Motor Swap Ls1
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Marietta,Ga
The LS1 powered 3rd gen we set up w/a/c and p/s weighed 2850 with a full tank of gas and corner weighted better than our ITS car ever dreamed of with a perfect 50/50 weight split and very nice cross weights. My LS1 powered 2nd gen weighs in at 2766 with a 51/49 split and as is the usual with a 2nd gen, the LF corner is a little heavy. It works out ok since most of the track days I am carrying a passenger.
Did I mention that it is making 315 lb/ft rwtq @2000 rpm? Redlines at 6500 and is making 388 lb/ft rwtq at 5000 rpm and 392 rwhp at 6000 rpm. As many Mazdas as I have owned I gotta say if anything this one has more "soul" than any of them with the exception of my RX2 and 3 which were both killers. Oh and did I mention it passes Georgia smog too?
I had a look at my RX8 while I had the last LS1 sitting on the stand and I could not visualize it being a good fit as far as yielding a good balanced package. I like my 8 for what it is and continue to feel that it is the best rotary powered auto that Mazda has ever produced and am totally stoked every time I drive it. I really don't think a LS1 swap in the 8 would be a good road race car compare to the 2nd and 3rd gen but I have not seen it or driven one to say that with any credibility.
Did I mention that it is making 315 lb/ft rwtq @2000 rpm? Redlines at 6500 and is making 388 lb/ft rwtq at 5000 rpm and 392 rwhp at 6000 rpm. As many Mazdas as I have owned I gotta say if anything this one has more "soul" than any of them with the exception of my RX2 and 3 which were both killers. Oh and did I mention it passes Georgia smog too?
I had a look at my RX8 while I had the last LS1 sitting on the stand and I could not visualize it being a good fit as far as yielding a good balanced package. I like my 8 for what it is and continue to feel that it is the best rotary powered auto that Mazda has ever produced and am totally stoked every time I drive it. I really don't think a LS1 swap in the 8 would be a good road race car compare to the 2nd and 3rd gen but I have not seen it or driven one to say that with any credibility.
Originally Posted by anewconvert
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
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
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hmm this has recently crossed my mind a few times... few questions..
with all the extra hp and tq wouldnt this mean more wheelhop (how would you go about keeping the wheels down)
would you still be able to keep the 8 style spedometer(just recaliber it?) or will you have to swap the whole thing out
what parts do oyu need? ls1 ls1 tranny and ls1 ecu?
with all the extra hp and tq wouldnt this mean more wheelhop (how would you go about keeping the wheels down)
would you still be able to keep the 8 style spedometer(just recaliber it?) or will you have to swap the whole thing out
what parts do oyu need? ls1 ls1 tranny and ls1 ecu?
What typically happens is that the engine and chassis controls are split between two different PCMs and the LS-1 ECU and the RX-8 PCM would work in tandem. The wheelhop issue is a matter of selecting the proper swaybars and springs to control torque/axle windup and, in some cases, maybe even a solid axle swap. If I were to get serious about such engine swaps myself, I'd be hard pressed not to install an entirely new rear suspension that would include a solid axle rear.
personally I don't see any difference of doing this or doing a 3-rotor. Even if it is a rotary it didn't come that way from the factory and the 3-r is probably a harder, more expensive swap. I bet it weighs more too and you'll have to have a turbo and all that goes with it to get an equivalent oomph factor. If you want to do an engine swap and aren't hampered by "must be same manufacturer" rules then this one makes sense to me.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by 703RX8
I am gonna put the LS1 in the RX-8!!! I will post pics and updates asap guys! It's unique!
Just wondering, why not an LS2? I'm not an engine swap expert by any means, but the "free" extra 50hp and torque with no appreciable change in weight, along with a fly-by-wire throttle, would be the way to go...
If you plan to mod it, there are those that still think the LS1's aftermarket and tuning selection is much better than the LS2's. This is absolutely no longer the case - we have a multitude of turbo, twin turbo, and supercharger options. All of the major LSx tuning software manufacturers, such as HP Tuners, EFILive, have LS2 products.
Regardless of whether you go LS2 or LS1, best of luck on your project.
always filling [the c]up
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From: Alice, Texas
Originally Posted by LabDad
...Pull the rotary and put a V8 in there and it is still an RX8.
I'm not saying to stop this project, it'd be cool to see/hear. But i'm just not really feeling that quote.
-Cody
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Originally Posted by CohdeyTakahashi
I seriously doubt it. What does the 'R' stand for in RX-8. You can call it an 'RX-8' but it's not really an rx8 with a v8. If v8's were that good, don't you think more import manufacturers would mass produce them? They're all about lightweight, or at least to me, and a Rotary engine is rather light. THIS IS MY OPINION. I mean, unless you're thinking rx-'8' and the '8' being the v'8' but please, an rx-8 isn't one without it's original engine. I know there are many people on here would agree with me.
