OK here goes....I got this idea. V8 conversions are great, I drove one and liked the power, didn't like the added weight or the required tranny work and the un-exoticness of it all.....did LOVE the sound though.
Now having owned several RX-7's I LOVE that rotary engine and have had over 200K miles on each with NO problems whatsoever. The new RX8 "Renesis" 13B puts out wonderfully SMOOTH horsepower and torque that are well within the apparent tollerances of the stock 901 tranny. Not to mention it's a VERY light motor that loves to rev and is more powerfull than a well built 2.0 4cyl.
Has anyone done a rotary (12A or 13B) conversion?
Does anyone know where to get a tranny adaptor plate?
I tried contacting Racing Beat who are the rotary guru's but they have nothing yet. So basically I'm starting from scratch and any info would be GREATLY appreciated.
Aloha,
Kelly
Far as I know, http://www.kennedyeng.com/is the place to go for transmission adapters, specializing in the 901 for the Porsche/VW applications.
I think I remember someone mentioning an intention to do this months ago, but I don't recall reading if they went ahead or not.
Hope this helps a bit.
haha, Dan signed in as Leah again!
GGGRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rotaries in 914's have been done numerous times, reddawg racing (sp??) used to have a kit.....like mentioned earlier, KEP might have an adapter and flywheel to mate to the 914 gear box...I don't know if mazda uses the same bolt patterns for the engine and flywheel as thier older motors....once you figure out how to mate the engine to the transmission, the rest is fairly easy since you just follow what the V8 and other watercooled guys do...
there is a brand new 0 miles "Renesis" motor on ebay right now, bidding at 2K, reserve not met, I wonder what it'll go for????
Thank you for the help.
I'll keep you posted on the transforamation.
Off to E-bay to look at that motor.
There have been rotary conversions using both the 13b and 12a engines. If you search this forum you will find links to their websites. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about the new renesis motor. I good bridgeported 13b will make more power and cost signifigantly less. I'm with you in regards to wanting something exotic in my 914 - that's why I bought a 20b (3 rotor) and am keeping the turbos. Which I'm sure the guys here are getting tired of me spouting off about. I'm moving to an acreage with a 2400 square foot "garage mahol" with heated floors and plenty of room for my projects. As soon as I get settled in I'll begin my own 914 20B thread.
Kennedy Enginering would be the guys to contact for adapter plates, flywheels and clutch kits. I don't know if they have anything for the new renesis yet. I also don't know if the renesis engine will bolt up the same as the 13b. I don't think it does because my RX7 buddies haven't mentioned any transmission swap ideas yet.
Thanks for the info soloracer. I went to Reddawg's site (which is embarassingly poor by the way) and also Kennedy Engineering (MUCH better). I sent them both e-mails asking about the conversion.
About your 20B motor where did you get it? How much was it etc.....
I'm open to all options as long as they are rotary related. I was drawn towards the Renesis motor for it's reliability stock over a built 13B (4 or 6 port). However, you're right regarding the cost difference. Maybe I should be looking at old 13B 6 port motors. Do they adapt well to carbs?
I'd like around 200hp or so and if I recall the N/A 13B is in the 145hp range.
Let me know your thoughts/links if you have any.
Aloha,
Kelly
I got my 20b from a canadian JDM engine importer. I paid $3000 canadian for it. It will cost me another $2000 canadian to rebuild and streetport. I have the Kennedy adapter, flywheel, stage 2 pressure plate and clutch. I think those were around $1200 US all together. I bought the RH radiator for another $1200 US. My engine management (Haltech E11) was another $1500 US.
What makes you think the Renesis is any more reliable than a 13b? Personally I think it might be LESS reliable than the older engines due to the newness of it all. I think it would take a year or two to get all the bugs out of it. The 13B had been around longer than dirt and anything that can be done to one has been done to one. For 200 hp all you would need to do is go with a large streetport or maybe a partial bridgeport. Most of the serious drag racers use carbs so that isn't an issue. This combination would be super reliable and cost around $2000 canadian including a full rebuild and porting.
