Kent_M

Hey everyone, I have this idea of building my self an ice racer that would utilize the lightweight rotary engine. My only real concern would be about how the rotary would handle the cold really. I would prefer a 12A just because of the carb, but I am open to suggestions really. The car it would be going into would be a 2dr chevette body, so I realize that the driveshaft would have to be custom done. Thanks for any advice or tips.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

The rotary is fine in the cold. Not much more to say about it really. If you want the details, a search for "winter driving" will turn up lots.

Carburetors suck. Go with fuel injection.

Rx72Heaven

iTrader: (2)

yea i have a 3rd gen and a 1st gen. The 12A is really hard to start in the winter, Well it starts right up, just it wont drive without stalling until its warmed up. Id go with a 13b FI.

Bass

Carburators suck and Fuel Injection blows.
I'm a carb guy myself...it goes along with the essential nature and symplistic design of the rotary. But with winter driving, I'd also recommend FI if you're worried about warm-up time etc...

Kent_M

I was hoping not to go with the 13B because of the copmputer and such, with it being a chevette I can strip it out clean and wire it up how I want. So with the install I would need the ECU to come with it, is there anything else that should be done to ensure it runs well. I am kinda new to the rotary wiring side of things, I know what I want I just don't know about the wiring side of things.

Bass

You can always carb a 13B if you want. I like the 12A myself because it's a little smaller (original to my car too) and with the 3mm apex seals, they're more bullet proof.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

Awesome, rotary Chevette!

You can fairly easily strip down the 13B EFI harness to the point where all you have are the essential sensors and then a 12V and ground connection to the car. It could then easily be wired into the 'Vette.

Kent_M

Ya man...I think it would be awsome to get this done, they weigh 1800lbs stock and then you can strip them, down to about 1600-1700lbs with a 140-150HP rotary engine in it would do quite well. Not even need a turbo really, I would be happy with a 13B N/A. What exactly does the wire harness control on the RX7's, I am assuming its electronic fuel injection not mechanical. I would only need the bare essentials really, and since its ice racing I would still need the heater core and everything. But that stuff can be hooked up sepertaly, and wired up seperatley. This project is a go as long as I can find a relatiley cheap 13B N/A.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

The ECU in the 2nd gen (probably the 13B you would use) runs both the injection and ignition. Unlike a lot of other cars it doesn't run half the vehicle's other electronics. So in essence you can strip it of all emissions wires, then create a subharness to run the ignition (the stock ignition wires run through the body harness). The result is an ECU and harness that will run a 13B basically anywhere with only a 12V and ground connection.