lol yea it sure does, it sounds a lot better now with a muffler and res. on it. the soundtrack isnt seperate, thats just how loud it is. you could hear it roaring 3.5 blocks away

 

^^ dayum, that **** sounds beef it does sound like an old *** chevelle. you running cats on that thing? look forward to the finished car, I might have to come and check it out sometime. I'm considering an ls2 on my car as well but not sure how that will go with the smog police... congrats on getting it running that must be a great feeling.

 

Maybe if you put a hemi in it. You'll be ok with me.

 

Hot dang! That thing is loud bro lol!!!

 

lol thanks, it is a great great feeling being an FD owner, let alone completing a swapped one =)

 

Well, found a local guy nice enough to not only let me ride in his ls1 fd but DRIVE IT, very grateful for that! Cliff's notes:

-Instant throttle response is nuts. You move your ankle a few degrees and the car lurches forward, no turbo lag, no surprises.
-I could tell the torque of the motor was very flat, the car hauls *** just off idle all the way up to redline.
-Definitely faster than my car around town/city streets, not that my car is fast in the first place On the fwy, there is so much torque you don't even really have to down shift if you want to get moving.
-Cruising RPM on the fwy in 6th gear at 70 was something like 1800-2000 RPM...
-The shifter and clutch took some getting used to. The shifter is very, um, manly-for lack of a better word. The clutch was very soft, uptake was predictable.
-Handling was not different AT ALL. I wasn't pushing it around corners, but the "bumpsteer" everyone complains about was not evident to me. As we all know the weight distribution and overall total weight of a swapped car is nearly the same as the rotary one.

I'm sold. After I move next month I'll start parting the car. I have a lot of good **** on my car and a good compression ~25k mile engine and non-seq turbos that are proven if anyone wants them. If you want proof before I yank the motor I can even take you for a drive. Look for a fs post in the next couple months

 

mike i might be interested in lots of key parts when you part out

 

Let me know when you decide to part your car. I may be interested in some things

 

sad to hear a working FD get parted, but good luck with your build!

 

^^ Sure you got 1st dibs

^^ And you 2nd I have to warn you guys, as much as I like you I will not be giving the stuff away I will make a big @$$ list and send it to you guys when I'm ready... prolly won't be until later August-September timeframe.

Some random thoughts:

I'm sad too actually... I really love my car and the rotary, have had the car that way for almost 5 years now--wow time flies. I hardly ever see an FD, or any "older" rotary powered car (except rx8s) on the road when I'm out... I've done what was required to make it reliable, fun, trackable, and streetable and it is. In spite of some headaches along the way and a bit of a learning curve, it's all good now. But the low rpm torque is something I won't be able to get unless I go back to sequentials (BNR stage 3, which I was planning), but it's so much easier to get that kind of response from the v8 motors.

Also... kind of off topic: it makes me mad when people talk about reliability problems with these cars, when you sort them out I really believe the are reliable. You just have to have a well maintained car, know the limits and not flirt with them!

Thanks for the kind wishes, I'll keep you guys posted

 

^ make sure you make a build thread too!

if i had the cash, i'd v8 my fc, and own a rotary fd, i love the sound of both

 

The LS1 or Ls2 engine should either weigh less or probably the same. Handling should not be compromised.

Mike,

Where are you planning to take your FD for the swap?

 

About the handling, I agree, esp after driving the v8 car. ls1 is 409 lb w/o ecu/harness, ls3 is 415 lb, probably in same trim. Assuming ls2 is somewhere in between. See attached.



I'm doing the swap in my garage dude, **** paying someone for the work! I'd rather do it myself newayz just to know the details... after what I've been thru with my FD I've realized that you should do your own work on cars like these. Only thing I would trust others with is building the motor or trans.

I will be @ Mazfest, was thinking of doing the roval track event for the hell of it just to make a point of how reliable the rotary can be in the heat, and it will be hot!

