Potential project opinions needed!!!

[SHPmainMAN]

I am going to need a few smart opinions from some people who have been under a few cars.

Just recently i was bitten in the ass by the offroad racing bug. But i have this disease called "Rotary" running through my blood.

So i am contemplating a very custom project called 1.3RS, some of you may already have an idea of what im thinking of.

I want to take a Subaru 2.5RS coupe maybe around a 1999 or a bug eye 2.5RS and mount a transverse 13b into it to retain the AWD. i have not researched into this project really at all. i have not looked at the transaxle of the Subaru nor have i really dove too deep into fitment issues.

If this project is possible and i have enough support, i will continue this venture and i will most likely be fabbing a lot of parts for this project, but i am willing to start this if i can get some opinions on it and some help on research.

I guess the first step is to pull the engine in my TII and start the porting. Then im going to have to find the subaru donor car.



:driving::driving::driving::driving::driving:

[Whizbang]

i wont lie. i have wanted to do this EXACT project for a long time but like the tools. The 13B is not as long as a boxer engine and i think that it would help reduce the frontal weight issue the motors have.

That said i would buy a kit from you. or two.

[Phoenix7]

Don't do the bug-eye...it's fugly.

Go look at a subbie and check how the engine is mounted......I'd be interested to see this swap just because I've never seen it before.

[Whizbang]

its mounted like a typical rwd vehicle.

[Phoenix7]

its mounted like a typical rwd vehicle.
I meant the mounts...isn't the subbie mounted transversely??

How's the awd set up?

[Whizbang]

http://got-jdm.com/images/sti2.jpg

[85rx-7gsl-se]

Yeah, I knew it was layed out north/south...Thats why the whole transverse comment through me lol.

[WE3RX7]

Should be doable as far as the fitment. I often wondered this project myself as I love the 2.5RS body...

It will definitely take some fab and some patience, but there wouldnt be anything like it for sure, and if you could simplify it enough, I'm sure you would be able to sell kits based on the design....

[RotaryProphet]

The only issue I see really (as long as you're willing to make your own motor mounts and such, which it sounds like you are) is finding (or making, if you're brave enough) an adapter to fit the 13b to the original trans, and locating the starter, as it looks like the axles on that trans will wind up in the same place as a Mazda starter. Didn't they make a rotary with a top mount starter at some point?

Clutch disk is easy, there are lots of places that will make them custom for you, with the Subaru input shaft splines and the Mazda diameter.

[bigtony08]

i would be worried if the tranny and driveline could handle 9grand and not break cause subaru axles def are not the strongest

[SHPmainMAN]

ok now that i just got learned on subaru, and i know that they dont have transverse engines... i am a lot happier, and thats going to make this project a lot more fun. Thanks for the input guys, if you have anymore please let me know.

[SHPmainMAN]

as far as mating the engine to the transmission its going to be a custom fab job by ME! And i will have to find a way to mount in that starter, but i will find a way. as far as the strength of the drivetrain goes does anyone know of strong reliable interchangeable parts that i could use in place. Either way the tranny will get a whole new gearset for the tranny, and new front and rear drive axles probably looking to retain around 450hp.

So i guess i will put this project underway, if a mod or someone would like to could you please change the Topic title to "1.3RS"

[SHPmainMAN]

oh and BTW im looking for a 2.5RS coupe around michigan if anyone knows of one.

[djmtsu]

Kennedy Engineering makes custom adapters to mount just about any engine to any transmission. Look them up.

[SHPmainMAN]

Kennedy Engineering makes custom adapters to mount just about any engine to any transmission. Look them up.

you are the man.

[WE3RX7]

^ That is true, if you can get an adapter, you should be set. The sub trans are pretty strong and even the 2.5RS stock trans should withstand over 200hp at least without trouble. If you get into the 400+ range, you'll need to consult some subbie guys about what they do to beef up the driveline. Luckily, its a VERY popular car for rally and there should be a wealth of aftermarket parts and gear heads who could help...

[SHPmainMAN]

i have the aftermarket parts category covered. Obviously all of my parts are wholesale cost well... because i own a performance company.

[need RX7]

I like the idea alot. Where are you at in MI? I have to see this when it gets going.

[SHPmainMAN]

over in good old Flint michigan.... home of the real crackheads :D

[Phoenix7]

http://got-jdm.com/images/sti2.jpgdamn, trippy......thanks for the info.

[SHPmainMAN]

Since i am going to be attempting this project, i am going to cover the car in SHP and RCC when its done. I will be hitting a lot of rally and offroad track racing with this car trying to gain support for the RCC community and hopefully draw more customers to my business.

Built by SHP powered by RCC.

[Phoenix7]

that's awesome!! Can't get better support than that. Much appreciated man.

