Renesis FWD Conversion

Axehammered · August 12, 2014, 09:31:07 PM

Hi all, I\'m an ex-RX7 and RX8 owning guy from Bristol. Living in the city size matters so I\'m currently driving around a little Alfa 147 but I\'m craving a rotary again.

My question/s is, and I have no technical knowledge whatsoever, can the Renesis be converted to front wheel drive? Would it fit in a Mk1 Ford Ka? And any recommendations on who would want the job?

Deano.

clive · August 12, 2014, 10:27:37 PM

First up, welcome to MRC

A search on the internet should even bring up an early Mini with a Rotary so what you have in mind must be do-able

Axehammered · August 14, 2014, 09:07:54 AM

Any idea if any of the rotary specialist garages would want to take on such a project?

jpc · August 14, 2014, 11:00:22 AM

Quote from: Axehammered;882036Any idea if any of the rotary specialist garages would want to take on such a project?

WGT Auto developments converted my MX5 to rotary (RX8 engine).

boosted · August 14, 2014, 11:08:59 AM

Quote from: jpc;882038WGT Auto developments converted my MX5 to rotary (RX8 engine).

cool, get some photos up mate with some specs etc.

jpc · August 14, 2014, 11:12:13 AM

Build thread on here :

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45731

Short spec is

RX8 engine street ported running 240bhp
Adaptronic ECU
Custom intake/exhaust
Skyline throttle body
Upgraded coil packs
Standalone OMP controller

Grant Monkhouse · August 14, 2014, 11:20:05 AM

Quote from: Axehammered;882005Hi all, I\'m an ex-RX7 and RX8 owning guy from Bristol. Living in the city size matters so I\'m currently driving around a little Alfa 147 but I\'m craving a rotary again.

My question/s is, and I have no technical knowledge whatsoever, can the Renesis be converted to front wheel drive? Would it fit in a Mk1 Ford Ka? And any recommendations on who would want the job?

Deano.

If you can get an adapter plate made to
Bolt the engine too, let\'s say a Honda gear box then you have a starting point.

However do not use a ford KA! They are horrible cars that do not deserve the good grace of a rotary engine

I would use a Toyota starlet

Axehammered · August 14, 2014, 11:40:02 AM

Starlets came from the factory turbocharged. The Ka fits my needs, small, agile, cheap and unexpected.

I\'ll get in touch with WGT, how have you found the MX5 with rotary power?

jpc · August 14, 2014, 12:21:27 PM

>how have you found the MX5 with rotary power?

Handles basically the same but the engine is a bit lower and lighter than standard so that helps.

If you stay under 4500prm, it feels like a normal MX5. But then........you get to go all the way up to 9500rpm and there, it has the same power to weight as my FD3S (and no turbo lag).

I was fed up with the rough sound of a 4-pot in my MX5, I much prefer rotary smoothness

jackaleks · August 20, 2014, 12:40:45 PM

Quote from: jpc;882038WGT Auto developments converted my MX5 to rotary (RX8 engine).

an MX5 is rear wheel drive.

a rotary would make a good transverse engine because of it\'s compact size, but mating a transmission to it would be an utter ballache. the easiest way would to be to find a longitudal gearbox, but then you\'ll have packaging issues on anything with a short bonnet.

basically, stupid amounts of money.

boosted · August 20, 2014, 08:28:14 PM

Proton Satria Gti...bout 600 quid ...sell the engine and box to the rally boys.

Bolt straight in evo 1,2 or 3 axle ( fits as satria colt clone)

Stick an rx8 231 engine in bay custom prop shaft to axle.

evo brakes on front. and separate the cv joints from the front driveshafts.

use the rad and oil coolers from the 8.
Should come in easy under 5k with a fresh build engine to boot.

over 200 bhp rear wheel drive hatchback.......much fun.

this is what ill be doing once i finished crashing race cars.

re japi · August 21, 2014, 03:38:18 AM

Sounds like a very good plan Jon

CharlieP · August 21, 2014, 06:02:53 AM

The money you\'d spend on doing it would surely buy you a nice original FD

boosted · August 21, 2014, 08:41:58 AM

Whilst i agree with above i would like another fd i have accluminated lots of rx8 parts so this conversion would cost considerably less and the logical approach would be to get a blown rx8 for me put my spares in it but rotorfying a different car would be the project that i would enjoying the most. I have a colt gti had it 5 years looks like a jelly mould on wheels but puts a smile on face every time i drive it. Its stripped for track and brakes and suspension have been sorted it handles like its on rails....id love to put a 231 in this but the engine refuses to die....

back to fwd....gonna torque steer like crazy too much power for fwd unless lsd gearbox and trick suspension.