michaelz

now this sounds interesting. don't suppose you have specs on both cars?

how well the car handles is much more dependant on the suspension set up rather than the fact it now has a LS7 in it which does not weigh that much more nor does it completely ruin the balance.

if the comparison was between a japanese tuned rotary 7 and a US LS7 convert, I'm not surprised as the handling of japanese touge bound tuner cars will always have the advantage over a quarter mile hero LS7 running with minimal suspension tweaks.

Donohu40

This is taken directly from www.grannysspeedshop.com
"Think the v-8 will forever ruin your handling? The August 2005 issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine will features quite a few V-8 powered RX-7s that entered their $2005 Challenge event in Florida. The premise of the event is to build the best handling, best appearing, and quickest car possible for a total budget of $2005., including the price of the car and all components. You will be surprised at the wide variety of entrants and how creative they are. Check out the August issue for a feature on this year's challenge winner, a FORD POWERED 2nd gen RX-7!!! For a free copy of the magazine or to check out this year's $2005 challenge results, go to the Grassroots Motorsports website.
In the 2004 event, of a total of 76 cars that participated, a total of 9 RX-7s took part in the event, 5 V-8 powered and 4 rotary powered. In the drag race portion, all the V-8 RX-7s finished ahead of the rotary powered cars. No surprise here. The quickest V-8 RX-7 recorded a 12.636 ET, the quickest rotary's ET was a 14.323. What DID suprise a lot of sports car people is the results of the autocross competition. The quickest RX-7, a V-8, finished nearly 4 seconds ahead of the quickest rotary version. Among the 9 RX-7s present in the autocross, V-8 power captured 4 of the top 5 spots. Don't listen to those who tell you that a big V-8 will ruin your handling!!!
Daryl Evans's ZZ4 powered RX-7 solo car was last years local, regional and Canadian Western Champion in E Mod."

You can go on forever about what could be faster on an unlimited budget, but last time I checked no one ever has an unlimited budget... or even a big budget.

I believe it's more fun to see what you can do with a rotary powered rx7 because in the end the thing you should be most proud of is your driving skill, not how much money you can dump in your car. But if you want to go fast for cheap v8>rotary.

But I will always pick rotary over v8 for anything but drag racing. I just like it more.

cozmo kraemer

My reading comprehension is fine. You are the one whom is not comprehending. You are saying an LS1 V8 upsets the balance of the car. This is simply not true. Stop spreading misinformation. PERIOD.

I have beuilt the car with two rotary powered engines. I built the car with the twins, I built it with a GT35r and I built it with a trick T04e and methanol injection with no intercooler. I have been around the block with these cars, always building them for the road course and handling specifically. The V8 car handles the best. It is more responsive and more linear. Last I checked in a high speed corner that is the most prefered power delivery (linear). That is why the FD had sequential twins (more linear power). Also, the LS1 is incredibly responsive. It is an NA engine and as such they just have inherently better response than FI engines, but also the torque curve is flat and broad lending throttle response even at low rpm. This is something small displacement engines dont have, and it amplifies the FD's biggest strength, which is its agility.

We can argue all day about which is better, because it is preference. However, in my experience, and I have a lot of experience with this car in stock, mildly modified, very modified and bastardized form...and the V8 is the best of all worlds.



In the quantifiable things though...like weight balance...where we can demonstrate evidence that is indisputable, I get a little frustrated at mis information being spread. Your post was an example of exactly that. So I was correcting you. You now have the correct information, so I would appreciate you not continuing to spread misinformation on things of which you clearly know very little.

turboIIrotary

iTrader: (9)

he does't say anything about a ls1 upsets the balance of the car only cast iron blocks.......

digitalsolo

iTrader: (2)

Pfft, it's all bogus. We all know that a car that doesn't have the weight down low and perfect 50/50 weight balance won't handle for ****.

That's why the Porsche and BMW cars all suck so badly. They never win ANYTHING...

Are we really doing this polar moment bullshit again? Like changing springs or adjusting corner weights to compensate for the minute difference is such a huge deal. Grow up, seriously.

