V8 in the RX8?
 

Not making too many friends via posting such blasphemy (no rotary in the RX?) - but given that the car is SO light and makes SO little horsepower and that it cost SO much to make SO little extra gain in HP and TQ, I was wondering if it would make sense to drop a small V8, with 400 HP (like from the GTO goat), and maybe add a blower for 500+ HP?

Would it fit?
What would be the down-time to install such a rig?

Stealth-wise, a blown V8 RX-8 could compete with the likes of the new Z06.

Thoughts?

not sure what would fit in the 8, but I personally know someone with an LS engine in their 2nd-gen RX-7. It M O V E S.

I think the problem might end up being vertical space... The renesis is designed with a very low profile... The taller piston engines would probably not fit under the hood? I could totally be wrong, though...

would it fit? no
can you MAKE it fit? yes

downtime---- a long time

tranny, driveshaft and diff will have to be changed...halfshafts too probably
much money, much time, but anything's possible.

but before you go that route, why not turbo and ems the 8? you can get 3-400hp out of the renesis with the right setup.

What would constitute "the right setup?" I've read many threads on this forum, all claiming different numbers with different kits. But I see that most max out at 280 HP, with 300 HP a "wish." 400? I'd be interested in that.. Which kit claims 400 HP?

Did the FD have more room in the engine compartment? It seems like the LS1 fits perfectly in there.

it'd be alot of work, cost alot of money, and we would all hate you.

..but im sure it would be fast. ls1's are real light too, so it still be able to hold its own through the curves.

wouldnt also adding that much more weight sacrifice a lot of the handling and obviously add a lot of weight to the car?

They actually aren't that heavy. You would be putting more weight over the front axles, so the actual balance of the car would be really thrown off. It would be one really fast car though.

so then you would also probably need to retune the susppension or get a new setup, depending on the actual shifting of weight and balance in order to keep the handling as close to what it currently is, wouldnt you?

sorry, im not all that knowledged in car mods ;)

You could probably tune the suspension to help correct some of the shift in weight, but you could never regain that 50/50 balance that we currently have.

Some cars move certain components to the rear. Like in the Z06, they moved the battery to the back of the car to maintain close to 50/50. Also, they lightened the front parts and replaced steel with aluminum and carbon fiber..

I'd rather go the FI route. Turbo or SC, doesn't matter, as long as the HP reaches 400.

Because of the HP restriction, I might have to go with a G35 coupe.. Their gains are 500+ RWHP with bolt-ons. I need back seats, thus no Z. I sold my 350Z a few months ago.. But the coupe is 40 grand loaded. A Shinka (I love the color) on the other hand, is 30K..

Choices..

I used to requent the G35/350z forums, and have yet to hear about one that got 500whp from bolt ons. I'm going to have to raise the flag on that one. :bsflag: Please provide some type of proof. But back to topic, even if you found some type of way to ligten the front end of our car, having the engine sit over and infront of the front axle, instead of behind it like it is currently, will have a significant effect on the way the car drives.

just get the ptp gt35r kit...

As the proud owner of both an RX8 and LS1 powered FC I can tell you that the LS1 is extremely cool to drive. Would I want it in my RX8? NO!Does the FC handle like an RX7 and pull like a CAN AM car? YES! Would I do it again? ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY! The FC and FD are great candidates for it because the weight remains nearly identical and sometimes ends up lighter if you can believe that. The 8 engine is lighter than a turbo powertrain from 2nd or 3rd gen plus it sits way back and down in the chassis. An 8 with an LS1 would be unique but not balanced.

FYI: The FC w/LS1 passes Georgia smog, has AC, gets 26 mpg, weighs 2855lbs with a 52/48 weight dist, and..............on street tires runs the 1/4 in the low 12's.
One of the coolest compatisons to my former turbo rotary engined cars is that the overall RWHP is similar. The major difference is that at 2000 rpm the LS1 is making 310 lb/ft tq at the wheels. I don't think Felix Wankel himself could pull that one off.

If you really need that much more power, I suggest you buy a more powerful car. :tear:

buy a used z06

ok . . . .

www.hinsonsupercars.com

they'll do it for you, told me it would basically cost parts . . . they'd do the labor considering I would give them my car for a few months to work on as a prototype and develop their cradle.

exactly

I can't find the link right now.. When I do, you can take that flag and shove it you know where. :kiss: I know for a fact that the 4.3 stroker kit alone gives you 400 HP. With FI you could easily attain 500. True, the stroker kit doesn't qualify in meeting my loosely stated "bolt-on" standards above. Nonetheless, it's achievable. There are streetable 350Z's with 600+ HP and some claim over 1000 (a place in Long Island, NY).

Here's a 350Z with 620+ HP, be it with internals worked on:
http://350zmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32078

Here, at the bottom of the page, you'll see 619 HP using 93 octane fuel.
http://store.yahoo.com/sgpracing-store/ab03ni35.html

When I find more, I'll let you know.


