LS1 RX8 Kit?
05-15-2014, 07:17 PM
#51
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06-10-2014, 09:02 PM
#54
Battery is a small aftermarket unit mounted where there was room. It makes the wiring much easier compared to relocating the stock battery to the trunk, as you'd likely have to do due to size.
Radiator and expansion tank and hoses are all stock with minor mods. The whole setup is relocated about 4" forward.
08-30-2014, 01:23 PM
#57
Cheap and easy V8 conversion.
Two months ago I re-thought my desire to own a V8 kit car or any V8 conversion.
A Miata conversion is offered for $30k on top of the car cost. A factory 5 kit is $21k with no driveline or paint so call that a $30k car minimum. Then there are the insurance and title issues depending on where you live?
I bought my wife a clean well maintained Torch Red 2000 C5 Vette hatch with removable roof for $14500 OTD from a local Chevy dealer.
I still have my pristine 04 RX8 to autocross or hold 4 people.
Before you hold up your noses check this out. C5 97-04 weighs 3300lbs w/auto, 50/50 wt distribution thanks to transdiff, 345hp, 350ft/lbs torque, 5sec to 60mph, 13.2 sec in 1/4 mile. 8.5x17" and 9.5x18"rims. These are luxury sports cars $40k+ new that are pretty much bulletproof drivelines and handle really well. Tons of aftermarket support. I can buy two for the cost of properly altering my perfect RX8 into a Frankenstein.
I made my decision with my wallet and named the Vette "whiplash" when it snapped my neck and tossed my sunglasses into the back. We took it on a 4500 mile cross country trip without incident and got over 27mpg @ 75mph 89 octane fuel. What a car. Best kept secret in USA.
A Miata conversion is offered for $30k on top of the car cost. A factory 5 kit is $21k with no driveline or paint so call that a $30k car minimum. Then there are the insurance and title issues depending on where you live?
I bought my wife a clean well maintained Torch Red 2000 C5 Vette hatch with removable roof for $14500 OTD from a local Chevy dealer.
I still have my pristine 04 RX8 to autocross or hold 4 people.
Before you hold up your noses check this out. C5 97-04 weighs 3300lbs w/auto, 50/50 wt distribution thanks to transdiff, 345hp, 350ft/lbs torque, 5sec to 60mph, 13.2 sec in 1/4 mile. 8.5x17" and 9.5x18"rims. These are luxury sports cars $40k+ new that are pretty much bulletproof drivelines and handle really well. Tons of aftermarket support. I can buy two for the cost of properly altering my perfect RX8 into a Frankenstein.
I made my decision with my wallet and named the Vette "whiplash" when it snapped my neck and tossed my sunglasses into the back. We took it on a 4500 mile cross country trip without incident and got over 27mpg @ 75mph 89 octane fuel. What a car. Best kept secret in USA.
08-31-2014, 10:18 AM
#58
But a lsx rx8 would be badass. Having 4 seats and killing almost any car on the road. Plus that v8 sound coming from a jap car will get people thinking "wtf how??!?" And adding a Texas speed ms3 cam will sound like popcorn 
I'm thinking about buying a ls2 block from summit and start piecing it together.
I'm thinking about buying a ls2 block from summit and start piecing it together.
09-06-2014, 06:42 AM
#60
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I found this digging around, I guess it enough to kill the lights in the dash.
https://www.cantanko.com/rx-8/revers...omment-page-1/
https://www.cantanko.com/rx-8/revers...omment-page-1/
09-17-2014, 04:06 PM
#61
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Spoofing the can bus enough to pass emissions and a visual inspection might not be too far off. I and a few others are working on an electric conversions, just last week one of the other guys showed a demo of making the RX8 dash look normal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHN5PhaUD7U#t=7935
Like was said earlier you could wire the LS ECU to the OBD2 port that the emissions tech plugs into to pass the computer actual emissions part of the test. Then you use Paulo's arduino hack to make the dash look right. For me I would also want the RX8 dash to function so you could use the arduino to bridge the LS ECU can-bus to the RX8 gauge cluster can-bus. Kind of a port forwarding (if your a network person). I would keep the two can-buses separated b/c all the can ID may not match between the two manufactures. I plan on doing this with the electric motor, the bridge still has to be written.
The only thing I do not know is if all the emissions related PID's are standard for all cars. If you emission tech enters you car into the machine as a Mazda and the PID are off it will fail so you would have to get them to enter it as a Chevy. I would imagine these PID are standard for all OBDII complaint cars but I have never looked into it.
