New FD owner without an engine, what I need to know? JDM swap?
 

Hey guys, I've been a member for awhile finally got my hands on an RX7 to do an LS1 swap, and decided its just not right, I think I want to keep it rotary after all. I am currently looking for a motor/clip. I would prefer a clip as it would have all the little pieces i'd need. My friend (who I thought was a rotary nerd...) said that he thinks that the JDM wiring harness and ecu location is the same as the US spec... can someone confirm this? or is it like the 1jz swaps in MKIII's that require a harness to be extended. Or is it like the 2jz guys that want to run us spec cams, ecu and wiring harnesses in their supras rather than making the jdm wiring and ecu work?

I would love it to be a plug and play experience as that would save a lot of headache. Thank you in advance, and also if you know any good sources for clips on the east coast.

Thanks,
Jeff!

well, the jdm will not have all the emmission goods on it to pass smog and inspection. i honestly would not do it because you simply do not know what that engine has been through... do you really want to take that gamble? your best bet is to buy a reman from mallory mazda, put pineapple water seals, nrs apex seals, power fc, and a oil pan brace. with all that, you will have a very reliable engine if you change all your fluids regularly. on top of all that, your car will handle like ass if you drop in that ls1. you are ruining your 50/50 weight distribution and will lose the fun factor all together... unless you drag race or something.

Actually an LS1 swap will not ruin your handling as the engine is very similar in weight and placement to a 13b. Japan2LA on this forum seems to get good JDM engines from what I hear and at a good price.

To the last bit of your conversation.... The LS1 only weighs 27 more lbs than the 13b, sure it might sit a little more further forward too, but it doesnt throw off the weight, especially when the battery is moved into the back of the car for that swap. we could yack about this all year long... but as I stated I'm going to give the rotary engine a try. So LS1 isnt a concern of mine at the moment.

Now to the beginning, in SC we have no emissions so it doesnt matter if its on fire going down the road it will pass lol. and yes I'd be worried about how the engine was treated prior to removal from the JDM clip. I am setup to go look at one this weekend and I'm going to snap a ton of pics while there. I would be interested in finding one that didnt have anything aftermarket on it. and yes I would definately consider a rebuild before installation.

let's not get into a ls1 debate... it's been hashed out a million time.
From what I've heard the j-spec needs a few wires to be lengthened but other than that it's basicly plug and play... but you won't pass emissions.
I think what davin said is the best route to go, cause then you KNOW you have a good motor to work with.

bah you post with ninja skills... much faster than mine. disregard my emissions statement then.

we need some history on your car. do you have the wiring harness? What all does it need? We know that it's missing the engine, but is everything else there? If you don't need much, it'd be much more beneficial to give Ray at Malloy Mazda (you can search for Malloy, his number has been posted NUMEROUS times) a call. You're going to get an engine that has gotten a once-over and *should* have good hard parts in it.

haha, ninja skills. you sound like my housemate when he plays WOW and someone gets something before he does. "DAMN NINJA!" anywho, i agree that the whole rotary vs. ls1 debate is dead, and has been for a long time. Unless you have a complete hack do your install, your weight distribution and handling shouldn't be any different than before.

thanks guys and thanks for pointing out my ninja skillz!

Heres my car...

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...7/100_6235.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...7/100_6212.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...7/100_6209.jpg

my focus hasnt been on the engine bay yet, but you see a tranny (broken from what I was told, when taking the engine out.) I also bought the car from a friend who wants the tranny back anyways so I will need a tranny. My main focus is putting the interior back in the car....

I have a JDM full block. If it was going to be my "only" motor, I wouldn't do it. Here's what I would suggest:

1. Buy a used JDM transmission from "Japan2LA"
2. Find someone selling a blown engine and buy it for a few hundred
3. Use the blown engine as a core for a Mazda reman engine
4. Buy a new engine wiring harness
5. Put out WTB posts for the other various engine parts

Since you don't seem to be in a hurry, you could collect most of the engine components probably before you need them. There are several guys on the forum (like Fritz Flynn) who probably have at least one of every engine component laying around for sale. ;)

I bought a used JDM, and so far so good. Besides some electrical/driveability problems, I am fairly positive the motor is fine, no smoke, no leaks, runs good, smells like peaches in the spring. Turbos in good condition.

i recommend that you get pictures of the motor/front clip before ordering, as mine had a smashed oil pan, and they cut some hoses clean off instead of removing them, a minor set back as i replaced most with new parts, and anything i didnt replace new, i grabbed off the old motor. Definately try to get it from the trusted source named on this forum.

I had to lengthen one wire, that you will discover instantly when moving the harness over from the left side to the right side of the engine, which is very simple to do. With mine, the engine harness to body harness connector had a slightly different design because it has one more wire.(in other words the engine harness, one of the blue ones, had 13 wires instead of 12 and so the connector was a 14 pin as opposed to a 12 pin) with a little wire color matching and ingenuity it took 30 mins and some hot solder. Of course I had the original engine harness, so I just cut the connector out of that and installed it in the jap connectors place and the extra wire which was brown, was in a different body side connector, so i just spliced it straight in. I am not sure what your situation will be like exactly, but hope this helps. Also Japanese motor does not have EGR, not that you care, and nor do I, but if you have a US PCME, you will have to rig something if you don't like that MIL. WOn't effect emmissions, because I don't even know where they hide the EGR, I doubt the smog officials know where to look.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for your info, I'll see what my options are in the coming days...