Notices
Non-Rotary Swaps Engine Swap Forum

Why are all the cool engine swaps performed outside of the U.S.?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 08-17-2018, 01:25 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Blue2010R3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Why are all the cool engine swaps performed outside of the U.S.?

It's so bizarre that all the cool RX-8 engine swaps appear to be performed by shops outside of America.

All the K20/K24 swaps appear to be in Poland and Czech Republic. (https://www.instagram.com/mazda_rx8k20k/?hl=en, https://www.engineswapdepot.com/?p=3300, Projekty: Mazda RX-8 K20Turbo - 380KM 370Nm - Mickey Garage)

There is a shop in Malaysia (https://www.facebook.com/ylcarconversion/) that has done it all -- SR20DET, 3UZ-FE, 1JZ/2JZ, etc.

4G63s in Russia:

Is it something about the costs of labor here, or emissions regulations?
Old 08-17-2018, 01:34 PM
  #2  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Loki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 7,711
Received 952 Likes on 830 Posts
Because rebuilds are readily available and the cars are cheap enough to just replace, rather than repair?

US car prices as % of annual salary are hilariously low compared to the rest of the world.

Also there a heck of a lot more V8's here than the rest of the world. So the variety of swaps is kinda limited by the obvious choice.

Last edited by Loki; 08-17-2018 at 01:45 PM.
Old 08-17-2018, 02:09 PM
  #3  
Smoking turbo yay
 
UnknownJinX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,104
Received 665 Likes on 591 Posts
Yeah, why use 4/6 pots when you can get and put in V8s easily?

They are not unique, but who cares when you have 400 ftlb of torque with 300 of that available at idle?

I would not consider a piston swap on my RX-8, but if I hypothetically do, you bet it's gonna be an LS.


Last edited by UnknownJinX; 08-17-2018 at 02:12 PM.
Old 08-18-2018, 11:43 AM
  #4  
Registered
 
smotch789's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ls swap are popular because the amount of support there is. Plus most LS owners are generally friendly.
Old 08-19-2018, 09:17 AM
  #5  
Registered
 
strokercharged95gt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Tampa
Posts: 1,023
Received 200 Likes on 156 Posts
Originally Posted by Loki
US car prices as % of annual salary are hilariously low compared to the rest of the world.
Ain't that the truth. I saw a car show where it cost a guy 60k in import fee's to bring a 500 cubic inch motored car into Russia due to restrictions on engine size.

Many people in European countries pay upwards of 50-60% in income taxes, have strenuous car inspections, pay for gas by the liter (taxes again), and have high car registration fee's.

I love the fact that I can own 5 cars, have no inspections, I pay like $40/each per year on registration fee's, gas is relatively cheap, and cops don't care about modifications (here in FL at least).

The only criticism is the damn 25 year import rule.

​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Last edited by strokercharged95gt; 08-19-2018 at 09:20 AM.
Old 09-24-2018, 03:39 PM
  #6  
New Member
 
ColdSlide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by smotch789
Ls swap are popular because the amount of support there is. Plus most LS owners are generally friendly.
This x100
I have been baffled with how kind and generous LS people are after coming from the import scene. I bought a transmission off of a guy and we ended up bullshitting for 2 hours afterwards in his garage. He GAVE me the bellhousing and flywheel I needed for my swap. I've never experienced anything like that from import tuners. LS people so far are super chill and open to talking about what they've done, VS the import scene where it seems everything is secret and has a cost.

Last edited by ColdSlide; 09-27-2018 at 03:18 PM.
Old 09-25-2018, 12:16 PM
  #7  
Registered
 
New Yorker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,319
Received 58 Likes on 51 Posts
Replacing a Renesis with a piston engine is hardly what I'd call a "cool engine swap".
Old 09-25-2018, 01:32 PM
  #8  
What am I doing here?
 
NotAPreppie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
Posts: 3,606
Received 649 Likes on 510 Posts
Least of all a 4G63...

Replace it with a turbine or an aircraft radial engine and then we'll have "cool".
Old 09-25-2018, 01:48 PM
  #9  
Smoking turbo yay
 
UnknownJinX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,104
Received 665 Likes on 591 Posts
I mean, if it's not "cool" but it at least goes fast, then I see a point.

A 4 pot, NA or FI(unless you are rediculous about it), isn't fast and is therefore pointless.

An I4 is also unrefined as hell in terms of smoothness compared to a rotary.
Old 09-25-2018, 11:07 PM
  #10  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Loki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 7,711
Received 952 Likes on 830 Posts
Originally Posted by NotAPreppie
Least of all a 4G63...

Replace it with a turbine or an aircraft radial engine and then we'll have "cool".
I mean, a 9 cylinder rotary swap out of a Fokker Dr.1 would do the trick. You know, for the rotary purists.
Old 09-26-2018, 09:31 AM
  #11  
Registered
 
chavelo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 34
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by NotAPreppie
Least of all a 4G63...

Replace it with a turbine or an aircraft radial engine and then we'll have "cool".
Why not a 4g63, balance will be very close, easy to modify, gobs of aftermarket support, even the stock rear could be kept for a while, all the power your pocket will handle.
If you are aware of any particular reason this engine would be a bad choice, please let us know facts, as there are a few members interested in such a swap.
Thanks
Old 09-26-2018, 11:23 AM
  #12  
What am I doing here?
 
NotAPreppie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
Posts: 3,606
Received 649 Likes on 510 Posts
I didn't say it wasn't a good engine. It's just not very cool.
Old 09-26-2018, 11:26 AM
  #13  
Smoking turbo yay
 
UnknownJinX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,104
Received 665 Likes on 591 Posts
everyone know W17 iz da bes swap

ya digz mane?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ThatMazdaGuy
New Member Forum
6
06-27-2023 04:12 PM
umernaeem217
New Member Forum
2
05-01-2017 08:11 AM
boratcomeusa
New Member Forum
1
05-16-2015 06:10 PM
astevens26
Series I Major Horsepower Upgrades
25
09-14-2009 02:41 PM
drayton18t
Series I Tech Garage
5
02-06-2006 08:33 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Why are all the cool engine swaps performed outside of the U.S.?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:16 PM.