RX7 engine swaps

Canute wrote: I'm thinking about what I want to do about the blown engine in my FC. If I did an LSx I'd just buy a Corvette. Will an NB Miata engine fit? Or an NC MZR?

While I can appreciate the logic, it does not make any sense in this context. You ARE going to do an engine swap, so why do one that is inferior just so you dont end up emulating a Vette?

If a 302 were used, why not just buy a mustang? If a Nissan V6, why not buy a 350Z In other words, why not just buy whatever donor you would be using for the swap rather than do the swap? I mean, swaps are not smart things to do in the first place, just fun.

So, hell yeah, LSX is the answer here.

I like the BMW swap.

KLG4 ! Keep it Mazda and get 250 easy with an NA motor.

Canute wrote: The F2T sounds a little underpowered by modern standards. I think I'd like a turbo Miata engine if I went small bore. Maybe I should look more closely at my 5.0s. Top my 331 off with late Explorer accessories. Don't know if I want to go distributorless, which would mean Megasquirt, or not. One problem I'd have with the 5.0 is that I have tall valve covers for my 331 so I could strengthen the valvetrain. Which means a tall intake and I hear clearance is already a problem. Maybe I look at other ways of accomplishing that. Can the 5.0 be rear sumped and pushed down and back? I see a lot of cars with huge cuts out of the driveshaft tunnel because the shifter is farther forward. Is that just shade tree work? Would I still be able to do this?

Stock... yes... it might be. 145whp/190wtq stock, and it gets stupid powerful in a hurry.

I do like the Miata 1.8 idea, for the record. But that motor isn't near as strong as an F2T.

I have a 245whp Miata. My half-assed F2T in my MX6 destroys that car without breaking a sweat.

F2T e30?

Taiden wrote: F2T e30?

I almost bought a clean $500 318ti with a blown motor... that was going to happen.

NOHOME wrote: If a 302 were used, why not just buy a mustang? If a Nissan V6, why not buy a 350Z In other words, why not just buy whatever donor you would be using for the swap rather than do the swap? I mean, swaps are not smart things to do in the first place, just fun. So, hell yeah, LSX is the answer here.

Well, a 5.0 kind of makes sense here because I have a bunch of that crap sitting around rusting. Engine swaps kind of make sense in some cases because there are a lot of great cars with horrible motors, and vice versa. A Corvette is a great car with a great motor :).

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I have a 245whp Miata. My half-assed F2T in my MX6 destroys that car without breaking a sweat.

So how hard is it to find them?

/thread

JamesMcD wrote: F2T is too tall. The RWD cars that used versions of the F series engine (HC/HB 929s) had much taller cowls.

Cut hole in hood. Problem solved.

Canute wrote:

NOHOME wrote: If a 302 were used, why not just buy a mustang? If a Nissan V6, why not buy a 350Z In other words, why not just buy whatever donor you would be using for the swap rather than do the swap? I mean, swaps are not smart things to do in the first place, just fun. So, hell yeah, LSX is the answer here.

Well, a 5.0 kind of makes sense here because I have a bunch of that crap sitting around rusting. Engine swaps kind of make sense in some cases because there are a lot of great cars with horrible motors, and vice versa. A Corvette is a great car with a great motor :).

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I have a 245whp Miata. My half-assed F2T in my MX6 destroys that car without breaking a sweat.

So how hard is it to find them?

Any 1st gen Probe GT would have that motor. I see a few in the junkyard every time i go.

Something else about the F2T is that is probably produces nearly 100% more torque than any factory naturally aspirated RX-7.

And yeah, get a scoop for the hood if the motor is too tall.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Any 1st gen Probe GT would have that motor. I see a few in the junkyard every time i go.

No problems with RWD mounting?

Canute wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Any 1st gen Probe GT would have that motor. I see a few in the junkyard every time i go.

No problems with RWD mounting?

Gotta figure out what to do about the dizzy and intake manifold.

Common solution with the intake manifold is to flip the top half.

Dizzy, cut a hole in the firewall if you need to (don't remember if you do with RX7, but you do with B2200), or convert to COP.

Alternatively, there WAS a RWD 12v head overseas you could source. Or just roll with a turbo B2200 motor using the Probe/MX6 turbo setup.

dizzy solution: run COP

93EXCivic wrote:

JamesMcD wrote: F2T is too tall. The RWD cars that used versions of the F series engine (HC/HB 929s) had much taller cowls.

Cut hole in hood. Problem solved.

How tall is it from bottom of sump to top of cam cover? I'll tempted to put one in my 808 Coupe.

This might turn into my install thread. Part of my Granny's kit came the other day. I just got done pulling the engine and trans out. For the record, the car is 2560-ish with a 40lb OEM style battery. Yes, I've added some lightness. Engine and five speed complete (no AC or PS but with the engine harness) with most all fluids drained is 385 on my hanging scale. Its capacity is only 440 pounds and the flywheel, bellhousing and clutch probably put the aluminum head 5.5L over its capacity as I get an "OUCH!" error when I try to scale it. Considering what a big power rotary would cost, I almost have myself talked into buying an aluminum block. The bolt holes on the Granny's engine bracket line up with the stock subframe holes, which I consider to be a good sign. Just that I'm not sure my Kragen cherry picker will be able to reach back far enough to drop in the V8. Just not quite long enough.

Here's what the engine mount bracket looks like

93EXCivic wrote: Cut hole in hood. Problem solved.

Wat?

Everyone is going on and on about old engines.

Swap something modern in there. What about a 2.3 turbo out of a Mazdaspeed 3?

Why not put one of the all aluminum 300HP V6 engines from a Mustang, Fusion or Mazda6 in there?

I was thinking about something modern with "Mazda" on it. I wonder what one of those modern V6s would scale out to. For me, my 331 is obvious because it's a fresh motor that I'm not using.

Brett_Murphy wrote: Swap something modern in there. What about a 2.3 turbo out of a Mazdaspeed 3?

Too tall w/o buying a fugly domed hood, IIRC. The wiring is a pain since you need to reuse the MS3 instrument cluster. Plumbing may also be a concern, since you are converting from a tank-mounted fuel pump to a camshaft-driven high-pressure fuel pump.

Canute: What FC are you starting with, N/A or Turbo?

It's an NA car, although I managed to get hold of a turbo diff and it's five lug too. So, all of the parts I'd want to keep are turbo bits.

Cool. Was about to mention that Turbo bits are much beefier than the NA parts. You're good till about 450-500hp, then you might want to look into Granny's Ford rear end kit.

Because I really like to quantify things, I kicked down for a 500kg crane scale. It came out to ~560 pounds for the 5.5L with the T5. That's very nearly complete. It has aluminum heads, smog pump eliminator, no PS, no AC, mini starter. Basically the same config as I took out. Also a huge Canton oil pan that's pretty much full. So, I'm adding 185-ish pounds to the car. In the wrong place, but I'll have to see how that works out. I'm dreaming of an aluminum block.... From the looks of it, the engine bracket should probably add a few pounds compared to the stock engine mount. Now I have to go clean up my mess from removing the rotary and get started putting it all back together again. I'm not going for crazy power. It's crazy enough as it is .

If I had an infinite ammount of time, I'd figure out a way to swap one of the all aluminum V6s into an RX-8 chassis.

I really think that it would hit the sweet spot in performance for a street driven car while improving the MPG at the same time =)

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Sounds like it's time to make an "MX7." B2200 bell housing, RX7 trans, F2t.

Ever see a movie called 200mph? It's on Netflix. You'll understand why I find that statement hilarious if you make it through the whole thing.