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?

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.

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.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...789d3f9d10.png

Ls swap are popular because the amount of support there is. Plus most LS owners are generally friendly.

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.

:patriot: :patriot:​​​​​​​ :patriot: ​​​​​​​:patriot: ​​​​​​​:patriot: ​​​​​​​:patriot: ​​​​​​​:patriot:​​​​​​​ :patriot:

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.

Replacing a Renesis with a piston engine is hardly what I'd call a "cool engine swap".

Least of all a 4G63...

Replace it with a turbine or an aircraft radial engine and then we'll have "cool".

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.

I mean, a 9 cylinder rotary swap out of a Fokker Dr.1 would do the trick. You know, for the rotary purists.

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

I didn't say it wasn't a good engine. It's just not very cool.

everyone know W17 iz da bes swap

ya digz mane?