I am currently trial-fitting an Rx-7 s1 engine and transmission into

 

!oops!

...into a 1971 Rx-2.
To my surprise, everything seems to fit quite nicely.

I wanted to keep the original two piece driveshaft and with a little modification to the transmission crossmember, the stick is in the exct same location as before.

I am now going to try to install the engine (with original Rx-2 oil pickup and oil pan).

I have a 1974 Rx-2 engine crossmember installed.

Anyone done this swap before? Most web sites are talking about Right Hand Drive cars.

 

What year tranny r u using? A redesign after '81 moved the shifter rearward aprox 4". Installing tranny before engine, u may find the engine sitting too far forward to meet the mounting point at the front cover. BTW, didn't know the 2's had 2piece shafts, I know the 4's did. Good luck.

 

You will need to slot you cross member where it connects to the top of the engine mounts and it cost me 40 bucks to have the driveshaft shorten and balanced( I have the two piece also). I used a Vintage Air electric fan in my conversion but on the forum a lot of people like the black majic fan personel chioce. Pretty easy swap and well worth it.

 

I'm using a 79 tranny.
I am probably mounting the engine more forward than stock with the advantage that the shifter position is perfect (same as stock).
Being in Belgium, Europe makes it almost impossible to find someone to do a driveshaft shortening job...

Does anyone have more information about wiring up the 85 distributor to the Rx-2 wiring harness ?

 

see my site for some details, but basically I just used Dual Leading Ignitor Direct Fire Ignition when I did the same conversion. More details on my page, although it's not completely updated.

 

Thanks. Nice information by Jeff20B !

I may have some more questions about going from two distributors to one but for now I will concentrate on getting the engine in.

Did you have to modify the transmission tunnel for the starter motor to fit ? It looks like there is plenty of space.

 

I had an automatic car and there is plenty of room for the starter. No issues at all.

 

off hand does anyone know if a 1st-gen RX-7's carburetor is a direct swap in an RX-2?

 

Gradedcheese : The carbs fit right on.A few minor changes :Premix oil nipple location and so.The rest are the same.

(I`am running a Rx2 carb)

Karis

 

karism, thanks! I might pick up an early RX-7 carb at the junkyard then to have a spare.

 

I'm not sure that the linkages and stuff like that are a "direct" swap to an RX-2. I have a 1980 RX-7 carburetor and it is VASTLY different from my 73 RX-2 carb. Sure, it will bolt on, but beyond that who knows what you have to do to it to get it to run right without having all of the 1980 emissions in place to plug into the many many emission fittings on the carb.

YMMV

 

Sorry,i wasnt aware that he was planning to run emission stuff.I didnt have to,so that swop really was direct.Ha,i didnt even have to adjust the throttle cable!

Karis

 

Is it true that automatics have bigger transmission tunnels? I will need to fit a tII tranny in an auto rx-2 tunnel.

 

I don't need the emissions stuff. Well, except that the thermal reactor is still there for now because I haven't gotten a header yet. But my car is smog exempt.

I'll take a look at the carbs more closely at the yard, maybe sneak a camera in with me.

 

So i've heard, but I can't confirm . . .

 

The 79 Rx-7 transmission was a rather tight fit in my manual transmission tunnel.
I have a picture of my empty transmission tunnel if interested but I have never seen an auto transmission tunnel.

 

thats correct. its a tight fit. if you can live with slight bang up tunnel, then you can make it fit. instead of using mallet/hammer, get 2 long pieces of 2x4 and put a scissor jack in between. that will force the tunnel to expand. thats less pounding.

 

Thats a damn good idea wacky, thanks!