1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

VG30dett engine swap?

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Old 11-25-02 | 03:48 PM
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VG30dett engine swap?

Has anyone ever done this? Or how about a RB20det, RB25det, or rb26dett? or a CA18det, or SR20det? I know there are v8 swaps, and some others, but i just trying to find all the difrent options. Thanks

Joe
Old 11-25-02 | 04:00 PM
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I'm guessing the RB engines would be too long to fit - they would certainly be long enough (and heavy enough) to mess up the handling. Of all the Nissan motors I'd put in the SR20DET. However a swap that I'd rather do is a 13BT into an S14 240SX

J
Old 11-25-02 | 04:23 PM
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yeah i have thought about that one. I have a 90 s13 FB, and am just building up the KA24e thats in there.
Old 11-25-02 | 05:41 PM
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I hope you have a flame retardant suit!

I really doubt that any of the six cylinders would fit at all. The CA and SR are your best bets if you must go the nissan way. Why not just try fitting a 20B in that bad boy?
Old 11-25-02 | 06:45 PM
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price
you can get a full engine, harness, ECU, tranny from a CA18det for about 1500. so all that would have to be worked out is the engine mounts, tranny mounts, drive shaft, FMIC, and some other things like hoses, then just install a custom exhaust.

I couldnt get a 20b for that much.

i could get a full SR20det s13 black top front clip for 3k.

If a V8 will fit in there, a 300z tt engine should fit also.

I really dont care if you all flame me for this post, i am just looking for options on a cheap go fast car. my 240 has a better suspention setup for handeling then the FB, so i am not really woried about weight split to much. thanks again for any info.


Joe
Old 11-25-02 | 06:59 PM
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I also understand that the 12a and the 13b are great engines, and if my 240 wasnt taking all my money. i would like to invest money into the 12a and see what i could make out of it. It just comes down to money, whitch i dont have much to spend on the car. I will probably stay with the 12a tell it dies, but it already has 100k miles on it so i feel that time is coming soon. so i am just trying to find some options.
Old 11-25-02 | 07:26 PM
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100K BLAHAHAHAHHAHAHA


Thats ALL?


I mean, Mike-p-28 here on the forum had one that went past 300K..... I know you can get at least another 50K out of it, if you have common sense, and actually arent lazy, and do maintence........ I havent had the best of luck with rotaries yet, cause they all were "hand me down" sort of speak. As in, they were over heated before, or ran to hard, blah blah blah, stupid first owners mostly...

But I know they are reliable, and last a long time, and have a high rev, and can easily be broken into, ported, add a rebuild kit, intake, headers, then you will be flyin. Then, if that doesnt satisfy, add a turbo...lol...


And of course your 240sx has better handling, how many years technology does it have on the R-ex? And, you also have a IRS... blah blah blah.... The RX-7 as I was told was to be built on a budget, to basically save mazda, and it turned into a great selling sports car.

I like 240's, and all, cause my friend had one, and that thing could haul ***.... but his wasnt that stock

So, stick around the rotary scene for a while, they are reliable, get you to where you want to go, have a high rev, and easily to modify cheaply, and think of this, they are 1.1 liter producing 100 HP STOCK.... now, and 5.7L or some heavy *** V8 is producing 300 stock?!?! WTF?

The 12a can get intake, and headers, and up it to 150HP, then if you crack it open and port it, there probably is 165-175.... with a street port....

You will learn to love the rotary, as I have. At first I was gonna dump a SBC, or a ford in it. But why would I want to?

The RX-7, was designed around the rotary, please dont destroy that! I would love to see you stay rotary, but if you must have your lil' nissan, go for it. But dont stop half way there, or just half ***... I think you would appriciate the rotary in time. The rotary would be a good to build up, and turbo, CHEAP! Look for moremazda turbo write up. Just, crack it open, port it, get an intake, and carb, a 87-91 turbo, and manifold, masage it to fit...... then a 3" exhaust all the way back..

That isnt hard is it?!?!?


