Do you want to look at the numbers in terms of how many v8's are recalled versus rotaries?

 

How many rotaries are out there compared to V8s? The fact that the ONE production rotary car right now is having so many problems so early on in its life is more than enough evidence to support the "piston motors are more reliable than rotary motors" claim.

But who cares? If you're building a rotary-powered car, you're not building it to be economical, you're not building it (in most people's cases) to have the most power on the road, you're building it because it's different and it's fun to play with and the majority of people, aside from the a-holes, think it's a cool engine. If you're building a rotary-powered car in the hopes that it'll be the fastest and cheapest car on the road you are, quite simply, an idiot.

It's not "tuning," nor is it a neglectful owner that makes rotaries so unreliable.. it's the engine! They are still underdeveloped at this point and need a hundred years (as piston engines have) of trial and error to get it down to the perfect science.

Stop trying to defend the fact that rotaries are the best, people. They're not. They're far from it. I'd take a turbocharged flat or inline 4 over my turbo rotary if I wanted something that made more power, more torque and was more economical-- but that's not the point. I love my rotary because, well.. it's a rotary.

 

I'm not talking about what's more reliable - if you want to debate that whole issue, there's a thread in the lounge about 300 miles long over what the best car/engine/etc is.

What I'm saying is if you're putting a v8 in your RX7 it's because you're not good enough, smart enough, or willing to learn enough to keep your rotary running, then you don't need to be driving an RX7 in the first place. Just go ahead and buy the Corvette that looks just like it and comes with a v8 already installed.

The people that swap to a v8 aren't doing it for reliability, they're doing it because they don't understand how to get horsepower out of a rotary, so they go to something that they understand. How many B16 swap Rx7's do you see out there? I haven't even heard of one, but if you want a reliable engine, that's the way to go. And with the appropriate intake and exhaust and tuning, they'd make as much hp as an s4 NA, and last 200-250-300k miles and get better than 30 mpg.

So quit acting like a v8 is a reliability swap. It's an "I don't understand rotaries and I don't care enough to learn" swap. If you want to put a v8 in a car and make it fast, quit ruining RX7s and go buy a Mustang/Camaro/Firebird/Corvette or whatever. Or at least don't act like you're all offended when someone says you sold out.

It's hard to make fun of the 240sx guys in terms of "I've got a cool car, I just need to put a different engine in it!" with people acting like the swap of choice for an RX7 isn't even a Mazda engine.

Go be original, put a 2.3L Turbo from the Mazdaspeed 6 in your RX7. That'd be reliable, fast, and not so much of a sellout.

 

I guess you have a point there. If your son was transgender and had a sex change, you can't call him by the same name anymore.

Most people sell them to make a profit, or it's time for them to move on. Some people can't keep the same project for 2, 5, 10, 15 years. You can build a LSX/FD for $14k and sell it for $23k.

 

I disagree, and the B16 has limitations that the LS1-7 etc. do not have which is probably why nobody would do them in an FD. The LSxxx is very similar in weight to the 13b, has limitless possibilities, and can be had for next to nothing. Add to that the parts availability, and cost of those parts and nothing else really makes sense swap wise. The 2.3l turbo is a heavy engine with a porrly designed turbo system, so that wouldn't be orginal, that would just be dumb. (and probably expensive too)
I did see a B16 in an Elise in one of my "hot version" vids though, that was a frickin' sweet car and a [erfect candidate for that engine.

 

Ahhhh..the tension in here.

 

Wow. Just wow. Attitudes like this make me want to distance myself from anything Mazda. If I showed up at one of your get-togethers and had to listen to a load of ignorant crap like that I might assume all RX-7 owners with rotary engines were ******** too. Your generalizations don't do the rest of the members here any favors.

 

Wow, I thought I was going to be having a civil disagreement with someone who had a shred of knowledge about these cars. Guess I expect too much of some of us in the rotary community.

