RX8 engine alternativey

[davepoth]

The 2.2 litre Mazda/Duratech is probably your best bet. AIUI The RX-8 shares a platform with the current generation MX-5 so I would take a bet that a lot of the bits to make it work will be available off the shelf, or at least with minimum fiddling. Also, the strut towers and therefore bonnet height will be one of the constants, so if the engine goes in an MX-5 it'll go in an RX-8. You can always turbo it later.

[bigfatnick]

there are apparently 2 VAG 1.8 20v turbo engine swaps under way in rx8's. One of which by craig from dynotorque as mentioned earlier in the thread.

Or at least thats what the internet told me.

[Fastdruid]

cptsideways said:

S2000 4 pot lump

REALLY don't see the point in that apart from a very very slight improvement in mpg (all of about 4 urban and 2 extra urban) and the (potential) saving in reliability that is going to be killed by the conversion cost...

Zero improvement in power or torque and extra weight. Why bother?

[Fastdruid]

davepoth said:

The 2.2 litre Mazda/Duratech is probably your best bet. AIUI The RX-8 shares a platform with the current generation MX-5 so I would take a bet that a lot of the bits to make it work will be available off the shelf, or at least with minimum fiddling. Also, the strut towers and therefore bonnet height will be one of the constants, so if the engine goes in an MX-5 it'll go in an RX-8. You can always turbo it later.

I heard a tale that the Renesis came from an engineers type project keeping the rotary alive in an MX-5 test bed. At least one person has (mostly) fitted an RX-8 into an MX-5 where it fits with (relative) ease, just the drive shaft and torque tube/brace to shorten IIRC (it's been a while since I read this).
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=158121

Although its taken 5.5 years so far and appears to be on hold due to his work commitments ... but it fits.

[redgriff500]

Fastdruid said:

I heard a tale that the Renesis came from an engineers type project keeping the rotary alive in an MX-5 test bed. At least one person has (mostly) fitted an RX-8 into an MX-5 where it fits with (relative) ease, just the drive shaft and torque tube/brace to shorten IIRC (it's been a while since I read this).
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=158121

Although its taken 5.5 years so far and appears to be on hold due to his work commitments ... but it fits.

Rotaries are stuck into loads of things by the Kiwis / Ozzys - they love them because they are so small / light and powerful.

Pip at WGT (UK Rotary specialist) has stuck them in a few cars including an MX5 IIRC.