Alright,so I'm working on getting am rx7 and I'm trying to figure out what kind of powerplant I should go with. Mainly looking for most power for my budget,but with the question at hand I'm willing to sacrifice some power for the ability to pull up to the diesel pump in a Mazda...

So to the point,I may be able to pick up a 93 f250 7.3 stock turbo (garrett t3 ar.82 from Ford) for 800.That's full truck and it runs and drives,just blown head gasket. Is it possible to shove a massive 7.3idi in a rx7? Specially I'm looking at an fb. Is it even worth the thought of it? Please constructive advice,I am kind of new to this but I'm trying to educate myself.

 

No, way to heavy

 

Yeah,I realize it's not the most practical from a handling standpoint,but transfer weight to the rear like a fuel tank in the hatch and some big drag slicks might help the excessive imbalance.

 

No.

 

Just buy a 5.0.

 

With enough $$ in parts and fab you could make this happen. A rear mount radiator would help. You would first need to add to the frame rails and also get some stiffer springs in the front.

Have you done a sanity check and see if you have the physical space?

 

That's what I'm attempting to do right now as I don't want to buy a car before I have a real plan. As for sanity that was our the window when I first started looking for cars.

 

i love the 7.3 in my F350, but the engine alone with manifolds and turbo is almost 1000lbs, its all cast iron(heads included). If you want diesel look for a mitsubishi 4d55, 4d56, or the 2.2 perkins diesel.

 

I have been looking,but this is the only affordable one within 5 hours of me. And the sheer 7.3 liters is also an attraction to it.

 

Mainly what I'm looking for is if there's enough physical real estate in the engine bay, I haven't been able to find dimensions on the 7.3,not sure if asking on a Mazda forum is gonna be any help though.

 

I can tell you that guys with small or 1/2 ton trucks are leary of swapping in the turbo diesel engines due to size and weight. Just something to think about.

Just because there is space does not mean the vehicle will sustain it.

I would consider one of the smaller turbo diesels like mentioned before. I know there are a lot of VW's running around with them, not sure how easy they are to transplant however.

 

Well I'm in rural Minnesota,finding engines is not easy,let alone in my price range, only other I found was a Cummins dt360 and that was 2.5k which is more than I'm planning on spending on the base car... I've really got to work with what I can find.

 

If you want a diesel why not a 4bt cummins, they are very common with a large aftermarket.

 

gonna put an lly from a 05 duramax in an rx8 one day... i know what you are thinkin and yes jacked up 4x4 using the frame from the truck is the cheapest route... i want the time to be able to do it the lightest route... like under 3200 lbs total.

 

Well it's a ways away,but I found a p7100 Cummins which is the 12v. So that might be something to look into,he's asking 1200 so it's kind of steep,but maybe.think it would fit?

 

I do not think it would fit. You seem intent on going down the full size truck diesel vs smaller car version. No one has done the swap and it would be cool to see done successfully. If no one ever thought outside of the box we would all be in a sad state of affairs.

You will have to do some serious work, keep in mind that the Dodge 1500 crowd will not even swap this engine in due to its weight and fear for frame issues.

 

A 12v cummins will not fit just look for a cummins 4bt.

Pls don't put a ford diesel in there!..lol

 

Yup 4bt is perfect some guy put one ina 240 I'm pretty sure

 

The problem is these engines are insanely massive. Look at the dimensions of a LS based engine vs a diesel. The blocks are nearly twice the heigh which makes fitting them very difficult.

Someone has done a VW diesel swap, but it required a custom trans adapter and a custom FC flywheel to be cut for the diesel engine. (he retained the stock na drivetrain)

 

I'm thinking height is the least worrying dimension as I can just run a custom hood with a huge hole in it and it will look ghetto but it'll work,it's width I'm worried about. And finding a manual tranny for it. I know I'll have to do lots of custom fabrication but that's half the fun. I'll look into that 240 build and try to learn something.

 

Any manual behind a 12 valve dodge should work. The bread trucks with the 4bt ran a turbo 400 auto.

 

Well the issue is finding something that will bolt up and finding someone selling a tranny.