures. Its expensive to do either way but its more expensive to keep doing it when a rotor motor loses compression and you get to do it again. Even with an LS motor in GM cars and trucks its only a power plant.
I bought an RX-7 for how it looks, handles and drives. It is still the car I fell in love with so long ago, just without the problems that the Rotary always gave me.
Can you keep a rotary engine in top running condition for a long period of time and miles? Yes I think you can leaving them stock.
That's been my experience. I can seperate the car and the motor that powers it. Its never all or nothing.
You may even love it more with a swap, who knows.
I can tell you why most people get rid of a 3rd gen. Its due to engine failures. Its expensive to do either way but its more expensive to keep doing it when a rotor motor loses compression and you get to do it again. Even with an LS motor in GM cars and trucks its only a power plant.
I bought an RX-7 for how it looks, handles and drives. It is still the car I fell in love with so long ago, just without the problems that the Rotary always gave me.
Can you keep a rotary engine in top running condition for a long period of time and miles? Yes I think you can leaving them stock.
That's been my experience. I can seperate the car and the motor that powers it. Its never all or nothing.
You may even love it more with a swap, who knows.
12-06-13, 02:47 PM
#40
I've owned both, go with ls for a daily driver. I drive mine in the rain snow, hot , cold, whatever. No worry about ****. Parts broken? No problem $45 bucks from any junk yard lol. Torque makes the rx7 that muh more fun to drive.
Only con is you lose the smooth shifting of rotary and the rawness of the car doubles when you swap a v8...
Only con is you lose the smooth shifting of rotary and the rawness of the car doubles when you swap a v8...