I'm not saying to stop this project, it'd be cool to see/hear. But i'm just not really feeling that quote.
-Cody
I'm not saying to stop this project, it'd be cool to see/hear. But i'm just not really feeling that quote.
-Cody
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Joined: Nov 2006
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YaXMaN
YaXMaN,
Hey man! Yeah I have was in the muscle car scene and still am! They did a motor swap on the Soltice which they should have done instead of putting in that crappy motor that Pontiac used in the Soltice.. It's on YOUTUBE somewehre and it sounds badass!!! That's the way it should be!!
As far as my motor swap project, I am gonna off course mod the LS1 or either LS2 whicher ever motor I get and get all the goodies like Heads, Cam, Intake and etc before it goes in the RX-8!!! Upgrading an LS1 motor you can easily get over 400hp!!!
My friends 98 Z28 made over 500hp with only head, cams, intake!!!
My car will be sent down south to HINSON SUPER CARS... I talked to Brian Hinson already and told him I wanna be the 1st RX8 to this mod!
It will be awesome! I will post pics and updates as soon as the project begins!!! Right now I am planing my RX-8 and me to get down to Alambama to get the RX-8 down there to his shop!
Everything will look the same on my car when it is done. The only difference is that it will have an LS1 or 2 motor in it.....
--"ACE"--
Hey man! Yeah I have was in the muscle car scene and still am! They did a motor swap on the Soltice which they should have done instead of putting in that crappy motor that Pontiac used in the Soltice.. It's on YOUTUBE somewehre and it sounds badass!!! That's the way it should be!!
As far as my motor swap project, I am gonna off course mod the LS1 or either LS2 whicher ever motor I get and get all the goodies like Heads, Cam, Intake and etc before it goes in the RX-8!!! Upgrading an LS1 motor you can easily get over 400hp!!!
My friends 98 Z28 made over 500hp with only head, cams, intake!!!
My car will be sent down south to HINSON SUPER CARS... I talked to Brian Hinson already and told him I wanna be the 1st RX8 to this mod!
It will be awesome! I will post pics and updates as soon as the project begins!!! Right now I am planing my RX-8 and me to get down to Alambama to get the RX-8 down there to his shop!
Everything will look the same on my car when it is done. The only difference is that it will have an LS1 or 2 motor in it.....
--"ACE"--
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Ls1 Sawp
YaXMaN,
Hey man! Yeah I have was in the muscle car scene and still am! They did a motor swap on the Soltice which they should have done instead of putting in that crappy motor that Pontiac used in the Soltice.. It's on YOUTUBE somewehre and it sounds badass!!! That's the way it should be!!
As far as my motor swap project, I am gonna off course mod the LS1 or either LS2 whicher ever motor I get and get all the goodies like Heads, Cam, Intake and etc before it goes in the RX-8!!! Upgrading an LS1 motor you can easily get over 400hp!!!
My friends 98 Z28 made over 500hp with only head, cams, intake!!!
My car will be sent down south to HINSON SUPER CARS... I talked to Brian Hinson already and told him I wanna be the 1st RX8 to this mod!
It will be awesome! I will post pics and updates as soon as the project begins!!! Right now I am planing my RX-8 and me to get down to Alambama to get the RX-8 down there to his shop!
Everything will look the same on my car when it is done. The only difference is that it will have an LS1 or 2 motor in it.....
--"ACE"--
Hey man! Yeah I have was in the muscle car scene and still am! They did a motor swap on the Soltice which they should have done instead of putting in that crappy motor that Pontiac used in the Soltice.. It's on YOUTUBE somewehre and it sounds badass!!! That's the way it should be!!
As far as my motor swap project, I am gonna off course mod the LS1 or either LS2 whicher ever motor I get and get all the goodies like Heads, Cam, Intake and etc before it goes in the RX-8!!! Upgrading an LS1 motor you can easily get over 400hp!!!
My friends 98 Z28 made over 500hp with only head, cams, intake!!!
My car will be sent down south to HINSON SUPER CARS... I talked to Brian Hinson already and told him I wanna be the 1st RX8 to this mod!
It will be awesome! I will post pics and updates as soon as the project begins!!! Right now I am planing my RX-8 and me to get down to Alambama to get the RX-8 down there to his shop!
Everything will look the same on my car when it is done. The only difference is that it will have an LS1 or 2 motor in it.....
--"ACE"--
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13
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Registered User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13
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