Hi, Ive never really posted here because I didnt see the point until my car was finished. It has been from shop to shop for 4 years now (2.5 years at one paint shop that was giving me a "Good deal") getting full color change and body kit, pineapple racing large street port, xs engineering to4s single turbo kit, JiC coil over & titanium catback..many more mods.

The ORIGINAL shop that was going to do my work pulled the engine ect out for the paint guys to do a full engine bay job. As I said above, the paint shop took 2.5 years to finish, by the time they did, the shop building my car had an owner fallout and closed down. At this point I had a painted car and 3 pallets of parts, I decided to take it to a shop locally who was known for great rotary work. He didnt had a line of work so large he didnt even touch it for 8 months, I pulled it, and handed it over to Brian Proctor, who had built the fastest supra in town, and was a technician at honda for many years.

Brian knew nothing about the rotary, he did some research, got the car together and running, but we had tuning problems. It sat for 3 months, I finally decide to go see him (hour trip almost) He told me he just put a 2jz motor in an S2000, and said "I think I can put this in your car too, no more tuning problems and you will make more horsepower and torque, It wont cost you another dime, ill sell your parts and pay for it" Well, knowing the reliability and potential of the 2jz, I said yes. Gain HP and torque and overall reliability for free? why not.

Its now been 8 months or so, he has been taking other jobs to pay the bills, buy parts ect...which I understand since im not paying him for all of this extra work, but....I miss my car, I WANT to drive a fast car again(Been driving my daily car, 97miata) and hes taken another rx7 in for 2jz swap with a fairly recently rebuilt/street port motor....today I began to ask myself. "Wait on the 2jz, which could have potential bump steer and balance issues, but yields more street power capability....or just take this guys rotary on trade...

My motor was about a 5k build, 3mm ceramic apex seals, the works....this one isnt much more than a rebuilt. So id lose ~2-3k in engine work, just to get my car back faster....but id gain the balance back which would be lost with the 2jz.

ADVISE ME, WHICH DO I CHOOSE.

If you havent seen this guys work, youtube "2jz s2000" My car is the blue one.
Thanks for reading, and any posts that follow.

 

ehg, I guess the rest of you have a hard time with this decision too. Someone steer me one way or another please, im going to drive out there tonight.

 

The problem is, you'll never get the right answer unless it comes from yourself.

There are people here who will say rotary or death. Then there are people who will say die rotary. 'You' have to decide what you want out of the car.

 

it sounds like you are committed. have you thought about helping out with the mundane labor, to help him out. That could also spark him to get back on your project.

Perhaps try to turn this into a learning experience for you, mechanically and get your hands greasy. whichever route you choose to go. I see more ls1 swaps than straight 6 swaps, so it will be fairly rare.

 

Im going out there tonight. If the motor is in good condition and fairly low miles im going to take it. Wish me luck.

 

He told me "Its not about the money, Dont worry about that" but he keeps taking jobs ahead of me for money lol....

 

I would take the 2jz any day, more reliable wanted to put one in my FD

 

The 2JZ is a stronger more reliable engine but probably the only guy who will fix it for you, if required, is the guy who installed it. I don't know him personally, but do you want to rely on him for the life of the car ? He talks like he's generous but ... comes across as being somewhat self serving.
(You are a willing candidate for his experiment)

Negatives with the 2JZ :

1- The setup will only be as good as the fabricated custom crossmember the engine sits on.
2- You may have wiring gremlins from adapting the 2JZ transplant.
3- You will likely need a carbon hood because the 2JZ will not clear the stock hood.
4- There is a possibility the "experiment" will fail.
I have seen a 2JZ FD experiment parted out before it ever ran.

 

on my point, i would say dont do it. you are ruining the balanace the the specialness of the unique engine it has.

 

With the reasonably large rotary community in Florida, you can't find a decent tuner? that doesn't sound right...

 

WTF GUYS!!! I DID A 2 JZ SWAP AND ON NAS

 

thats gettin kinda old...

 

It was hillarious last November, but now it's posted in every thread where 2JZ is mentioned...

 

Well, I went out there last night, talked to him, it turns out that rotary sitting there is just stock with stock twins, so I wouldnt just str8 up take that on trade. However, he did propose an idea to at least get me driving my car very soon. He was working out of his home, and apparently there are rules for that neighborhood that prohibit this. So hes found a shop he will be moving to shortly, this would hold up my car yet again.....so hes going to drop that stock motor in with upgraded IC, intake, full exhaust, and a boost controller, then get it tuned for me so I can AT LEAST drive my car for the first time in over 4 years!

