QuagmireMan

i honestly would do a V8 swap if i had a bunch of cash to blow. So i will continue to let my 12a suck me dry.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

I'd choose a 20B over a V8 swap in a Mazda, but that's just me. If I had a Vega or Pontiac Astre, I'm not sure what I'd do. The car was designed for a GM rotary, so I'm rather conflicted about what I'd want to install in it.

web777

Wow!! that's a new myth. No, that's not true. It does rev to 9K or more.

rotarygod

iTrader: (1)

He's thinking of the eccentric shaft to rotor speed. The eccentric shaft turns 3 times faster than the rotors. They have to. If each chamber fires only once per eccentric shaft revolution, it can only be 1/3 of the total rotor. RPM is measured at the eccentric shaft or crankshaft of an engine.

Alex-7

I really like V8's in Datsun Zs........



Glad I could help

apeckz

I put an LT1 into a 2nd gen a while ago.
It ran fine. We had a ball laying rubber!
I was very dissapointed with the change in engine noise.
I missed the freewheeling and smooth 8k song of the rotary.
The nice growl of the v8 exhaust was great, but it sounded like an american car.
After a couple months the novelty wore off and I sold the car.
I am currently putting a 96 camaro v6 into an FB.
It drives - but I am running into the same issue.
I have a 2002 3.8 camaro 5 spd in the garage that was intended for another RX7 - it will be sold.
The v8s are enticing for their god-awful(great!) low end power (stump pulling torque).
But I am going after another FB, and will keep it rotary (- 13bt?)

When everyone thinks alike life gets boring - keep it fun.

rotaryforlife

Here is the best way to mate Detroit engineering with Mazda engineering.

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/698542/7

dblboinger

iTrader: (3)

In 1967, Chevrolet was busy promoting their new pony car, the Camaro, and part of the promotional efforts included racing the Camaro in the SCCA Trans-Am series. In order to make the Camaro competitive, Chevrolet introduced the Z/28 option package which included among other things, a special 302 cubic inch small block. The engine size was a result of the SCCA's 305 cubic inch displacement limit in the Trans-Am series at the time. The 302 turned out to be one of Chevrolet's finest small block offerings, and the engine stood in stark contrast to the ever increasing size of the big blocks used in the muscle cars of the day.

So Chevy did make a 302.

Turbo Tension

I am also looking to put an LS1 in my 1981. I also have a GSL-SE which is staying rotard and getting as heavily modified an N/A rotary can be, and still be streetable (building it for a friend).

My issues with the 81 is that it has a lot of rust. The things I'm looking at doing are very extensive, however I think they'll pay off

new OEM steering linkage, subframe/oem frame rail re-inforcements, custom racing floorpan with a modified transmission tunnel for a T56 and dual exhaust, Ford 8.8in rear end (lighter than the 9")

The things I'm worried about are whether the stock front and rear suspension geometry will need to be changed. I assume a 5 lug conversion is in my future.

I want this thing to handle like it's on rails, which is why I'll be adding a few underside perks to assist in downforce. I also have a line on an IMSA fibreglass body rear and front which I hope to put on this thing.

any input on my ideas? (besides the death to V8s thing )

luiml73

iTrader: (1)

http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Disc...html?944258902






























PS: J/k It's you're car, so do what ever you want with it.

Eville140

I like a rx7 with a 4cyl in it

RXDad

iTrader: (2)

V-8s in a Rex is OK if that's what you like, but I really like the idea of the 13bt in the Yugo, myself.

RXDad

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

It's kinda funny how a 7 with a V8 in it is like a woman with a man's voice. Some like 'em pre-op, some like 'em post-op, while others prefer a biological woman.

Turbo Tension

can't we prefer both?

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Sure, if that's your kink. I like trannies... in cars... with nice long uh... shifters, that's right shifters.

autopaul

chev also made a 302 it only was out for a few years though... not to start an argument or anything

autopaul

sorry didnt read ahead,... been said already

rotaryforlife

I wonder what would be the reaction if someone posted that he o she wants to install a Japanese rotary engine into a corvette or camaro in a chevy forum. I specified japanese because as we all know there was a rotary corvette concept car made by GM. That engine was made in the USA. I know thier reaction will be in disaproval of this engine swap. They would consider it sacreligious. Don't take me wrong I love Chevys but if I had 1970 Chevelle I wouldn't swap the engine because it would take away from the desire to have that car. I feel the same way about an RX-7 not only the body attracts me but also the engine, thats what makes it different and unique.

lemonade

i know a guy who swaped an ls1 into a s4 TII, i dont think he had to do anything with the suspension. just the drive train, he broke the driveshaft before the car even got to break in...

Eville140

I would be willing to bet that if you went to a performance type board, not one where they discuss car polishes and vin number decoding. That as long as the rotary that was going to be installed put out more horsepower and torque than what it was replacing most would say it was pretty cool. HP doesn't have a brand

Later
Randy

Turbo Tension

If my 81 doesn't get an LS1 it will get the drivetrain and engine parts pulled and the shell crushed. It is in terrible shape.

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

I think putting an LS1 into any RX-7 is a terrible idea. It will upset the perfect 50/50 balance of the car..... Even though the LS1 is all aluminum and doesn't weigh much more than a 13B and has triple the torque stock it is a very bad idea.