I looked more into the flat-four motor since it looked oddly short in that pic. Pretty cool...It's no rotary but still cool to see Subaru stand out like that.

[speedjunkie]

^You never knew it was a flat 4? lol

Damn I would LOVE to see this project take off. Although you have to wonder what the Subie guys will say when you ask them about swapping our engine in...probably the same thing we say to guys that wanna swap the LS1, 4G63, 2JZ, SR20 or F20 HAHA. I hope they're helpful though. I love the 2.5RS body style too, and with a rotary powering it, it would be PERFECT. I'll be keeping an eye on this. I might even have to go through this myself. I need a AWD for the winter but I still wanted a rotary engine, this would fit the bill. Good luck!

[Phoenix7]

not really...never was interested by it. It struck me as odd that the Subbies SOUNDED so different but I never really cared to look further into it. Yeah, probably the same thing that I say about LS swaps but with less of the "OMG, THAT'S SACRILEGIOUS!"

[SHPmainMAN]

Although you have to wonder what the Subie guys will say when you ask them about swapping our engine in...

i thought the same thing, but a lot of my customers Drive Subaru and i am talk to a lot of them on a daily basis, and ive thrown this idea by, most of them are really cool with it and love the idea. But im sure there will be those select few that will think this is blasphemy but i have a lot of support with the subaru guys already, and they can tell me about the best aftermarket parts for my car. I mean i have a pretty good knowledge base on the parts as of now with just selling parts and seen what is more popular and why. Such as the agency power subaru RA gearset for the transmission. im already looking at that.

I will take donations and sponsorships if anyone is interested in having a name on the car. i am still a small time business and i cannot fund the entire project so i am sure i will be looking for sponsors when i get it going. Also... we still need a car to work from if anyone has some connections with one.

[speedjunkie]

^Well hopefully they're ALL cool then, but some will probably still hate. Oh well, they'll have to get used to it.

Donations? You DO know how much RX-7s drain from our pockets right? LOL J/k, hopefully you'll get alot of help with this. Sounds like a fantastic project.

not really...never was interested by it. It struck me as odd that the Subbies SOUNDED so different but I never really cared to look further into it. Yeah, probably the same thing that I say about LS swaps but with less of the "OMG, THAT'S SACRILEGIOUS!"

Yeah I'm not sure just how attached Subie guys are to the boxer engine. I love the sound of that engine too, but it IS still a piston engine after all haha. I do like that it sits so low though for the low center of gravity.

[Whizbang]

i would be worried if the tranny and driveline could handle 9grand and not break cause subaru axles def are not the strongest

all that rotary torque...

that and the redline of a STI and the redline of most rx7s isnt too far off.


13brew - STI?

[need RX7]

call it WRX-7

[Whizbang]

call it WRX-7

winner.

[bigtony08]

all that rotary torque...

that and the redline of a STI and the redline of most rx7s isnt too far off.


13brew - STI?


true but you have to think he is going with a 2.5rs chassis but really it all depends on what he does aftermarket. anyway good luck with the build cant wait to see the finished product

[Whizbang]

all the subaru transmissions are interchangeable for the most part. the engine mounts are ALL the same as well (even on the H6) so in essence the adapter plate and motor mount adapter will work on basically every chassis.

[SHPmainMAN]

my partner in this is looking at a sedan type of the coupe. or a bugeye, since hes helping a lot with the project, so it might end up being a 4 door.

as for the donations, i dont mean financially, i mean random parts that you may come across that i may need in this, because im sure there are going to be those few odds and ends i need, even help tracking some stuff down. ive done stupid little projects before, and stuff like that can really slow a build down.

Im thinking of calling the car a Subaru 1.3RS WRX-7 its a nice mix of the different options here. lol. It has the chassis, the engine and the sub-model. Awesome job with the WRX-7.

but enough with the small talk i guess, i need to start diving into the more technical side of this build.

does anyone know an approximate length of a rotary from clutch to front of the crank pulley on a TII engine? anyone know the same for the 2.5 engine?

[SHPmainMAN]

i just bought a couple new toys to start this project.

now im just waiting for it to warm up a little bit, its way too cold outside to start wrenching on that FC to pull the parts.

but here are the toys, and enjoy.

Snap-On Digital torque wrench
5-100 Ft.lbs
60-1200 In.lbs
6.8-138.6 Nm

Blue-Point Air Ratchet
5-60 Ft.lbs
65 Ft.lb MAX torque talk about a finger breaker.

and then snap-ons mini die grinder.

also my 11 month old son trying to carry some of these tools. Hes taking after daddy already.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/fd3smaniac/DSC_0065.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/fd3smaniac/DSC_0050.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/fd3smaniac/DSC_0062.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/fd3smaniac/DSC_0045-2.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/fd3smaniac/DSC_0061.jpg