Mazda RX7 5.7 American V8
Mazda RX7 5.7 American V8
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steve-V8s

Original Poster:

2,924 posts

271 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
Hello you Jap car lot, just popped over from the TVR pages for a bit of info.

Did Mazda ever sell a V8 (Corvette LS2 I think) version of the RX7 or are or are all such examples cars that have had a transplant ?

Hi RX7

4,227 posts

217 months

Monday 27th September 2010
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Mazda never made the V8 version, but there are quite a few that have been converted very well.

Hi RX7

4,227 posts

217 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
Just to add most rotary owners consider the conversion as a sin

steve-V8s

Original Poster:

2,924 posts

271 months

Monday 27th September 2010
quotequote all
Rather thought that was the case. Was beaten by one at a hill climb last weekend. His story was (as I understand it ) they made loads of them in the US so yes it was a standard production car and was OK to run in the standard production car class.

Most people were grumbling Sports Libra but as hillclimbing tends to be fairly friendly nobody actually protested.

Marf

22,907 posts

264 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
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steve-V8s said:
Rather thought that was the case. Was beaten by one at a hill climb last weekend. His story was (as I understand it ) they made loads of them in the US so yes it was a standard production car and was OK to run in the standard production car class.
Lies lies lies.

The RX7 has only ever been supplied new from Mazda with a Rotary engine in all markets.

I suggest you shop him to the stewards.

I've an acquaintance from my Daihatsu days who had all sorts of issues proving that his Daihatsu Sirion X4 was a UK Supplied car and therefore eligible for the hillclimbe event he was taking part in.

Only once he had provided original sales brochures supplied from Daihatsu were they happy for him to continue.

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

231 months

Sunday 10th October 2010
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steve-V8s said:
Rather thought that was the case. Was beaten by one at a hill climb last weekend. His story was (as I understand it ) they made loads of them in the US so yes it was a standard production car and was OK to run in the standard production car class.

Most people were grumbling Sports Libra but as hillclimbing tends to be fairly friendly nobody actually protested.
Very sneeky!

As Marf says, only rotary engines in these from the factory.

Im guessing it was bloody quick on the hill climb then?

JontyR

1,924 posts

190 months

Monday 11th October 2010
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It was much the opposite!

The Rx stands for Rotary eXtreme. There was a concept vehicle that was produced by Corvette that had a rotary engine. It is a common conversion world wide, and it pains me to say it lends itself to the chassis and sounds amazing! But was never designed with the engine in mind.

Hi RX7

4,227 posts

217 months

Monday 11th October 2010
quotequote all
JontyR said:
It was much the opposite!

The Rx stands for Rotary eXtreme. There was a concept vehicle that was produced by Corvette that had a rotary engine. It is a common conversion world wide, and it pains me to say it lends itself to the chassis and sounds amazing! But was never designed with the engine in mind.
I've seen pictures of the red Corvette rotary that was restored its superb in every respect

Gipsy

4 posts

223 months

Monday 11th October 2010
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I think if you have the money its best to get the LS7 lump from the Z06 vette 505hp and 460 lb/ft. nuf said. Apparently they are as close to 50/50 weight dist as the rotary due to the alloy block and the fact they can sit them back in the bay nicely..... apparently

steve-V8s

Original Poster:

2,924 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th October 2010
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RobCrezz said:
Very sneeky!

As Marf says, only rotary engines in these from the factory.

Im guessing it was bloody quick on the hill climb then?
Would say fairly quick not bloody quick. It was well off the pace of a 2.7 1970s 911. It was dual driven and both drivers had run the previous day so had some practice. I split the two drivers times in the Griff without the benefit of Saturday practice and beat their Sat times. It would probably do well on a power hill but this one was tight, twisty and short so suited more nimble things.

Wadeski

8,844 posts

236 months

Wednesday 13th October 2010
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All depends what kind of V8 it uses - a basic 350 truck engine wont set the world alight, but an LS1 or LS6 (also 350 cubes) will fly.

chuntington101

5,733 posts

259 months

Wednesday 13th October 2010
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Wadeski said:
All depends what kind of V8 it uses - a basic 350 truck engine wont set the world alight, but an LS1 or LS6 (also 350 cubes) will fly.
Hmmmmm i think you would be better off with a 440 cubic inch LS7 with a sleaved block (lets you take it out to 440 Ci) some VERY nice cylinder heads, fast 102mm intake, a nice N/A cam and some decent headers! that would REALLY make it fly.

zeppelin101

724 posts

215 months

Wednesday 13th October 2010
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chuntington101 said:
Wadeski said:
All depends what kind of V8 it uses - a basic 350 truck engine wont set the world alight, but an LS1 or LS6 (also 350 cubes) will fly.
Hmmmmm i think you would be better off with a 440 cubic inch LS7 with a sleaved block (lets you take it out to 440 Ci) some VERY nice cylinder heads, fast 102mm intake, a nice N/A cam and some decent headers! that would REALLY make it fly.
Have you seen how much an LS7 crate engine is? Nearly had a coronary when I found out!

JontyR

1,924 posts

190 months

Wednesday 13th October 2010
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Half the amount of an LS9!

liner33

10,861 posts

225 months

Wednesday 13th October 2010
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Less than half of a RB30 conversion i was contemplating for my Skyline great bang for buck

chuntington101

5,733 posts

259 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
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zeppelin101 said:
chuntington101 said:
Wadeski said:
All depends what kind of V8 it uses - a basic 350 truck engine wont set the world alight, but an LS1 or LS6 (also 350 cubes) will fly.
Hmmmmm i think you would be better off with a 440 cubic inch LS7 with a sleaved block (lets you take it out to 440 Ci) some VERY nice cylinder heads, fast 102mm intake, a nice N/A cam and some decent headers! that would REALLY make it fly.
Have you seen how much an LS7 crate engine is? Nearly had a coronary when I found out!
Who said anythng about a create engine? if you are going to do it you should so it right! get a resleaved LS2 or 3. Someone like ERL can build VERY stout short or long blocks that would be bigger, more powerfull and have more rebuilds in them (you cna do a rebore without worry of goign through the liner).

Chris.

papercup

2,490 posts

242 months

Sunday 17th October 2010
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LS7s don't fit very well, you are better off with a LS2 or LS3 and for the money of an LS7 you'll make a 2 or 3 more powerful.

If that was the RX-7 that is doing a lot of the hillclimbs this year and did the speed trials then both the son and father who double-drive it really should know better.

What was the names of the competitors?