LSXREX

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Legot

iTrader: (1)

Does it turn on?

LSXREX

Run? Not yet. Just reroute brake lines, plumb fuel system, install clutch master, build exhaust y pipe, relocate coils, wire it up and get it aligned.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

What ECU are you using?

LSXREX

Both the rx8 (so I can use the gauges and electric power steering) and the gm. I'll be using an 02 Corvette OS and will use a corvette dbw pedal

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Interesting, I like where this is going. Good luck man!

LSXREX

Thanks bradah. I've always had a thing for RX cars but having owned a 93 FD previously I wanted something a bit more daily drive able. Rotaries are horrible motors and I truly believe they are not cut out to work in street cars. Maybe boats, airplanes or any other environment where constant higher pm is necessary. The turbos in the FD took a dump before I deployed so I just sold it to a buddy who put in an LS2 which made the car perfect. I believe the RX8 is better than the FD in lots of way. It's got a better interior, better brakes, better suspension and an equally unreliable, anemic rotary. This Ls1 swap will cure the RX8 of its pitiful power train and make an excellent daily. The motor is bone stock aside from som reliability mods and aluminum clutch and won't be anything wild

firecran

iTrader: (3)

Most here have no problem with your swap so you can cut the me against the rotary world crap.

Oh yeah, I like V8's they are tasty

G/L

LSXREX

Haha thanks for moving my thread. It wouldn't let me post in here. I felt like I was pissing off the two stroke sipping Rotards in the other section.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

You are welcome. However, I would ask that you cease the hostility. It really isn't called for. The good thing about the car enthusiast community is that we all don't want to be like everyone else, and so we are all different, with different joys and passions, different interests and preferences. Being hostile to someone else because they have a different preference for engine than you do is doing the entire community a diservice, and does nothing but make others in the community decide that you aren't worth being around.

Respect people for enjoying an engine that you don't like, and you will get respect from them for enjoying an engine they don't like.

Your swap thread is welcome here, but your hostility is not.

LSXREX

Well that's a way to start a thread. I thought rotary fans prefer the term Rotard? Well learn something everyday. No hostility on my end. Just making my stance clear on rotary motors. Love the bodies though

archwisp

iTrader: (1)

Just pointing it out. There is no need for you to make comments about anyone else. Just stick with commenting about what you are doing.

LSXREX

Rotards not made towards people but the cars. I can have any opinion I want about a certain platform. Being an Engineering student with a decade working on aircraft/cars I feel I have a pretty good position to make an justifiable opinion. This isn't hostility. I've done enough deployments to see real hostility.

Ianspeed

Not sure why you think your opinion would be welcomed here.... why not just focus on the car?

LSXREX

Good point. Moving forward. Motor has to come back out of the car for final clearancing, brake lines, fuel system, engine bay wiring, and abs relocate

LiveWire

iTrader: (1)

Not to shoot down your hopes an dreams, but I believe a very large benefit of the Rx8 Chassis is keeping the engine behind the front axles. Keeping close to 50/50 distribution is all well and good theoretically, but it really all depends on the dynamic distribution, not the static. Suspension tuning will be harder to nail down as well because of this. Truthfully, bigger motors in these cars are best suited for drag and drift rather than time attack, tracking, or touge.

Make sure you are 110% sure on the stability of the engine mounts. My brother's old roommate just put his LS swapped Rx7 into a wall due to a collapsed motor mount. These swaps are not common, and the strength of the frame has not been proven in that respect.

LSXREX

Im not building a Rolex car. This is just gonna be a nice daily that doesnt need to be downshifted any time the wind slightly blows. Actually the centroid of the LS/T56 will be just behind the axle centerline. I dont suspect the dynamic shift be too dramatic. Plus a factory RX8 may carry a few more mph into the corner but i wouldnt even need to shift to reel it in. Your buddys crash quite possibly involved many more factors than mountfailure. On thqt subject. The mounts Hinson supplies are billet aluminum two piece mounts. They use one bolt and twisted when i installed them. So now ivegotta remove the motor and either tig them plumb or drill/tap additional bolts for stability. Come on Hinson. Alabama has a great Engineering school. Hire someonewho will apply proped thought into a component

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, the Hinson kit was heralded as a major improvement for LS swap projects, but your experience appears to be typical. It appears to get you farther than it actually does, and you have to put a fair amount of effort into correcting the issues. It's why I still tell newbies "there is no kit"

LSXREX

Parts from the kit I would recommend: the balancer has a machined reluctor and mount for the pickup, subframe pedestals, 1 7/8" headers and maybe the torque arm kit. I'm still on the fence about that last one bc it is so simple to build. Also the radiator kit is a bit extreme and takes up a lot of real estate. It makes for a more difficult condenser mount and much more difficult AC line fabrication. I would suggest using the stock radiator as it's seems adequate for a mild V8. The radiator looks really nice but I'm kinda over it. It's gonna make for a VERY difficult air intake setup. I'm gonna build a cold air box in the driver side oil cooler location

Ls1rx8dotcom

Hey this is Stephen with ls1rx8.com I actually have installed the Hinson kit minus the welded pedistals. If you would like I can help you out. Also you can join my Facebook group "LS POWERED RX8"

there are a bunch of great and helpful people in that group if you would like to join.

LSXREX

What did you do for mounts? I got the problem solved by drilling some more holes and using Corvette stands. As stated everything in the Hinson kit is ok but for the money it's a big ask. If anyone here is interested I could easily fabricate a copy of the components aside from the balancer which I may say is a work of art. Also the headers are great. I don't have a facebook account.

LSXREX

pulled the motor and trans out to change the hinson mounts to corvette pedestals. while they are much more solid they raised the motor an inch or so and pushed it forward. so now i gotta pull it all back out and get the hinson mounts tigged straight so they dont shift.

Ls1rx8dotcom

I changed from LS mounts and made brackets to use mounts that I like.

And yes there balancer is cool but isn't needed it's just additional cost to the overall price. If someone was willing I can make one too.

Not trying to be cocky I just figured out how to get it done

LSXREX

Honestly I wouldn't trust that design. At high rpm/load that Allen bolt runs the risk of allowing the crank too much movement. Aluminum deflects too much and that is a pretty integral location. Plus the balancer is built by powerbond and is an UD pulley also which is nice and it's much more compact as my balancer is about 3/4 an inch from my fan. Your design takes up a lot of real estate and wouldn't work with my radiator.

I was able to get the mounts tigged and position properly. I also milled 1/8" from the bottom of the mounts to bring the motor down and clearanced the steering rack where needed. On another topic. I know the PCM and steering module are in that box on the passenger side but what does that relay control? I'm gonna remove the box and relocate the PCM and steering module elsewhere as it is enormous and I neede every inch I can get.

LSXREX

Question on the fuel lines. Can I use the evap as a return from the filter/regulator? It didn't feel like it was restricted but curious. I have a bulkhead fitting I can just tap as a return but would like to use the evap line if I can