Engine blown in my RX7, rebuild or V8?

[rx7veilside]

tinker 27 does a drive in drive out for around 10k sell all ur bits 4k maybe leaves 6k max so only about 50% on top off a rotary rebuild

[Hi RX7]

tinker 27 does a superb conversion and for others ie spartacus did their own weight stays same balance stays same in the states its very popular cos people get fed up with the rotary going pop
u get all the good looks and handling of 7 with the good economy effortless torque instant grunt excellent mpg and a pretty much bullet proof easy 400hp just remember not to redline them v8s dont like the revs but then again theyre so fast they dont need them

Any change to the bonnet line? does the conversion wipe out the air-con?
 
Quite obviously I will have Re-Worx do the engine this time but if it goes again within the time frame which mine has I will seriously consider the V8. This is against my inclinations for keeping things how they were designed but if this conversion does not upset the balance of the car and is not the same type of V8 lump that Rover, TVR used then in the cold light of day quite simply the costs could stackup in favour of this type of conversion.

[Red Leader]

Mine blow an oil seal and turbo seals after only 150 miles of motorway driving.
Import company just washed their hands of it. Saying it was my fault.

Anyway Carl sorted it and all is well 7000 miles later.

Hope your back on the road soon. But you will have to the 1000 miles of slow driving :Grrr

[Hi RX7]

Yes I can easily take care of the engine once re-built I do have a great deal of mechanical sympathy with engines (I still have generators and other engine driven equipment I use for my business which were bought in the early 80\'s and still run well today due to my care of oil changes etc) at this moment in time I am still undecided regarding the rotary engines record to date.

[Carl]

The V8 conversion that Tinker does is very good,it is based on the modern LS series of V8 engines,such as in the latest Corvette.I have been out in his own personal car and was very impressed.
That having been said if the right parts are used the rotary is also very good,and i think that is the key,using the right parts in the build for the end use,so if the car is running more power than stock then certain parts need to be uprated to cope.That makes sense really because you are asking the engine to do over and above it\'s normal usage.
Some people have said things such as Mazda spent Millions developing this part or that part,so they must be good and why change them,but Mazda don\'t use stock parts for racing where more is expected of the engines,and stock parts were developed for stock use and longevity at a price that pleases the bean counters.
Regards
Carl

[Hi RX7]

The V8 conversion that Tinker does is very good,it is based on the modern LS series of V8 engines,such as in the latest Corvette.I have been out in his own personal car and was very impressed.
That having been said if the right parts are used the rotary is also very good,and i think that is the key,using the right parts in the build for the end use,so if the car is running more power than stock then certain parts need to be uprated to cope.That makes sense really because you are asking the engine to do over and above it\'s normal usage.
Some people have said things such as Mazda spent Millions developing this part or that part,so they must be good and why change them,but Mazda don\'t use stock parts for racing where more is expected of the engines,and stock parts were developed for stock use and longevity at a price that pleases the bean counters.
Regards
Carl

Yes you are right, and I thought the car was properly sorted. I have had a look at the tinker27 posts/threads and I can see this is a bit of a contentious issue so I am absolutely convinced that once the work has been done by Re-Worx and I am sure it will be done to the highest standard and if it will last till the new Skyline is old enough for me to afford then fine, if not I will be giving tinker27 a call without any doubt.

[Spartacus]

Any change to the bonnet line? does the conversion wipe out the air-con?
 
Quite obviously I will have Re-Worx do the engine this time but if it goes again within the time frame which mine has I will seriously consider the V8. This is against my inclinations for keeping things how they were designed but if this conversion does not upset the balance of the car and is not the same type of V8 lump that Rover, TVR used then in the cold light of day quite simply the costs could stackup in favour of this type of conversion.

The bonnet line stays the same if you go for the Tinker conversion and most of the US based conversion kits. Have a look on Ebay.com for engine/gearbox’s to give you an idea. There is one like mine a 2004 GTO LS1 (350bhp/365 ft lbs) going for $5500. If you want to spend a bit more you can get a LS2 (400bhp/400 ft lbs) for around $1500 more. Included in those prices are engine, gearbox, ecu, loom etc etc....To get the package here would be around £1000 for shipping /tax\'s etc.

As for the aircon, I had planned to keep it and it is possible but as you can imagine there isn’t much room in the engine bay and the only part that would be tricky is getting the hoses made and running them in. Many have kept it in the US but I would think their hose runs would be easier on a LHD.

