Just thought I'd introduce myself. I don't actually own an rx-7 and am not really planning on getting one. I am, however, super interested in rotary engines and am thinking about putting one in my project car. I'm pretty much just a motorcycle guy, so I'm trying to find a way to make my car sort of fun to drive at least while it's raining (not that I'd let that stop me from riding ).

The car is a 1969 Toyota Corona RT-52. It's currently got a little 1900cc inline 4 and is pretty much all stock (and weezy!). I'm looking for rotary options right now (hopefully local). I don't have a big budget, and I still would have to get a mechanic to do the swap/fab work but I'm thinking it's do-able. If anyone has a line on a good motor/tranny combo that would be a good swapping candidate let me know. Or if you've got any recomendations for a decent, simple swap I'm all ears.



oh yeah, here's my daily driver

 

Sounds like a fun project. I'm sure that there are people on the westside that can help you get a rotary in that thing.

 

hey thats a pretty cool little car!

 

Hey, if you want to go for a ride hit me up. Good luck on the swap, maybe we can discuss your options over a cup of joe.

Peace

Adam --- 503-320-6495

p.s. ever though of just going turbo with the 1900? Swaps are a bitch if there isn't a conversion kit already available.

 

a carb'ed 12a would require very little wiring, and you would only need to fab a front crossmember/ tranny crossmember. im doing a similar project with a 1st gen subaru sedan.

like this, but a 4 door:



isaac

 

Hey Adam, yeah I thought about turboing the existing motor, but it's one of the original pushrod 3RC motors, not really a great platform for building on (and it's hard to find parts for). Even the later 20r's aren't really that great for high output applications, they are more made for torque and reliability, and I'd still have to do an engine swap anyways.

That little Sub is pretty sweet. Is it 4wd? What kind of power are you aiming for from the 12a?

I'd definitely want the simplest engine for swapping but I still want to get enough power to make it worth the trouble. I'm hoping to get somewhere in the range of 160-190 hp, which, coupled with the loss of probably a hundred or 2 pounds would make an immense difference in my power to weight. Can you get a 5 speed to match the 12a?

Do you guys know of any good mechanics in the area that like working on weird projects and/or vintage japanese stuff?

 

not to dash you rotary plans, but why not put a GM ecotec 4-cylinder in it??... supercharged it's capable of 300 hp easily & reliably, it's also capable of much more too... it weighs less than a rotary (AL block & head, composite intake) has EFI reliability and efficiency. and they're cheap.... low miles FWD engines are out there for far less than $1k... stock for stock, N/A... its output is about equal to a rotary, and it weighs less.
the ecotec was the 1st FWD motor to break the 200mph mark in the 1/4 mile in the cobalt, and it can be configured in RWD, since they are putting them in the solstice & sun.....

there's also the neon 2.4l, which is now being used in jeeps as a RWD/4WD config too...

 

I love rotary coronas!! Welcome and I suggest a turbo blowthrough 13b. I'll never go back to a 12a or n/a after feeling turbo powa!

 

Mookie - there is no such thing as a simple swap of a rotary into a piston engined car. It doesn't get any simpler than the one I did - a carbureted 13b into a 1980 Mazda GLC. The front crossmember for the rotary literally bolts right into the GLC. Getting the mounts set up and the engine and tranny installed was a day's work. The fuel system, exhaust, throttle linkage, cooling system, instruments, electrical hookups and other details took weeks of my spare time. There are mechanics who may do it for you on the cheap, but if a competent fabricator does the whole installation, up and running with all the details complete, it will cost you significantly more than the car will be worth. That is just a fact of life.

If you can't do a lot of the fab work yourself, or are not willing to spend a lot of money, I would think very carefully before going ahead with it. And don't let anybody tell you it is a weekend project. I have seen some of these weekend projects, and I would be afraid to drive them around the block.

I would be surprised if the rotary weighs noticeably less than the stock motor. My GLC gained about 150 pounds with the conversion I did - but this included an RX-7 limited slip differential, RX-7 struts with bigger brakes, and a bigger fuel tank. In terms of pounds per horsepower, the rotaries are no lighter than modern piston engines.

A friend of mine has just moved his 1972 Datsun 1200 coupe into my garage for a Buick 215 V8 conversion - I couldn't talk him into the rotary! This car weighs 1650 pounds stock!

 

Mookie - if you like bikes, you should check out my current project - see page 5 of this site:

www.cardomain.com/ride/646433

I am currently up to my eyeballs in the wiring.

 

Interesting... I'd been wondering about that, since my GLC will eventually have a very similar setup.

But hey, that still puts the car at less than 2000 lbs.

 

Holy crap. You sir, are insane! That's a really interesting use for a KZ motor. Any particular reason why you didn't mount it in the rear, how are you connecting the driveline?

Around here, once you got it road legal, it would qualify for use in all our carpool lanes. Man, that's a neat project. Good luck with it!