spool up

Just curious if anybody has swapped a FD motor into a RX-8 yet. After my FD, I really like the RX-8, but I miss the power I used to have. I am considering the swap sometime in the distant future and would plan on keeping the sequential setup.

GiN

The swap would require too much work in terms of transmission compatibility, space for the turbochargers, and a major electrical overhaul. I'm not sure what the rules are in other states, but in California you only allowed to do engine swaps with motors that are newer than the vehicle it's going in - otherwise they will not allow you to pass emissions system testing.
You're better off waiting for a turbocharger upgrade.

robertdot

Let's look at it like this: Turboed 13b-rew = 250 Hp. 13B-MSP N/A = ~"250" HP....

If you are going to go to the trouble to swap the engine, why not just add a turbo and/or street port it?

Why take a step back? The N/A 13b-MSP is as powerful as the tubo 13b REW. Keep your 13b-msp and upgrade it. It is the next generation, and will not let you down if you are willing to do the upgrades. This engine is as good (if not better than the 13b-REW).

mitchfried

Sorry, what does "FD" stand for?

RXE16T

FD is the model code of the 92 onwards Series 6/7/8 RX7.
This is the model with the 13B REW twin turbo motor.

wakeech

i would also like to add that i'm not sure it would fit as a crate engine (you'd have to lose quite a bit off of it, i think). i'm pretty sure that the Acosta guys that put the 20B into their RX-8 show car didn't have just a raw, crate, emissions legal 20B thrown in there... it was a huge job that required reworking many components, including the steering.

after your FD, it's not the power you're missing, but the extra 400 lbs of weight you're lamenting, and 25 or so horsepower that you're missing. for the extra room and two seats and warranty and comfy ride and nice interior etc etc, not a bad trade off, but with something like nitrous it's "easy" to add all-motor horses to this car.

Butt Dyno

Except that the turbos would provide this thing some of us call "torque"

I'm not saying the swap idea is a good one, but it's asinine to compare peak horsepower numbers and say "oh the engines are pretty much the same". And no one has 60K on their Renesis yet which was allegedly the magic number for the FD.

john

rotarygod

The stock twins are extremely unreliable. I don't know why anyone keeps them yet alone wants to swap them with a motor into another car. Yes the FD has more power than the RX-8. It has more power everywhere but especially in the low to midrange. The easier thing to do is to add a turbo to the RX-8 or add a supercharger. If you swap in an FD motor you will need to, fabricate new motor mounts, change the ecu, aquire and pay for all of the parts that need to be installed, change the fuel system including injectors, lines (you'll need to add a return line since the RX-8 doesn't have one), and a fuel pump. You will need to change the wiring harness and then figure out how to get the RX-8 instrument cluster and other assorted things functioning with the RX-7 or aftermarket ecu. If you are capable of such a task and have the funds for it why not just buy a turbo or supercharger and then adapt it yourself. Buy a Ric Shaw plug in ecu, tune it and call it a day? This is so much esier and cheaper and will definitly get you the result you are after.

Rxdriftingaction

na.. don't do that .. that's stupid .. new 13b is good enough.. if u really want to run faster.. try to throw the passanger seat out.. if u don't mind to throw the passanger seat. i think the back seat has no reason to stay in the car.. o well.. if it's in the pass day. i will throw the spare tire out too. but in this case we got no spare tire.. so ..skip this part. and... took out the engine cover.
and.. try to do some exercise and lose some weight...
xixi.. joking.. laugh plz.. ha ha ..Weeeee.

B-Nez

The new twins with the abradable housings are supposed to be pretty awesome. I'd rather see someone work those into a Renesis (even if it requires internal work) than do a motor swap. But folks seem to be having a hard enough time getting 1 turbo working very well, much less twins. :D

robertdot

Which is why I suggested to turbo the '8 instead of swap engines.

drx8racer

i plan on doing the fd swap in my car. i just bought a pettit built rew and transmission. im going to make the motor mounts myself at my work and get a custom driveshaft made by driveline right here in iowa. my buddy decided to take the motor and tranny i bought from him out of his third gen so he could put in the 2jz. besides why would i want to waste 9 or 10k on a turbo kit for the msp when it only gives me maybe 400 at the crank, im looking for 550 to the wheels. so i say do the swap and when i get done with mine i will post pictures of it. another thing is if you want a weight reduction put on the carbon seibon doors all around, i lost about 80 pounds.
good luck,
and rev on rotorheads

drx8racer

my engine also has about 40k on it so its about time for the pop anyway.

drx8racer

the comparison is rew=255 to msp=238 so there is a difference and i like the msp but there is no way that it is better than the rew.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

WOW !~ 2004 Thread ! OMG RUN FOR YOUR LIVESSSSSS !