Just a thought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHN5PhaUD7U#t=7935
Like was said earlier you could wire the LS ECU to the OBD2 port that the emissions tech plugs into to pass the computer actual emissions part of the test. Then you use Paulo's arduino hack to make the dash look right. For me I would also want the RX8 dash to function so you could use the arduino to bridge the LS ECU can-bus to the RX8 gauge cluster can-bus. Kind of a port forwarding (if your a network person). I would keep the two can-buses separated b/c all the can ID may not match between the two manufactures. I plan on doing this with the electric motor, the bridge still has to be written.
The only thing I do not know is if all the emissions related PID's are standard for all cars. If you emission tech enters you car into the machine as a Mazda and the PID are off it will fail so you would have to get them to enter it as a Chevy. I would imagine these PID are standard for all OBDII complaint cars but I have never looked into it.
Just a thought.
09-18-2014, 07:07 AM
#62
Pistons Please
The emissions PID info is standardized in the 1996 OBD2 laws & all vehicles sold in NA must have a universal system for diagnostics.
It sounds like you have 2 complete electronics systems operating with 2 busses? Why do you need to bridge? Sounds like a way to reduce coding? We played with the arduino and spark fun shield but have since shelved all that as my brother has got wayyyyy more function out of a RaspberryPi.
We have a few neat ways of going about this issue, as far as just making the cluster & diag connectors work that was super easy. We don't want the Mazda PCM to exist anymore (and have figured how to remove it), so we are changing alot around.
Sucks when school & making money to waste on this project is taking up time lol.
Happy hacking boys!
It sounds like you have 2 complete electronics systems operating with 2 busses? Why do you need to bridge? Sounds like a way to reduce coding? We played with the arduino and spark fun shield but have since shelved all that as my brother has got wayyyyy more function out of a RaspberryPi.
We have a few neat ways of going about this issue, as far as just making the cluster & diag connectors work that was super easy. We don't want the Mazda PCM to exist anymore (and have figured how to remove it), so we are changing alot around.
Sucks when school & making money to waste on this project is taking up time lol.
Happy hacking boys!
09-18-2014, 07:09 AM
#63
Pistons Please
You would have to spoof the **** out of the OEM Mazda PCM to make it pass emissions.
Otherwise readiness test would be "no ****** engine even here bro, barney rubble pushin clean as ****!"
Otherwise readiness test would be "no ****** engine even here bro, barney rubble pushin clean as ****!"
05-07-2015, 03:56 PM
#67
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I know this threads been dead for more than a year now but im getting an rx8 for my first car and im pretty savy with cars but i have no clue where to start when it comes to pulling out a rotary and hopefully putting in an ls1 any help would be AWESOME
05-09-2015, 08:39 AM
#68
You need to do your homework, homework. This swap is far from easy, even with a mounting kit. They never really "bolt-on." This is also expensive, even when you can do the work yourself (including welding, etc). Deep pockets is step number one.
07-27-2015, 09:00 AM
#72
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I still can't believe nobody has put together a comprehensive swap kit for the RX-8. Inexpensive donor shells available, not too many wiring changes, etc. Complete plug and play kits for other CANBUS vehicles exist...
10-19-2015, 11:42 AM
#74
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I have been working on a track car RX8 using the V8Roadsters kit and a built dry sump LS. The kit includes the front sub frame, trans mount, rear subframe mounts for a ford IRS 8.8, and the axles drive shaft etc.
While my build is not complete yet the kit fit and finish is awesome. The V8R kit is using the NC Miata steering rack which is much smaller than the RX8 unit and allows for better placement (lower) of the LS. The other advantage is it can be driven off of the GM power steering pump.
CANBUS - I was able to purchase a CANBUS conversion unit out of the UK, while I have been told it addresses 99% of the dash display and controls issues, it does not work with DSC-ABS. I will be adding the non DSC ABS pump as it does not require CANBUS and allows for a cable driven throttle cable.
I have a CANBUS converter available if anyone needs one as I understand they are no longer available out of the UK.
Mark
While my build is not complete yet the kit fit and finish is awesome. The V8R kit is using the NC Miata steering rack which is much smaller than the RX8 unit and allows for better placement (lower) of the LS. The other advantage is it can be driven off of the GM power steering pump.
CANBUS - I was able to purchase a CANBUS conversion unit out of the UK, while I have been told it addresses 99% of the dash display and controls issues, it does not work with DSC-ABS. I will be adding the non DSC ABS pump as it does not require CANBUS and allows for a cable driven throttle cable.
I have a CANBUS converter available if anyone needs one as I understand they are no longer available out of the UK.
Mark
03-08-2018, 12:17 PM
#75
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