RX8 engine alternativey

[Mr2Mike]

marcosgt said:

BTW, what's up with the 4x4 ride height on that blue V8 RX8?!?!

M.

It's horrible, especially with the massive imbalance in the wheel arch gaps between front and rear. I'm guessing it's been raised to improve sump clearance.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Sunday 9th January 10:36

[TSCfree]

should be able to squeeze in an RX8 http://www.nelsonracingengines.com/cars-and-projec...
1650 BHP Ok?

[acricha3]

fridaypassion said:

I disagree. I dont think a 1300 kg car will be all that sensitive to an additional 20/30 kgs in the nose. Nothing that some mild suspension adjustments wont sort. Its Mazdas refusal to let the rotary die thats the reason they used it in the rx8. The technology for a light pressure turbo setup with the same power output was there but they chose not to do it.

The rex is sublime in every other way so fitting a proper engine in it would be very worthwhile. Why not buy an mx5 turbo? Well the whole point of the rx8 is that you get rear seats and a reasonable boot so practicality is unrivaled in a 4 door with the level of handling that the rx8 has.

I have actually driven a converted Rx-7 (LS1 if I remember correctly) against "normal" 7 with a rotary (tweaked up so horsepower was similar) and I can tell you that it does change the driving dynamics ALOT! I suspect the 8 to respond similarly. Remember that they are front mid engined with the engine completely behind the front axle, impossible to do without a rotary in that body shell (a guy over on the owners forum is fitting a 4 pot and it shoves the engine completely forward!)

If you want a V8 powered rear wheel drive car then go and buy a Monaro or something else that was designed for one! If you want an RX-8 learn how to look after then engine and use the gears!

Also rotary's are used in alot of other applications other than Mazda's, plus they have had some serious success with racing them so good on them for keeping the development going!

[papercup]

gsd2000 said:

redgriff500 said:

A guy in Birmingham has converted at least one RX8 to an LS1 and several RX7 FD's.

His name is Craig Taylor but I can't remember his company name.

IIRC he charges circa 10k though and you can buy an LS1 Monaro for less than that.

Craigs company is "Dyno Torque"

He charges 5k plus the cost of engine and box

He hasn't done any RX8s either. Mine was the 14th RX-7 to be done by him and I asked about an RX8. I also asked Geff @ Re:Worx (rotary specialist in Portsmouth) and he thought it wouldn't be easy; the 8 has the engine further back in the bulkhead than the 7 and the steering rack would be right in the way (its totally different, electric rather than hydraulic, and in a different location to the 7).

Craig said he'd be willing to try (and he just got the V10 from an E60 M5 into an E46, so I reckon he'd manage it) but wouldn't give a timescale or the same fixed price as a 7.

In answer to the OP; you can pretty much get anything in anything, but it will be hugely complicated, will take ages, and cost lots. It will also probably be finished off by someone that can do things better than you! Watching Craig work and seeing my 7 take shape I can tell you that getting the engine in is the easy bit.

[cptsideways]

Toyota 1JZ & 2JZ engines with R154 gearboxes fit in like they were designed to be there. Obviously some plumbing & electricals to do but a great solution. Also helps the handling out no end apparently.

http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/members-member-rid...

[redgriff500]

papercup said:

gsd2000 said:

redgriff500 said:

A guy in Birmingham has converted at least one RX8 to an LS1 and several RX7 FD's.

His name is Craig Taylor but I can't remember his company name.

IIRC he charges circa 10k though and you can buy an LS1 Monaro for less than that.

Craigs company is "Dyno Torque"

He charges 5k plus the cost of engine and box

He hasn't done any RX8s either.

I met a guy the other day who says he has one and has promised to pop around in it - might be worth a call to Craig to confirm but it would be a strange thing to lie about.

[marcosgt]

redgriff500 said:

papercup said:

gsd2000 said:

redgriff500 said:

A guy in Birmingham has converted at least one RX8 to an LS1 and several RX7 FD's.

His name is Craig Taylor but I can't remember his company name.

IIRC he charges circa 10k though and you can buy an LS1 Monaro for less than that.

Craigs company is "Dyno Torque"

He charges 5k plus the cost of engine and box

He hasn't done any RX8s either.

I met a guy the other day who says he has one and has promised to pop around in it - might be worth a call to Craig to confirm but it would be a strange thing to lie about.

Maybe just confused? RX7s are quite common with V8s

M

[jbi]

Mr2Mike said:

marcosgt said:

BTW, what's up with the 4x4 ride height on that blue V8 RX8?!?!

M.

It's horrible, especially with the massive imbalance in the wheel arch gaps between front and rear. I'm guessing it's been raised to improve sump clearance.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Sunday 9th January 10:36

he's put huge wheels on it for traction... looks daft though

[ManOpener]

R32/R36 VR6 motor would probably fit. You can squeeze them into impossibly tight spaces

[Tsippy]

If you check www.rx8club.com there are several conversions on there. From memory, there is an SR20DET, a 20B and a 2JZ GTE engine swap going on / completed Also there was a US company offering conversion kits for the rx7, and developing one for the 8 called '1JZ or 2JZ Swap', cannot remember the name exactlly!

[Mr2Mike]

jbi said:

Mr2Mike said:

marcosgt said:

BTW, what's up with the 4x4 ride height on that blue V8 RX8?!?!

M.

It's horrible, especially with the massive imbalance in the wheel arch gaps between front and rear. I'm guessing it's been raised to improve sump clearance.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Sunday 9th January 10:36

he's put huge wheels on it for traction... looks daft though

that explains why the rear arch gap is smaller, but the question is why is the front arch gap even larger than a standard one?

