Since i've come to the conclusion that my RX7 needs an engine rebuilt , I've decided that mabe an engine swap would be more bang for the buck. Has anyone done an engine swap, and to what engine? Are there any kits out there? After all if you can get a miata with a 5.0L from the factory there's got to be something out there for this car.

 

You might find this site interesting. http://www.v8rx7.com/v8links.htm

 

You'll find a good deal of info in the V8 section of www.torquecentral.com

The 5.0 swap has been done successfully many times. If I didn't already have a bunch of Chevy stuff I would have used a 5.0 and loved it. If you want to go with the latest trend, the LS1 swap is becoming popular for FC's and FD's. My 93 is still on the trailer since I just bought it with no engine, but I should be starting my LS1/6 speed swap in the next month or so.

 

I would like to stick to the rotary, but up here in canada a 5.0L is very plentiful, and there's not too many guys who have rebuilt or modified the rotary engines, including the dealer. I'd like to stick to a ford 5.0 rather then the chev. I bought the car to drive in the winter so I could get my ford pickup into the garage to do some body work and front end work. Now it looks like the RX7 is going to be the one in the garage for the winter instead. If you guys know of any other web site, or know anybody that have done one of these swaps, I'd like to hear from them.

 

www.torquecentral.com
www.misred.com
www.wrongmotor.com
www.hinsonsupercars.com

If you don't find enough info on these sites, don't attempt it. They have everything you need for engine swaps into RX7's, just browse for awhile.

 

Im seriously thinking about going the v8 route myself. How satisfied are you with your chevy v8? Is the 5.0 any easier to instal vs the chevy? How does it handdle compared to having the rotary engine in it? What would you say are the major isues with the whole project? Thanks.

 

Major issues... none really. If you go auto, you have to make your shift linkage (took me 45 minutes). Custom driveshaft (just costs money, mine ran about 150 bucks). That really is about it. Buy the mounts, drop the engine in, wire it up. Not too bad really. It could probably be done, start-finish in under 40 hours the first time, maybe under 24 hours the second time (I mean work hours, not one day, unless you work for 24 straight hours, )

I did the Chevy 350/700r4 in mine, can't speak for handling, as I haven't driven it yet, but seeing as a standard suspension 7 doesn't handle that GREAT to begin with (YES, I said it, don't tell anyone here... there ARE better handling cars, stock), some coilovers can make the V8 handle at least as good as stock, if not a LOT better.

 

My rotary lasted only 10 miles before it was jerked outta there due to blown apex seals. So I can't speak to the handling of the car before the swap, to any extent. I know they handle well, as I've driven a friend's 88 Turbo (stock) before and it was nice.

I left the stock worn out suspension on the car and my motor is all iron, and I also removed the front sway bar. I didn't care how it handled, I plan on making it go fast in a straight line. But in the past I have swapped a different spring onto a car when installing a big-block in place of a small block, and the handling didn't change at all.

Never installed a Ford in anything it didn't come in, so I can't say how different it might be. i had to modify my firewall the clear the distributor, and with a Ford you don't. Either way, you're modifying the hood, at least a little. I could have made a smaller hole than I did, but I have a tall intake manifold, a phenolic spacer under the carb and a 2" air cleaner spacer - with all that I needed a bigger hole.

Hardest part was getting my exhaust to fit (I chose bigger than what would clear for my purposes), and swapping to a 5-lug setup from the stock 4-lug because the aluminum was pitted and seized in several places (nothing to do with the engine swap, I just needed LSD).

There's nothing inherently HARD about doing the swap. Just research what everyone else has done, follow suit, and make personal modifications along the way. You'll have a blast.

 

Thanks Digi and Crash!
This is the hard part. I've never gone boyond changing oil and spark plugs. So I have to admit, I am a little intimidated by the whole swap deal. I'd like to do it myself but I don't know jack about taking engines apart or electronics. It would be great to find some one who's done the v8 swap locally in South Florida but I can't seem to find anyone. I did find a shop that would do it for $1500, I supply the v8, tranny and the wiring is extra.

I want to decide what im gonna do soon!!!!!

 

Spend all of your free time searching the websites posted above. Learn all you can, then go get under the hood of the car and just look around. Try to find every part that is talked about in the various posts. You need to be able to remove, replace or modify several different things, so you need to be able to identify all of them. That's your first step. Take your time, don't rush through it, and have fun.

 

Thanks guy's. I've already done an engine swap, I had a 82 S10 pickup that I swapped a sbc into and from the sounds of it doing an RX7 swap I should run into the same kinds of problems. So the only question is Ford or Chevy?

 

I stated seching local junk and salvage yards and I'm finding 5.0 and LT1 easier than the LS1. They're both cheaper but I'd like to get an LS1 since they weigh less and have more horse power.

 

www.contemporarycorvette.com

 

Thanks for the link Crash.