 

^^^oh I agree man. If you are that mechnically inclined, by all means go for it. I've done suspension upgrades, swap out turbos, IC and other stuff. However, I don't have he knowledge or ***** to do any type of engine work. Do the ROVAL!

That settles it, you need to put in the LS9

 

Wow! Mike PM me with your build thread (when you get that going) I'd be very interested in what comes out of your garage. As much as I defend the rotary I certainly see the appeal.

One question though: So did the franken V8 have AC?

 

how about a ride along on my drift car 600Rwhp and 500 ft/lb torque@15psi street port 20B......... very light and cant beat the sound at 8000 RPM,we are using a Supra transmission and Rx8 3rd member no problem........

http://www.youtube.com/user/ReneMoto.../0/fZ3XeyL1k2c

http://www.youtube.com/user/ReneMoto.../1/Fm5SmSAu5rw

 

lol, I don't know how you could possibly get traction, but that would sure be one hell of a fun ride! those crate engines are over $20k...

Hey Elliot, yeah man, I never thought I would go thru with it, but I made up my mind. Not sure if you knew this but when I bought the car almost 5 years ago, my intentions were to do the swap but I fell in love with the car as it was. I still love the rotary, it really is unique and with turbos makes for a really fun ride and a sound that can't be matched. I'll def keep you guys posted, this is going to be a slow process, will probably take me the better part of a year.

I don't remember if the car had a/c... mine doesn't so I didn't even think about it. It's not a big deal to have working a/c, in fact on my build I'm going to fix mine. When I get it done I'll have to take you for a ride. Funny we've been on the boards for all these years and I still haven't met you in person

^^ subscribed to your channel. Just sick. Personally I like the sound that comes from the 3 rotor turbo engines better than just about anything on this planet. Only problem is... how do you smog it and when **** breaks maintain it... I know parts for that motor are NOT cheap. F'n sick regardless Props on the driving too, that thing must be a total handful. Who needs an ls9 huh Would still love to catch a ride along with you sometime...

 

How do I get in line?

 

No never knew that was your intention all along, especially after you stayed rotary when your engine went a few years back IIRC. So what kind of numbers are you looking to hit?

I gotta have my AC... BTW I'm gonna hold you to that ride!

That's because I'm a hermit...

 

he he thanks...........no problem we try to give ride along's at track but only when its not a big race event.We get so many request plus we have another Rx7 3Rotor FC for drifting we give rides too.

 

Well... have a little update. Haven't got around to making a build thread yet. Only been about 2 months since I pulled the old motor. My goal was to be able to first fire by xmas, but I'm going to miss that by about a month (lots of little stuff, waiting on cooling parts to come in). Getting closer, basically the driveline is in the car right now. All I need to do now is get wiring done, hook up fuel system and cooling, put interior back together and I can fire it up. Talked to a tuner yesterday, he thinks the setup is good for high 300s whp/wheel-torque. This car will run the 1/4 @ 120 mph

Old (gone but not forgotten)


New




Have a whole gallery full of pics... haven't had a chance to organize them real well.

Check it out. PICS HERE

 

Looks good Mike....

 

Awesome dude. Who you going for the tune?

 

Looking good Mike.

Can I get a ride in that?

 

Thanks Robert

Place called Haddad Motorsports. Looking around on ls1tech.com, sounds like they have a good rep for tuning lsx based motors of all kinds. Apparently they have a uber-duber dyno setup with a dynapack with the works. Check out their BLOG. Neat video of their owner in a G8 @ Cal Speedway, looks like the infield course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZXhZ5dVyek

Hey Rodrigo! After I sort the car out man, gonna be a few months at least You, Dino, and Robert, and Juan (where is that fool!) should come to one of our private track days. Should have another one in March @ Buttonwillow. About 15 cars tops, you can do whatever you want, no run group BS! LMK if you're interested and I can put you on the email list