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Its frustrating, because I spent so much time trying to make this a relatively easy drop in swap, yet here I am basically doing all the work anyway. Hopefully my work can pay off for some others like yourself.
My brother is low-key working with a guy who owns a cnc shop - long story short is we are trying to develop bolt on parts to ease others into the swap. Things like reusing the stock Rx7 ac bracket for the Rx8 compressor, D585 ignition coils that mount to that bracket, and a top mounted oil filter pedestal for easier oil changes. I don't know how long that will take, as the guy pretty much has his machines running full time on actually company parts. The car stuff is just a side project so no promises. If that ever gets going, I'll drop a link. Sucks for me as I have to wait to get pretty parts.
But yes I'm still very interested in the project - my recent move has taken a lot of time and planning. I took my final compression numbers about a week ago meaning I'm gearing up to start the brute force soon.
Anyone have any tips for what parts of the wiring harness can be eliminated? Maybe also what resistor packs, etc can be removed?
Would be nice if someone made a good and readily avail kit that only needs the rew keg and turbo. Seems like the kits made to go ls and jz are readily available but nothing turn key for rew
Get on with the swap man I'm finishing up mine.. Check out Nicon-Rotary.com I have all of their REW swap parts and so far they work perfectly and are half the price shipped from Russia than the American counter parts.. I eliminated all the un-necessary pig tails from the oem Rx8 engine harness and tucked the wires away in case I need any digital inputs in the future I can tap into them, altho the oem harness is very short and with a top mount Turbo the wires run real close to heat I might have to lenghten them with another oem harness. I wish someone had made an AC bracket already I'm still interested in one but I made my own for now, also to mount the alternator since I really want to run an Electric Water Pump and have eliminated the Tstat / mechanical water pump housing.
Last edited by VICEdOUT; 11-28-2018 at 03:49 AM.
Reason: Pics
Thanks for posting VICEdOUT. I have been wanting to hear a review on the Nicon rotary swap parts. I have the engine swap mount and I've heard it sets the engine a little lower than desirable. Did you have this experience? I'm glad I'm sticking with the rx8 front cover to eliminate all the custom bracket fabrication.
You don't really need any ac bracket (using the rx8 front cover), the two front bolts are more than enough to keep the compressor tight against the block. You just have to shave a little bit of metal off of the front iron. Been running it like this for a few years and thousands of miles and never has an issue.
Dang calling me out. Its crazy that its been an entire year... I'm honestly surprised anyone even looks here tbh. Should I be flattered or mortified?
Still excited about it and I've been poking at it - really slow going as life just takes over. Overtime, landscaping, blah blah blah the normal excuses.
- Got the surge tank in and ordered fittings to make lines. Some of the fittings are delayed until mid July...
- Pulled a fuel return line beneath the car.
- Mocked up the v-mount a few times, which should have been much more straight forward. My brother and I probably could have made a better unit honestly, but I waited a few years for it so moving with it.
- Cut hood and installed vent for v-mount heat extraction.
- Had to buy S1 oil cooler mounts to fit the Rx8Performance coolers. Turns out the rubber bushings on those brackets let the coolers flap around like limp noodles. Having some bushings CNC'ed for a solid mount.
- Had/having some block off ports, ignition bracket, oil filter pedestal relocate, and filter mount CNC'ed as well.
- Started tapping the turbo manifold because OFC the threads were not tapped completed. Broke my tap handle, so I ordered a nice ratcheting unit and finished tapping.
- Like a huge nincompoop, forgot the old pilot bearing wasnt removed, smashed another one in there, failed at cutting it out. Will be tearing down the motor, ditching that REW eshaft and using the Rx8 eshaft instead now.
- Got a 60 gallon air compressor. While I'm at it, I'm going to buy new irons and port once more as I don't fully trust the wear.
- Started redoing the brakes, reman'ed calipers, SS lines, rotors. Turned into a hub replacement as well (nasty and rusty). That turned into a rear wheel bearing replacement - retaining ring is rusty in there good, which blows. Still going at this one.
- Mildly prepping for powder coating and ceramic coating some items.
- Tore down Rx8 motor. It actually doesnt have significant wear except for one rotor housing which somehow got a ton of chatter. That was the source of the slightly low compression. The carbon buildup was intense.
I swear, EVERY single part seems to require some special design or part to install. I wonder how much shipping I have paid for over the life of this car.
Questions:
Read a few conflicting things from Rx7 posts. Is a coolant overflow tank needed?
REW oil pressure regulator seems to produce close to the rx8s psi, ok to reuse?
just being my usual nosey, pesky self 😆 but also honestly was wondering what ever happened on your build 😃
but on the oil cooler mounts, they’re intended to keep it isolated from from vibration and force shocks. It might seem loose and sloppy with just the cooler bolted on, but once the hoses are installed and secured a lot of that sloppiness goes away or is not as obvious. You might rethink solid mounting them because there won’t be any give if the bumper bumps into a parking curb, rubs on a steep driveway, etc.
Not a problem - keeps me honest and motivated.
That's a good point, the lines are thick SS so maybe I will fully connect and mount the oil thermostat to see what kind of flex the coolers ultimately give. Appreciate the insight.
11-27-2018, 04:58 PM
