Chevy V6 RX8 swap kit

Bobzilla wrote:

Brett_Murphy wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: More rotary trash talk? I thought we were beyond this. Everybody thinks their own poop doesn't smell. How is that Accent sale going, Bobzilla?

Don't be a dick. I didn't say "rotary", I said Renesis. While I don't like the Rotaries personally, the Renesis is poop. Seriously... flooding issues in a car built in the 21st century. Massive oil consumption? Really? And the gas mileage.... for what?

That sounds like my old Audi A4. Come to think of it, my old VWs too.

jstancel wrote: These V6 engines at salvage yards are similar in price to their aluminum cousins LS1, L33, ect. I would opt for the infinite aftermarket support of V8s over a V6 with minimal off the shelf parts.

This is the thing.

I love swaps. I love technology.

But lets look back 15 years after the swap and see if we can figure out where to get parts?

In 50 years, I am confident that I will be able to buy parts for a 1968 ford 302 or a Chevy 350. I am equally confident that you wont be able to find any support for the new-tech engines that seem to re-invent every year. I even have my reservations about the LS engines since the number seems to increase every year!

I guess I cant say I hate the idea of a swap but I don't think this would the best swap vs. time spent on the swap.

I like most other rotards just get PISSED when people who know nothing of rotarys automatically dismiss because of form boys and or E36 M3ty owners.

The best option of you don't want a rotary is LSx, in saying that there are very few FD's and S2 8's out there so please find something other then these cars to do said swap with.

NOHOME wrote: This is the thing. In 50 years, I am confident that I will be able to buy parts for a 1968 ford 302 or a Chevy 350. I am equally confident that you wont be able to find any support for the new-tech engines that seem to re-invent every year. I even have my reservations about the LS engines since the number seems to increase every year!

Is this serious? It is difficult to tell sarcasm on the internet. LS type engines have been around since 1997 and still in production. There are tons of interchangeable parts between the "numbers that seem to increase every year." My car has an LS3 bottom end, Aftermarket LS6 heads, custom grind cam with an LS2 cam gear, 2002 Escalade PCM, 2001 Silverado wiring harness, Canton oil pan that will fit any LS engine, ect...

In reply to jstancel:

Chevy small blocks have always been the prime choice for v8 swapage (in any vehicle/boat/etc). Tons of aftermarket and OEM support for just about whatever engine you can think of. Used parts are more than abundant and everyone knows how to fix them, its truley the automotive easy button. Lots of franken engine capabilities.

fidelity101 wrote: In reply to jstancel: Chevy small blocks have always been the prime choice for v8 swapage (in any vehicle/boat/etc). Tons of aftermarket and OEM support for just about whatever engine you can think of. Used parts are more than abundant and everyone knows how to fix them, its truley the automotive easy button. Lots of franken engine capabilities.

Isn't that what they used to say about Flathead Fords?

I understand your concern, but I focus it more on interior systems. That the LSX is shared between so many platforms will ensure longevity. Interior bits - especially antiquated electronics will probably be unobtanium.

Modern engines are so damn good, it's hard to get excited about an old SBC or SBF any more. A new 3.7 Ford V6 is far superior to any motor made 30 years ago.

kreb wrote: I understand your concern, but I focus it more on interior systems. That the LSX is shared between so many platforms will ensure longevity. Interior bits - especially antiquated electronics will probably be unobtanium.

This.

In 15 years, getting parts for the GM V6 will probably easy (if its even necessary). Replacing the broken interior do-hicky on the RX8 will not be easy.

fidelity101 wrote: In reply to jstancel: Chevy small blocks have always been the prime choice for v8 swapage (in any vehicle/boat/etc). Tons of aftermarket and OEM support for just about whatever engine you can think of. Used parts are more than abundant and everyone knows how to fix them, its truley the automotive easy button. Lots of franken engine capabilities.

We are way off topic...

I understand that the SBC has been put in every vehicle under the sun but the same can be said for the LS. People that say the SBC is easier are too stubborn to learn anything new. In the long run an LS will be more reliable and need less maintenance, that sounds easier to me.

On the subject of franken engines, my dream set up is an LS3 with the crank from a 4.8 and of course a turbo. Big bore short stroke with a 7900 rev limiter (max RPM handled by the GM PCM).

In reply to jstancel:

Let me rephrase then: I am bunching SBC and LS together. One is simply the next generation of the other. SBC and LS have same amount of OEM/aftermarket support. You can franken LS and SBC engines pretty easy. (not SBC franken'd with LS but within the same family)

I Kind of regret putting a crate SBC engine in my suburban now since a 5.3 LS swap could have been done for the same price or so. Oh well, whats done is done truck runs drives stops and goes so I'd rather save the project for the vehicle its pulling. Besides a diesel belongs back in that beast anyways but I digress...

bgkast wrote: The 8 isn't either. Most of them are 9 year old $8000 cars.

Damn you guys. Off to craigslist where I found several clean looking $6000 examples.