Okay, I've had a high-powered rotary for a lot longer than you, my friend.. as have the majority of the people who end up doing V8 swaps. There is a reason for this. People don't ditch the 13B because they're not "good enough, smart enough, or willing to learn enough" about it. I know enough about the rotary engine to know that it kicks *** and it's just not for me. Most people do swaps because there are more economical ways to make the power goals they seek.

PS: If I wanted a Corvette, I would have bought a Corvette. Plus, the older 'Vettes come with LT1s, and I want an LSx. Sorry to disappoint you. Cry about it.

Well no freakin' ****, sherlock. But guess what?! An LS1 could easily make TRIPLE the horsepower a B16 makes AND STILL get close to the same amount of gas mileage. Guys with V8 swaps are averaging in the mid to high 20s in MPG.

And what are you talking about "not knowing how to get horsepower out of a rotary?" Are you retarded? Unline you, some of us just know that you can't make more than 260rwhp out of a stock turbo without putting enormous stress on many imperative systems in the car. GUESS WHAT? An LSx gives more than that stock, and with some torque in there also!

You must know of Jim L. He had a highly modded 13B and 20B and is among the smarter guys on this forum. Guess what? He opted for a piston swap. Are you going to try and argue that you know more than he does about rotaries? Are you going to argue that he got rid of his 20B (oh my god, it's like the holy grail of engines, right?!) because he wasn't smart enough to maintain it or get power out of it? Give me a break.

I know a hell of a lot more about rotaries than I do piston engines, but I'm smart enough to know that the piston engine is, at this point in time, simply superior to our rotaries... and that doesn't bother me! I don't care! Like I said, I didn't drive a 400+rwhp RX-7 because I thought it was the fastest or most reliable car, I did because it was cool! Well guess what? Now I have the chance to have a car that's faster, more reliable and just as cool.

My god, man. You are seriously rotarded to the worst extent possible. I understand that you're hyped about your turbo swap (hey man, that's awesome. I was stoked when I first did it too!), but have a bit of common sense.

Don't be disappointed when you pour your heart into your car and are outdone by a piston-swapped '7. I wasn't, nor were any of the other guys who were smart enough to realize that the rotary isn't the best thing since sliced bread.

/end vent. I strongly dislike ignorance.

 

Yes, this is why I stay away from people who are so butt-hurt by the whole piston swap thing at '7 get-togethers.

It's one thing to admit that piston engines aren't your cup of tea, but to try and argue that they are better than their piston counterparts in every aspect is seriously annoying.

 

To be honest, he's not like that in person. Josh is actually quite funny. But Mike is on a roll with these...... metaphors(?) and I'm dyin over here.

Btw, they didn't "sell out", they "bought in" another engine

*edit: Oh Mike, since you seem to be around again.... will you be gracing us with your presence within the next few months? As it has been more than 6 months... i think

 

It has been a while huh? You can clearly see the reason why I stopped visiting this forum and going to meets. People cannot grasp the fact that it's only a car and it's MY car. I could care less what people think but most of them should keep their comments to theirselves so they don't look stupid. I built this car for me and I'm satisfied with it. So many people talk **** when they have NO idea. Oh and I was the pioneer for the LS6 FD.

Sorry man I would come out to the meet this weekend but I have a Gay Pride Parade to attend.

 

That's true - it really doesn't bother me if you put a v8 piston engine or an electric forklift motor in your car. After all, it's your car, and it still beats the duct-tape Oldsmobile or the Cadillac with Dryer hose falsie headers. I'm just having fun stirring things up. I actually didn't even vote that it was gay. But I do think that swapping a v8 in is giving up because you aren't willing to put the work in to make the rotary fast. I've seen rotaries that make 600 hp and I've seen rotaries that get 30+ mpg, both from people who learned enough about the car and the engine to get it done correctly.

Limitations of the B16. That wasn't even a serious suggestion, I was just blowing the reliability question debate out of the water by saying noone has even asked whether or not you could PUT a Honda Civic engine in the RX7. The limitations are that you're going to be left with a nice reliable 140 hp at best, and not the 300+ that the v8 swap is REALLY about. V8 swaps aren't about reliability, they're about bonus horsepower, knowledge availability, and inexpensive parts. My friend just bought a new set of ceramic coated long tube headers for his Camaro that cost him less than it would cost to have a downpipe ceramic coated.

