RX8 engine conversions
Discussion
Not sure if this is the right place for this but hoping to question the mass knowledge...
RX8's with shot engines are £500-1500. 4 seat, good looking, a bit unique, nice interior, and a good steer. Rebuilt renesis engines can be had for 2-3k i believe, but i'm not sure i'd have confidence in rotary, being a somewhat unknown quantity to me (not that i'd be any better with a normal one, but humour me).
Now I understand that the 231 6 speed box mates up to all sorts of ford/mazda engines (duratec/mps maybe). If one were to be intent on losing the shot rotary and putting in a replacement what would be EASIEST. LS1/jap twin turbo's etc i've seen plenty started and few finished, and the ones which have are pretty extreme. Suppose one wasn't overly concerned with performance (140-200bhp would suffice), ~35+ mpg would surely be achievable, and engines should be plentiful, what would you put in?
I know engine mounts would need to be made, power steering needs to be considered, and getting the dash to work is a nightmare, engine must be limited height, but if an engine could be had for a few hundred £ is it a go-er? What else needs to be considered?
How about a small turbo diesel even?
Just contemplating for now, but something i'd certainly consider in the future!
RX8's with shot engines are £500-1500. 4 seat, good looking, a bit unique, nice interior, and a good steer. Rebuilt renesis engines can be had for 2-3k i believe, but i'm not sure i'd have confidence in rotary, being a somewhat unknown quantity to me (not that i'd be any better with a normal one, but humour me).
Now I understand that the 231 6 speed box mates up to all sorts of ford/mazda engines (duratec/mps maybe). If one were to be intent on losing the shot rotary and putting in a replacement what would be EASIEST. LS1/jap twin turbo's etc i've seen plenty started and few finished, and the ones which have are pretty extreme. Suppose one wasn't overly concerned with performance (140-200bhp would suffice), ~35+ mpg would surely be achievable, and engines should be plentiful, what would you put in?
I know engine mounts would need to be made, power steering needs to be considered, and getting the dash to work is a nightmare, engine must be limited height, but if an engine could be had for a few hundred £ is it a go-er? What else needs to be considered?
How about a small turbo diesel even?
Just contemplating for now, but something i'd certainly consider in the future!
As someone with a half stripped, kaboomed renesis engine sitting in the garage, and a £550 06 car sitting on the drive with no engine, I would also be very interested in this!
I've pulled enough metal shards out of the intake manifold so far to expect a blood bath when I crack it, so a swap might be a good route to consider.
I've pulled enough metal shards out of the intake manifold so far to expect a blood bath when I crack it, so a swap might be a good route to consider.
BrettMRC said:
Your biggest issue will be the rest of the car systems throwing a strip when you try to bypass the ECU.
If a Scooby flat four turbo fits, then that's what id consider - similar wieght distribution and plentiful.
It's a nice idea, but there's no way it would fit. It's far too wide to fit.If a Scooby flat four turbo fits, then that's what id consider - similar wieght distribution and plentiful.
And that's from eyeing up the EJ20 in my own
Ozzie Osmond said:
Noooo. There are hundreds of threads on here telling us that RX8 engine issues are a pure work of malicious fiction and the cars make an excellent used buy with no reliability fears...
Hardly. Considering the cost and effort of a non-extreme engine swap would pay for a couple of rebuilds I would just do that. More likely I'd buy something different in the first place.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pPq8uj4Dc
You know you want to. Notice the RX-7.0 badge on the back.
You know you want to. Notice the RX-7.0 badge on the back.
scoob is too wide, don't want a 330 (bm's just don't do it for me any more for some reason), LSx is dream land, i'm hell bent on not having a rotary (logically or not I just wouldn't want one). Anyone in the know with an input? Supercharged mx5 would be nice! Maybe fit the stock now and charge later when you inevitably want more power?
Were one to rip out the old dash and replace with donor dials in a custom mount would this be easier, or an aftermarket digital dash even?
Custom exhaust manifolds one assumes, maybe a whole custom exhaust, or a section at least?
The breakers by me has a whole concrete pad with maybe 150 engines on it. might see if i can get my hands on an rx8 bellhousing and go try some ford/mazda lumps and see what bolts up? all int he name of research of course!
Were one to rip out the old dash and replace with donor dials in a custom mount would this be easier, or an aftermarket digital dash even?
Custom exhaust manifolds one assumes, maybe a whole custom exhaust, or a section at least?
The breakers by me has a whole concrete pad with maybe 150 engines on it. might see if i can get my hands on an rx8 bellhousing and go try some ford/mazda lumps and see what bolts up? all int he name of research of course!
kambites said:
Is there enough height for an inline engine? I think one of the reasons the LS is popular is because it's so low. You might find you need a non-OHC V engine to get it to fit.
And because they are very cheap due to the numbers they are produced in. Coupled with a huge volume of aftermarket tuning parts that is also abailable due to the popularity.If you have the budget for a new engine an LS1 would be where my money would go.
kambites said:
Is there enough height for an inline engine? I think one of the reasons the LS is popular is because it's so low. You might find you need a non-OHC V engine to get it to fit.
I know of a chap sticking a 200SX 2.0l turbo in an RX-8 at the moment. Wiring dramas aside, it's nearly finished.I haven't seen any photos though sadly.
wolves_wanderer said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Noooo. There are hundreds of threads on here telling us that RX8 engine issues are a pure work of malicious fiction and the cars make an excellent used buy with no reliability fears...
Hardly. Considering the cost and effort of a non-extreme engine swap would pay for a couple of rebuilds I would just do that. More likely I'd buy something different in the first place.One alternative is to get a rebuild and whilst the engine is out, get it ported. I get 210rwhp (240fly) out of my RX8 engine (although it isn't fitted to an RX8).
WGT Autodevelopments (I use them) and Haywood Rotary can do this. You will get a good warranty.
Engine conversions can get very expensive and more difficult to insure. (I have one).
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