whats up guys. this is my first post and i have a question about engine swaps. i have a '79 rx7 and i really want to put a new engine in it. the car has been sitting in my driveway since '97 (thats when the tags expired) and was just given to me as a cancer present because i had been asking for it for years. i guess my dad felt bad that i was sick. anyway, i would like the car to be faster, but i dont want to upgrade my stock motor if im going to get a new one anyway. i have about $500, and no steady job. i ref at a local paintball field on weekends and make $60-$120 a weekend, depending on which days i work. so i dont exactly have a lot of money.

so now that youve heard my story, i am trying to decide on a turbo 13b w/ tranny, or a turbo 12a. both would be coming from rotary shack. my question is, which one should i get? their both $1200, but i would also have to buy the t2 transmission for $350, and also an ecu with wiring harness. if i bought the 12AT, could i just pull the old motor and drop the new one right in? i figured i could because its basically the same engine coming from the same model car (correct me if im wrong). so if i buy the t2 ill be getting more horse, but will have to pay $350 for a trans and $?? for the ecu/harness. or i should just settle for 60 less horsepower and buy the 12at for $1200. like i said, i dont have the money right now and ill have to work my *** off for the extra cash, but either way it will be worth it.

so, to sum it up, heres what im asking:

1. will the 12at drop right in, or will i have to mod the car somehow?
2. should i buy the t2 or the 12at and please tell me why you picked what you did? i have no idea what i should get, so i figured i would ask you guys. thanks.

 

12at were only offered in Japan and were fuel injected. So unfortunatley it is not a direct drop in. Same as the 13bt. I have always been more of a fan of the 13b's because I like fuel injection however there are some on this forum that prefer 12a's.

How mechanically inclined are you? If you know your way around a car then I would suggest a swap but if not you might want to mod you current engine and when you have more money do a swap. <<< this also might help with the money situation. Also to answer your question a little better what type of hp are you looking for? Remeber that the car weighs sub 3000. Typically you do not need more unless you are a hp freak...

~Z

 

i really dont know that much about engines, but my uncle has an engine lift in his garage and him and my dad know a lot about cars. so i dont think the swap would be a problem. also, i think the money thing is solved because my brother said he would let me put everything on his credit card and pay him back. but ive been told that by the time i get my engine as fast as a 13bt, it would have just been cheaper to buy the engine. so i think i might do the swap.