installing a s5 turboII in an '04 rx8
 

Ok guys, i know this topic has been brought up many times before but im gonna go there again. We have an '04 rx8 with blown apex seals so we're dropping in a turboII engine. We will post pics along the way. The parts list so far is as follows:

JDM s5 turboII engine out of an '89 rx7
Garrett t3/to4e turbo with manifold
custom downpipe
Apex'i Power FC ecu with Datalogit
jumper harness for Power FC to run turboII
blacked out fmic with piping (shhhh, its a secret)
custom motor mounts (fab'd by me)
aluminum foot pedal for throttle
oil temp, oil press., water temp, boost, and air to fuel gauges

The 8's stock ecu will remain in the car to continue to run certain functions such as the electronic steering system and a few other things. We will be selling parts off the 8 as we go so if anybody needs anything, just ask!

We are also open to suggestions or info if anybody has any but if you're gonna be a jerk or a**hole about it, dont bother. Also, we dont wanna hear how about much better you think the renesis is, all rotaries are tempermental in their own way. We decided on the turboII due to ease of support, parts availability, and horsepower potential.

Why a Turbo II motor? And are you in San Antonio?


Edit: ok.

Subscribing and wishing you luck. PLEASE do update as you move forward, I love seeing build threads and unfortunately I don't think there are any active ones right now.

So will you be using the RX-8 trans, oil coolers, fans, etc?

good luck man!

SA is the place to be for help.....lmao

You might want to reconsider your ecu tuning solution....

Yes we are in S.A...We're going with the turbo II for a couple reasons: 1. found a GREAT deal on the engine, low miles and in great shape. 2. with the turbo II you dont have to cut subframe, with the fd twin turbo, you do. 3. We know people that know the turbo II inside and out. 4. older motor = less electronics to try to figure out

As far as tuning i did my research on motech, rtech, haltech, and the power fc. It ended up being a tie between Haltech and the Power fc but went with the Power fc due to the fact that the Haltech has to be completely programmed instead of making adjustments like with the Power fc.

Cool, do you guys have a shop or is this a garage project? I'd like to check it out if possible and assist if needed.

+1 on this...

No shop, we're doing it outta the garage at the house. Noribilt will be doing the tuning when its all done but that's it. Any help from anybody that knows these cars would be great. We don't know much about rotaries but we're very experienced mechanics and I'm a fabricator/welder so it should be interesting to say the least lol

I seem to bump into the norbuilt guys often. Who there is doing your tuning? Chris?

Cool.

Noribuilt did some fab work for me on my turbo kit and has welded a few bungs for me, etc. I didn't realize he was experienced tuning rotaries. Our local crew is pretty tight and the experience between us all is up there. We have done a couple of engine rebuilds (shady, houstonrx8er), I have a built engine and custom turbo setup, and Hoss-05 has fresh bridgeport Renesis and custom turbo kit going in over the next couple of weekends at my place. In addition to that we have done just about everything else on and RX-8 you can think of.

Have we met? I had a guy contact me that I once bought something from on craigslist about helping with a potential engine replacement/swap but I never heard back from him so I figured he wasn't serious about it so I never followed up with him. We try and help those in the local rotary community who are willing to lend a hand when possible and contribute to the group. I'd be glad to help if possible.

Good luck with the build man, I hope it's goes well.

Was it a MT or AT? Need AT blue injectors.

Not too sure on who is gonna do the tuning. I was told that Noribilt is pretty good with rotaries by a guy named Lee, he's Tito's right hand man from Alamo Rotary.

That would probably be me lol, was it that sweet lil oil scavenge pump? We're more than happy to accept any and all help and would be happy to return the favor. We already have everything disconnected from the engine and have the upper inatke manifod removed. We're gonna start unbolting the tranny tomorrow and pull the engine.

I'm not sure if it's the same guy but the last time I was there, there was an Asian guy there working on a ricey turbo Prelude on the dyno and he made a comment about Hoss-05's car (which is beautiful BTW) while he was parking not knowing that I too owned an 8. He said, "I hate those damn things". I forget what I said to him but it wasn't nice :lol:. I wouldn't want someone who hates RX-8's working on mine. I hope that wasn't Lee. I'll ask Tito if its the same guy.

:lol: yeah that was you. You drive a WRX right? That was a sweet little pump but it's on a shelf now that my turbo was upgraded correctly.

Let me know, I'd like to come by and check it out.

We live on the southwest side of town near Lackland A.F.B.. If anybody would be interested in checking out the build just pm me with your phone number and i can give you an address. We will have a nice long tube header from Boost Brothers as well as a few other aftermarket items for sale here soon.

Hmmm It'll be interesting for sure. I know the 7 guys have some issues with the power FC. Not sure what those issues were though... Regardless I suck at tuning, I don't even want to try to think about it. Give me a wrench and some PB blaster and I'm your man!

Only guys I know that did several t2 swaps in NA FC's swore up and down by haltech that's the only reason I brought it up.

I work right next to old Kelly AFB so not to far away, whats your schedule like I'd love to come check it out

Hmmmmm, i may search and see if I can find out what those problems with the power fc were. Maybe its something we can take care of or prevent before we get tuned.

As far as our schedule, tomorrow we will be on it from about 10 a.m. til whenever we get tired, other than that we will go day by day. Tonight we managed to get everything but the motor mounts unbolted so we should be pulling the renesis out around noon.

cool, I will shot you a PM and I need some miles anyway....I have my mother and grandmother in-law visiting so "Get me out of the house".....jk....its not that bad

Ran into a major problem!!! Doesn't look like the intake manifold on the turboII is gonna clear the firewall in the 8...anybody have suggestions? I'm this (-) close to cutting firewall out

oh man that sucks...hope you find a work around. Today went crazy with the inlaws here but they are leaving tomorrow...I will shot you a text