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This is a Rx8 I was building for my girlfriend. She asked one day if it was possible install a twin turbo rx7 engine into her car. Since I've done so many one-off motor swaps being the owner of Defined Autoworks, her innocent question quickly became reality.
I'll honestly say it was such a off the cuff idea, no research was done. Eyeballing the engine bay I felt good the twins could fit. After a couple days of fabrication the 13b-rew in all its twin turbo glory is nestled comfortably in the chassis. I also wanted to use the stout Rx7 transmission and honestly was the key to making the twin turbo fit.
As you can see a Rx7 downpipe will bolt right on, the greddy elbow is ready for intercooler piping and just for fun I'm pretty sure the stock intercooler setup will fit too. Even better the Rx8 airbox feed duct will now feed the intercooler.
Just wanted to post proof of twin turbo install. The car is actually for sale as she sits for cheap. My girlfriend found a deal on another car she has wanted for years so this one is getting sold.
That's sweet! So would the REW fit in there with the factory FE transmission, or are they different lengths? I was under the impression that the S5 FD transmissions had the same housing dimensions as the 5MT S1 FE transmission.
That's sweet! So would the REW fit in there with the factory FE transmission, or are they different lengths? I was under the impression that the S5 FD transmissions had the same housing dimensions as the 5MT S1 FE transmission.
FD transmissions and the RX-8 5 speed share internal parts...but the bellhousing and clutches are different...and the tailshaft housings are different as well.
If you use the RX8 5 speed..you don't need a new clutch...or need to modify the powerplant frame to make things fit
FD transmissions and the RX-8 5 speed share internal parts...but the bellhousing and clutches are different...and the tailshaft housings are different as well.
If you use the RX8 5 speed..you don't need a new clutch...or need to modify the powerplant frame to make things fit
That's sweet! So would the REW fit in there with the factory FE transmission, or are they different lengths? I was under the impression that the S5 FD transmissions had the same housing dimensions as the 5MT S1 FE transmission.
The total length of the two transmissions is not very different. But the FD transmission has its shifter placed a few inches further back. To line up the shifter position and avoid shift relocation I just mounted the engine a little bit further forward to compensate. This is where it needed to be ironically for the twin turbos to fit as well.
I'm pretty excited about it coming together so nicely, this will allow me to offer my customers a much cheaper price for the REW swap. Essentially one could buy a FD3S engine/trans setup from japan and install it directly into the Rx8. Cuts a TON of costs.
We are working to quickly adapt the Rx8 trigger wheel onto the 13b-rew front pulley. Retain the stock REW trigger for running the motor, and have the Rx8 trigger ahead of it to run the stock gauges, rpm and electric power steering system. Only thing I havent dug into is adapting the FD trans speed sensor to the Rx8. Pretty sure a dakota digital could take care of that though.
The total length of the two transmissions is not very different. But the FD transmission has its shifter placed a few inches further back. To line up the shifter position and avoid shift relocation I just mounted the engine a little bit further forward to compensate. This is where it needed to be ironically for the twin turbos to fit as well.
I'm pretty excited about it coming together so nicely, this will allow me to offer my customers a much cheaper price for the REW swap. Essentially one could buy a FD3S engine/trans setup from japan and install it directly into the Rx8. Cuts a TON of costs.
We are working to quickly adapt the Rx8 trigger wheel onto the 13b-rew front pulley. Retain the stock REW trigger for running the motor, and have the Rx8 trigger ahead of it to run the stock gauges, rpm and electric power steering system. Only thing I havent dug into is adapting the FD trans speed sensor to the Rx8. Pretty sure a dakota digital could take care of that though.
You don't need to worry about the FD tranny sensor...the RX-8 uses the wheel speed sensors for the Speedo
how is this going? still for sale or not, almost finished?
An employee of this shop has stated (in the facebook group) that they have no intentions of ever finishing this build unless someone wants to pay to buy the car and finish the swap. And then that person would just have to trust that they would do it right. According to him they have never done this swap but he was adamant about how easy it is to accomplish
But they did manage to get a dirty engine in an engine bay.
06-14-2015, 02:06 PM