It will lose its "specialness" as noted earlier.

What would you do with all that power, better fuel economy, and reliability....? I say stick with the anemic n/a rotary motor like everyone else says......

-GNX7

SSRx7

Yep, gotta post here, since this is one of my favorite debates. I just love how people say that a v8 will ruin the "essence" or "character" of an Rx7. Uhhhh....... it is a car, folks, a piece of machinary. Once again, we have the people who post about the incredible inbalance that a v8 will make to the Rx7. Hmmmm. Lets think about that one for a moment:

The only time that I believe that "balance" is super criticle is in road racing or autocrossing or similar type of event. So, how many of you who are so enraged that the v8 will upset the balance, go road racing?. Ok, maybe a few of you do. How much do you weigh? What does that have to do with it? Well, how many of you road racers/autocrossers put an equal amount of weight over in the passenger seat? I mean left and right balance should be just as important as front and rear, right? Or don't you think that the car being heavier on one side will make it handle differently than if it were "Balanced..." And again, how many of you so concerned with the perfect 50/50 ratio have rode in a v8 rx7? or better yet, how many of you have weighed your car before and after filling up with fuel, or before and after the driver is sitting in the car? You see, there is no perfect 50/50. Just with gas alone, your balance changes as fuel is consumed. Or don't you think that 120 lbs will change the ratio that much. That is roughly how much a full tank of gas vs an empty tank of gas is, isn't it?

"It will lose it's specialness?" come on, give me a break? How special is a first gen rx7? Their blue book value is below $1000. Well, ok, the -SE's might be a little higher. but I mean, special?? Rare? Dude (and or dudette)!! They are a dime a dozen. There is probably 10 rx7's with dead rotary engines in them for everyone that runs. So if they are so special, why aren't they being saved from the crusher? Oh I get it. If it doesn't have a running rotary in it, it is better to crush is than to put in a v8, that is how special they are.

Changing the essence or character of a car? Hmmmmmmm. Let me think about that.

Yep, sure am. You know, when I went to the local cruise in, where there are all types of cars, ranging from completely stock, to way wild, from muscle cars to mini's, from imports to 4x4's. do you know how many people came over to check out my all original (except for the header that someone put on it before I got it) 12A 85 Mazda Rx7 GS? Exactly- Zero. Even from the RX7 group that was there.
Yep, it sure has some character. Gotta love it.

Now when it is complete with the 350 swap, I'm sure that people will be checking it out (That is NOT why I am doing it by the way, I just want to point out the character thing everyone keeps bringing up), simply because that is what car guys and gals do. They like to see something different. They like to see what people can do with a vehicle. If it was a bridge ported rotary with a Holley 4 bbl on it, I'm sure that it might garner a couple of moments notice....... Well, maybe.

Yep I am changing the character of the car. Because it is my car. Because that is what I like to do. I just think that it is funny that people keep coming up with all these different reasons "not" to do it.

Oh yeah, there is a guy who got his car into a very popular car magazine. Yep he put a v8 into it. What was it? A Ford Festiva with a Corvette 350, Olds Toronado Transaxle and IRS. All behind the front seats. Then there is the guy running around Jacksonville, with a beautiful Porshe 914. Oops, yep he has a 350 in it too, behind the drivers compartment fwd of the rear axles. THen there is the guy here who has a vw bug with a v8 in the "trunk" , if you know where that is in a bug. Oh wait, can't forget those big ole' motorcyles, the Boss Hoss. There is some character changing there as well.

You know when it really got to me is when a few years back when the new 5.0 mustangs came out ( Think it was around 89 or so, when at the local cruise in the local mustang group would pull in and line up. Then the Grand National group pulled in and lined up. I'm not knocking either of these cars. But when I looked down the line, They were all exactly alike. I mean same shape, same sounding engines same everything. That is why I like different. You put 20 FB's next to each other in a line and they all sound the same, look alike etc. But say you take one that is just a little different- Maybe it has that neat rear hatch(can't remember who made it) or it has a little v8 rumble to it. Something to set it apart. You know something other than the same ole body kits and carb and intake kits.

Thats me. Change of Character.

Later,
Bill

CHEF_EG_1

The white one with the IMSA widebody kit on it?


He was selling it for $14,500, last I checked.

SSRx7

The last time I saw it, it was Porche Red, but yes, it had the wide body kit on it. I heard from a co-worker of mine that he got smoked by the guy coming down off of the Mathews Bridge coming onto Arlington expressway. Coworker had a healthy Ls1 Comaro SS. Seems, they were coming down the bridge together and lay into it at about 40mph. By the bottom of the bridge, the Porche had about 5 car lengths on him.
$14.5k, eh? You people would have to see it, it is a very well done car. I believe that any car that is well done will drive like it was built too. If you just throw an engine "at " a car, albeit a rotary or a v8 or a 4 or 6 banger, it will not perform well. Take your time and do it right it will be a head turner, as well as a tire turner and a corner turner.

Just goes to show that the little rule about power to weight ratio is a big factor. Put a stout motor in a light weight car and "Cya". That Porche also is very, very nimble as in it handles great.
There have been quite a few wins in V8 rx7's, more than enough to put asleep the idea that a v8 will screw up the handling...

Happy rotaring and motoring!!!!

Later,
Bill