If it's a myth, then what is the reality?

This kind of thing happens all the time, though.

example: Norton F1 twin rotor had the rules changed against it after it owned piston engine bikes in competition

example: my uncle owns a company called Manta products in Berkeley and they had a hangglider model with a style of airfoil different from conventional gliders. It dominated the competitions and was consequently disqualified or re-classed into an area where it couldn't compete.

Instead of adopting, commending, and eventually improving new technology, it is often seen as a threat. Things like this should be receiving positive attention, which could allow it to far surpass older methods, not branded with stigma and surrounded by misinformation as they are.

 

Are you implying I made some sort of contradiction? If so, you didn't read carefully enough. The RX-7 statement refers to the car as a whole, while the statement about V-8's is limited to the engine. And I stand by it. They are compact, and most, like the classic Chevy small block, are relatively cheap. The V-8 configuration is only as long as a 4 cyl. and allows for good chassis placement and the consequent weight distribution advantage as compared to an inline 6, V-10, or a V-12. Those are some of the main reasons V-8's have endured and dominated.

I like rotaries too.....I've owned three of them, but one has to face facts. They suffer in comparison when it comes to a relative lack of torque and fuel economy, and unless and until those two things are conquered the Wankel will never achieve widespread popularity.

 

I agree. The FD RX-7 was introduced in 1992, which means the electronics package was designed no later than 1991. Computers have come a long way since then. The stock ECU works just fine for stock flow levels, but it can't handle increased flow, because it can't detect it well.
If I could only change one thing about the stock ECU, I'd add a more robust boost control function, so the car won't boost when it's too cold or too hot. Also, don't let the boost spike or creep above 10-12psi, no matter what.


The cooling system is the other problem, and you can't fix it by changing ECU settings. There are quite a few other things you can do about it, though. Here's some more info about cooling: https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/big-fat-fd3s-cooling-thread-571088/


-s-

 

Are we really trying to compare a rotary and a v-8?? Because quoted from the Megasquirt site, "So to MegaSquirt, the Mazda 13B rotary looks just like a 4 cylinder engine, except for having a 2nd set of plugs delayed by a few degrees."

Granted a 4cyl with sucky MPG, but one helluva power advantage compared to most I4s.

 

no the other..."a match made in heaven?"

I'd love to own a LSX-7...and track the hell out of it!

I like RX-7's period

 

Ooops. Sorry, my bad.