Hi All! picked up an 8 a few months ago for a steal with a Flooded? motor for a few hundred bones, plan on making it a project car.

Ive had 3 Fc's rebuilt 2 engines, but that was 10 years ago and i remember fondly what i loved about the rotary and what i didn't. Currently own a 350whp Mazdaspeed6.

I used to take my rx7s and civics lapping but my current Speed just isn't realistically up to the task.

SO That's enough about me, why doesn't anyone swap the Mzr/duratec/disi/ecoboost into their cars?

the Nc miata guys are making 200whp out of a 2.5 with mild cams and header.

that is my current plan and im about half way there.

figured id post up proof as i figure there will be doubters. Everything is completely bolt in mechanically so far, the firewall does need to be cut. uses Stock PPF, driveshaft, motor mounts.



Nc Miata parts:
Trans(hybrid S2/nc trans)
Subframe
steering rack
radiator
motor mounts
Ecu
Cluster
2013 Ford fusion engine (its $400 why not)

going to go through all the steps to see how little it takes to make 200whp Ie stock miata header and cams, then tune then cams and header.

 

There was somebody in Europe (I think) that swapped a 2.0L MZR in but I can't find the info on it anymore.

 

yeah he had a youtube video of his, he made custom motor mounts and did a dual ecu thing,
Basically im building a Long wheel base hardtop Miata lol. im making it as bolt in off the shelf parts as possible.

 

But why though?

 

The hard part with any swap into this car is the electronics. Nothing plugs and plays with the RX8 ECU, and you need the ECU to drive the dash, immobilizer, steering and a few other things, so you'll need workarounds for those.

 

9k, keeps the car cheap and makes more torque than the renesis and abit more hp along with an option for me to swap a disi in at a later time.

Electronics are no problem, the miata ecu uses the same canbus protocols, the immobilizer is still fully intact, and it has a miata steering rack so no more eps, if the cluster wont work i can get the miata cluster to fit pretty effortlessly

 

wow... so no rota.... hmmm

 

I wonder what it looks like when you compare the HP/$ ratio of this versus an LS swap.

 

For me its very little, i deal with mazdaspeeds all day long so I come across these engines all the time, if you had access to a wrecked NC it would be extremely reasonable.

the most expensive part about all this was the Subframe and transmission which cost me $500, im only about $800 all in right now lol

 

I applaud you for your sense of adventure. Folks who buy into the RX cult is because of the inherent rotary engine experience and sublime kinematics. Else there are lots of great rwd coupes with traditional engines to select from.

That roof wing is cool too.... Reminds me of the Thunderbirds.

 

Cool swap but really ruins the car for me in a sense. I'm not sure how well balanced the car will be and it seems as though the exhaust will be in the cabin. It'll be interesting to see this finished up. I'm keeping an open mind.

 

 

I agree. Like going to a restaurant famous for their prime rib and ordering... the meatloaf.

 

The engine is still behind the front axle, seems like it would be reasonably balanced. It's not a bad idea if everything plugs and plays like you say. It's no Isuzu V6, but its also not $15k to start.

 

except it isn't Prime rib, if it were a Cosmo, or FD that would be the Prime rib this is more like a Lamb chop lol

 

the exhaust won't be in the cabin. it'll use a stock miata off shelf header.

ill have too add weight to the front of the car or lose it in the rear. i have access to corner weight scales.

the motor is in the car and it still sits pretty high lol.

 

From the picture you posted it appears that the exhaust will intrude into the cabin. Almost like the some of the engine is extended into the cabin as well. Did you take any pics from the interior perspective?

 

i am really interested on how this turns out. had a 10 speed3. good motor. what i would really love is to have the motor and dsg tranny from my 15 gti in my rx8. it is ~ 350 whp with 330 flb of tq tuned. and 36 mpg hi way.

i think it would be the perfect track / dd car.

beers

 

It is abit into the interior and I already know ill have to mod the Hvac quite abit. at this point ive even looked at the NC miata Hvac as that will move the heater core further over to the passenger Side.


Oem Miata header will be used for emissions. No extra holes needed for this one.






Miata NC subframe and steering rack


And how much higher the front end is with the Piston engine right now


it is about 2" just past the firewall. I don't really mind if there is no heater core tbh, the only street time this car will see is going to and from the track. Already have some NC mazda speed Coilovers and some Work Cr Kai's for it.

Im just waiting on an NC ECU to come in the mail and then ill be able to find out if I'll need to run the NC cluster or not.

 

You don't need a heater core when your valve cover is also the cd player

I've seen people reconstruct the firewall around the engine with tube and sheet stock. That might be a good idea if you have to pass technical inspections at some point.

 

LOL! I do fully intend on closing the hole up properly, i just want to make everything work then take it apart and do a real nice job on the firewall.

the original hvac should fit, i just may need to trim the box, tbh its the last thing im worried about lol!

 

That doesn't intrude into the cabin as much as I thought. Looks like you're doing a fantastic job with the swap. It'll be interesting to see how the heater box and blower motor will fit. What are you planning on using for a dashboard?

 

The original dash will be going back in at a bare minimum I'll still have the blower motor in the car.

 

200 whp from that engine with just header and mild cams...? No way!
For 200whp you need 230-240 hp at the engine...And this is a 170hp motor, so for that power increase you need serious work on it.

Was cheaper and way less complicated to boost original rotary (to gain way more power and more torque that have this durateq) than this swap...

 

I'll take "The stupid sh-t people do" for $100 Alex ...