RX8 automatic swap to manuel
 

Hello, I am new to RX8 forums... but I have a few questions about my car. Alright to start off I bought a flooded RX8 (by flooded i mean submerged...) So I went threw the car and cleaned everything drained all fluids, flushed the tranny, cleaned all connectors and moduels. I got the car to run, drove it up the road and then started loosing accessories... started with the horn, then it wouldnt start, then the windows wouldnt roll up, followed by no dash lights (as if the key wasnt on) All assessories that require a key would not work... This car was a 2004 4speed automatic... So I found a totaled 2004 6 speed car, I am aware that there are some differences in the engine (the flood engine runs great and is low low miles compaired to the parts car I bought) I was told the parts car ran when I bought it... I am having some problems getting it to start though, seems like its flooded. But my main question is this... What is the differences between the engines and is there ANY way to change the engine from a automatic car to accomidate a 6 speed transmission... Also... if I do this will I still get the extra power that the 6 speed has. I know that the computers and harnesses are different, I am prepaired to change basically everything on the 2 cars. But I would really like to keep the low mileage engine. It would not bother me to run the 90k mile engine, but if I have my choice, changing it would be best. Any insight into what the differences are and what I must do to change them over would be GREATLY appreshiated.

Thanks

It's a lot of work... enough said.

And trust me, it'll be a pain in the arse.

Trade it in

RotaryResurrection did the swap and here is his thread about the process.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-specific-performance-mods-97/mt-swap-151684/

The main thing I need to know is what is the difference between the engine in the automatic and the manuel? I just need to know if I can use the engine from my automatic with the manuel transmission, I have both engines so I will have the parts nessasary to do the swap, but I was told that the engines are different... The reason I am not trading it in to get another car is b.c I have $2500 dollars in a car with a perfect body... and a parts car that is totalled but all engine and electronics are complete...

You mean like this Manuel?

http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/h...nuelUribe1.jpg

How totaled is the 6-speed you got?
If the engine, PCM, tranny, and other accessories are OK... you would have to transfer all that into your AT.
Besides those, you'll also need to transfer the steering/ignition and ABS module since the PCM was swapped (hopefully you have the key too).
And lets not forget the steering wheel (get rid of those paddles) and the dash itself (different redline and such).
I'm sure there are more items to consider... this is just what I thought of first.

I have everything in the car, I am leaving the paddles though... was thinking of putting a 75 shot on it and using them for that... But yea only thing gone from the car is rack and pinion... I just dont understand the difference between a 13B renesis engine in a automatic and the 13B renesis engine in the manuel? That is my only delima, what internals in the engine are different...

Well to start with, not only are the injectors different, but the 6-port engine has an auxiliary port or VFAD.
The auxiliary port and VFAD is controlled by the PCM... which is another reason why you need the MT's PCM.
Then... with the different PCM comes the ignition, ABS module, etc......

I would like to do as you said... transfer everything from the totaled car to mine... with the exception of the engine... the engine in the good car has 1500 miles on it... was replaced under warranty... so i would really rather convert it with the original engine...

But the engine is your "weak link" being a 4-port unless you only want to do the conversion to have a manual... which then you'll have to read through the link pdxhak posted above.
From your original post, you stated that you wanted the extra power the 6-speed gets... which is from the engine.

Thanks, thats what I needed to know, I was not aware that there was a difference in the ports... Another question... What is considered to be high milage for these engines and what would it cost to rebuild while I have the engine out?

RotaryResurrection and BHR (Charles R Hill) do engine rebuilds... might want to give them a PM and ask for pricing.

Alright, I'm planning on doing the rebuild byself to gain more knowlege as to the interenals and how they work on the rotory engine (im 18 and just graduated... I have nothing better to do haha...) but yea... when you do a rebuild on a rotory engine... what all would you consider you would have to replace to say its a rebuild/fresh engine?

^^:scratchhe

For one... a rebuild kit such as this:
http://www.atkinsrotary.com/store/pr...cat=629&page=1
Obviously, more can be involved if you find damage to the rotor our housing.

And make sure you have the Engine Manual... this is a must if you don't know what you're doing.

Stay in school kids.

Haha yea im goin to college in the fall... just a summer project lol

how do you swap manuel ?

where are you located? theres plenty of people on the fourms that would help out

I was reading this but then my brain turned off.

You have a 2004 4-port Auto which you dropped in a lake or something but the engine runs. Then you have a 2004 6-port mt which is totaled and doesn't want to start. Between the 2, you want to make a working vehicle.

First, I'd get rid of the flooded Auto either as parts or as a salvaged vehicle. If it's got gremlins in the wiring already, it's never going to work right. Since the engine runs well, you should be able to get something for that. Maybe it'll be enough to pay for rebuilding the 6-port. Usually, you could start the process of transfering the MT drive train to the auto chassis if you had totalled an MT and found a cheap auto roller. However, your auto chassis has flood damage. Things like the chassis wiring harness, cabin lights, obscure sensors may corrode and fail at any time. Thus, a flaky car with a new drivetrain is still going to be flaky. What's wrong with the MT? Is it just body work? Is the frame straight? An Auto/MT conversion is probably an order of magnitude more difficult than an engine rebuild. It's just a much more obscure project and when something doesn't start, there are very few people to ask. You get into things like coding keys, security features, engine sensors, etc.

Well, I did a compression check on the MT 6 port engine... it was showing 75 in one cylinder... and 85 in the other... my manuel says I should be a minimum of 98 psi and normal should be 120. I went threw all the wiring and cleaned EVERY connector in the car. I am planning on changing every piece of electronic from the MT car into my AT car. I am going to tear both engines down, and use the rotor housings and rotors from the AT to build back the MT engine due to it being a 6 port and having more hp. Keep in mine I have ZERO rotary engine experience... but what the hell haha gotta start somewhere... it seems simple enough. The car tryed to start... was getting fire... would backfire and spudder around... but the conclusion I came to was that it was lacking compression to the point that it just simply wouldnt run. So im gonna tear it down clean it up and basically do a rebuild using my low milage parts. The totalled car is not worth rebuilding... just bought to be a parts car. I am planning on having the car complete within 3 weeks... I have a car meet that I need it finished for... I have a 2004 SLK 230 mercedes... but the rx8 should be a little faster with the parts I already have for it and the parts I plan to add to it...

Pictures or it's not happeneing