Sorry if this sounds like a silly question (mine usually are lol):

Is there any engines that could drop straight into the First Gen RX7?... I'm talking minimal cutting and welding.

Just interested in knowing what would drop in there easily, although it may not be something I carry out its always an option should the worst happen to my track car.

12A parts are very difficult to source in Ireland without ordering from the other side of the globe, and sometimes I just think a different engine may be easier to get parts for.

Have seen 6cyl BMW engine in a FB but I haven't a clue how difficult this was to install.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is a repost. I couldn't find anything

 

I would guess that the Ford V6 as fitted to the Capri/Mustang in the '80's might be available in your area and would be an excellent choice due to the short length and narrow width 60 degree design. They were 2.8 and 2.9 liters over here. Way be a full 3.0 on your side of the pond.
Another option would be the Rover aluminum V8 (based on the earlier Buick design). A straight 6 (or more) would be the most difficult. There really is a lot of width in the engine bay but not very long.
A nice streetable Dodge 318 with dual turbos would be spirited. You would need to keep the boost below 18 pounds to be sure you do not go over 1000 horsepower.
Post your plans and progress on the car but be prepared for some criticism from the rotary purists.

 

Renesis?

 

Just further to my last, the renesis, with a change of front cover and oilpan, will drop in directly. If you put a carb on it, or a Megasquirt, it should be a relatively easy swap (it has been done).

My current plan (I'm still assembling parts) is the renesis with 12A front cover,swap the end gears on the E-shaft, and run the ignition with a 12A distributor. The GSL-SE oilpan is the only thing I'll be missing to make it fit. The engine will drop right into an SE, and bolt to the stock tranny. Brand new engine, parts available from Mazda and all our normal rotary aftermarket places, and whether you go carb or EFI, it should be fairly easy to tune to a pretty reliable 200hp N/A, which is a big upgrade over the 12A.
I'm not out and out against a V8 swap, but I bought my car because it was rotary, and if I wanted a v8 I'd buy an old mustang.

 

So youre implying that other than the engine, there is nothing about your RX7 that is different than an old Mustang? That if you swap to a V8 you might as well have gotten a Mustang? Ar you implying that the RX7 is basically nothing and that its rotary engine is it's only redeeming quality?

'cause I thought that even with the V8, the RX7 is lighter, better built, more agile, quicker, and better looking than a Mustang. (well, other than the early '60s and the '70 BOSS 302... but those are huge money for nice ones).

 

No, I'm not saying it's the same, but I've got an appreciation for the mustang as a car as well. If I was going to do something with a mustang engine, it would involve a mustang.

The mustang is a nice car. There're a lot of nice cars. I've wanted an RX-7 since I was 5 years old, but a big part of that was the rotary engine. At 5, I had a lot more appreciation for innovation in engineering than in a driving feel, obviously. I already knew then I wanted to be an engineer. I also feel, for me, when I do a swap/mod/tune I want to hold to the original spirit of the car. Just my preference. I wouldn't put a 20B into a mustang any more than I'd put a 5.0 in an RX-7. Or an LS-x into a Mustang or an RX-7.

And personally, my favorite mustang is the '67 fastback.

 

And here's where we differ, I put a 5.0 into my FC and it was an outstanding hot rod that did things no inexpensive Mustang could do. And I'd put a 20b into a '65-66 Mustang just to **** of the purists. Especially since the 20B in turbo form would haul a 2700 lb Mustang around quite nicely.

The original spirit of the RX7 is a lightweight (or relatively lightweight) Sports GT. I feel that I held exactly true to that spirit. It was a successful autocross car before and after the conversion. And I engineered it to be so.

 

www.grannysspeedshop.com mabey this will help

 

Hey, I'm not trying to shove that down your throat. Hey, it takes a lot to do any engine swap. If that's what you like, go for it. I'm just saying that as far as 'drop in' goes, the Renesis will 'drop in' with no metal work. Which is what the original poster asked for: