I think its blaspemy....i wouldn't do it...if you want a different engine get a different car......but hey what do i know im just a horny mexican with a love for Llamas.

 

Well not too many flames!

Just to be clear, I "think" about what it would be like to swap. I have owned 4 rotary vehicles and except for a short 3 year window driving a BMW due to a health situation and the subsequent need for an auto, have been in a rotary since 1983!

My 12a motor is strong, runs great, I never rev past 5K and I am very aware that it is a 25 year old original motor. That being said, I do have to be practical, parts are becoming scarcer by the minute and the more I keep this car the more likely it is going to need a motor. I just restored it, new interior, new paint, new wheels, far more money than I realistically could ever get from the car from selling it, I love the rotary, love the smoothness, but I do have to be realistic about it's future.

I actually would rebuild/new seals if the housings and rotors were still good. That being said, I am an engineer by trade and I sadly always look at options, it drive my wife bonkers (but at least I don't have to hear about "when is the car going to be done").

The SE motor would still be my first choice (maybe Doc will sell me his )

 

This is exactly the engine (If I remember correctly) that my dad was going to use and is currently sitting in his barn..... It hasn't turned in 25 years, you know anybody collecting them? I have tried to get him to fleabay it.

Scott

 

Buy yourself a 2nd car for gas mileage. Horrible tuning, 18mpg HIGHWAY, cant really floor it... I got a protege for a DD.

 

When it comes to piston engine conversions in RX-7's, the only reason I would do it is for easily atainable parts and real nice power cheaper than a rotary can do on the same money. I always say that the rotary is reliable, but you know what, I have had the worst luck with rotaries. I've had more problems with my 82 than any of my friends have had with their cars put together, thats including some real beat up cars too. So I am personally open to the idea of piston engine conversions and have thought about it on many occasions. My personal favorite is the Buick 3.8L V6, easily the greatest V6 ever made. Then there is the GM 4.3L V6, lots of potential with that one. How about an RB26DET, ok so thats a little more exotic.

 

What was the engine that they used in the 93 toyota mr2's (I just now getting seriously into cars). my friend has one it it runs great and i also met a guy with a turbo'd one.
Would one of those engines be a decent choice for a swap?

 

3s-gte

ive looked into that one also. its a great engine. it comes from toyota, what do you expect. itd just be a lot pricier to do. due to lacking the aftermarket backing for RWD like a 4G63 or SR20DET

 

Yes bad idea. If you can't afford to maintain the car or buy gas for it, then sell it to someone else who can afford it and deserves to own it. What the hell are you complaining about fuel costs? A 12A or 13b NA engine uses low octane fuel and can get over 20 mpg, even 30 on the highway for some people. If you want better fuel economy get a cheap *** commuter car, not a sports car.

There have been rednecks who put air-cooled VW engines in Porsches too, and that was also a bad idea. Do you have a 10 mpg Ferrari needing a complete overhaul and need to sell a child to pay for it? If so do you throw in a Buick engine out of someone's barn? Jesus Christ it's only a rotary...

Those who say the Buick V6 is the greatest V6 ever made, are on glue. Even the Cayenne's V6 might be low-end for Porsche, but still worlds better than that POS Buick. Even that would be a better choice to replace the Wankelmotor.

Rotaries can make decent power, 400 hp, pretty reliably these days. Any engine other than a rotary in an RX-7, needs to be at least an LSx or better. Anything less is an embarrasment to other RX-7 owners, and diminishes the value and prestige of our cars.

 

Yes, bad idea. Find a Pinto for the four banger idea...

 

I had 3 of them! (No kidding)

 

has any one put a ford 2.3 turbo motor in a rx7. there crazey little motors. and if your really dareing you can buy a volvo head and make it a dohc motor. me and my buddy are building a capri with a 2.3turbo and useing a t3/t4 turbo and were looking at 350 to 400 hp. we are all so building another 2.3 turbo motor but moding a volvo head to make it dohc. that motor were thinking more like 500 hp. you can build it cheap.

 

yeah. There was a guy on here with a 2.3 turbo. Lots of power. Last I heard he wrecked it at the drag track. Let me see it I can remember his name...