I opted to go 2nd on the 2jz swap(as I mentioned above hes doing another 3rd gen at the same time) So now Ill get to see how it turns out before I totally go for it. This works out great for me. Im sure it will be fine, because of the quality of work ive seen on the other 2jz swaps hes done, however If I just dont like it, now I have an easier way out. Hes good at this, I think both cars are going to be great. I wouldnt doubt if the other rx7 guy is on these forums here somewhere, im sure he will post pics and video as soon as its done, if not I will get his permission to take some pictures and post for everyone.

 

The real question is what will you be doing with this car. I mean think about it. the 2jz is prolly gonna unbalance the car which is the beauty of the rx-7 series is that they are amazing track cars because of their balance. If you gonna drag race it you prolly would have a decent setup with a 2jz but then again i have seen plenty of powerful rotarys. and if you gonna show the car it will be "unique" and many people will love it to death and hell you could proly get some sponsorship from the guy doing the swap, but i would prolly just look at in disgust. However it truly is your car and what you want to do

p.s. slight late on my post sorry

 

^ Many die-hard rotary guys hate swaps on this car, Im VERY much into handling, drag racing is something I enjoy too, but its not worth destroying the cars balance. If it does that, I may just get this rotary built up, If its a small difference....ill go 2jz. Im excited to see how this other car turns out so I can make my decision.

 

How much is the 2jz swap going cost? I was looking into it...but im having my 13b rebuilt....just wanted to know how much that costs because I might be getting another FD that has no engine or trans........


Any FD's with RB26DETT swaps?? I dont even know if that would work I just loved my 240sx with RB26det single turbo...

 

if not a 2jz, a 1jzgte is a great motor. I swapped one into my mk3 supra and LOVED it...just the sister to the 2jz but with 1/2 liter less and parallel turbos instead of seq.

Trev

 

I personally think the idea is awesome. A stock 2JZ is capable of crazy horsepower and will still be reliable. Not saying there haven't been reliable 13BREW's... but my FD went through 4 motors; well tuned, well built. Even my 7MGTE MKIII Supra has gone 120K and still ticks. That will hopefully be replaced with a 2JZ though too...

With regard to bump steer, weight distribution, handling (blah blah blah) - I don't recall many people posting factual, real-life data about the actual results of swapped FD's. Yes they start out with the perfect ratios - but what does changing that REALLY hurt? Lap time? 1/4mi time? ... If it's a street car/weekend car/ even maybe an autocross car I say just do it.

If it REALLY 'ruins' the FD's perfect racing characteristics and that bothers you... sell it to someone. It'll sell. I've even seen 500HP Nissan 4cyl swaps sell for a GOOD price.

 

you would be surpised the difference in 60 pounds can make in a cars handling depending on where you put it. but that just autox and rally experience talking

 

I would personally always stay rotary like the motors more. But a 2jz is a nice motor and worth using. Built right they still run right there at same price level.

 

Like I said... depending on what the car is going to be used for; no need to get cocky. I've done more than enough racing to understand. I was trying to paint the picture for others that may give less of a **** about the handling characteristics of the FD. Maybe someone just wants a RELIABLE weekend car??

Give me an LS1 FD (or a 2JZ) and a 13BREW FD with similar horsepower and we can hit the track and prove it.

 

Honestly if i had my car apart with someone willing to do the swap I would do it. As far as weight distribution come on seriouslly people it came from the factors perfect ok, drop the exhuast for an eftermarket one and youve changed the weight ratio a bit have bose stereo and took out the rar changed the weight ratio, droped the twins for a single changed the weight distribution, running a front mount changed the weight distribution, aftermaket front bumper with no re-enforcement changed the weight distribution, throw the 2JZ in get it tuned, weight it and find out where you need to add weight in order to correct its balance. If your hard core in to tracking you can get weights welded in the rear cargo area to help bring distribuitoin back and have a 600HP track monster thats reliable. Just my opinion.

Chris

 

Good points. To each his own right? We should leave the pissing match alone and look to people with experience to provide some insight.

 

Exactly.

Sure it may require more fab, more work, and more money but when DONE RIGHT, you can have a true beast for a LONNGGG TIMEE.

Not have a built rotary, spend money tuning it, then all of a sudden this time water injection didnt work and there goes your brand new engine.

No, you can have safe and reliable HIGH HP with a 2JZ, it was meant to be like this. Im not saying rotarys cant make high hp but their not efficient when they do.

If it didnt require more work than your normal swap and the extra parts search and money, i would do it to my car. But rotary is still cool to me so ill leave it the way it is. Ill just get a real supra if i wanted to go nuts on 2JZ power.