AWD-RWD racer

iTrader: (5)

just wondering, does a piston engine (ls1) increase or decrease the value of the FD? Im not saying that im doing it....so dont flame its just a general question.

dubulup

in another ten years when there are less than 5000 FD's registered (currently <10k) which one do you think would be more attractive to an RX-7 enthusiast who is willing to shell out some dough for a 20+ car.

HAYWIRE93

If you have ever seen an auction with cars that don't have the engine the car came with or has been replaced with one that wasn't originally an option to that model the value of it goes way down.An RX7 with the original engine will always be worth one that has been replaced with a piston engine for any collector.

John Senini

I would say once the engine is swapped it makes the car a homebuilt kit car, now swaps can be done VERY well and swaps can be Done HACK, so the value will range from = to the original to something less.

John Magnuson

This is a hard question to answer because, as was stated above, a lot depends on the quality of the V8 conversion. You're in the realm of custom vehicles when you talk about a V8 FD. The price is basically what you can get people to pay... there is not bluebook... you just have to find an interested party and see how much you can make them shell out.

It will definately be harder to quickly sell a V8 FD than an original FD but I don't think anyone can say with any accuracy what they might sell for.

From the few ads I've seen most people seem to ask about the same as a nicely modified original FD would go for.

DamonB

You're assuming the car is even collectable.

Is an FD a collectable car? Not right now. Perhaps in another 15 or 20 years.

preludesh2000

iTrader: (1)

its all in what people want , and are looking for...
i personally bought the rx7 for the looks and rotary motor...
and to me its a collectors car...luv my prelude but searched for a rx7 for 3-4 years before i found an all orginial, one owner car..
i wonder how some of the older cars (mopars, etc...)bring in all that money...
to each his own

-Six-

iTrader: (10)

For one, they are really old cars relatively speaking. We're talking at least 20 years difference in age to most FD's. So maybe one day when all us import guys are older and grayer, we'll want to shell out some sizeable money for an old import we loved in our youth. Like DamonB said, wait another 15-20 years. I have no doubt the FD's will eventually appreciate, even at present they hold value extremely well.

bajaman

Keep in mind that ANY mod from stock detracts from the value of the car to the "average joe". Now, to an FD enthusiast, he is LOOKING for the reliability and some performance mods to be done already, often times. So he will pay MORE for the car, or at least let's say it has more value to him.
Now in the case of the V8 swap.....the cars become next to worthless, UNLESS you happen to be looking for......a V8 RX-7! In that case, a well-done swap is worth whatever you are willing to pay. But for 99.97% of the buying public, you couldn't GIVE the car away.
I know I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole, personally.

gen3rx7

DITTO!

bajaman

Hmmmm....from what I have read, there already ARE less than 5000 left on the road of the 15,000 imported to North America...(?)

Juiceh

iTrader: (4)

What about professionally done 20b swaps?

Juan

iTrader: (28)

I wouldnt call the car worthless. A smog legal LSx FD is a very attractive option when you live in a state with smog *****. Dont forget the gas mileage and reliability that comes with the engine. Some people live in areas of the country where no mechanic has ever touched a rotary but know their way around v8s blindfolded. That too is a big plus to people who love the looks of the car but dont like the engine it came with.

AWD-RWD racer, go visit the v8 forums and take a look at what v8 FDs go for. That will give you a better idea than asking on a forum where people look down on these swaps.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

From what I've witnessed over the past year or two, the V8 FD's sell a higher. I've seen various straight V8 conversion s(NA) go for $20k without tons of suspension or other mods (and some on stock rims/tires).

I've also seen some sell cheaper, but most of them have been selling really well. Generally, the people looking for a V8 converted FD are willing to pay the money rather than the cheapskates looking for a rotary FD.