Thanks everyone for responding. I have a better understanding of trying to fit a v8 into an rx8.

As for the used Z06 comment - I'd have stuck with my 350Z and not sold it, if it had 4 seats. Thus, the Z06 doesn't fit my requirements. The G35c and the RX8 do.

Cheers.

If you're keen on an engine swap, put a modded STi engine in it.

That is one sweeeeeeet powerplant that needs a good home. It is an abuse to have it in such a butt-ugly car as the Impreza.

as for the 350/g35 thing there is a Z local who with a greddy setup blew a rod through the block at 9psi and after a $$$$$FULLY BUILT BRAND NEW ENGINE$$$$ can roll easily with a dyno proven 550whp gutted camaro. so as for "bolt on" NO! that engine is glass and has been having some pretty big problems along with the renisis and the 2.4l out of the SRT. now in time after all bugs have been worked out we will see which engine is stronger. but to be completely honest other than being a FAT guy i love my 8 i'm sure the g35 would be much comfortable and it is damn sexy i say keep your car in time people will start to figure this car out as soon as some of these warantees dissapear. if your that desperate for more power drop your car off at PFSupercars with 80k like Eightman i'm sure youll be exstatic sorry for the ramble..... knibb high football ROOOLZZZ





P.S. The STI is a gorgeous car along with the evo so bite your tongue

I wholeheartedly agree, the STI and the EVO are butt-fugly cars. They're boy-racers. Although the new EVO concept is gorgeous.

However, if I were to put another engine in the RX8, it would not be a 4-banger.

I wonder if you could put a 20b 3-rotor into the 8.. ? I'm just being silly now.. Maybe I'll hook up with the shop linked above and give them my RX8 to play with for a few months, with a new V8.. Or, get a mini-van and be a soccer-mom.

This was taken from one of your links:
The net result was 621whp/604trq at 16.5psi of boost pressure and 100 octane fuel.

Summary of engine modifications:
1) Arias 9.0:1 Pistons
2) Pauter ORds
3) JWT Cams/springs
4) Mildly Ported Heads
5) ATS Twin Disc Carbon (finally started slipping at these power levels...time for a triple or a heavier preassure plate)
6) AAM Spec Return Fuel System and Walbro 255
7) 550cc injectors (pushed beyond their limits....need to upgrade to 650cc)
8) 100 octane fuel
9) 16.5psi Boost Pressure
10) Greddy TT kit
11) eManage Ultimate ECU

I would hardly call that "bolt-on". Perhaps we have different definitions, but my flag is staying up.

Ginter you don;t read much about the cars to call them boy racer. Those cars are incredible they are completely functional if you don;t believe me look for the video where the EVO MR FQ400 races the mucialago (spelling?) it stomps it easily now grant it it does have its downfalls but that is also the full race model. All of the EVO's and STI's are incredible and very sexy. i may be buyist because i'm a rally freak but either way they are NOT boy racer at all they are completely functional and will continually be faster than our cars and cost almost the same. as for motor swaps i would gladly drop a 4g63 under the hood of the 8 would take an anus load of work and some form of custom tranny but it would make a shit load of power and be very easy to work on

take any sti/evo off the showroom floor and take it on a rally course, you'll get a great laugh.

THESE ARE NOT RALLY CARS!!!!! a factory sti/evo on a rally course is just the same as a ford taurus on a nascar circuit. manufacturers sponsor race teams to sell cars, and it doesn't do much good to put a car in front of an audience that can't go out and buy something that looks and acts like it. yes, i know the chassis are similar, the engines are smiliar, yeah that's great and all, but the point is both mitsubishi and subaru (and others, but that's all we get in the US) have taken econoboxes and strapped larger wheels, a bigger motor, a turbo, and AWD onto it. yes they're fast, faster than an rx-8 sure....but they're still boy racer cars that mimic things they are not.

I saw an LS1 swapped FD RX-7 a few weeks ago at Road America. The engine fit surprisingly well and was only a few inches in front of the shock towers. I was wanting to take a ride in the car on the track, but the guy was having cooling issues.

He was overwhelmingly complimentary of the chassis as he explained how he wanted the best available chassis to handle the power but still be a feather-weight. Sad thing was, he'd never driven the car with the rotary, he purchased the car with a blown engine and went straight for the swap.

After seeing how nicely it fits in there, I wouldn't mind owning one if I were able to take advantage of a similar situation. But keep in mind I would be keeping my 8. I love my rotary!!!

my God...come on man, the whole point of getting an rx is for the rotary...NO PISTONS!!! :banghead:
just get a different car if you like pistons, :icon_tdow

what's wrong with pistons?

do whatever you want and don't do anything you don't want to.

i'd say go with the 20b swap or build your own rotary engine.