Take the Turbo out and REW will turn into instant crap. Not to mention, when FD was first released in 1992, it took a long while before people can push it beyond 400hp without blowing the engine up. The history is just repeating itself.

MSP was not designed with FI in mind, thx to the community, we're making progress and we're at about 380 rwhp already.

IF your definition of *Good/better engine = has to have high hp/tq* then I guess you shouldnt even own this car/engine. Go have fun with some hot rod.

RenesisX-8

iTrader: (1)

Ok, back on topic here in 2008....



I know some FD swaps have been done with success now. Is anyone on here that has one currently, and is it street driven (whether it passes emissions or not)?


I just dont like the Renesis too much anymore... it lacks power and exhaust flow, high compression, and has issues. I am seriously considering doing a full overhaul of my car with the FD motor swap and am pretty shure on what I will have to go through to accomplish it, but want to here some news and REAL info on it.


So, does anyone on here have a sucessfully running FD swap into there RX-8 that has a good bit of miles on it?


LMK



Michael

Urban Legend

To hell with it I'm interested to find out how it works. As soon as you install FD. Take pictures and youtube this. I wanna hear the engine. I'm still breaking my new engine and I have plenty more work to do on my car.

Rx8urZ

tony angelo has this setup on his drift spec rx8 if that helps anyone

rotarygod

I'd really like to know where you get this info and what your basis for comparison is. I'd like to know who says it lacks exhaust flow. I will admit that the exhaust ports aren't exactly nice but from a flow standpoint they apparently flow just fine. They flow more than most people think they do.

Yes it lacks power. Compared to a funny car, an F-16 at full afterburner, an oceanliner or even a lowly V8. However when comparing it to any other 2 rotor engine it makes them all look like pathetic little sissies. This is because the 13B is one! How can I say this? What's wrong with me? Heresy I say! However the truth is seldom pleasant. The 13B absolutely NEEDS forced induction to make it anything more than the mere 160 hp 2.6 liter Dorito inside a peanut wonder that it is. It's true.

I'm not going to say the Renesis isn't without it's issues. It's got them. So does everything else. I'm also not saying that a turbo 13B RX-8 wouldn't be fast or cool. It would be. Just be aware that the reasons you stated above for not liking the Renesis aren't valid and are therefore not reasons for not liking the engine. The Renesis is a superior engine to the 13B. I don't just believe this to be true. I know it to be fact!

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

An RG burn at it's finest

RenesisX-8

iTrader: (1)

Ok, so let me rephrase that.... it lacks the ABILITY to make power. 360 or so to the wheels is good power, but how long will it last at that power? I could take a turbo 13B and crack 360whp with out breaking a sweat. How many FC and FD cars do you see running around with 440+whp? How many Renesis do you see running around with that much?

Also, If the Renesis has great exhaust flow, why did the Renesis race cars run with a 13B rotor housing with periph exhaust ports?




I am just simply (SIMPLY) stating, that I would like a motor with bigger power capabilities in my awesome handling and uniquely engineered RX-8.

dznutzuk

My friend here in Greece has done it a couple of times, check on youtube-rx8 fd engine. there's 5parts and also WOT RX8 13B-REW is a pretty good video-although it's in greek. I'm dropping a 13bre cosmo into mine as we speak.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

because ? it took a long while before 13B-REW broke the 350 wrhp mark.

Same thing for Renesis.

Sure you can take a Turbo 13B and crack it to 360whp without breaking a sweat. next thing I know is your motor will blow then you gonna whine about how sucky this motor is.

Renesis is a complete new beast, so it takes time. Now people run it with 300+ hp without much problems.

Race team use that simply because they dont have much time to do trial and error. Time is money for them.