Well, welcome to the ROTARY message board




Thanx, Laterz, Andrew
Old 11-25-02 | 08:37 PM
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well to answer the original question regarding the VG30DETT ... YES ... it has been done (and i saw it with my own two eyes).
Originally posted by jrc240sx
price
you can get a full engine, harness, ECU, tranny from a CA18det for about 1500. so all that would have to be worked out is the engine mounts, tranny mounts, drive shaft, FMIC, and some other things like hoses, then just install a custom exhaust.
[/i]
that's 1500 right off the bat ... and unless you're doing all the welding, fabrication and R&D yourself, then it's going to cost just as much or more to get the package together ... and then ... suspension work to get the car's handling dynamics back.

I couldnt get a 20b for that much.
very true ... but you also don't NEED a 20B to go fast.


If a V8 will fit in there, a 300z tt engine should fit also.
i wouldn't be so sure about that motor fitting into an Rx-7 just because V8's do. a VG30DE, maybe, but the TT ... maybe not. the guy that did it, he just welded up a 300ZXTT front clip to the Rx-7 chassis.
i am just looking for options on a cheap go fast car.
well ... no offense, but fast is relative. you seem to be using two conflicting terms here, "cheap" and "fast." Rx-7s are fast! if they're not fast enough for you and you want to make them significantly faster ... then they are no longer going to be cheap! and i'll tell you this much ... a 12A (with turbo) or 13BT WILL be you cheapest options. no contest!
Old 11-25-02 | 08:53 PM
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Well its not going to happen any time soon. My power goals are about 250-300 rwhp. are there turbo kits (piping-header, IC, full turbo exhaust) for the 12a? most of the things i have found/read are for NA build up. I do know about the jdm 12at, but what are some of the setups i can use without going EFI. and what kind of power can i expect with a setup like this? say runing 15lbs boost. Thanks again for the info

Joe

yeah i know that 100k miles isnt alot, but so fare from what i have seen working on the car. it doesnt have much over 12k miles on it before it will start having major problems. it could even already have bad seals as there is oil on the plugs. really wont know tell i get it started.
Old 11-25-02 | 09:18 PM
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in my opinion, this is probably the best writeup on a 12A Turbo project on this board!

so start https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...ghlight=Mikuni
thank moremazda for it ...

anyway, just a few points to consider from what you said. if you're going to be doing your mods over time, then you can apply the efforts to your 12A in a modular fashion.
streetport motor build-up > fuel system > turbo/intecooler ... or something to that effect. i'm sure you get the picture ...

as far as i know, there are no bolt-on kits, but you can fabricate the parts you'll need relatively easily. besides, that's one of the beauties of rotaries, you can use parts from other engines ... you can basically use everything for and from a 13BT!

for your power goals, i'd personally go with a 13BT as your start point, however, you can use the 12A just as well. my only concern for you is fuel. i would not attempt 15+ psi on a carbie ...

anyway, i'm processing way too many thoughts right now and i don't want to confuse you, so like i said, start with that thread ... then also check out the Gen II and the Turbo forums.

Last edited by diabolical1; 11-25-02 at 09:24 PM.
Old 11-25-02 | 09:24 PM
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250-300, no problem j-spec 13bt and a upgraded turbo and you are there.
Old 11-25-02 | 10:21 PM
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Re: VG30dett engine swap?

Originally posted by jrc240sx
Has anyone ever done this? Or how about a RB20det, RB25det, or rb26dett? or a CA18det, or SR20det? I know there are v8 swaps, and some others, but i just trying to find all the difrent options. Thanks

Joe

Don't be a tard :p ... sell your rx7, sell your ka24e, buy a 95 or later ka24de, drop it into your 90 s13, and boost around 10psi - you can do that on stock internals no worries, and you'll be putting around 240rwhp out.


Last edited by Zulu; 11-25-02 at 10:26 PM.
Old 11-25-02 | 11:48 PM
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Re: Re: VG30dett engine swap?

Originally posted by Zulu
Don't be a tard :p ... sell your rx7, sell your ka24e, buy a 95 or later ka24de, drop it into your 90 s13, and boost around 10psi - you can do that on stock internals no worries, and you'll be putting around 240rwhp out.
I agree. You are comparing a 79 RX-7 to a 1990 240SX.
That's apples and oranges. I'd take the 240 over that 79 no contest. Not just the cars, but so many years apart.

