bascho

Because a car is more than just it's powertrain. Some will buy anything that has a rotary engine in it....and that's fine. But I like the Gen III RX7 and the RX8 because of the styling. If it was just about having a Ford V8 then I would have purchased something else.

Some will argue all day to this point.......but dollar for dollar, there is no better performing engine than an American V8......certainly not the rotary.

alfy28

k i do not know american v8 engine well because i was nto raised here. but i do know japanese engine. and yes alof of cars are boost cars, but reason is we cant have big engine due to yearly inspectsion that cost us alot of money each year. that is why you do not see alot of V8's in japan. taht is why we have lots of turbo or SC cars. because we want power but we can not have big engine, unless we are super rich and we can afford it every year.

Razz1

Nice, I like

bascho

I totally understand that fact.......and I think the industry as a whole is better for it. If Japan did not have those restrictions......no automaker would have the current offering of high-powered boosted I4's kickin *** and taken names (American saying). I have nothing against any engine design because I marvel at the engineering involved. I don't know how it is in Japan, but the high boost I4's and TT V6's are not cheap to build or service here in the US. It's just a whole lot cheaper to get 400hp out of an American V8 here in the US then it is to get 400hp out of a boosted I4 or a TT V6......or a boosted rotary for that matter.

But I understand where you're coming from on this issue.

BaronVonBigmeat

Are you pondering the no-*****, cast-iron 302 or the boat anchor, heads-bigger-than-the-deck-of-an-aircraft-carrier 4.6?

bascho

I would love to drop in a Terminator (S/C 4.6 DOHC engine used in the 2003/2004 Cobra)......but I have a feeling it would be too wide. I haven't gotten as far as taking measurements.......but I can get a complete Terminator with 6-speed T56 transmission and engine controls for a really great deal through Ford with my discount. Using that set-up would be really easy since it's plug-and-play. The only thing preventing that set-up is packaging in the RX8. I would love to see someone else fit an LS1 or LS2 in there first so that I can see what I'm working against in terms of space. I have no problem using the older small block instead if I had to.....especially since I could always use an aluminum crate engine instead of a cast iron one. A stroked 427/351W is a potent set-up indeed.......oh the possibilities Once the warranty is up of course

BaronVonBigmeat

this is my favorite image in the whole album

i turned up the contrast and resolution and my suspicions were confirmed

zenmoused

Ohh...THAT's where they come from!

IronDonut

Nah... It's just stupid to take a tiny and very fragile engine and turbocharge it with the most complex and troubleprone induction system every put into production.

Here is how I take care of my piston powered cars:

1. oil every 3000 miles
2. gas when it needs it
3. Change plugs at 100,000 miles

No comparision really.

IronDonut

Yes without the turbo the 13B is very powerful. As powerful as your average four cyl but with much less torque and much worse fuel economy.

IronDonut

Swapping the entire powerplant for one that isn't designed to fit in the car ain't the easy way.

It's an order of magnitude more skill then you ricer ****** who bolt on a cat back and think you're heros.

IronDonut

Thx. It's wicked fast and very reliable. Plus there is nothing that sounds as good as a v-8.

It cost about $10,000 for the project.

IronDonut

Nah it had nothing to do with cooling. It had two problems; simply the engineers who designed it didn't follow the most basic rule of engineering;

"Make it as simple as possible but no simplier."

They did everything in their power to make the engine and systems as complex as possible.

Secondly they boosted a tiny fragle engine so hard it had no margin of safety. At the first hint of detonation the apex seals fail. Not a good combo with forced induction.

IronDonut

You forgot the 351.

