13b powered 510
 

I just got a 510 and its a 71 so i won't hafta smog it in cali when i move back i also have my 86 rx7 so im thinking of putting the 13b in the 510 I know its been done does anybody make a swap kit?

not that i've seen... the motor mounts don't line up nicely with any of the configurations of the 13b. the most popular way of getting a 13b into the 510 is to change the front cover to the front mount type from 85 and earlier gens and make a motor mount that adapts to the front cross member. there are a lot of hack jobs out there, so depending on how clean and how much you are willing to spend will determine how you get a rotary into a 510.

on my dime, i'm using a gsl-se intermediate housing w/ some modified engine mounts to sit on the front cross member. but this also required moving the mounts on the cross member as well. it looks clean, almost like it was factory, but it takes a lot of time and patience to get the engine in right. you'll also need a custom/modified driveshaft.

i also recommend upgrading the fuel pump and radiator just to name a few things.

Yes use a 12a front cover. spend the money and get a nice crossmember fabbed up.

would it be better to use a k24de or sr20det?

personally, i'm a rotary fan at heart, so that's why i've done it in mine. also the power to weight ratio of a rotary to these other engines in a light car like the 510 is in a word, "AMAZING". the sr20det is the hot transplant right now. the ka24 will take about the same amount of work but the engines are cheaper to buy. i think datsport in aus makes a kit for an sr20 into a 510, but that is just to install the engine. hooking up fuel, ignition, and getting the other driveline stuff is up to you, but you should double check. i could be wrong.

hey rotary510
 

Hey rot510,
yeah i as well have a 13b in mine.. im currently changing it to a 4port, street port. i have to buy a new intake unforntuanly .. Also i think the rotary (once its in) is much more simplistic and you have tons more room in that engine bay.. when u pop the hood all u see is carb , radiator, dist cap, master cylnder. thats it.. looks so clean and fresh i luv it. not to mention the power.. hey rot510 what radiator, fuel pump, you got in yours?

id say go with 13b but remember not many mechanics will work on it..

lj

Well actually you can use the stock 510 motor mounts with out much mods. Using the side motor mount of the 13 b, I thinks is much cleaner look...

Except some people will settle with mickey mouse jobs and wont listen to the installer's advise and suggestions. :)

yes... "listen to your installer/fabricator"
you'll be much happier with the way it looks in the end.

hey lebo,
i'm running a custom C&R aluminum radiator that my fabricator recommended. i personally think its too much money for a radiator and probably could have gone w/ a fluidyne or koyo with similar results and lower cost, but this is what he recommended, so i didn't want to debate with him too much. since i'm running a weber 48ida, carter fuel pumps is the way to go. a good alternative is the mallory unit that RB sells. both should be mounted in the rear, near the gas tank because they are both push-type pumps.

another thing you may run into using an ida carb is the hood support bracket under the hood. it will probably hit the top of the carb and needs to be removed. most 510 owners convert the hood hinges to use the gas struts from a honda accord(?) trunk setup.

I have a 510 wagon and would love to do this swap too. What about the oil pan clearace??

that's where some of the fab time comes in. there are a couple of ways you can do it: (gsl-se oil pan is recommended)

1.) flip the pan around so the sump is towards the rear of the engine, which requires you to redrill the mounting holes.
-or-
2.) have someone cut the pan from the flange, flip it around, and reweld it. which looks cleaner, if done right, but takes a ton of time and patience.

both methods also require the oil pick up tube to be modded as well. this is why a lot of guys do the hack job and mount the engine on a separate cross member in front of the stock unit. you can't move it back enough w/o having to cut into the firewall.

this starts a whole new tangent discussion about transmissions, gear ratios, miata gearboxes, shifter mounting hole, etc...

rotary 510 is right. just flip the pan so that its facing the rear of the motor. drill new holes for the oil pan bolts and extend the oil pickup tube to clear the pan.

Heres one of the best rotary swap on the 510 I've seen so far. Using the side mounts, looks very clean.

here's another one.

I like it .

the greenish-gray 510 looks like the work of the guy at performance solutions behind mazdatrix. of all the rotary transplants i've seen, that is by far the cleanest. the orange one has been around for a while. he had another crossmember mounted in the engine bay and mounted the engine using the front cover.