Hey, everyone. I just bought an auction RX8 for $1000. It's a 2011 grand touring with 130,000. I tried to get it started by hooking up a fresh battery, plugs, coils, gas, fuel pump, and would start for a few seconds and pour white smoke, but wouldn't ever stay running. I could rev it to 6000 rpm but it would always shut off immediately if I didn't stay on the throttle. I've come to the conclusion that the apex seals are F'd in the A. There are two vehicles ahead of the RX8 on my build schedule. My plans are to rebuild with GSLSE 13B housings and boost it. I have no idea what these can handle, so I guess 450 wheel is my starting goal. I haven't decided on twin turbo or single yet either, but my budget for this build is about 10Gs USD so I would appreciate any suggestions from gearheads that have built a similar setup RX8. I have a full fabrication and mechanic shop at my disposal so the budget is just for parts and machining. Also, I've built a few cars, from the block up before, but this will be my first rotary engine. I'll be winging it and learning as I go, so you can laugh at or with me as I break stuff and cuss at my car.

Thanks,
Wes

 

white smoke sounds more like a coolant seal than an apex seal. there have been a few threads here regarding building a hybrid keg (renny with p port housings)

 

Ok, good to know. I'll definitely find out when I crack everything open.

 

I'm not sure about older housings in a series 2. The oil injection system requires ports the older housings won't have. And if you scrap the electronic OMPs you'll have to figure something out to convince the computer it's still there. For a regular renesis 450whp is basically unobtainable, if you really go down the hybrid road, maybe? But it's not a 10k project.