Rx4 (929) Transplant With Rx7 Bits

[stroker250]

Hello All. I\'m after a bit of info if anyone knows the following : I\'ve been rebuilding a rotten 1974 Mazda 929 Coupe (it\'s the Uk version of the RX4) and earlier this year I\'d decided to out the pathetic 1.8 4-cyl Mazda offering and install a 2.0 Pinto Ford lump (because I had one, and they are easy to tune for moderate power). I\'ve spotted several problems with getting it to fit, including the sump fouling on the crossmember etc, so I decided to look elsewhere for a motor. It\'s too much hassle to fit the Pinto for what it will offer the car in terms of BHP. If I\'m going to loads of trouble making sumps, cutting & chopping chassis rails etc I might as well go and fit a V8 or something .... anyway, I\'ve just seen an RX7 Mk2 that\'s been neglected to death, and want to know if the bits off that will fit into an RX4 chassis (front struts, engine, gearbox etc) Does anyone know anything about the RX4 and which bits off the RX7 Mk2 are the same or similar ? I\'m lost on this one ...:confused:  It would be nice to install a rotary, as this car was intended to have one, but the UK market just was\'nt ready for such things back then I suppose, hence the wimpy 1.8 4-pot it came with .......Cheers for looking .......:wave

[MikeLMR]

Hi and welcome, the RX4 was sold in the UK alongside the 929 as it was in most countries.

There are a few RX4 owners on the forums, I think (?) Carl Hayward has one (or will have had one at some point no doubt) and I think Ray Nixon is prepping an rx4 to race in the historic touring cars.

I would say a rotary conversion would be the best thing for your 929 but then I\'m bias

~ Mike

[Carl]

welcome to the club!!
400 Mazda RX4\'s were officialy sold in the UK.
I have 2 of them.And know of around 6 in the UK.
The rotary engine should be pretty easy to fit into the 929 and would give a fair bit of performance over the 1.8 4 pot.
If you want some advice then give me a call.
Kind regards
Carl

[Ray]

When you say RX7 Mk2, do you mean a first gen series 2, or a second generation?
A first gen has plenty of bits that are useful on an RX-4.
The struts are the same fitting, but about 2 " shorter.
You will need to make up a front cross member that is attached via the anti-roll bar mountings, I believe the engine mounts on a 929 are on the rear mount i.e. between the struts, is that correct?
The gearbox and engine should drop in pretty easily, but the gearstick will be a bit further back. The gearbox mount off the 929 should fit onto the RX-7 gearbox, but it might need slotting to the fit it to the chassis. On my RX-4 there are actually 3 different sets of mounting brackets on the chassis, I guess for 4 speed, 5 speed and auto, I\'d imagine the 929 would be the same.
The propshaft front half may need shortening.
A second generation RX-7 is less useful, but still pretty handy to have if it\'s cheap!

You are welcome to nip down to mine to compare your 929 with my RX-4\'s, give me a call on 0870 321 0013 or a pm, I\'m only at Crewe, so not too far away.

Ray

[stroker250]

Hello gents, thanks for the replies ... The car i\'m looking at says it\'s a 1983 series 2 rx7 that the ferrous beetle has been at. Is that the right one ? I\'m hoping to use it for various odds like suspension struts and the like ..... The motor is supposed to be fit with no smoke, but it\'s been standing for 18 months ... The pics of the engine bay look very similar to the layout in the 929, so I\'m hoping most of the bits will fit without too much pain. Ref the engine mounts . .. Yes, they are as you say, and there is several unused holes available, so that looks promising ..... I reckon that the reduced size of the lump will cut out most of the problems I was facing with the Pinto (steering & crossmember in the way etc) and the \'box has a hyd clutch which the Pinto did not .. another problem gone (Yeehar !!)..... Just one thing, and I\'m sure you\'ve answered this many times .... should I be nervous about using a rotary ? I\'m thinking of rebuilds, fuel consumption, oil use etc .. I\'ve heard the horror stories, but you guys swear by them .. What I want to know is will I end up swearing at it while enduring open-wallet surgery ?

Ray ? Thanks for the invite to see your RX4 ... I\'ll take you up on that when time and family permits. Since we last spoke in Feb, the 929 has been making slow progress due to work commitments and family .... and the other project I had on the go which is now on the road (it\'s a bike ...)

I\'ll be in touch in a few weeks if that\'s OK. I\'m busy for the next two weekends, but should be ok after that ...

Cheers

Steve.

[Ray]

Steve,

1983 RX-7 would be ideal, go for it!  

Ray

[grinder]

i spy an ebay here - there is a silver one on ebay thats supposed to be a bit sick

[stroker250]

Spot on Grinder ..... in fact there are a few on ebay for giveaway money. The one I\'m after is sick, on a trailer, and mouldering away in Shrewsbury, going for about 50 quid.  There is one in Brum that the guy wants £350 for that\'s in better shape, but it would be a shame to break it .... and if I started yet another project, the supreme being (wife) would be inviting me to live in the shed .... I\'ve still got to persuade her to let me put another scrapper on the driveway while I strip it down for the parts. I can see a trip to the clothes emporiums on the cards to sweeten her up a bit ... Oh well, it\'s only money ...

I did spot another ad that\'s just gone on, where a guy is selling two rx7\'s on the one auction. One has LPG, and the bids start at £500 for the pair ....

Spares anyone ??

[grinder]

i know the one you mean thats on the trailor - i have looked at that a few times !

[travellinbob]

in oz we got heaos of factory 12a RX4\'s. so it will fit and it wont be a headache or a wallet destroying transpalnt from hell.
  Jeez I would just about drive down and help you to stop the pinto thing from happening.
  c\'mon guys, rally around me:bandit

[grinder]

if you was thinking of driving down you could have picked up your gearbox

stroker250 : so did you get the first gen then ??

[stroker250]

Yes mate. I picked it up the other night and have persuaded the supreme being (wife) to let me keep it 8 miles away in a barn, just for the convenience of it ..... She blew a gasket when I turned up with yet another sick car on a trailer ..... So a trip to Ikea had to be done this weekend just so I can sleep indoors again . She\'s always like this when I\'m halfway through a project. She likes the finished articles, but can\'t stand the clutter involved in getting there ..... So, two scrap cars on the drive is one too many .......

[grinder]

you get to keep it in a barn - i wish i had something like that

you will have to keep us updated on how its going

good luck

stu