Wankel1der

iTrader: (3)

ok ok obviously this guy doesnt like the lsx idea because the title or the thread says Rescued RX7 from V8 swap...so everyone who is trying to make a point for the v8 swap needs to shut the hell up and go post somewhere else, obviously there is a reason mazda produces the ONLY rotary powered cars so if u take out the rotary u have changed what mazda designed the car for...and honestly in my opinion if its not an FD then i dont care but i am so tired of hearing about the "Redneck Supercar's" power plant in a FB,C,or D in general!! If u want a LSX go straight to your local CHEVY stealership and buy one and stop polluting this forum with stupid!

rebelsoldier1860

this is dumb... i respect the rotary, it is neat, and its different, but someone putting a motor that is different doesnt change the car.... I have a LS1, i love it, its nice, it gets more attention, it has a beautiful sound, it gets good gas, it handles amazing, its EASY to work on, its reliable, parts are easy to find, and the people are douches on the v8 forums.... bottom line the rotary people need to get over it... the rotary isnt that great

cozmo kraemer

I understand someone whom doesn't like the V8 and thinks a rotary is a better engine for the RX7. But I can't sit idly by and read a post where lots of mis information is stated by someone whom clearly does not know what they are talking about. I am not polluting the forum, the mis information is polluting the forum, I am trying to clean that up. That is why I posted.

My second post is in defense of myself, as is this one. I would advise you to keep more of an open mind, it will benefit you in life.

kenn_chan

Sorry dude, gymkhana and auto cross are not time attack, not only that but anything that a vendor says is suspect when in regards to the product they sell, Grannies sells V-8 conversion, of course they are going to blow its horn.

kenn

kenn_chan

Dude,

you have been around the forum awhile, and yes you have buillt many cars....Guess what so have I including a several v-8 conversions with miats, 1st gens and other cars (though not an FD).

however If you read my first post you will notice that i said you can get the 50/50 balance that is not in dispute, what is in dispute is the location of the weight from top to bottom and location inregards to the front axles centerline.

Your opinions will be your opinions so be it. You have stated no facts, only your opinions, the same as me, so have a nice day and go troll for a fight elsewhere.

Kenn

cozmo kraemer

Top to bottom can't be quantified with any tools I have but it isn't notably changed...I know this from experience and feel.

The car's handling is not compromised.... I will say no more. if you haven't driven one you have no room to comment further.

rotorooter93fd

iTrader: (6)

damn this is getting snooty as hell

Bob H

iTrader: (10)

Kenn,
Two very important points not relevant to the larger discussion of to do a swap or keep it rotary.

The vast majority of the swaps today are using the LS based engines,(LS1, 2, 6, 7, etc..) - which is aluminum block, heads, water pump, etc for about a 60lb+ savings. Its been weighed, balanced, etc.. your comments are just plain not true and there are several threads on THIS site stating otherwise.

With any LS based swap, suspension work is identical to a rotary setup. There is no way around it.

I have driven and tracked both itterations - and by tracked, I don't mean 1/4mi. Handling is the same, braking is the same,(excpet for the extra speed you have to deal with), etc... Other than the massive available torque down low in the powerband, they handle the same on the track, can be thrown into corners with the same aplomb, etc...

The bottom line, the extra,(minor and argueable at best), weight slightly more foward or above is more than offset handling wise by the heavier trans,(center of car and polar moment) and compared to the turbo versions - the extra weight in the nose and up high for piping, intercoolers, etc...
As with any track car, the setup is more than half of how it will perform on track, the driver is most of the rest. The enigne/power accounts for about 10% of a cars given speed. By setup, i mean who tuned/setup the suspension. I've seen good drivers in poorly setup cars get waxed by an ok driver in a very well setup car. Lets keep this on context though- a good/excellent driver can make up a large percentage of the deficet by superior driving, and I've seen that as well.
-Bob

Has owned 5 FD's, two w/V8 swaps, 3 w/o, instructed with various groups since 2002 all over the country in both FD's and FC's,(among many other cars).