Does anyone have an image of an RX-8 Powertrain cutaway or schematic that shows the engine and transaxle orientation? I trying to picture which way everything faces. Thanks.

transaxle? it's rear wheel drive...

Dunno if it helps, but here is a side view of the engine: http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~otori/Images/kyozai/Rx8_01.jpg

The fan is in the front. You can see where the tranny hooks up, which attaches to a drive shaft, which attaches to the axle in the rear, which attaches to the rear wheels.

I know that takes some abstract thinking and isn't exactly what you asked for, but it's the best I can do in 5 minutes. ;)

^ yeah what he said

Yes that helps... I guess I need to see the eccentric shaft and how it is attached to the engine. Is it just a short shaft that attaches to the transmission?

The e-shaft runs roughly parallel to the drive shaft, just like a crank shaft would in a front mount RWD piston engine.

Go to http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com/ for more info about engine internals.