Series 1 vs Series 2 Oil pump Location
 

I know the oil pump location has changed on the series 2 engine, or so I have read. I know for sure a 12a/Gsl-se Front cover swap with no issues on a Series 1. As I have one bolted on currently.

Can anyone confirm if a 1st gen Rx7 front cover will fit and function on the Series 2 Renesis?

No Series II Front Cover is specific to Series II only.

Series II Oil Pump assembly is also completely different over the old style RE Oil Pumps used in RX-2,3,4,5,7 and S1 RX-8.
Series II RX-8 oil pump is an Assembly in a larger flat alloy housing that is offset even slightly more than S1.
Supply of Oil via OCV Oil Control Valve mounted on top of front cover to the TWO all new Electronic Metering Oil Pumps located externally on top of S2 Engine is also S2 specific and nothing like any other Rotary Engine MOP system.
Also supply of engine oil out of oil pump to external oil coolers is different to S1.
I am talking OEM Standard Equipment. (Not custom modified)

This engine will NOT have any oil injection so thats not an issue.

But what sounds like a potentially serious issue is the gear to drive the distributor. The series 1 was a reverse gear, but easily accepted earlier gears to fit a standard distributor with 12a front cover.

i may have to remove everything and start test fitting. Unless you have tried this already? Or anyone else here?

No one here has tried to fit an early front cover to a series 2 Renesis?

Well I guess that is a no, and why would they S2 engines are just a decade old.
I bet my b*lls that no other cover will fit, simple reason that you failed to read is the S2's have a Specific NEW main Oil Pump, so I just do not
see how an 'Old Style' Timing Cover will fit, plus I cant be certain that you 'could' install any gear for a DISTRIBUTOR as No RX-8 has one,
I believe the Gear you are talking about runs the Oil Pump Chain, not Distributor (ignition), I think Mazda either replace distributor drive with a blank spacer or
stepped the gap out...cant recall.
Then just covering a base, you do know that the IRONS (side housings) are specific to S2 also, so there goes the I will revert back to old style Oil Pump on a S2.

11-325 is oil pump sprocket..

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...832e863196.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...9903583679.jpg

game over mate.