WARNING !! This is an extreme idea, if you can’t handle it don’t comment !! (I guess being a newbie I am trying to limit the flaming I am going to get for this) I realize you all are hungry for power and more power the better. But this is going to require thinking out of the box.

Anyway, here it goes. My engine is history, and I am considering if it is practical to install a 2nd Gen motor in it. See I told you, a radical thought, why would one want to regress back in power ? Sacrilegious !! The truth is, I am quite happy with the power the 2nd gen is creating for me (my other RX), it is the handling that I really love about the 3rd gen. And, I know only a matter of time before I have to rebuild the turbos.

So, how practical is this ? And, what would modifications do I have to make to make this happen ?

 

Ok, so do you want people to comment or not... Just about everyone is going to tell you it is wrong if they comment on it, and you said you don't want to hear the negative comments, but you are asking for our opinion?? WTF???

 

I do want your comments on whether it is practical ? Philosophically we may not agree, but I want to know if mechanically how radical of an idea is this.

 

Hmmm....my gues is that it will be less practical than just replacing the engine with a Mazda reman. I don't know what a second gen engine costs, but it can't be that much cheaper than a reman for the FD. The thing to realize is that the second gen engine isn't going to be a drop in replacement...the engine harness and computer will have to be adapted somehow, and then there is the issue of mounting. I don't know, but I would assume that you would need custom motor mounts, and have to fab up a new exhaust to mate with the existing FD exhaust. Taking all this into consideration, I would be willing to bet that the cost of putting in a second gen motor will be higher than just putting in another FD motor.

Other potential downsides are less power, as you've already mentioned, and the fact that repair will be that much harder. It's hard enough to find good people to work on a 3rd gen as it is, now you'll have to find someone really good to work on your one- off creation. I would guess that you will be much better off to stick with the 3rd gen motor.

 

I've already looked into this, because I was using a supercharger (to be different). The tranny doesn't line up can't do it.

 

If your end goal is to have a NA, just rebuild a 3rd gen engine with high compression rotors, and ditch the turbos and associate plumbing. Its been done before.

I'll have to dig thru my Japanese magazines to find...

 

Thanks "Red Rotary Rocket".. exactly the kind of info I was looking for. That settles it, I had no idea what this would take to make happen and based on what you say it is VERY impractical to go forward with this.

I did not think of it until "dclin" mentioned it, I guess you are right, my goal really is to do away with the turbos. Would appreciate very much if you can post what you find in your Jap mag archives.

Thanks again guys, so far this has been very positive.

 

It can and has been done. There is a very successful road circuit racecar here in CA that's 3rd gen with a N/A heavily ported 13B. He's 2250lbs / 300hp, and the N/A engine allows him to run in a lower class, where he's been kicking *** for years. Last time I saw the car, he raced in an open class race with NASA and beat John Lindsey in his 550hp race Mustang, so power isn't everything For anyone that knows the big track at Willow Springs, he runs a 1:29 or so. As far as transmission, I believe he's running a dog box; don't know any more details than that.

 

Definitely true. Power isn't everything. Power to weight ratio is.

 

FYI, here are pictures of Evan's 3rd gen race car with the 13b PP:

http://images.realride.com/cgi-bin/i...(Evan_Gardner)