You disagree with what? I never mentioned anything about using a 6 port engine. I just stated that you could build a streetported 13b that would make 200 hp that would be reliable and cost less than what it would cost to buy a Renesis engine. As far as parts goes I just bought a 13bt core engine with transmission for $400. I can buy S5 n/a rotors for $125 each. A rebuild kit would be around $1000. Add in a street port and labour and you aren't too far from the $2000 estimate - if you do it yourself. How much is a Renesis motor (if you can get one that is)? $4000? $5000? $6000?
As for longevity on bridgeport or partial bridgeport motors it depends upon who you talk to. BDC has been getting some good results with his partial bridgeports. I know of a person who runs a full on bridgeport making 280 flywheel horsepower that hasn't had a problem in over three years. But since he is only talking 200 hp a large streetport should get him there and the bridgeport reliability question is no longer an issue.
Good to see another RX7 Club member here. What brings you over to this forum? Do you also own a 914?
Dudes.
Get your stuff, put it in formation (showing us pics, of course) & go make some black marks on some asphalt.....*then* tell us how great it is.
Ya got all winter.........
I plan on doing just that. Be on the lookout for my build thread in the not too distant future. I'm moving at the end of the month onto an acreage with a 2400 square foot shop. My progress won't be nearly as fast as Andyrew's but I'll be sure to post something when it does eventually happen.......
I know BDC well. Look at the turbo thread- you'll see the description of the air-to-water intercooler looks familiar. (It should- it's how he set his up originally.) I've seen how he builds motors (very nicely done) and helped him install one in a car for a guy. (pics are on my website on geocities.)
He has some pretty cutting edge ideas and applies them well, even if he doesn't have the big name like RP or some of the other guys. He'll also be the first to tell you that a "hack job" on a turbo rotary (trying to trick the factory fuel injection when running high boost) is the fastest way to blow up a turbo rotary.
As for why I'm here... I'm shopping for a car for my soon-to-be 16 year old daughter. We've narrowed it down to a 914 or a 912, or MAYBE a 944. (I've tried to talk her in to an FB or FC, but she doesn't want any part of it.) SO, I'm trying to get a bit more info on what to look for in my shopping quest. I just couldn't resist chiming in on anything about rotary motors or turbos.
Brad
You'll laugh because I have one of each: a 1987 RX7 Turbo 2, a 1973 Porsche 914 and a 1989 Porsche 944 turbo. Shopping for your daughter, eh? A cute chick with a hot car....interesting......have I told you that I'm still single?
You guys are killing me. How exactly did this topic go from Renesis installation (by the way thanks for all the help) to buying some guys daughter a hot car so soloracer can date her? All I can say to soloracer is, if that is really your picture.......we all know why your "still" single. I can say that cause I'm pretty damn ugly myself. Get a hair cut or SOMETHING.
By the way, I've also owned a 76 RX-4 (13B) 78 RX7 (japan spec), 80 RX7, 93 RX7 TT and a 85.5 944........my point......I REALLY LIKE THE 914 BEST !!! (though the first gen RX7 was the most fun to hooligan around town with...I sure miss those thermal reactor backfires between shifts.)
It's amazing how we all follow the same cars (RX7, 944,914). I just purchased a 1974 RX4 and hope to get it home soon. Here is what it looks like now:
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I bought the core 13BT engine for my RX4. Here is what I would love it to look like when it's done: (note: the burgundy car is mine. The red car is not mine. It's a show car in Australia)
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that looks like a mini pontiac gto.
I was thinking Nova. Definately has some of those classic muscle car lines. Too bad in stock form they didn't have the muscle to back up the looks. Another angle:
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'nuther
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thats a clean looking car. it's hard to find those old mazda cars here in ca. i wouldn't mind seeing a nice r-100 once in a while.
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