Lots to think about. Just to give you an idea I think there are around 5-6 LSX fd’s up and running in the UK at the moment with another few on the way by the sounds of things.
Here is a link to my conversion thread which shows the basic concept of doing it DIY. http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37480&highlight=hinson

[Hi RX7]

Well done an excellent bit of work and a well documented write up. It may sound picky but due to being the outdoor type I cant have a car without air-con I land up in a (you don\'t want to know) so would have to challenge someones engineering expertise to solve that little problem.

[Spartacus]

Well done an excellent bit of work and a well documented write up. It may sound picky but due to being the outdoor type I cant have a car without air-con I land up in a (you don\'t want to know) so would have to challenge someones engineering expertise to solve that little problem.

Thanks David, re the aircon It\'s doable but I would guess it may not look pretty.

[Hi RX7]

Got the car back yesterday and the first thing noticable was the way it handled it was just so much more precise despite the fact I am having to take it easy for the next 250 miles the new coilovers and polybush replacement really have made a difference. Its nice to get back in the car and use it despite the restrictions on revving it too high. At this moment in time I am very pleased with the rotary engine but I am going to start saving and buying V8 bits so that in about 18 months time I should have everything required. Hinsons do a carbon fibre propshaft for an extra $400 in the conversion kit which sounds pretty cool.

[Papercup]

The V8 conversion adds about 100kg in weight (so said Tinker to me), and changes the weight distribution (you cannot get the V8 as low or as far back as the rotary, its why our rotary cars handle so well). The RX-7 is a true \'front mid-engined\' car; the entire engine behind the front axle. The V8 conversion is not.
 
As such, it would not be possible for the V8 car to handle as well as a rotary powered car. You would also have issues getting suspension to work well; anything you buy will be sprung and valved for a car that has 100kgs less weight over the front axle. You\'d have to get something custom sprung and damped. Even still, the extra weight and where the extra weight is positioned means the rotary will have the edge in handling.
 
I have yet to see a V8 powered car being driven hard on track. Tinker\'s car is a daily driver and the standard of work is fantastic, but i remain to be convinced that the V8 would make as good a track and race car as the rotary.
 
I\'d like to try one, and it would be a possibility if my engine let go. But i wouldn\'t go ahead until i\'d put one round a track.
 
The rotary engine is why the RX-7 is special; weight and handling balance mean so much.
 
Andy

[Hi RX7]

I take your point about a potential grey area regarding track use etc. my RX is only for day to day road use and I have no desire at all to track day it. So far I have only done track days like at Thruxton which in my opinion appeals because its someone else\'s car you are hiring to thrash on a track as flat out as you can do and if it blows up tough.
I am still asking questions regarding this conversion as they come up, and your point has raised one I will try to find out if anyone has had a V8 corner weighted to see how much the balance from standard is.

[Jit]

The V8 conversion adds about 100kg in weight (so said Tinker to me), and changes the weight distribution (you cannot get the V8 as low or as far back as the rotary, its why our rotary cars handle so well). The RX-7 is a true \'front mid-engined\' car; the entire engine behind the front axle. The V8 conversion is not.
 
As such, it would not be possible for the V8 car to handle as well as a rotary powered car. You would also have issues getting suspension to work well; anything you buy will be sprung and valved for a car that has 100kgs less weight over the front axle. You\'d have to get something custom sprung and damped. Even still, the extra weight and where the extra weight is positioned means the rotary will have the edge in handling.
 
I have yet to see a V8 powered car being driven hard on track. Tinker\'s car is a daily driver and the standard of work is fantastic, but i remain to be convinced that the V8 would make as good a track and race car as the rotary.
 
I\'d like to try one, and it would be a possibility if my engine let go. But i wouldn\'t go ahead until i\'d put one round a track.
 
The rotary engine is why the RX-7 is special; weight and handling balance mean so much.
 
Andy

how about craig winstanleys time attack car?

[Papercup]

how about craig winstanleys time attack car?

true, built by Tinker using his old engine. I\'d like to try it. I\'d like to know how much the extra weight compromises the car....

[bin liner]

the v8 conversion as far as i know has a better weight distribution as the gearbox is heavier so pushes the weight low down in the middle of the car....suppose craig (tinker) can answer that....