I've heard you can get an 04 3.9L v6 mustang engine dropped in the 87 rx-7. for want of more torque and a fix for my never ending rotary problems im very interested in doing this. does any one know if this is a good idea or the results in doing this?

 

No.


-Ted

 

lol "rotary problems." you're not gonna get much help from rotor heads. if you want a mustang engine then buy a mustang. its much cheaper and you won't have to go ruin a rx7. There's ppl whos done the chevy ls1 swap, you might want t look that one up if you're really interested. but honestly, just go buy a mustang.

 

ignore them. First off htere are MUCH better engnies to be swapping in that are going to be cheaper, that have been done, and that will provide better performance.

check out v8rx7forum.com first off. You are looking at many thousands of dollars and custom fabricating (unless osmeone has already done an off the shelf swap setup) for a minimal gain in power. The Chevy V8, V6 and ford small block (302) have all been done on an FC.


BC

 

Dude, he posted in the "other engines" section and asked a legit question. Telling him to just go buy a mustang is like telling you to just go buy another house if your water heater breaks. You are not going to do that. Why? because you already have a good house to live in and you don't want to shell out big bucks for another one when you can shell out alot less for a new water heater. Then you would have the house you really like with the still busted water heater and another one with a good water heater, but not necessarily the house that you want.

Same thing. He already has an Rx7. Why go buy a whole other car? He just wants to replace the thing that is giving him problems with something more reliable.



Sorry for jumping in like this. I just peaves me when someone tells someone just to go buy another car. In no way does an engine swap ruin a car. Most times it enhances the car. Yes it does take away the originality of the car, but if originality is ruining your enjoyment of your car and making you miserable, why not do something about it. The problem I have with purists, is that most of them are not really purists. Alot of purists have Holley carbs on their engines. Or aftermarket parts in their engine and suspension. Even after market stereo systems. Once you replace an original equipment item with something from the aftermarket (read: parts that did not originally come on the car- ie: headers, struts, seats, etc,) even if it is an aftermarket item from the vehicle manufaturer, the car is no longer pure. If it is modified in any way other than it originally came from the factory, it is no longer original. Being as that is the case, then a purist has no room to talk, if he has modded his own car, about someone putting in another engine.




Now, back to the question. I would check with sources like Grannysspeedshop. they have a wealth of info.

Later,
Bill

 

well said ssrx7

 

hey thanks a lot guys i wasn't very informed about my options and the grannysspeedshop website helped a ton. Thanks again for those who actually helped me.

 

Some of you are tired of hearing me say this, but again: For those who criticize our engine swaps, just post a photo of ANYTHING you have built with your own two hands. Most of these "critics" aren't smart enough to change their own spark plugs.

And why hasn't anyone complained about the GLC that I defiled by installing a rotary engine????? Or the 1st gen convertibles I built - they are not "original". The fact is all of these cars were going for scrap before I started working on them.

Regarding the choice of V8 engines, mine is a Ford 302, which is significantly lighter than a small block Chev, but there are more parts and choices for the Chev, and better choices of automatic trannys. For either one of these old school V8s, Grannys is an excellent source of parts and information.

I recently bought one of Grannys radiators for my 1st gen/Ford. It was delivered to me 4 days after I placed the order, and everything fit perfectly. It is a Ron Davis radiator, regarded by experienced street rodders and drag racers as about the best you can buy.

 

LOL, to quote another person who posted somewhere on the Forum:

"A Japenese car with a German Engine, owned by Ford, an American company."

After all that, I think even Mazda is at least a little flexible about their "originality", EH??


Ps I like saying "Eh". It sounds cool, eh?
Later,
Bill

 

I thought about this swap over a 5.0 for a few reasons.
1. weighs less(alum heads stock)
2. shorter overall length(better polar moment)
3. stronger block(stock 5.0 block has been known to split over 350HP)
4. I like to be different

I spoke with grant from granny's and he has not heard of one being completed. In spite of that I found 3.8L V6 from a 99 mustang for $400 and got started.

I tried a preliminary fit and iirc the drawbacks include; the oil filter would have to be remote mounted(the sway bar and oil filter want to be in the same spot), the oil pan hangs down below the subframe in harm's way, the steering rack would need to be moved forward and down, the exhaust manifolds would need to be modified, the 99-up T5's are electronic speedo only and due to hood clearance issues, the hood would have to be modified.

After the test fit I decided to go down a different path, a 2.3T from an 86 SVO mustang. The test fit on that combo went much better. I will need some type of hood bulge for the cam gear, a custom UIM will need to be fabbed, a custom alt bracket fabbed and a hydraulic clutch solution(still working on that). I think I can use the stock radiator.

I will have more to share as the swap progresses.

HTH