Hey guys!.. I have an 87TII with some mods. Im thinking of getting an RX3 or RX2 and putting my engine and tranny. But i would like to know the kind of things im getting into. What things can i keep from my TII.

What kind of things needs to be modified/fabbed to the old school. Should i turbo or N/A.

 

whelp, 2's and 3's are hard to find, and in good shape does cost more. especially in LA where they're considered "Old School" and retro popular.

New factory parts are almost nonexistant. Remember, they're upwards of 32 years old! Kragen has an amazing amount of traditional wear out parts available for my 74 REPU so there is hope. but body and interior parts takes persistance to find.

Front suspension is a little quirky on the 2, it has bump steer and lots of nose dive under braking. 3 is light and very tossable car. Turbo]['s will fit but it obviously does take TLC to make it work. frame rails are narrower in the old rotaries than in 1st and 2nd gens so turbo clearance can be a concern but it will fit.

Oil pan is the first thing I'd be concerned with that motor, but there are shops that make new ones for what you're doing (mazdadragracing.com) and I hear a 13b pan turned around 180 degrees and holes redrilled works.

Good Luck!

 

I wonder if with my HKS manifold and T04B that it will clear everything. Anyone know. What should i keep from my TII??.. Im also running Haltech.

 

The RX3 rear axles are too wimpy.

 

I have a rx2 with a t2 set up turbo and all. I took a first gen 13b oil pan and had some one cut the monting bolt edge and replced it with the one from my t2 motor. I also had to raise the one side of the motor about an 1" to clear the frame. But if you are going with a different HKS manifold and Haltech computer it should be easier.

 

What about Rx2 rear axles, I have heared of ppl using Rx4 rear drums on them.
Does that also include the Rx4 rxles?

 

yeah the HKS manifold moves the turbo more the turbo more to the front and higher.

 

If axels are a weak link there should be other hefty alternatives out there. Mel looked at Ford Courier complete rear end.

And the grapevine saysthat the REPU was a Ford 9" knock off, and should do well with turbo. Earlier years REPU had shorter ring and pinion starting with 4.62 on 74!!! and working down to 3.909 on 77. I can measure the width on my REPU rear if you wish to go this route.

Try these guys for oil pan. They put turbos on old school rotaries. http://mazdadragracing.com/fabricationpage.html

 

Mazdadragracing charges about 350 for the pan

You will also have to modify your oil pick up.

Moroso, makes a pan, an oil pickup. I think the price is comprable.

Here is what I did. Take a 85 GSL SE, oil pan, 40bucks. flip it around and drill new holes. Use the 85GSL SE oil pick up, 15 bucks. Have the tube extened and re-brazed on.

I had a fabricator do this for me and it cost 40bucks. If you are in LA, I can hook you up with the fabricator that did the oil pick up, and show you my oil pan set up.

David

 

yep, all you have to do is get a 5 letter oilpan. you can get them cheap used, or worst case new is about $75.

rx2 has more clearence as far as turbo goes than an rx3....

 

our crew have done many RX-2 13B transplant back in the good old days. The 80's. But this last project RX-2, completed earlier this year, was very special as my bro wants a show car. RX-2 show car but good also for drag. It has a 3rd gen bridgeported motor (almost a j-bridge), GSL-SE internals, 6 puck clutch/3500 lbs pressure plate. Took everything out of the car and got it re-painted the faded green with british green (at least 7 coats). We didnt take any short cut this time. here's a short list of what we installed.

1. reversed a 4port 13-B oil pan
2. GSL-SE front cover and slotted front mounts.
3. 1st gen tranny with miata gears
4. custom tranny mounts
5. one piece driveshaft
6. custom handbrake...i was worried that the handbrake may interfer when shifting. So, we picked up several MX-6 handbrake (RX-7 is side mount). cut it in the middle, took off about 2 inches of metal and rewelded it. had to modify the release mechanism....Now, we have a short handbrake.
7. made a plate to install 2 msd 6als (stackable) near the left strut tower.
8. 81 GSL-auto tranny 3rd member.
9. TO BE INSTALLED>>>>rear disk brake conversion using Rotary Power @ GARDENA rear caliper bracket to intall an 85 rear disc and brake caliper.
10. TO BE INSTALLED>>>>>NOS

items 9-10-have all the parts but we cant find the time to install it.

interior not done yet; hope to make it for sevenstock even with only a driver seat.

 

BTW< the engine is about 80s polished. 51 ida, manifold, rotor housings, front cover

 

Just a suggestion: If there is nothing wrong with the TII, then don't mess up a perfectly good car. It will not really be worth it! I made this mistake with my First gen conversion. Buy a RX-2 then build a motor for it.

If there is something wrong with the turbo II and you aren't going to be using the whole car then you can use the engine but it will require alot. ( little stuff ).

Here's a starting point: ( serious to small )

1. First off the turbo is not going to fit. My friend did the swap. The manifold you have does move the turbo more foward and up but also out a little. I have a 13B in my RX-2 and have about 2 inches between the header an the frame!!. You will need a custom manifold.

2. Tranny!! what tranny are you going to be using? The stock one will be 30+ years old and will not last long. A 79-80 will drop right in but will be almost as old and weak-er almost. Turbo II tranny will require alot of work to fit( driveshaft, tranny mount, tunnel widening,etc.) I have a modified 85 SE tranny, this brings the shifter location to the right place and can handle the power of a mildly modded TII engine.

3. Rear end? First off, the open rear end will not do.. So you can either swap a SE rear(alot of work), or put in LSD( about 500.00). I am using a racing pumpkin with 4.10 gears but the 83 GSL pumkin will work , u just have to cut the axles 1/8 of an ingh at the end. Unless you like smokey one tire burnouts.

4. Axles. As long as your not "hooking up" at the track the axles will work. When u put on slicks or the tires don't break loose the axles will snap. Have fun looking for RX-2 axles (i did).

5. Cooling. Rx2's have a cross flow 3 row radiator mounted on top of the oil cooler, these rad's are small and inefficient. I am using the stock radiator but i had it recored with a more efficent 3 row. I have a 2000cfm electric fan and my temps still get to around 210 when driving hard.

6. Intercooler. Custom job, not alot of room. expensive.

7. Fuel delivery. TII is a in tank pump so you can't use that one. A bosch unit from a 911 turbo will work good. Then you have wiring, plumbing and mounting. time consuming.

8. I won't get into all the little stuff that comes with putting a 13b into a 2.

My advise is to really think this project through! Determine if its worth the money, time and effort to due this swap. Also, you can stay NA and aviod almost all these little problems associated with turbocharging and still beat turbo'd cars. ( i do ) . your motor will also last longer. hope this helped!!

Mann