Engine Swap curiosity for the 1st gen rx7...

[Rotary_Powered]

Hi guys, I'm just a little curious to what common swaps are for the 1st gen rx7. I know the FC and FD gets 20B, 13b-rew(FC), and even LS1's (kinda of cool but rotary is cooler).

So what's are common options for get rid of the little dirty carb... I mean beloved 12a?

 

[chiefmg]

Most common I know of is a TurboII engine/trans/etc. That's what I am planning on doing at some point. From what I have read the hardest part is getting the wiring harness made up, otherwise it is fairly straightforward.

Way back when I first got mine, a company called Rotary Engineering built up a 4 port 13B (called it the turbo alternative). They guaranteed it for a minimum of 225 hp, and IIRC a redline of 9,000 rpm. I wish I had gotten one of those back then (along with a lot of other things I can't find now).

I have also read of people doing a 12a turbo swap. Have to find a Japanese market donor for that one. I don't know how much of a pain it is for the wiring etc, probably your best bet would be to get an entire front clip.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

I don't like carbs, much that's why I'm asking, too hard for tunning (imo). I wonder how hard it would be to put a miata engine in thier, or a small mazda v6 from the mx3 (peep) (don't hurt me for saying take out the rotary).

Thank for the info I figured that the 13b would be a common swap, custom mounts or bolt up?

 

[KYLiquid]

12a turbo is popular, it was only avalible in japan.

I have also seen quite a few 1st gens with a stock renesis 6 port motor (from the rx8) the light weight of the 1st gen chassie works very well.

 

[socommatthews]

i talked to rotary performance(RX-7.com) about mine and they said they could build up the 12A pretty strong and i could even go w/ a supercharger which i kinda like better than the turbo.but if $ is no issue than id go 20B all the way bro.

 

[Brian MP5T]

20b

 

[ms64meplease]

i love the rx. i had a bamf one...lol if you want to keep the price down cheaper than a 13bt and waaaayy cheaper than a 20b because they are getting rare right now look at my old ride i just got rid of week-n-half ago http://member.cardomain.com/gentalmon yeah it was mine not just some person stealin pics.lol but go with a 13bttre cosmo price 1300 for the motor look at a 20 go way up plus part for fixin isnt cheap either yeah a 20b is bad ace but dude the pocket book bite sucks when your building a car i dont know what your lookin to spend.

 

[KYLiquid]

i talked to rotary performance(RX-7.com) about mine and they said they could build up the 12A pretty strong and i could even go w/ a supercharger which i kinda like better than the turbo.but if $ is no issue than id go 20B all the way bro.

why do you prefer the supercharger

 

[Rotary_Powered]

I love rotaries, but are there any um...er none rotary options... I was thinking Miata engine for light weight... or even maybe a small v6... again don't kill me...hehe.

 

[KYLiquid]

I love rotaries, but are there any um...er none rotary options... I was thinking Miata engine for light weight... or even maybe a small v6... again don't kill me...hehe.

well you complain about the cost of some of the rotary swap suggestions.....swaping to another motor will cost more.

Youll have to make engine mounts and adapt the stock trany to the motor or get a new trany and adapt it to the car......custom drive shaft may be needed...ect

These cost will go up even more if you try something "different" than normal swaps.

You could look into the 350 V8, but i havent seen many swaps other than rotarys in 1st gens.

If I had a first jen project, I would go with a Renesis motor in it, full header back exhaust, custom intake, dli ignition and a good standalone EMS. You could make 220 at the wheels and in that light body, it would be pretty quick, or you could go turbo and make 300+ at the wheels with double the TQ of stock.

Or you could just got with a 13b-rew or something.

 

[socommatthews]

why do you prefer the supercharger

just because a turbo w/out fuel injection just isnt a turbo.i know there were some models of the 12A with a turbo but i like the super better since its carb.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

well you complain about the cost of some of the rotary swap suggestions.....swaping to another motor will cost more.
Youll have to make engine mounts and adapt the stock trany to the motor or get a new trany and adapt it to the car......custom drive shaft may be needed...ect
These cost will go up even more if you try something "different" than normal swaps.
You could look into the 350 V8, but i havent seen many swaps other than rotarys in 1st gens.
If I had a first jen project, I would go with a Renesis motor in it, full header back exhaust, custom intake, dli ignition and a good standalone EMS. You could make 220 at the wheels and in that light body, it would be pretty quick, or you could go turbo and make 300+ at the wheels with double the TQ of stock.
Or you could just got with a 13b-rew or something.

Huh? I just reread my posts I never complained about the cost I just said I don't like carbs. I do like rotary engines but just wanted to know the options. But thank you for your suggestion. I've heard that the renesis is a bit difficult to swap in to the 2nd and 3rd gen because of the dimentions of the engine. Would it be the same case for the first gen?

 

[KYLiquid]

Huh? I just reread my posts I never complained about the cost I just said I don't like carbs. I do like rotary engines but just wanted to know the options. But thank you for your suggestion. I've heard that the renesis is a bit difficult to swap in to the 2nd and 3rd gen because of the dimentions of the engine. Would it be the same case for the first gen?

sorry, my mistake, i mis-read another persons post "if cost was no issue" sometimes all these threads on all these forums blur together.....(hand)

I have seen quite a few renesis swaps into 1st gens, and 1 into a 2nd gen (none into a 3rd jen). I dont know how much work the swap is, but from what I have heard, its pretty straight forward, and the stock transmission from the 1st gen bolts up to the renesis or you can use the rx8 or fd trany with custom mounts and a custom driveshaft.

as far as width, the motor is nearly the same as the 13b (a little larger than the 12a) height is the biggest difference, its a good 1-2 inches taller than a 13b but about the same as a 12a.

all the dimensions are within a few inches.

 

[ms64meplease]

just go with a 13btt-re cosmo bolt up the 1st gen tranny as long as its 13b tanny and all you got left is mounts i make the mounts for 2nd gen cosmo swaps 20b or 13b re motors get a good ems the only thing you might need to do is beef up the stock dl with that swap you will tear up any other swap minus its big brother the 20b... if your interested in contacting someone on this motor pm me i have done these swaps many times 4 swaps in 1 month heres my old car i just got rid of(wish i didnt have too) http://member.cardomain.com/gentalmon if you wanna listen to people that have never done this swap or just people who hear from others/ domino effect be my guest but you will be spending alot more and find out that most people dont have a clue... i can get you alot of email addy's of people i have done swaps for tuned there cars etc... just a some advice take it from someone who has done this many times... your choice, your car, your money!