V8 versus Rotary!

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi guys - great thread.

Have a read through this when you have a couple of hours - some VERY interesting reading and heated debate!

http://ausrotary.dntinternet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31549&highlight=rotary+versus+piston

[Newera]

I\'d never consider anything but a 13B in a 3rd Gen RX-7, as without major surgery, it won\'t handle well with a large increase of weight in the front.

By the same token though, some V8\'s are truly awesome. Some time ago I was lucky enough to be lent a Ferrari 355i GT-S for the day... The sound that V8 made with a special exhaust system fitted was probably the best I\'ve heard on any car I\'ve driven!

Right now, I\'m completing a build of a very special AE86 Corolla with a full 4AGE 200 bhp N/A race engine. I did consider dropping a 13B engine into it, which would have made a very quick drift car, but I didn\'t...

Why? - Because I believe for the most part, a car\'s better with the original lump meant for it. It takes a huge amount of effort and resources to design a car and it\'s components well so it handles optimally, so to try and develop an engine conversion and optimise handling, etc. oneself afterwards will at best devour a lot of time, trial and error. There comes a time when you just don\'t want to put that amount of resources and energy into a road car. Just my 2p worth - to add t the debate

[RobbieRX-7]

Nice little vid here.. ROTARY POWER BABY :wiggle

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7478425524329074458&q=%22V8PushrodMullet+Ownage%22+playable%3Atrue

[ro284]

brilliant link, thanks again Robbie
Bob

[RobbieRX-7]

no problemO my friend :cheers

[tinker-27]

i have just read this thread how many of you have driven a good v8 (not a 1956 design rover) my gen 3 fitted with a ls1 v8 does over 25mpg (30+ on a run) 70 mph is only 1600 rpm !,i do agree the rotary is a brilliant motor some of us just like the sound and the instant responce it gives. as for going into a corner with "a big v8 up front" they are all ally these days you know, mine is on std rx7 fron springs!! and it will pass an usa emision test after 100,000 miles .I have driven a few rotary powered cars and was inpresed by the power for a std car but horrified at the fuel they used and as far as reliability goes mine had done 67,000 miles when i got if funny enought with a scrap motor . any rotarys out there with over 400 ft lb of torque at 1900 rpm. one last thing you can buy a engine and gear box for the price of a rotary rebuild cheers craig

[rx7veilside]

craig any pics and details of ur ls1 rotary..is it 3rd gen and who did all the work...wld be very interested in pics and details.i know the small block chevy engine fits but the ls1 is a much better engine..email p.brian@fsmail.net when u have a moment with pics etc incl interior as i assume it has to be butchered a bit for the gearbox..thk paul

[robedwards99]

Maybe this V8 would be light enough for a rex..

click

[RobbieRX-7]

whats the handling like? being as i live by birmingham, would you mind me having a blast round a few twisties by my house just to compare it to mine (presuming it`s a 3rd gen fd). i would rarther do it in the summer now though when the tar is hot and stickie. Mine still has the standard suspension. I wonder how much heavier the v8 is compared to the 13b and how much is the 50/50 weight distribution thrown off with the v8 in??

[JamesFD3]

Mazda\'s talented motorsport engineers got so ticked off with other manufacturers questioning the rotarys reliabilty and power that they decided to enter the LE MANS 24 hr race to prove tham all wrong,alot of other teams had a \'dig\' saying the car would never finish but the 787B had the last laugh,the piston engined cars just could not match the 787B\'s speed down the straights and combined with superior handling the car trounced them all gaining the rotary a new found respect in the process.

If I was going to build an all out race car and the choice was V8 or rotary power,I know which my choice would be...... :WaveBye

[rx7veilside]

the thing is though reliability is def not the rotarys strong point.what car can require without fail or question a rebuild at least once before 100,000 miles and consider the amount of rotary cars in the uk and then see how many have not had a rebuild i think it would be a very interesting percentage figure.the yank v8 is an awesome engine straight out of the box and there is a very old saying(old like me)u cant beat cubic capacity.a yank v8 in a fd3 will give awesome perf/good mpg/less emmissions and if u check on the other side of the atlantic some superb cars with very similar weight and distribution figures as the rotary now the only diff is costs.if paying someone the conversion all in wld be around the 10,000 mark all in all prob the cost of 3 rebuilds for the rotary.but if handy with a spaner the there are companies that supply all the bits and for about 5 grand u will have a excellent powerplant and not have to worry about water temp/oil temp/apex seals/side seals/water seals/knock/ etc etc etc

[rxv8]

craig any pics and details of ur ls1 rotary..is it 3rd gen and who did all the work...wld be very interested in pics and details.i know the small block chevy engine fits but the ls1 is a much better engine..email p.brian@fsmail.net when u have a moment with pics etc incl interior as i assume it has to be butchered a bit for the gearbox..thk paul

[/QUOTE]the small block chevy engine fits but the ls1 is a much better engine..

all chevy engines are good engines for torque and horsepower,the ls1 is just a modern day chevy motor with more electronics on it... so you cant say its a better engine...than the old school sbc 5.7,as both engines can make serious bhp and torque...how many sub 10 sec cars use the ls1...non as they all use the 1955- sbc engines,besides that they are a lot cheaper to build and buy than the ls1...
i guess its horses for courses...and how big your budget is...all i know is mine is awesome and has not missed a beat,the sound is awesome,the torque is great,and when i fit the new ali dart pro 1 heads and a bigger cam it will be 420+ hp and around 450 torque...which should be nice...
tinkers car,even though is the same car being an fd3,is a totally different beast with power delevery and the 2 engines sound completely different...merry christmas... :burnout

[rxv8]

hers a clip of lukes fd3ls1...
http://www.lukelonberger.com/media/ncda/gripluke.wmv

[rxv8]

heres a couple of a mates porsche 924 with a old school sbc and 750hp... :3gears-lh

[tinker-27]

i think some people are getting confused about why we fit v8s i had a motor and spent a lot of time and effort to finda car to put it in,the fd3s fitted all the needs rear drive ,good shape,good suspension,and there are lots of them with motors that need work (or soon will).i brouhgt mine from andrew at jimmys (very helpful),i first fitted a full spec rover 5.0 which was ok but not that special 338bhp on the limit !!,now the ls1 is another story 417bhp standard factory 6 speed no overheating it drive just like a factory car with so much go !!!, it is fitted right back against the bulk head and handels very well after all cars are just shells and drive trains its not rocket seince .i have not cut any body work and could fit a 13b back in, i am not trying to slag the rotary but sometimes its nice to have something different.my car is a daily drive and has been 100% reliable no worrys about hot starts etc ,i could not afford to run a rotary daily as the fuel would be to much, if anyone wants a look at it they are welcome ,i am about to fit a 6.3l stroker bottom end with cam upgrade and flowed heads should be 525 + bhp & 525 ft lb .there are no interior mods ive got the gear lever coming thfough the std hole and gator . as for the rev range it will only rev to 6500 but it starts pulling for 1100rpm so there is enough to use cheers craig will try to at some pics