MadEoINoTaiwaN

for all of you that said FDs with the 13B-REW...does this include or exclude the swapped engines?...by means not the stock engine the car came with, but a reman engine or another engine from another FD...
and does this also include built engines?

jbhaynes

Wouldn't a completed V8 swap appeal to a larger demographic though? Just a guess

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Not that I have observed. However, the people who are looking for V8 FD's are typically "ready to buy" immediately (and have the money).

owen is fat

stock for stock, I dont hink an LS1 raises the value of the car anymore than the amount of mods you add on while you do the swap... exhaust, headers, intake, tuning, motor mods, etc.

why?
because you can buy an FD, sell the rotary drivetrain and almost have enough money for a basic LS1 swap. the added cost for the builder comes with buying a $1500 mount kit and possibly adding on other mods like a new exhaust, etc.

I think an LS1FD is a much more desirable car.

scotty305

iTrader: (2)

Wrong on both counts, sir. There were 13,879 FDs sold in the U.S, and 9,796 were registered in October 2005. That means that about 70% of 3rd Gens are still with us.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-general-discussion-322/registered-fd-s-state-536441/



With regards to V8 swapped RX-7's, they seem to sell pretty well (probably because there's less chances of buying one that needs a rebuild), but don't assume that anything you do to your car will make it more valuable. You never get your money back when it comes to cars.

-s-

BryanDowns

iTrader: (2)

Keep in mind that in 15-20years it might be incredibly hard to find 13B parts. Its not like there are many rotary vehicles being sold new anymore.

My prediction is it simply wont matter that much what engine is it in. With the exception of people on this site, people do not go looking to buy a rotary engine with a car wrapped around it. They want a certain car (be it for looks, handling, prestige, etc) and whatever engine is in it is in it. There are any number of old muscle cars worth lots of money with engines that never came in them. (big blocks where only small blocks came, hemi's where no hemi ever came, etc)

Lastly, if an LS1 lowers value (which again I doubt, but I also doubt it increasing value) then a 20B will also lower value. 20B's never came in the car so they lose that feature, and in relation to an LS1 make the car heavier.

White94RX

I think it includes reman and rebuilds because it is still a 13B-REW. I think a rebuild/reman is often times a little more valuable because someone already spent the money on replacing the motor. When I was looking for my car it came down to original engines FD's with 50k-ish on motor, or 60-70k with a new motor. Obviously a better deal to buy one with a reman already because you'd expect a lot longer time until it needed another build. Previous owner showed all reciepts including the $5000 new engine ticket. I got lucky and bought mine with 500 miles on the reman. Has 70k on it now, 140k on chassis/turbos.

mute

can someone please tell me if i want engine swap with some other engine for eg mitsubishi evo turbo engine ,,,, some piston engine is it possible without any alterations

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Everything that is not what Mazda used requires "alterations". LS1 swaps are more popular as there is already a 'template' for doing it.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

If you are talking in the future, the whole classic/vintage car crowds are VERY particular about original equipment. If you ever watch them evauluate cars, they will downgrade the price of a car if it has a newer/better engine in it. Will the FD every be a classic car? Doubtful. It will be vintage (old) though.

If you go talk to some devoted Ford & Chevy guys, try asking them what worth they would place on a Ford car with a Chevy engine (or vice versa). You'll find they are a lot more uptight about things like that then this crowd.

As far as the value of an LS1 to a 20B, that's not really the same comparison. The 20B is at least from the same manufacturer. Kind of the same thing as the above statement: Chevy guys would be more than happy to have a different/better Chevy engine dropped into their car. However, do you think the Vette guys want the Ford GT engine in their car? Don't think so.

pugg57

this is one of those things that nags at me as i contemplate what i want to do with my car... the fact that they'll just keep on making LSx parts and well, we've had a few scares about remans and such in the past, will i be able to fix my car in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years? when i ruin a housing with a broken apex seal?

i have also noticed though, that a well done RX-V8 will sell for more than a rotary... but then, it might be because the people who are dropping $200k on a Camaro see it as a chance to own a V8 in a very sporty chassis that not many people have.