EDIT: Got it. It was Eville140. Here is his website:

http://www.eville140.com/rx7.html

 

Eh. Piston engine swaps are a terrible idea. Why downgrade in technology? Rotary engines are entirely reliable if you take care of them. Christ check the oil and the coolant! They hate being hot. You can't expect all the parts on twenty year old parts (for a fc) to last forver, it's general car maintanence, replace things occasionally. Rotary engines (13bs for example) only have what like three main moving parts? where as a basic four banger has at least fourty... 37 more parts that can be broken... Not to mention, the fact that they weigh a ton more and the fact that putting a piston engine in would mess up the whole center of gravity. But whatever go ahead take the lazy way out and put a piston engine in... =] I like being able to get my rpms up and know my cars not going to explode.

 

If people would quit being sissies and buy more cars with rotary engines there would be a higher demand for rotary parts and therefore they would be easier to find and cheaper. so, encourage people to drive rotaries and quit mentioning piston engine swaps. By the way you can find a million first gens in colorado at junk yards... if you need parts and if you're close.

 

Fukc all the jerks trying to tell you what you are not allowed to do to your car. People act like like the rx7 with a rotary engine is sacred. Well guess what, keep your religious opinions to yourself. Do what you want, put a three cylinder Suzuki if you want! Or a four cylinder diesel, that would be great! It is your ride, to hell what anyone wants to tell you what u cant do to it. If I had the ability I would also put a reliable, efficient four banger in my SA. As it happens it makes more sense to rebuild it at this point, so I am. Next time I will definitely go piston, unless the 16X engine becomes available........

 

Well of course swapping a 12A out for anything else (even a 13B) is a bad idea. We are talking about the 1st generation RX-7, the greatest car of all time.

But there is a serious flaw in everybody's argument here. People are saying "I'm thinking about putting a boinger in when the 12A dies."

Problem is, 12As never die. I used to think I'd have to rebuild one of mine someday, but as time goes by (been 6 years and a couple hundred thousand miles now) I'm beginning to think the day will never come.

Ray

PS - I'm consistently getting 23-24 miles per gallon in my 24 year old GSL, better than most new cars. And I've chosen 84-85 GSLs for my daily 110 mile commute specifically because these cars are the most reliable I've driven in my 38 years of driving, including the legendary Volvo 122s and 244s.

 

"But whatever go ahead and take the lazy way out and put a piston engine in"

 

Scott1982 ---> Glutton for punishment...3 Pintos?? Das troo hardcore Blue, maihn..

Screws all those fohs trying to tell you how not f*#k up your car. People act like like the rx7 with a rotary engine is sacred, like balanced or sumting. Well guess what, keep your true and correct opinions to yourself. Do what you want, scrw it up good with a three cylinder Suzuki if you want! Or a four cylinder diesel, that would be great for messin' it up! It is your ride, to hell what anyone wants to tell you what u cant do to it, even if you did ask for opinions!! If I had the ability I would also put a reliable, efficient four banger in my SA right before I drove it off a cliff in my stupidness. As it happens it makes more sense to rebuild it at this point, so I am. Next time I will definitely go piston when this rotary dies in 300 miles from my engine building prowess, unless the Bugatti Veyron engine becomes available........

 

Ford 5.0 with aluminum heads, aluminum rollers, hi torque starter, granny's kit, T5 lightened flywheel, with AC deleted, PS deleted and battery relocated to rear bin weighs less than a stock 12a, and is an easy 300hp good for at least 100,000 miles with no disadvantages.

Its your car, personalizing it is what makes a car into a hot/street rod

 

I used to be heavily into the old Datsun Z cars. I would occasionally wonder "what if" when thinking of shoe-horning one of those straight sixes into the FB.... Heavy, yes. Torquey, hell yes. And hey, they're smooth as silk and highly reliable too. But then I fell in love with the rotary, and will put nothing else into my baby.

 

^^ i love 240z also. id definately throw a SR20 into one though

 

240Zs are sexyyy. My boyfriend has 2. The most leg room in the world. Plus, who doesn't things those dashes are sweeeeet.

 

i have one waiting on me to buy it when i get ready for it. the owner will only sell it to me

 

Yes, very roomy indeed. I especially loved the very practical location of the inner door handles. Also, the layout of the engine bay made everything uber simple to work on. My last one was a '73, and I still miss her.

 

Yeah. they're cool cars.