Engine Swap!!

ryosuke138 · 12-19-2018, 08:35 PM

I have recently got a S2000 chassis. For the engine I am thinking about pulling one out of an RX8 and am wondering how I should go about that. I would love suggestions, and can hopefully keep yall updated throughout my journey.

ryosuke138 · 12-20-2018, 02:00 AM

Would I use the harness from the rx8 or the s2000? cheers!

Pete_89T2 · 12-20-2018, 10:21 AM

So you have an S2000 roller and you want to put an RX8 engine in it? As much as I love rotaries, this project sounds like a downgrade to me - much easier & less costly to just find a running S2000 engine to drop back in there.

IF you insist on the RX8 motor swap, you'll need the RX8's ECU, wiring harness and probably a bunch of other crap from the RX8 to make it work. Or go with an aftermarket standalone ECU & custom wiring harness and figure out how to get it to run right. Not to mention all the mechanical fabrication involved in installing the RX8 motor, exhaust & necessary plumbing bits into an S2000 chassis. I'm not up on all the details, but the RX8's ECU not only manages the engine, but it's tightly integrated with other systems on the RX8 (e.g., power steering, stability control, dash/instruments, ABS, etc.) which won't be on your S2000, so there's that shit show of problems to deal with too.

reddozen · 12-21-2018, 01:08 AM

I would recommend the something like the Adaptronics RX8 standalone. It has full CAN bus support, so you could probably run most things on your car, or do it the other way around and use the one for the S2k and rewire for the engine. Second option is probably your best bet.

My honest opinion though.... you're putting a less reliable, and less powerful engine into the S2k... If you really want a rotary, at least get one that can handle more power like a T2, RE, REW, or 20b. It still wont have the same reliability as the F20 blocks, but at least you can make some respectable power.

12-19-2018, 08:35 PM	#1
ryosuke138 The Newbie Join Date: Dec 2018 iTrader: (0) Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Engine Swap!! I have recently got a S2000 chassis. For the engine I am thinking about pulling one out of an RX8 and am wondering how I should go about that. I would love suggestions, and can hopefully keep yall updated throughout my journey.

12-21-2018, 01:08 AM	#4
reddozen Gold Wheels FTW Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 744 Rep Power: 17	I would recommend the something like the Adaptronics RX8 standalone. It has full CAN bus support, so you could probably run most things on your car, or do it the other way around and use the one for the S2k and rewire for the engine. Second option is probably your best bet. My honest opinion though.... you're putting a less reliable, and less powerful engine into the S2k... If you really want a rotary, at least get one that can handle more power like a T2, RE, REW, or 20b. It still wont have the same reliability as the F20 blocks, but at least you can make some respectable power. __________________ My Cars: 1974 RX4 Coupe 1991 FC3S RX7 - Sold 2003 ZZW30 MR2 (Rotary swap after RX8) 2004 SE3P RX8 (20B Swap in the works)

12-20-2018, 02:00 AM	#2
ryosuke138 The Newbie Join Date: Dec 2018 iTrader: (0) Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Would I use the harness from the rx8 or the s2000? cheers!

12-20-2018, 10:21 AM	#3
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	So you have an S2000 roller and you want to put an RX8 engine in it? As much as I love rotaries, this project sounds like a downgrade to me - much easier & less costly to just find a running S2000 engine to drop back in there. IF you insist on the RX8 motor swap, you'll need the RX8's ECU, wiring harness and probably a bunch of other crap from the RX8 to make it work. Or go with an aftermarket standalone ECU & custom wiring harness and figure out how to get it to run right. Not to mention all the mechanical fabrication involved in installing the RX8 motor, exhaust & necessary plumbing bits into an S2000 chassis. I'm not up on all the details, but the RX8's ECU not only manages the engine, but it's tightly integrated with other systems on the RX8 (e.g., power steering, stability control, dash/instruments, ABS, etc.) which won't be on your S2000, so there's that shit show of problems to deal with too.