I'm not butthurt at all, other than the slight bruises I get when I laugh my *** off.

Humorous observation though - why is it that everyone that does the v8 swap feels the need to try to gain acceptance from the people who favor the rotary? Seriously, just go enjoy your car and quit worrying what everyone else thinks.

It's like a gay guy trying to tell all his straight friends how great male-to-male buttsecks is. I'm glad you like it, I'm glad you're happy, and not-only-no-but-HELL-no I'm not going to try it.

Or since Ejay over there likes lewd and coarse analogies. A v8 swap is like ******* a 50 year old woman while her one-eyed retarded niece eats raspberry preserves and chunky peanutbutter from your *******. It could be the best sex in the world, but dude, just... no.

 

Wait, wait... just so I'm clear. You don't care what people think, so you're not coming to the meet because they disagree with you. . . and anyone that disagrees with you is talking **** and has no idea, but they should keep their comments to themselves so they don't look stupid?

Right on!

You're taking the V8 FD I guess?

 

Wow, you're a quick one.

And if you're good tomorrow I might let you sit in my lap and hold the steering wheel while I drive.

 

omfg!!! and YES! ANALOGY!!! THATS THE WORD I WAS SITTING HERE FOR AGES TRYING TO REMEMBER but gave up and figured metaphor was a close enough synonym.

 

holly ****, I had no idea this thread would take off and still be on the front page after so many weeks. only started it as a joke....but damn, didnt know there was so much hate in texas

 

guys calm down , i actually own a turbo fb , a 350 v8 fc , and a 20b fd, the reason i was asking one of the members earlier if i ever met him at the ranch is because i raced 2 x fd ls1 trailer race cars with my turbo fb at the ranch " father with a black one and son with a red one" and the only time they could catch up to me was under braking, which is totally understandable , my stock fb brakes to their stock fd brakes, but they could not touch me under power , and thorage was watching the whole thing. the point is rotary make alot of power just like the v8s do , but it all ***** down to the rx7 if its not a rotary ,its not a rx7 or at least it does not feel the same any more , i remember driving my first rotary car ever "84 rx7" and it was the way the engine ran what made me fall in love with these things and i think its not the same with out it

 

Your power-to-weight ratio is quite the killer.

Mike, if you don't wanna deal with the people at the meetings... then when is the next time you're throwing a party?

 

No no, we're not doing that again until you learn to keep your hands to yourself, big boy.

 

Ahhh c'mon I'm a priest, you can trust me.

Ejay, it's mainly that a few people aren't willing to learn or listen. People ask me a ton of questions and I try to educate them, which is fine, but they don't listen to the answer that I give or believe me and turn around and talk ****.

What they believe is stuck in their head so they're just wasting my time. For example this complete motor is only 30 lbs heavier than the complete rotary. Do you know how much **** I get about that? They don't believe that, they think this motor is 500 lbs heavier and screws up the handling. They think it's an all iron carburated V8 from the 70s.

I do enjoy teaching people, but only if they're willing to learn and accept.

 

Truthfully even 200 lbs of front weight isn't going to make that much difference to the handling, since you're talking about around 3000 lbs of car. You're talking about the added weight of your buddy in the passenger seat. Extra weight over the front wheels makes the car more stable at high speeds anyways. :P

 

not trying to jump in the fire here. I wouldn't do a v8 swap to my car, but I think it's cool, and I get the merit of it. but I can tell the difference in my DD (GS 300) with a passenger in the car, and its a van compared to the FD. I'm pretty sure most people would notice an extra 200 lbs in the engine bay.

 

It was entertaining calling when you were about to show up by the roaring echo of that v8. Like a rotary, you could be heard for miles and miles. I know Eric is itchin to see ya too

 

Mike I miss you mike. I have some presents for you.

 

Mike, your FD is awesome. Not my cup of tea but I can recognize an sweet ride and the way yours sounds and runs makes it worthy of praise.