In reply to mfennell:

Yeah I'm tempted to get one myself almost everyday. Maybe when I get bored with the FC

ProDarwin wrote: This. In 15 years, getting parts for the GM V6 will probably easy (if its even necessary). Replacing the broken interior do-hicky on the RX8 will not be easy.

I doubt it. I had no problems finding interior do-hickies for a 15 year old BMW, and had no problem finding electronic do-hickies for the (admittedly complex - but 23 year old) 964 C4's AWD system.

Think about how many BMWs were produced versus RX-8s, though. Plus, the Germans seems to have better long term availability for parts than the Japanese for some reason.

Mazda shouold just re-release the RX8 as a MX8? with a 6 cylinder. They would have takers since that chassis is already so much better than a 350 or 370z and looks much better as well. You would also probably go from a unreliable terrible MPG torqueless engine to somethat that is the total opposite and you would then have near the perfect sports car since it already weighs near the same as a FRS

jstancel wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: In reply to jstancel: Chevy small blocks have always been the prime choice for v8 swapage (in any vehicle/boat/etc). Tons of aftermarket and OEM support for just about whatever engine you can think of. Used parts are more than abundant and everyone knows how to fix them, its truley the automotive easy button. Lots of franken engine capabilities.

We are way off topic... I understand that the SBC has been put in every vehicle under the sun but the same can be said for the LS. People that say the SBC is easier are too stubborn to learn anything new. In the long run an LS will be more reliable and need less maintenance, that sounds easier to me. On the subject of franken engines, my dream set up is an LS3 with the crank from a 4.8 and of course a turbo. Big bore short stroke with a 7900 rev limiter (max RPM handled by the GM PCM).

way back in the olden days (1999), i built was was my favorite engine that i've ever had... vortec heads and a HOT cam with a few other good parts bolted to a roller cam block out of an 87 Caprice, and i've wanted to duplicate that engine since i got rid of the Nova that it was in back in '04... last weekend, i was given (as in, for FREE!!!) an engine out of a late 80's pickup that has a block that has all the roller cam provisions but not the actual roller cam parts... i've already got the heads on the 305 in my Camaro, so i'm a few parts away from being able to build the engine that i've wanted to build for the last 9 years once again..

and i really don't care..

that all aluminum 5.3 with the factory installed LS6 heads that i got for $100 because of a slight "lifter tick" last spring just looks so much more appealing to me for so many reasons.. it's light... the bottom end is built like a tank... the heads that they put on that mundane 330hp Suburban engine are better than all but the best full on race heads that you can get for a regular small block, and a factory Vette LS9 cam that will give me over 400hp with oem driveability and mucho fuel economy is $117 at Summit...

ok... what were we talking about again?

kanaric wrote: Mazda shouold just re-release the RX8 as a MX8? with a 6 cylinder. They would have takers since that chassis is already so much better than a 350 or 370z and looks much better as well. You would also probably go from a unreliable terrible MPG torqueless engine to somethat that is the total opposite and you would then have near the perfect sports car since it already weighs near the same as a FRS

I endorse this logic. Even the speed 3 engine.. The only thing keeping me out of an RX8 is the fact that I drive 20k miles per year.

I also had no idea the CANBUS riddle had been solved. That's good news.

kanaric wrote: Mazda shouold just re-release the RX8 as a MX8? with a 6 cylinder. They would have takers since that chassis is already so much better than a 350 or 370z and looks much better as well. You would also probably go from a unreliable terrible MPG torqueless engine to somethat that is the total opposite and you would then have near the perfect sports car since it already weighs near the same as a FRS

They don't even make a 6 cylinder anymore though, or at least not a skyactiv one.

In reply to novaderrik:

I don't know but I have the sudden urge to put a cam in my truck now...

kanaric wrote: Mazda shouold just re-release the RX8 as a MX8? with a 6 cylinder. They would have takers since that chassis is already so much better than a 350 or 370z and looks much better as well. You would also probably go from a unreliable terrible MPG torqueless engine to somethat that is the total opposite and you would then have near the perfect sports car since it already weighs near the same as a FRS

Amen x 1000. What a waste of a great platform. Too bad they aren't joined at the hip with Ford any more. Imagine the 3.7 in there! Or really have some fun and make it the 3.7 ecoboost!

I'd just put the 2.3T in it and call it the 808.

RX-8 prices have dropped so much that they might be worth looking at as track rats even with the Rotary, seeing as being flogged is one thing that the engine happily does - if you can afford the fuel.

kreb wrote: RX-8 prices have dropped so much that they might be worth looking at as track rats even with the Rotary, seeing as being flogged is one thing that the engine happily does - if you can afford the fuel.

Just gonna leave these here....

$3200 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/4217012913.html

$3500 http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/4225549358.html

One is an 4 speed auto 4 port engine (and therefore useless), the other is begging to be a test bed for this swap idea here.

In reply to jstancel: $3200 "will not start when hot". Could be due to many things and not need an engine rebuild

Given my current situation, swapping one of these into an NB now has my interest.

So does a RENESIS.

I would choose the V6. More powerful, more reliable. Still in production