AREITU

Everyone here should know what to expect out of an RX7 and fuel economy isn't one of them. If you want to go stupid fast and get great gas mileage, let me introduce you to the Toyota Supra. 800+hp Supras, when properly tuned, will get a nice round 28-30mpg on the freeway, provided you stay off boost. 300Z and 3000GTs will do the same.
Fuel economy is the also same argument Honda people use against muscle cars, but then they conveniently forget the S2000 gets relatively bad gas mileage for it's size, weight and power.

I'm part of the "If it's not rotary, it's not an RX7" camp. The SP Engineering Super 7 just makes me go "Uhhh. Okay." I'm sorry if I, or my colleagues don't agree with you, but we can't change your will. On the flip side, the forum is friendly enough to provide a space specifically for these kinds of swaps. It won't impress me, no matter how much power you want to pipe through it.


IMO, a big part of the RX7 magic is the engine itself. If you experience engine failure after engine failure after a short amount of time, you're probably doing something wrong. Your half-bridge cracked? Well, maybe it was the builder's problem. E-shaft grinds against housing? Maching problem. Rotaries speak a different language than pistons do, and if you don't bother to learn it, you're going to miss out. Like Bruce Nomura (I don't expect many people to know who he is) said, "Once you're on your ninth engine, you tend to be a little more careful." If you asked me what I would swap into an FD and a rotary wasn't an option, I'd rather keep the car under a tarp forever or sell the car to an enthusiast who'll keep the rotary. Also consider that the rotary engine has come far in 15 years. The piston engine has 100+ years of development.


Maybe I'll go find a perfectly restored '69 Camaro Z28 and chuck the engine for a 20B. I'll tell you that the car is a lot lighter and handles noticeably better. I'll tell you that I can get the classic look with a very modern engine. It'll probably get better gas mileage, considering how much those old engines sucked fuel. I'll tell you how the 350ci sounded great but the 20B sounds like a pissed off V12. I'll tell you about all the confused looks that muscle car guys give me when they see a beer keg and a snail instead of a carb and a hunk of iron. I'll tell you it has two less spark plugs. I'll tell you that a very mildly ported 20B with a well-matched ball-bearing single is extremely reliable with the correct tuning. It's faster and it sounds better. How would you feel?
I can't change your mind about why you think swapping a V8 into a 3rd gen RX7 is justified. Maybe you have a good reason, maybe you don't, but it's wholly subjective so any attempts by either camp will fall on deaf ears.

Rest assured, I'm not coming back to this section of the forum. Do not take that as an insult; It's for the sake of my sanity and your ego. I'm not trying to flame anybody, only stating my opinion as you can state yours.

I'm staying subscribed only to this thread for rebuttal purposes.

Note: Regarding other cars, such as the 240Zs and Jaguars, I'm not as emotionally charged with V8 swaps because those cars had piston engines to begin with, so not much of their magic rubs off. They're also older and more plentiful in number.

projekt

i never said that i was planning on swapping the motor due to poor fuel economy. it did however spur the idea of other engine swaps.

for the people who are talking $$$ i hope you never buy a honda insight. after 10 years of owning a 20mpg truck the insight was still more expensive.

thant

Maybe I'll go find a perfectly restored '69 Camaro Z28 and chuck the engine for a 20B Sounds like you'll be needing two tarps and a bigger back yard to house all your non running rotary vehicles.
The piston engine has 100+ years of development
So does the telephone, and I assume you are still using the "magical" rotary dial phone, because it is the only thing that should be plugged into a phone jack.
They're also older and more plentiful in number.
Ever been to a junkyard and counted the number of FC's in the heap that "magically" stopped running? You might want to consider buying a few more tarps and saving these magical cars with the Chitty- Chitty Bang- Bang engines in them, so that future generations of purists like yourself can waste more time fixing them.

Thaniel

VQ engine was on the wards "10 best engine list" 10 years in a row. It's a wonderful engine in my opinon. So nice I decided to buy a rx-7 with a blown motor and stuff one in there.

