1st Gen/RX8 motor/trans install

[otterbob]

Has anyone tried installing an RX8 motor or motor/trans in a 1st Gen yet? If so, what are the issues with this swap? I know there will be some front mount difficulty but I'm just starting to explore the feasibility of this conversion.

[Kwerks]

That would be a perfect match.

[djmtsu]

Been done about 3 years ago. Makers-7 I believe.





They even installed the dashboard, but this is the only pic I could find.

[JShiz]

I'd imagine the electrical part would be a major head ache but 200+ hp in a FB would be perfect

[djmtsu]

They used the main harness for the Dash/ECU/Engine all from the RX-8.

Luckily, the chassis harness and the engine harnesses are separated well in RX-7's. If you look at the dash, you can see the plethora of warning lights because of this (steering fault, ABS, traction, air bag, etc.

So that would be annoying.

[WE3RX7]

^ True, but that may also be because the key is in the "ON" position... all of those light up when you do that...

I always thought it woudl be a great modification. It would be nice to see an aftermarket simplified manifold for the MSP that would allow you to run either a weber down draft or ITB....

[Rogue_Wulff]

Buddy of mine is putting a Renesis into his FB racecar.
Gonna use a home made header, and intake, along with a side draft carb.
He's using his 79 to test fit everything, then it will be swapped into the track car in place of the current 4p 13B SP.

[Phoenix7]

I think this swap will have the same hurdles as any other 8 swap:

-custom mounts for engine and/or tranny
-a new dash or the 8 dash so it all plugs in and works (no need for a standalone) don't know if you can use a HUD system with the stock 8 stuff, never seen it done....
-look into the length of the tranny too, in case you need to cut into the tranny well....then the DS in case it needs to be custom to fit

Never seen anyone do a write-up on this so if you end up doing more research please post your findings.

[j_tso]

Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff

Gonna use a home made header, and intake, along with a side draft carb.

Racing Beat makes a $500 header for Renesis, but I'm keenly interested in seeing how a carbed Renesis would perform. Probably not as well as the injected, six port system, but hopefully better than a S4 6port 13B.

[Rogue_Wulff]

Yeah. Unfortunately, he bought a 2004 model from an AT car. 4p intake.......
Upside, it came with a counterweight, simplifing the installation of the light steel flywheel.
The RB header would be great, but it prolly wouldn't hook up to his RB RR center section.....
Although I did finally convince him to ditch the flowmaster muffler. Those sound like pure crap on a rotary.

[otterbob]

I guess what I'm thinking is this - I've seen wrecked rx8's for around 6k,low mileage, undamaged drivetrain. Mazdatrix sells a ported 13b w/12a ends (drop in 1st gen) for about the same money. More work to part out the rx8 but you get a 6 speed too. How much HP is intrinsic to the rx8 motor and how much comes from the engine mgmt. sys.? Would a sidedraft setup diminish output that much?

[diabolical1]

i have often thought about doing a swap like this, but the sad truth is i'll probably never get around to it. however, i believe if you plan it out right, you could probably do the swap and retain much of the power (more importantly, the powerband), which would make for a pretty hot car.

[Phoenix7]

Originally Posted by otterbob

I guess what I'm thinking is this - I've seen wrecked rx8's for around 6k,low mileage, undamaged drivetrain. Mazdatrix sells a ported 13b w/12a ends (drop in 1st gen) for about the same money. More work to part out the rx8 but you get a 6 speed too. How much HP is intrinsic to the rx8 motor and how much comes from the engine mgmt. sys.? Would a sidedraft setup diminish output that much?

well, if you bring it up then you should buy the mazdatrix engine...much simpler and a lo less work then the full 8 swap.