The 79's don't even compare to the later year FB (84/85). When I see a 79, I usually think, poor old car.
Very few are worth dropping money in.

Don't put a piston in a RX-7, put the piston where it belongs, on that 240.

A 240 with an SR20DET is a very sweet ride indeed.

If you decide to keep the Rex, you can get about 300 hp from a street ported 12A Turbo running about 17lbs of boost with a blow-through carb.
Old 11-26-02 | 12:45 AM
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As for rotary durability, there is one trick: change your oil. Often. By keeping that oil clean, your rotary will live longer than most piston engines, especially considering the revs that the average rotary goes through in a lifetime. As for engine swaps, the guys here are right, putting in another rotary, or building up that lightly used 12A will be your cheapest route, not to mention the one with the least hassle.

Slam a Weber carb on that baby, get a good free-flowing exhaust, invest some money that you'd already have to spend on the prospective piston engine, and you'll be surprised how fast a 2,400lb car can move with 150-175 hp.

Matt McGeary
1979 SA22C
"No rotor, no motor."
Old 11-26-02 | 01:24 AM
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Wouldn't go the piston route... I mean: if your goal is like 300hp, you could get it from a rotary without going through the trouble of making so many things fit.
There's a book by Neko Publishing that's called "Forever RX7", and it has plenty of photo's in there, even if the text is in Japanese. Now, they do a rebuild of a 13B in there, and compare it to a RB26. Wow, is that 13B small! The Nissan engine is much higher, longer, and heavier... The costs involved to get it into the Seven wouldn't be small, I think. A turbo 12A, with blow-through carb and street ports in combination with some serious exhaust would make serious power aswell, and stick with the theme...
If you put a Nissan engine in you'll need a custom exhaust, so that'll be just as expensive as a serious exhaust for the 12A or 13B. I think if you count it out, Rotary power would be more HP for the price...
Old 11-26-02 | 04:30 AM
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hey direct freek why do you gotta diss us sa people?? i think mine is worth modding. but zulu and direct, i totally agree with you. if you say a 20b is cheap, then y even bother asking about a rb26tt. your talkin 7500 dolllars for the motor alone, for an r32. the only way your gonna get 300whp reliably and "modestly" is with the 13bt. you could do it for cheaper than every option you listed. 300zx tt motor, damn, how is that frugal??
Old 11-26-02 | 07:41 AM
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The only swap I've seen like that is a RB26DETT into a kouki FC. I think its in one of my old option 2 magazine.
Old 11-26-02 | 08:07 AM
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If you want cheap and fast, go with a chevy v8 kit from grannys. Like someone said befor fast is relitive, cheap is also relitve. Horse for horse, chevy makes the cheapest power. By the time you buy the different pieces you need to get 300+ hp you can have a STREETABLE 400+hp out of a chevy conversion. STREETABLE being the key word here.

As for the nissan swaps, the sr20det would be the best route, the vg30dett is a tight fit in the 300zx so it would be horrible in your 7. The straigh six's are much to long to be practicle.

That's just my thought. I'm kinda biased though, I have a 325hp chevy v8 in my 7.
Old 11-27-02 | 03:26 AM
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no way jrc240sx, i think you should put in a civic b16 in that there RX-7, it would be tons fast. I have a good idea how to make that 79' fast..... get a tow truck turbocharge it and have him tow it across the 1/4. LOL J/k
Old 11-27-02 | 09:49 AM
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Hey Robert99v6, at lest i dont drive a v6 mustang.
Old 11-27-02 | 04:03 PM
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Who said anything about a mustang? Oh the 99v6, thats my jeep. You must be crazy
Old 11-27-02 | 04:05 PM
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Wish i had one though, they hall *** and are nice looking. Want a yellow one.
Old 12-02-02 | 05:22 PM
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"Oh the 99v6, thats my jeep. You must be crazy"

I must be crazy?? to bad jeep didnt make a 99 v6 anything tell the liberty. you just dont want people to know that you have a rustang, just admite it.
Old 12-03-02 | 04:22 AM
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damn, good call jrc. jeeps do have I6's robert99v6, sorry buddy, you got called out. unless you dont even know what motor is in your own car.
Old 12-03-02 | 04:30 AM
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