Don't get me wrong I like rotaries....I've been driving one for 10 years. I still drive one. Drove a rotary powered rx-7 to work today and yesterday and so on going back 10 years. However a rotary engine does have down sides too. Part cost being one of them. I can buy a used VQ engine with a few miles on for about the cost of the cooling seals for my rotary. Maybe in the not so distant future I'll be driving a VQ powered car that looks just like an FC

Anyway My VQ transplant is going right along. Trouble with the VQ is if you want a manual trans there are only a few choices. A manual from a 2001+ pathfinder (rare, most are autos) a z350 or G35 (just out in 2003). I got a 6-speed manual from a z350. Or I guess you could make a adapter. I opted out on that part.

Oh I doubt any OHC v-8's would fit under the hood of an Rx-7. Most V-8 conversions are push rod V-8's for a reason (space).

As far as weight distributon goes the VQ engine I have weighs about the same as a rotary. Maybe a little less. The z350 trans was heavier than the N/A though. seems like 20-40 lbs heavier. I can't remember the numbers now.

projekt

ooh that's tantalizing. but i see you have a VQ30DE according to your sig. i was thinking about a 350z wreck a year or two down the road. and the VQ isn't old enugh to have been on the 10 best for 10 years. it's only been around since 00 afaik. i'd love to see some pics.
to be able to keep cams and a japanese brand are just happy perks. getting to use all of the stock tach (give or take) is the real reason i prefer the VQ over a ohv v8

HaloZ

"When Ward's selected Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s signature VQ V-6 as one of its 10 Best Engines of 2002, the VQ became the only engine to win a Best Engines trophy every year since the award's inception in 1995."

http://waw.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_bes...es_longterm_5/

it has been in the Max for the longest time.

Thaniel

I was looking into the VQ35 but then I saw a 2000 VQ30de-K (222 HP in stock form) for real cheap ($250) and in good condition, low miles so I couldn't resist. The block for the VQ35 and vq30 is basically the same but bored and stroked. I started my project last year and not many 3.5L's were available cheap.

Yes the VQ has been around for awhile. My wife has a VQ 3.0 in her '96 max. The VQ is also been made in 2.5 L displacements and also turbo charged. Not all variants have been imported to the states though.

Oh here is a tip for you. If you use a ECU from a newer Nissan you will need the ECU, matching key and matching IMMU or nissan will have to reprogram the new key to the computer =) For mine I bought a match set and it works. If you go stand alone computer than it doesn't matter.

Thaniel

Attached is a pic I took some time ago. I am farther now. With any luck I'll have the cooling system hooked up this weekend so I can run it for more than a couple seconds.

cdk 4219

Holy sawzall batman, you definately put that thing in there. Looks like a lot of work, but you will definately have the only one in the world when it's done.

Cory Simpson

Anyone want to but a kit to install a 7MGTE into their 7???

I kind of would like to put a 496 big block chevy into my car...

hehe

**puts on flame suit...**

projekt

i was unaware of that. i had thought it was the VG until 00. thank you for informing me.

projekt

i see what my mistake was: i have never seen a bare VQ and knew what i was looking at. i sure hope the firewall cutting was just for kicks cause i don't wanna chop my car

Thaniel

Custom Engine installs can be tricky. If you don't want to cut your car I'd definatly stick with something that has been many times over and not try something new. Most likely a GM pushrod V-8. Even with that I think everyone still cuts the trans mounts off the car and may have to modify or switch hoods to a turbo II.

As far as cutting the fire wall.....Well I am not saying it would have to be done but that was the choice I made for how I am doing my project. I didn't want to cut the hood as I want the factory look (sleeper). Also putting the engine farther to the back helps weight distribution =). I checked and there was dead space between the heater box and the firewall and I wanted that space for the engine. If I let the engine stick through the hood who knows. Maybe I could have left the fire wall alone. When it is all welded back together hardly anyone will even see the firewall change.

Oh, I also extensively modified the front subframe and relocated the steering rack a bit. Another one of my requirements was the engine had to look "level" in the engine bay. I've seen other swaps...Mostly the 4cyl ones where the engine has a nasty slope to it to clear the steering rack and subframe.

Everybody has a different idea of what they want in a car and a project. Just depends on what you're looking for.