That made my day! lol

The sti and evo are boy racer cars.... my buddy has a sti, he'd be the first to tell you that they're are boy racer cars.:Eyecrazy:

Personaly, I would not want my rx8 sounding like a John Deer lawn mower.

lol my roomate's got one too...but he claims not to care because his car has 300/300 lol


YOU READING THIS RYAN?!?!?! EMPTY THE DISHWASHER YOU LAZY BASTARD!

id go with a 3 or 4 rotor 12a. that would be some insane revving :rock: .

denward

^ yea, that's good in a street car...

what about the GTO engine!? isn't it 400hp/400lbs of torque!? I dunno about fitment issues...

06 pontiac GTO:All-aluminum 6.0L Gen IV LS2 V8 engine with 400 hp and 400 lb-ft torque..

my bad....shoulda read the first page..>_< :cwm27:

i'm waiting for someone to quit talking about it and actually do it.

Why think V8? Why not 3 rotor if you want power?

There is a certain way a light weight sports car is suppose to handle. You definately do not need 400-500 lbs of torque in 1st gear. Thats just usless.

In america we are so caught up in hp#s...WTF...when I saw a 240z with a blown LS6 makinf like 500 hp....thing could not get tracktion at all. it did a burn out down the 1/4 mile. Now thats stupid. What a waste of money. But hey it got him a dyno queen and braging rights.

WE are so conerned about power what about the dynamics of the car? No one ever pays attention to that because in drag racing we could care less where the engine is, how good the breaks are or how the car is designed.

You will loose certain aspect of what makes the 8 so good. And that is a low center inertia. Think Formula 1 race cars where the engine is mounted as close to the center and as low as possible. Trust mazda with its handling tune.

Either way, an LSx motor or 20B is going to throw off the balance of the car. 20B's are heavy and quite a bit longer than the 13B. It would sit lower than the V8 though. I'd rather get at the potential of the Renesis personally, but I don't want 300whp, 220-240 would make me happy. But I also have a 4port motor. I love the balance of the car as is, and would hate to upset it.

My idea of the perfect car is now lightweight with moderate horsepower and great handling. I used to be a member of the big hp fanclub, but as a wise man once said..."quickness through lightness."

Its about how a car responds because a motor doesnt just make a car...its the total package.

You guys are gifted with such a good, light RWD car. I mean how many articles have been written where they say the RX-8 is a driver's car? Dont you find it weird that this car had been loved and praised overseas...yet gets no respect here? I have driven alot of cars and there is nothing smoother then a renisis. Car may lack a little bit compared to turbo rotaries...but the suspention is on par and actually better then the Spirit R RX7 in terms of street roads.

If I was you I would spend more in suspention mods and be happy with a bit moer power. I can show you a video of a good driver with good suspention in a stock boost/engine FD beating a 400 hp GT-R.

The 20b is longer than a 13b rew but I don't think it's longer than the renessis-since it has the saimese ports, basically it's the same dimensions(block). Sure it's a little heavier but you could relocate a few things, and go stainless exhaust and some other things could get the weight down to just about the same.

20b is definately longer than a renesis!!
i believe the renesis is the exact same length as the rew too... the e-shafts are interchangeable, provided you use the rotors with them.

but you got to flip the renesis rotors when you put them in the rew^^

Yeah - go get a different car --- like a GTO..

i never said it was a rally car i just said i may be buyist because of the looks but as for how the car performs see here
fq400 vs murci

I KNOW U CAN'T GET THAT IN THE STATES BUT ITS THE SAME CAR WITH JUST MORE HP. all i'm tring to say is that they are not rice. a wrx with a super street sticker is rice. an all APC car is also rice but a car that is based off of a rally car and can walk our cars for the same price i don;t think thats too bad JMO

The EVO and STI are targetd towards the boy-racer 20-30 year-old crowd. That is all I meant by it, and it is practically true. I never said it was RICE. Rice is when you bolt-on ridiculous body kits, stickers, color-reflective tint, and wings that would fit on a 747.

Those two cars, whether they're rally or not, are not my concern. I am not a rally driver, nor will I ever be. I simply spoke about the lack of maturity, beauty, and aesthetics that cars such as the RX8 and the G35 coupe possess. The STI and the EVO simply look cheap. They're tweaked-up econo boxes, whereas, the other two, are pristine road GT's. I've compared them externally. Let's not even go to the interiors. Now, if you showed me an EVO, that looked like the 2009 concept and told me it has 350 HP for $30 grand, I'd buy it immediately. However, until the stlyling grows up, I'll stick to cars that won't put me in the "boy-racer" category, which, btw, is flooded with Civics.

wow when i saw this thread i thought i was still looking at the rx7 site. i still am not sure why everyone picks on the 8 for being powerless. people talk like it is a geo metro.

^you mean it's not? hahahahaha

when your daily driver puts 400 to the wheels, yea...the 8 is slow.

but that doesn't mean it's not fun :)