Motor Swap Ls1
 

Sorry all but it must be done. I was at the races the other day and there was an RX7 and RX8 both guys are friends and they swapped out the rotory for small block LS1 motors, they said its not to expensive to do both have a twin turbo set up and both sound like rotory. It was crazy. When the guys at the track pulled up next to them they would laugh thinking that the little Mazda was gonna lose. Yeah not really even going down the track they both sound like a Mazda. I got to go on a ride a long and I was impressed. I am now talking to them and I think its time to get the LS1 put in mine and make mine a sleeper just like those guys. Both are running upward of 725whp and they just had to do a few mods to get the power to stick but it was a very stable ride going down the track. I love my rotory but damn I was never more excited for a V8 in a small light car. Even the exhaust was rather quiet. All I got to say is WOW

This thought has been wracking my brain for about 6 months now... Id love to do it but Id hate to take away my 8's soul.
If you do it though, GL, post pix, and enjoy!

I'd like to do it also but I dont really see it costing any less this 15k$ unless you got some real good hook up's on a motor,tranny and pcm.

Where did they get it done? Were their OEM gauges still working, etc? I'm VERY interested in something like that. :)

Get Pics and DETAILS for us, man...c'mon...stop teasing! :)

yeah please take a ton of picture of their set up next time you see them. 725whp sounds a little high but i have no idea about those engines.

you really need to meet up with those guys again and see how much info about power price and pics. just get as much as you can.

if this car werent so new i bet you would see more swaps.

er.. is there enough room under the hood for an LS1... AND a TT setup.. ?

with our small engine people are still having a hard time throwing in one turbo, let a lone a TT... and im pretty certain an LS1 is a lot bigger then a rotary?

As soon as I meet up with them again I will try to get more info from them. I do know that the gauges worked like normal, as for the TT there was one under the hood and another one called an STS turbo. Its mounted in the back near the exhaust. A really weird set up but hey they both got it to work. I know they both own a customizing shop in San Bernadino or Riverside something like that. But trust me fellow 8 owners, as soon as I get the info next week or so I will post it.

put a STS turbo kit in it if your worried about underhood space...

Please, keep the soul of the RX and avoid the engine swap. If you must have a sleeper drag car, why not build up a S13?

A buddy of mine did his LS1 swap for just under 6 grand...that was with the motor, tranny and all the little things included. He got most of his parts through Hinson.

What's Hinson? Got pics, I8U? :) More info?? GREAT Price, IMO.

I love the 8 dont get me wrong. But the lack of power is something I dislike. I looked into swapping for another rotory but it seems more expensive.

funny you should mention that my neighbor just removed with 360hp SR20DET motor from his S13 and put in a LS1 that only with a tune and a air filter is pumping out 405 hp with tons of torque. He said he was sick of waiting fro the boost to kick on. Car is really badass now, he just fabbed the motor mounts and used the corvette computer and wiring. Its odd seeing a S13 that sounds like a v8 dragster.

Just a question on the choice of engine. Since HP/torque seem to be the main reasons for the swap, why not just go all out with an LS6 or LS2?

I am not sure why they did not to be honest, maybe it was a matter of it fitting. I know both are small blocks. I just want to know what they did to get the exhaust to sound like its still an 8 and rx7

I'm pretty sure the LS6 is a 5.7L like the LS1, and the LS2 is a 6L. As I understand, both of those will make more HP and torque so why would you choose the LS1 over the others once you're already doing the swap?

LS1s are more readily available and are much less expensive than the others. It is also capable of putting out some serious power.

an ls1 can put down ls2 and ls6 numbers cheap, cheaper than buying an ls2 or 6.

Don't worrie about stock power of a V8. Most of them have a huge amount of after market support. It is also very easy to get huge numbers out of them.

I just don't get it, why buy a rotary to swap out the rotary for a V8? If you were after a V8 drag car, there are plenty of V8 cars out there. First of all, it's much cheaper and easier to buy a car with a small block. Second, the rotary is such an unique engine and you want to go and drop in a small block that every man and his brother has? I just don't see the point...

blah blah blah we have heard it a million times and i have even said it myself a few times but some need to just swap it. The fact of the matter is that the 8 is an awsome car but its a bit underpowered where as alot of american cars suck but have alot of power. Its the best of both worlds. Id like to see it done. Im not someone who will likely do it myself but someone will and ill bet its cool. Its another alterative to FI. Not to mention the huge aftermarket for even more power.

ill in support of someone else trying this out. but for me the rotary is the balance of this car, without it its just not the same feeling

There goes the 50/50 balance of the car. Talk about major understeer.

lol, talk about generalized theory misapplied ....

Marietta8 has an RX-7 with an LS1, sounds like a real hoot at the track :)

really know what your talking about huh?


In an FD the LS1 weighs 40lbs more than the 13-REW with associated TT hardware.

Yes, you are going to have to rebalance the car, but less than 50/50 does not mean understeer. It means rebalancing the suspension and removing weight from the engine compartment or moving it rearward. Further a LOT of the weight difference between the LS1 and 13b-rew was the fact taht the T56 is heavier than the Fd tranny. But since it is way behind the front axle it was greatly offset. A lot of FD owners have done the swap and love it. Not for me personally, but whatever floats your boat.


BC