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Is it possible to take out rotary engine and put in a 6 cylinder engine?

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Old 07-13-2012, 10:54 AM
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Kim Rene
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Question Is it possible to take out rotary engine and put in a 6 cylinder engine?

Hi, I have a random question and it might be a stupid question.... is it possible when you own an RX-8 to take out the rotary engine and say put in a Mazda 6 or Mazda 3 engine in it instead?!?!? Reason why i am asking is becuase no offense but I HATE THE ROTARY ENGINE. I have had the worst luck with my car and i have 2 more months left of paying the f***er off. I lovvvvve the sexy look to the car but hate the engine. I wanted to try to save money to put a 6 cylinder engine in my car if it is possible.... if not i am trading her in!

Any suggestions or advice will be most appreciated!

Thank you! =)

Last edited by KimRene; 07-13-2012 at 10:56 AM. Reason: typos and added more info
Old 07-13-2012, 10:56 AM
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Prepare the flame suite.
Old 07-13-2012, 11:00 AM
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Heya Kim... long time no see.

I'd probably be a bit harsher except I know you


It's all going to depend on how much money you have laying around. Expect a budget of ~$10,000 for the labor, plus the cost of the engine going in, the ECU and electronics to run it, the different mechanical parts of the drivetrain, etc... A total budget of about $20,000 is probably a good starting point.

Doesn't matter what the engine is really. Even an RX-7 engine that uses the same mounting points is easily $12k-15k to swap.

I know your issues with your 8, and unfortunately your best option would be to sell it.

Moving this out of DIY since it's not an instruction list, and guys, I will close it if this gets rowdy.
Old 07-13-2012, 11:02 AM
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I say trade it in for something you will like more
Old 07-13-2012, 11:03 AM
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I say we make this a bewb thread.
Old 07-13-2012, 11:31 AM
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Hey Kimmy,

A Mazda 3 or 6 engine isn't possible. They were built to be placed in a car sideways. Most likely the biggest problem would be the oil pickup point. Getting a transmission that would work would be a problem too.
Old 07-13-2012, 01:08 PM
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I wanted to try to save money to put a 6 cylinder engine in my car if it is possible.... if not i am trading her in!
If it's a matter of economics, pushing it off a cliff (or donating it to charity) and starting over with a different car makes more sense than an engine swap. Anything you can get on a trade-in puts you that much further ahead.

Ken
Old 07-13-2012, 02:02 PM
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not to mention the 4port AT's were weak to start off with. I contemplated this same question many times. To me, adding FI was a lesser expensive way to go.
Old 07-13-2012, 02:17 PM
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Then buy a new car...The rotary engine is what makes the rx8 unique...Don't ruin it because you made the mistake in buying it.
Old 07-13-2012, 02:25 PM
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Her RX-8 has been rife with problems, and she has owned it a bit shy of 5(?) years. It's not a sudden issue. She isn't a typical complaining owner.
Old 07-13-2012, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
Her RX-8 has been rife with problems, and she has owned it a bit shy of 5(?) years. It's not a sudden issue. She isn't a typical complaining owner.

Best to just sell it and get something else...IMO, removing the rotary engine just ruins the car.

I mean...Sure...It will still look good...but then that's really all it has...Looks...Nothing unique.

Last edited by lta_ds_fs7; 07-13-2012 at 02:35 PM.
Old 07-13-2012, 03:43 PM
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If you like your 8 and want something similar with a different engine, maybe check out the Subaru BRZ.
Old 07-13-2012, 05:25 PM
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why not a new engine and trans that are working as they should so that you can love the rotary again?
Old 07-13-2012, 05:31 PM
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Yes, but we'd have to kill you afterwards

Sell the Rex, buy a 350Z instead if you want a V6 (that handles like a barge!)
Old 07-13-2012, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by BigMikeATL
If you like your 8 and want something similar with a different engine, maybe check out the Subaru BRZ.
+1 on this. Might be right up your alley.
Old 07-13-2012, 06:42 PM
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^Pun intended? o_0?
Old 07-14-2012, 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Chris
I say trade it in for something you will like more
This
Old 07-14-2012, 05:30 AM
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She also hasn't logged back on since she made the thread
Old 07-14-2012, 06:34 AM
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RIWWP, you said u know her (well, I think I seen her name b4 too, 100 something post), but do u know what's wrong with her engine ?

ok, I just noticed her sig, 2005 AT ... are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Old 07-14-2012, 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
She also hasn't logged back on since she made the thread
Does that mean she has not yet seen and benefitted from the collective wisdom we've imparted?

Ken
Old 07-16-2012, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
She also hasn't logged back on since she made the thread
Mission Accomplished

Nice work gentlemen - everybody take 5

























Old 07-16-2012, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
RIWWP, you said u know her (well, I think I seen her name b4 too, 100 something post), but do u know what's wrong with her engine ?

ok, I just noticed her sig, 2005 AT ... are you thinking what I'm thinking?
No, not sure what it is this time. Not any comment about it in facebook either. If it is her engine, it would be moving to at least her 4th. She has had various electrical issues, a fuel pump failure that destroyed her first and second motor, a transmission failure, paint problems, and I think something else. In addition to the normal maintenance stuff that caught her by surprise initially.

Originally Posted by ken-x8
Does that mean she has not yet seen and benefitted from the collective wisdom we've imparted?

Ken
I had sent her a PM, but she hasn't replied to it. I'd really believe that whatever the issue was, she just created the thread in a bit of a burst of anger and frustration, and once vented, moved on.

She is like that
Old 07-16-2012, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
She has had various electrical issues, a fuel pump failure that destroyed her first and second motor, a transmission failure, paint problems, and I think something else. In addition to the normal maintenance stuff that caught her by surprise initially.
How is any of this the fault of the rotary engine?
Old 07-16-2012, 04:14 PM
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^^ I was about to say the same thing rg.

So maybe she thinks that if it's a piston engine it wouldn't blow up?

well I can feel her pain. I mean if it's me I think I will be pissed too. But it sounds like she got a lemon. **** happens.


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