thatfbtho

Hey guys,
So I currently have an 84 GSL-SE that is my Rotary dream car, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I found an 83 GSL that is dirt cheap as a parts car, and a buddy of mine has a 305 lying around his place that he just wants gone.

I'm all good with the rotary side of things, but I figure I may as well learn some new things and try my hand at a V8 swap and have 2 very different, yet very similar cars.

First off:
Has anybody done this swap?
Did it get crazy custom and expensive, or is it mostly cutting and building brackets to make things fit?
What rear end did you use?
and would it be more worth it to try to source a Ford 302?

(Keep in mine, the 305 is free, minus the gas to go pick it up. Hence being my first choice.)
Cheers!

thatfbtho

I should also mention.
I don't give 2 ***** about the parts cars body, motor, or the way it looks.

I want something to beat the living **** out of at the track or maybe on a backroad somewhere, so no, this is not going to be a 5k build.

Its going to be full BYP. Full rowdy. Full fun.

aa35199

iTrader: (1)

Well that depends, every thing depends! If you want to go super duper cheap and not give many ***** or dollars for that matter I guess you could go 305 if your metal fab skills are up to snuff and have a decent comprehension of how the drive line alignment should be setup. The 305 has a bad name, and there's a good reason for that, and that is shitty bore to stroke ratio, the bore is thin and the stroke is long which is not ideal for makin da mad high rpm powa! Also due to this slimmer bore you wont have as much real estate for larger valves, which come in aftermarket and hotter stock heads which is the corner stone to building power in pig iron M'urican V8's, and the fat "buckta buckta" cam won't do much with that setup. Now then the 305 will still provide you with a tremendous boost in power over the rotary so it shouldn't be just discounted right off the bat, but it's potential will be rather limited by the before mentioned issues. Now then on to rear diff, my ford 5.0 with heads, cam, and intake has no issues playing nice with the stock GSL rear diff but I never, ever, EVER dump the clutch! well you don't really have to, but that's a different point, if you don't shock the drive train it will hold up just fine. I've shredded gears with a stock 12a, and rocked an open diff with a V8 with no issues, just remember, DON'T DUMP THE CLUTCH YOU HAM FISTED GOON! I like my ford, doesn't fight revs, good transmission options, and responds to tuning nicely, but if I could do it all over again I would've went with a chevy 350. I am drunk and on a whim I decided to post for the first time in a year, I hope it helps.

thatfbtho

Now that's how you reply to a god damn question! That's awesome! and much appreciated. I know the 305 has a bad rep, but I'm thinking it should work out alright. The fab skills of a buddy of mine are 6 different kinds of epic, so we should be able to make that all work out, and as for going to a 350, id love to. but like a said. no ***** given. I couldn't care less what this thing looks like or drives like considering I have the pretty car all ready for shows and crusing. This one is just going be bashed around and beaten for as long as I can. Then ill unload a "sick V8 swapped Fb" on some highschool kid for 6k #becausetunertax
much appreciated on the response!

aa35199

iTrader: (1)

More then happy to help, and here's a bonus article from carcraft where they build a chevy 305 on the cheap and get incredible power gains 305 Chevy Small-Block Engine Build - Car Craft Magazine


The 305 may not be "the good one" but for free with a few dollars in boltons you wont be hurting for power.

Edit:
With a chevy motor you will run into some issues with the oil pan clearing the cross member, this is where your buddy's fab skills will come in handy. Also read through the tech section on granny's speed shop, http://grannys.tripod.com/manuals.htm this is an incredible resource for any one doing an engine swap on any RX-7, this was the bible that got me through my swap. Good luck and please post pics when you're done!

thatfbtho

Ah man! beauty articles! Thank you thank you thank you!
I will defo be posting photos!
It's going to be a bit of a slow build as I have the main build going on my 84 right now as well.
This was only supposed to be a parts car and then sold for scrap, but I love this things to much to throw another one into a junk yard. hahah

Yolo7

Does anyone have any good suggestions for front suspension springs and shocks when installing an iron block V8. I am think of a SB Ford set up and want to have decent/good handling for AutoX.

aa35199

iTrader: (1)

Racing beat, or what ever your preferred springs are, a v8 swapped rx7 won't gain much weight with a cast iron v8, mine gained under a hundred pounds all said and done, wet and ready to drive according to the dump's scale. Seriously I am a fatass and a stock FB with me in it probably weighs more then a swapped rx7 with some lanky guy at the helm. Good luck and ask as many questions as possible so our collective failures can prevent one of your own.

Edit:
A v8 will shift the engine's weight further forward and a bit higher, but I personally didn't notice any difference in cornering after my swap, brakes on the other hand, thats a different story. Lets just say 60-130 mph comes in the blink of an eye and brake fade is certainly a thing you have to worry about.