I was just wondering if the handling characteristics are worse or thrown off if, by possibility that an iron blocked turbo i6 such as a 2jz or 1jz might be heavier versus an all aluminum v8.

How do swapped FD's handle with various different motor setups versus how they handle with the factory motor?

 

The end result is usually pretty close and it's possible that you could even set it up to have the exact same readings on the scales before and after a piston engine conversion. But the biggest difference is that this weight will be distributed more to both ends of the car and not close to the center. This is because the piston engines will be longer and extend beyond the steering rack, and to compensate for that people usually put the battery in the back. Ultimately it is a very small difference, but the polar moment of inertia is increased. That doesn't affect the overall G's and maybe not even lap times, it's more a matter of the cars behavior. But this difference is so small that something as small as a swaybar could give you the advantage again. So I definitely think suspension tuning has a lot more to do with it.
That said I've never driven a V8 FD, only FC. It just felt a little heavier is all. But that one didn't have an LS1, it had some iron block V8 in it. I actually thought it was a huge improvement because it had more torque in 4th gear than my FC has in 1st.

 

It's already proven that an lsx will NOT effect the fd's 50/50. It still keeps it in perfect balance. Many people will try to argue a flaw to the swap because they don't agree to it but they always end up losing anyway.

You can't knock a v8 until you drive it first. They have insane torque and very easy to work on.

Yes more moving parts but parts can be found anywhere and they work reliably with providing endless torque and power and in most cases can make up to 30mpg.

 

Now if they could just figure out how to do a proper V8 swap in Japan.

Not RX7, but a typical example of what I have seen happening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahza2-m68RY

I love the second driver's novelty football helmet. These are actually legal somehow. I saw a guy at Tsukuba racing with one of these and it even had the plastic face guard!

 

Can we just "sticky" this post and be done with these threads?

 

^That post indicates that the car's behavior is changed, yet there hasn't been any evidence of this posted anywhere.


To answer the OP's question: The xJZ is heaver, taller, and longer than the LSx. All of these things affect the handling adversely, but how much that you'll actually notice is hard to say. I've seen one or two people mention a slightly different feel with the 2J swaps, but not with the LSx.