Whizbang

what are all these low ET drag rotaries running? from everything ive heard the turbo ii tranmission is a weak link and modifying it is not a smart road to travel down. so what am i supposed to do? what are these 700HP rotary people running that the track? granted my setup should be closer to the 450 range, but the reliebility factor would be well worth it.

So what am i supposed do if i want to have some serious power, but not spend some serious cash on my tranmission?

andrewb70

Transmission life and the life of other driveline components depends on many factors. HP has nothing to do with breaking parts. It is a combination of torque, traction and the weight of the car. If you never run slicks and just spin the tires, your never going to break parts. I break parts all the time with only 375 RWHP. Then again I have a V8 and it makes over 400 lb/ft of torque at my launch RPM. I am also running sticky tires and the car pulls consistant 1.6x 60 foot times.

So tell us more what you want to do with your car and perhaps some other options can be presented to you.

Andrew

Whizbang

well its a 1987 SE model that was at one time a turbo model clone. weight wise, its decently light as there is a seat, a steering column and some small remains of the dashboard (enough to hold the gauge cluster). soon to be a roll cage. 10pt.

its going to be a street drag car, with occasional street use if its nice outside on a saturday and i want to cruise a little.

i have been considering using a solid rear axle now that kits are availble to do so.

Also, if i can run an automatic, i would, be usually all the "heavy-hitter" autos have long gear ratios which is not really a rotary friendly deal. i could change the gearing around to accomadat though.

Its more of a matter of mating something to the rotary engine. no one in the USA seems to make an bellhousing adapters (other than adkins for marine use) so im not even sure what my options are limited too. i dont have the money to pay someone to one-off anything, although i can design it myself. I just dont have that kind of money.

does this help paint a picture?

andrewb70

Somewhat. What kind of power do you plan on making? Do you plan on running drag racing tires?

Andrew

razorback

there is/was a t56 adapter made in the US, i remember seeing a thrad about it several years ago.

Whizbang

i almost would like to do with an automatic transmission honestly. something with close gear ratios and something that i can get parts for from summit. if i found a good candidate, then i would take the effort/money and find a way to make it mount.

rotaryengineering

If your interested I have a C-4 I built for my turbo drag car but, changed classes to run a N/A setup instead. Everything is pretty much new I have about 10-15 passes on it so I never really had a chance to beat it up. Asking $4000.00 for everything to bolt up to a 13B Mazda Rotary Engine.

Thanks
Albert

Goopy

You have to ask yourself what you want to do...
RACE??- STREET???
LOW et drag cars are all using G-force / Jerico/ Lenco /Liberty type transmisions.
This is big CASH though. .
If your running aspirated power, all you need is a a TurboII tranny..even in your heavy chassis. Only drawback is the 3.30 first gear as apose to the 3.62 oem tranny.
You will need a Rx3/4 bellhousing on the turbo II tranny and a TII clutch with a NA center spline....

Other options that we use are toyota CelicaW50 and W55 , B2600 2WD..You can get these parts at your local junk yard..
We have run 8.9's with a calica tranny, 13B PP NOS, in a starlet..of 26x8.5.

Automatics (my opinion) are not what a rotary needs...
Turbocharged with a good tourque curve maching to the converter...may work but to many combos.

Whizbang

how do you match up those transmissions to the motor though? do they share the same bellhousing as the rx3/4? interms of connecting the gearbox? or do i have to fab an adapater plate?