GM seems all in all to have a much better thing going than Ford. Fewer moving parts, lighter, smaller package, much more power.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

yes it did have to do with the cooling system of the stock FD. first the downpipe, AST, and ofcourse the POS stock radiator. the apex seals or other internals will not always fail when there is a detonation.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

IronDonut, a better cooling plus a little bit of tunning can up a "small and weak" rotary to your V8 level. Ooops and that also cost alot less than what you've done. You just dont know how and went to your "american dreams"

13b-REW has no problem with it. Its just the Chassic design gave it too little space to breath. Its pretty easy to fix actually. There were lots of "american" designed cars with overheat problems. So ?

oh well, you fuxked a nice car up already. Now get lost.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

^ what im thinking is... he didnt know much about the 13brew and blew it... then decided to swap to what hes familiar with. piston engines.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

^^Agreed. Just like most of the 7 owners back in the 90s. Blew it up and blame this and that.

bascho

A lot less?? Like how much less? I think he said he's got a reliable 400hp for $10,000 which is probably capable of 25mpg on the Hwy. How much would you have to spend to make the FD have a reliable 400hp with the 13B-REW.....and what would the hwy fuel econ be?

Different strokes for different folks here guys. No one should knock piston engines as they occupy the engine compartment of all the fastest production muscle cars, sports cars, sedans, SUV's, trucks, boats & motorcycles in the world.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

not only did they "blew up" they were under warrenty... and almost caused mazda to go bankrupt.

jeffe19007

How is this car balanced at 50/50 weight distribution? Did you corner weigh it? You also say that it is well forward of where the rotary sat. I think that this thing may be a little heavier in the front than you think.

Also, Detroit aluminum engines don't exactly have a good track record either. And lets compare induction system down to the combustion chamber... which is more complicated now? Valves on V8s are a nice maintenance item!

And please, change the plugs every 100,000 miles? If you value performance at all, you change them a little sooner. I mean the advertisements and the manufacturers say that, but reality is different.

But yes, a V8 sounds great. I loved my big block chevy. But I replaced a lot of rockers and pushrods in that engine. Lifters, springs, and retainers changed out in the rebuild. So let us count the parts...and there is a reason you pull the springs and lifters and check them for problems.

rotarygod

Don't give your self too much credit. It's very easy. You buy the kit. It can't get any simpler than that!
http://www.grannysspeedshop.com

Those who know how to build a reliable rotary do. Those who don't, install V-8's. I personally want to see a supercharged 3 rotor installed in a C6. That car might actually be worth owning if someone did that. It would make it a damn cool ride worth bragging about and the sound out of the exhaust would be smooth and beautiful. Something the V8 lacks unless it is a flat plane crank Ferrari or Formula 1 engine. A 3 rotor in a Vette would take an order of magnitude more skill than some wannabe ***** using a kit to install a V8 in an RX-7. It is not a straight forward installation as there are no kits. Either way the car is a bastard child. The RX-7 guys get mad because you did a heart transplant from an entirely different species of animal and the V8 guys get mad because you installed one of their precious babies in a Japanese car. Can't win on any front.

Don't think I'm hating on V8's. I'm not. I like the Chevy LS engines. They are the only viable V8 worth getting as Ford engines completely suck. I just don't like V8's slapped into RX-7's. I guarantee the Corvette guys would be appalled at the idea of installing a 3 rotor into their car but it would be damn cool.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

no way is the LS1 in a FD 50/50 ratio. my friend also has a LS1 in his FD and he gets 30/70. so NO way he getes 50/50 or he somehow managed to even the weight by adding more weight to the rear. and lol @ changing plugs at 100k miles.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

With the same amount if not less amount of money I could get any 13-b REW to reach that hp while running smoothly and keep the 50-50 balance.

Wow going back to the mpg thing again .... like I cared ? my 8 consumes about the same amount of gas as my father's Quest GXE, its just that Im faster of course. I usually spend about 500 bucks a month for gas. so ? I can afford it and I dont whine like some people.

He never get 50/50 simple as that .... he needs to go back to school and find out how to measure center of gravity. and I really would like to know what kind of plugs you use for 100K miles.

bascho

Same amount of money....ok, I expected that answer. Would it last 100,000 miles? If the LS1 and 13b-REW weigh the same amount.....how would you not retain 50/50 balance?

Fuel economy may not be important to you.......but it is to most people. I would choose 400hp and 25mpg on the hwy over 400hp and 15mpg on the hwy any day of the week.