[jbi]

I honestly couldn't say, someone in the thread asked as well but didn't get an answer.

I don't think sump clearance is the issue, I think it may have more to do with a hasty/budget suspension setup

[fridaypassion]

acricha3 said:

fridaypassion said:

I disagree. I dont think a 1300 kg car will be all that sensitive to an additional 20/30 kgs in the nose. Nothing that some mild suspension adjustments wont sort. Its Mazdas refusal to let the rotary die thats the reason they used it in the rx8. The technology for a light pressure turbo setup with the same power output was there but they chose not to do it.

The rex is sublime in every other way so fitting a proper engine in it would be very worthwhile. Why not buy an mx5 turbo? Well the whole point of the rx8 is that you get rear seats and a reasonable boot so practicality is unrivaled in a 4 door with the level of handling that the rx8 has.

I have actually driven a converted Rx-7 (LS1 if I remember correctly) against "normal" 7 with a rotary (tweaked up so horsepower was similar) and I can tell you that it does change the driving dynamics ALOT! I suspect the 8 to respond similarly. Remember that they are front mid engined with the engine completely behind the front axle, impossible to do without a rotary in that body shell (a guy over on the owners forum is fitting a 4 pot and it shoves the engine completely forward!)

If you want a V8 powered rear wheel drive car then go and buy a Monaro or something else that was designed for one! If you want an RX-8 learn how to look after then engine and use the gears!

Also rotary's are used in alot of other applications other than Mazda's, plus they have had some serious success with racing them so good on them for keeping the development going!

The thing is with the RX8 its is very unique in being easily the best handling 4 seater. Thats why I ended up with one. If you really need 4 seats as I did then I would say and engine swap is well worthwhile if you intend on keeping it a bit. I never had any problems with my engine. I did all the reading up on the forum etc. But the failure rate/crap mpg and performance/expense ratio just renders the rx8 essentially useless as the fuel prices increase (hence the prices).

[Harji]

fridaypassion said:

I disagree. I dont think a 1300 kg car will be all that sensitive to an additional 20/30 kgs in the nose. Nothing that some mild suspension adjustments wont sort. Its Mazdas refusal to let the rotary die thats the reason they used it in the rx8. The technology for a light pressure turbo setup with the same power output was there but they chose not to do it.

The rex is sublime in every other way so fitting a proper engine in it would be very worthwhile. Why not buy an mx5 turbo? Well the whole point of the rx8 is that you get rear seats and a reasonable boot so practicality is unrivaled in a 4 door with the level of handling that the rx8 has.

I've studied Mechanical Engineering, and 20-30 kg is a lot and will affect dynamics and handling. And I suspect it will be more than 20-30kg, the roatary engine is about the size of an alternator.

I think Mazda should be commended for making a Rotary engine in a sea of bland crossover same engine different cars. I hear they are sticking with the Rotary for the next RX series and are thinking of a 2.2 Turbo. Anyway a certain Turbo diesel from a certain german manufacturer that I drove recently and is a very popular car was soooo bland in comaprision to the RX8.

[mikliska]

I'm biased and would say... keep the wankel.

There are (supposedly) tendencies for the rx-8 renesis to have issues but I can't verify their tendency to fail(most of my experience is with pre'99 rotaries). It is known among rotary "haters" (or those that don't follow) to assume these engines are plagued with problems but this is not true. The rotary engine has proven to be a very reliable power source,although inefficient.

When supercharged and improperly assembled they do tend to go BOOM (overboosted with improper seals/compression).

I've built Maaaanny and some were built with ignorance and others as experiments and only three failed(and I'm aware of the mistakes that caused said failures).

There are groups that just don't wont accept the rotary and you will hear them say "dump that p.o.s. lump and drop in a v8". Well... you can accept their advise or not but I recommend you consider the cost of new engine mounts and potential loss of balance.... not to mention, you can find a running renesis near same price as any other engine (within reason) you're considering.

Other Rotaries are another option if you can/want to build because you can (relatively) easily move mounts.

[Compo_Simmonite]

Don't forget DVLA rules now require you to jump though hoops if a non standard engine is fitted to a post 2001 car. You also have to provide "providence" of the donor car. This is because road tax is based on emissions and thus any change of engine can affect the band. With a RX8 it might go down !

Paul H

[dave_s13]

I think it's a bit nuts sticking a filthy V8 in an RX8, good fun mind.

The main issues with the '8 are fuel economy, perceived performance and reliability.

Sticking a much heavier, thirsty engine in the wrong place addresses none of these issues.

Now, a 2.0 TDi lump in a rex....that would be a more sensible (tongue in cheek!!!).

[redgriff500]

mikliska said:

not to mention, you can find a running renesis near same price as any other engine (within reason) you're considering.

Lexus V8's (1UZ 4.0) are available from £100 with loads around at £300.

A decent Rotary goes for way more than that.

Possibly because the Lexus unit doesn't break hence not many owners need them whilst the rotary does break hence is in more demand.

[edo]

To put a great big V8 in the front of the RX8 is completely missing the point. Anyone who has driven one will understand why.

[jbi]

redgriff500 said:

mikliska said:

not to mention, you can find a running renesis near same price as any other engine (within reason) you're considering.

Lexus V8's (1UZ 4.0) are available from £100 with loads around at £300.

A decent Rotary goes for way more than that.

Possibly because the Lexus unit doesn't break hence not many owners need them whilst the rotary does break hence is in more demand.

As much as I love the lexus V8, it's a very large engine physically compared to the GM pushrod V8's

The DOHC assembly on the top of the engine makes it big and top heavy and will be a very tight squeeze in the engine bay without some significant modification I should imagine.