Maybe bit off-topic, but I would like to see RGONZA's talents spent on improving on the Rotary's power, fuel etc. -Perhaps a 3 Rotor Renny? Yeah I know wishful thinking. I believe he can do it. Represent RGONZA!

Garcia.

 

What heads are you using? Ported LS3s? 243s? Trickflows?

What size camshaft are you going with?

 

From earlier in the thread... this what we know about engine specifics at this point

 

I don't want to speak for anyone else but I know that Rgonza surpassed 1000whp at some point with 20b in the 8 at something like 25-30psi on "good" fuel. He can correct me if I am wrong. So if any one should know how the 8 handles that kind of number it should be him (I am sure he has made his chassis mods). Olddragger; do you have any suggestions on what you think should be done to the chassis for this kind of hp level? I know you have experience also...

It makes sense since with his last rendition(semi-peripheral) he laid down 704whp at only 14psi on pump fuel and this I saw on a magazine in PR. The 650whp at 15-16psi is way old news with him(like 5 years ago). He just doesn't care to post every little thing he does to his car and then have to start having to explain to all the skeptics.

Chris

 

1200 hp Ok--but imagine the tq is is going to have to deal with. More tq than the 3 rotor was putting out.
Some how he is going to have to cross brace the frame--maybe even put pillers at the back doors. He is good and will figure that out--mounting points would be interesting. Maybe a convertible rx8?? lol
Good placement on the engine--see how far back it is--with a stand up radiator too? Or is that just a topper tank? Its low also--- as low as i have seen on the 7's--great job.

The real big question is the rear suspension/diff--what do yall think he will do with that? It will be major work--and I dont have a clue. drop a solid axle 9 bolt unit in there?
wicked car --just wicked.
olddragger

 

I have enjoyed your previous works and trust you know what you are doing.....but are you sure you want that much lift ? That kind of lift is beyond extreme for even the huge cam NA guys. Even the bad boy 1800HP twin turbo guys are using cams with only 600-625 lift. This seems kind of counter productive when you are trying to raise the rev limiter 1500 rpm I know as it is the LS'x' guys are having trouble finding a reliable valvetrain for regular use over 7000RPM. What kind of valve springs were you going to use for this? I dont know of any made that can support over .700 lift =/

 

maybe he is trying to LOOSE low end torque and getting it back up top? That is a large lobe--should have a hell of an idle, and you are right--the springs at 8.5? Maybe he meant 7.5?
OD

 

That is a **** ton of lift.

Obviously you're going to need tall valve covers, and some pretty strong springs or else your valves are going to meet the pistons pretty damn quickly.

 

Totally agree. I know RGonza, and trust me He has more knowledge about this car than you guys can even think of and put down lots more than 700 WHP. Ohh and I have been in his car and actually had the pleasure of driving that sick machine. INSANE would be a good word to describe it.

 

Hell, I thought my 302 duration 515 lift fireball was lumpy at idle. haha

 

+1...

I drove his car too...and man...talk about felling overwhelmed!

Chris

 

Yea but that could just as easily be done with a bit more duration or more of a reverse split on the duration. Saying you are going to run over .700 lift on an LSx engine one is like saying you are going to use a glass valvetrain in your build.

 

I saw RGonza's RX8 at Puerto Rico Furious Wheel car show in September 2008, All I can say is his set up is 'NASTY' the car from a distance looks like stock, but don't be fooled as this BEAST can simply flash by your eyes within split seconds.

The engine is Way past than normal, the Tuo set up is very unique, I know this may be old story to some folks, but watching this beaty personally motivates you to keep studying the Enginnering of the RX8.

I can agree with Chris,I live in PR, RGonza maybe receives 100 of pm's and emails of people asking the same subject over and over,how did he do it...I respect the fact t it takes experience , dedication, pasience, Team Work and defenitely a FAT wallet for investments.

 

This thread has motivated me to want that Aussie twin turbo kit.

 

actually i have seen larger cam lifts on the ls 2 engine with decked heads and modified valve lifters etc--up to 777 exhaust etc--but i dont know about the 8.5 rpm --with good moods 8K yea for drag racing but not road coarse.
OD

 

fixed

long duration cams and/or high overlap + turbos = counterproductive

the turbo cam requirement is greatly different than NA

 

Yah, the term I hear used frequently is "blower cam" for turbo, supercharger or nitrous applications. It doesn't seem like the optimal cam specs, but I just plain don't know enough about a setup this extreme. Most of the stuff I've seen or researched is under 1000hp... I don't claim to know what it takes to make 1200hp on pump gas.

Maybe this is how you do it. I can't wait to find out!

Any more updates?

 

you will not make 1200 hp with a 500 range lift cam.
OD

 

This conversion is stupid, it costs more to do it than to just buy a Corvette.

And, btw, us Corvette guys get these power numbers for 10 grand. What you will find is, the rest of your components require a lot of upgrading and hardening. Blown half shafts and differentials are all too common.

 

First of all, shut up if you're going to call people stupid. Quit with the insults.

Second, nobody makes 1200 rwhp for 10 grand of mods. Show me one... just ONE example of a Vette making that much horsepower for $10,000. Obviously, there are more than just rotary enthusiasts here. List the exact setup that will get you 1200 rwhp on pump gas for $10,000.

I'm laughing my *** off right now because I simply added up JUST the cost of the FORGED ENGINE and the FUEL SYSTEM you need to accomplish it HAHAHAHA

 

Actually unlike most here, I have run a boosted LS'x' and spent many years lounging the forums with all the other FI vette guys. Thats why I posed the question about the lift. Most of the guys running in the 800-1400HP range dont exceed .620 lift. The kind turbo cam I'm used to seeing is something like 238/242 .610/.620 115.
The only cars I've ever heard of running over .700 lift are full blown drag cars with one off heads and valve train geometry with 1/2" pushrods Far from a daily driven streetable build. If he is going to build a monster like that I"m all the more excited about this project! But he mentioned he expected this car to be streetable so I actually thought that lift number might have been a typo or something


I can attest to the previous posters comments about the vette drivetrain. I still have random destroyed vette drivetrain components all over the place in my garage I do miss that car...but dont really miss it looking this this every weekend:

 

I've spent about 5 minutes trying to come up with something to say about this, and I'm still drawing a blank. I personally don't think it could ever be worth the time, effort, and cost. But it's not my car and I have to tip my cap to someone who is willing to go for broke like that.

 

Looks pretty good so far, I wish I had the time & $$$ to do a project like that!
Good luck with the build!

 

People like him do these kind of setups/swaps because he can and you cannot. He is the kind of guy who when people say you cannot he can and does it. Leaves the rest of people fapping on their keyboards.

Props and cant wait to see your intake manifold

 

Looked like a nice Vette, and it's cool you used to hammer on it yourself.

Then you also know the level of modications it takes to strengthen ANY drivetrain of ANY production car to withstand 1000hp+. I come from the GTO world where we have to invest in expensive Kaaz rear ends, one-piece driveshafts, hardened halfshafts, built T56's, etc., so we also know the pain.

Point is, the comments from simplephp "just buy a Corvette" are superfluous. It will cost a **** ton of money to get ANY car to 1200hp and streetable, so any argument about cost is ridiculous. It's going to be expensive, so I'm saying that starting with an RX8 doesn't matter once you reach this level. Every damn thing is going to be replaced, strengthened or upgraded anyway, so the investment is going to be huge no matter what.

I couldn't make the same argument if all he was doing was swapping in a stock 350hp LS1. Then the costs vs. results don't make as much sense. I think this project is cool, and I just don't get the negative comments.