I know it wouldn't be easy, but does anyone think it would be at all possible to swap to a rotary engine? You could probably use a complete engne/wiring from an rx7 and use a fwd mazda transaxle. just food for thought.

Hack..Hack..Cough..Cough..Food..Poisoning!!

Sorry, I know that a well maintained rotory motor will last a really long time, but after you send all the money to get things to work togather, wouldn't it have been cheaper to buy a RX-7 as your second car?

quote Originally posted by Posthumane: ...but does anyone think it would be at all possible to swap to a rotary engine?

At all possible? Sure it's possible. It's not like you wouldn't have enough space.
Would I want to do it? Well..., you didn't ask for my opinion on that, so I'll spare you.

Ya kinda knew you'd get that response, didn't ya?

Could you? Sure. And the concept of a Mazda oh, say 626 Transaxle with a 13B rotary would be nice .... 170 hp, 170 torque with a single 4bbl and that wonderful Wankel engine humm would be neat.

It would also be unique.

However, the older rotaries are getting a little scarce (couldn't find one to replace in my Rex 2 years ago for less than 2500 -- used!!) Rebuilding one is a .... "female dog" ... because of the inter-case rotor seal tollerances. Course you could get one of those 3rotor race engines from that builder in Texas --- but you could buy a new Miata or Firebird for the cost of the engine alone.

Better to wait for the new RX-8 with the MPSRE rotary .... And the price would probably be about the same.

But I have to admit, having a fondness for Wankel engines and Fieros, I though of the same thing. Damn Iron Duke won't die, though.

i had a rx-4 quick for it's time and have seen them in toyo's and lotus 7 remakes with rear drive but will it bolt up to the front wheel drive trans mazda used? how bout a miller [cycle] not a beer.

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Question wonder and be wierd

quote Originally posted by Steven: ...I know that a well maintained rotory motor will last a really long time...

Uh, call a Mazda shop.
"They can go out at 3Kmi, or 85Kmi, but never over 100Kmi, and anything over 50Kmi is rare."

Course, a new rotary (installed) is less than $3K, but that's downtime.

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Michael ~ triadtuning@hotmail.com
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Photoshop rendering of planned exterior modifications.

quote Originally posted by TRiAD: Uh, call a Mazda shop. "They can go out at 3Kmi, or 85Kmi, but never over 100Kmi, and anything over 50Kmi is rare." Course, a new rotary (installed) is less than $3K, but that's downtime.

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I don't know. My experience shows Mazda rotaries are quite durable:

I've seen Mazda Pickup with a rebuilt 12A engine that has over 300,000 miles on it.

My 83 RX-7 had 135,000 on it when I got it, I drove it two years and the terminal body rot (I live in Michigan) took out the support rails on passenger side at 154,000. I sold it and the new owner swapped the engine into his 79. He is still driving it without overhaul now at 170,000 miles +

My 85 Rx-7 had 156,331 on the clock when I got it, drove it one year until I overreved the engine (jammed down too hard and stuck the accellerator pedal) ... Tach pegged at 10,000 rpm before the Apex seals vaporized. It would still run ... just had no power (tested at 35 pounds psi ... read as "no compression")

I work with a woman who bought an 88 new and is still driving it with 220,000 plus miles (but she can't open the passenger door because the body is falling apart).

Now the TURBOED versions may self-destruct more easily ... and most of the post 86 ones are turbo!!!

I started looking at Fieros because I liked the concept of a "toy" that wouldn't self destruct in Michigan winters (body rot, cancer-rust). Then I drove one. Ya gotta love a mid-engined car that uses relatively inexpensive GM parts.

It if wasn't so #*@%$& to work on!!!

[This message has been edited by Tryxalon (edited 06-23-2001).]

quote Originally posted by ray b: how bout a miller [cycle] not a beer.

Miller cycle is a timing sequence for a piston engine using a partial compression on exhaust stroke to help scavenge exhaust gases and thereby allow more "charged air" to be taken in on intake. (vice the rochefort-beauchamps 4 cycle used by current IC engines.)

From what I have read, "multi profile Variable timing" is actually a more efficient system than the Miller cycle.

quote Originally posted by Tryxalon: Miller cycle is a timing sequence for a piston engine using a partial compression on exhaust stroke to help scavenge exhaust gases and thereby allow more "charged air" to be taken in on intake. (vice the rochefort-beauchamps 4 cycle used by current IC engines.) Wasnt that same idea used on iron dukes/quad 4's of the late 80's and early 90's? I know the motor in my 88 grand am was supposed to be like that.... From what I have read, "multi profile Variable timing" is actually a more efficient system than the Miller cycle.

http://www.hurley-engineering.ltd.uk/

That site has rebuilt rotaries for under 1000 pounds (under $2000 CDN) which is fairly reasonable. They also have some kewl performance stuff (900 BHP 6 rotor?!?). Shipping to canada would be pricey tho.

Would it not be easier to just try a 2001 Porsche turbo engine or one of those 1001 horse bugatti engines?

I have looked into this and it is very possible. I would use the GM transaxle though. There are a some serious problems to overcome in this swap. Several years ago while I had the 2.5 out of my wifes 84 SE I was standing there looking at the cradle with the trans on it sitting next to the rotary out of my pickup and started thinking. with one of my engines in position it became obvious that the exhaust comes out right where the right axle is. This can be fixed with custom headers whitch you need anyway, the parts to build them are all available in a kit from Racing Beat. This is not good because it will seriously hurt flow wich is what makes a rotary so strong. A better solution would be to rotate the engine to raise the exhaust above the shaft. This would not be hard since you would use an adapter plate anyway. It does'nt matter if the engine is level since the oil is seperate from all rotating parts. However I was thinking of building new trans mounts to rotate everything back so the engine is level again. Range is a problem though since this will only get 15-16 mpg but it would be FAST! These engines make incredible horsepower for their size. I had 1974 rotary pickup that I ported and installed a Holly 4bl and header on and put out about 200 hosepower. This is better than it sounds since the power curve is very wide, from about 4600 to 8000 where it ran out of carburator. This truck would keep up with my buddys SS 396 Camaro from anywhere over 5-10 mph (hard to launch because of week low rpm power). This same truck was able to pull a 17 foot trailer (over 10,000 lbs combined weight) up the grapevine out of SanFernando vally at 65+ - steep hill. these engines are also very durable if taken care of. every one I have had to rebuild was from low oil level, a bad cooling system or detonation - bad gas. 1/3 of the heat is removed by the oil and they dont like overheating. You can run hard all day but do not neglect them. I originaly bought my 85 SE V6 to do this with but decided it was too nice to do that. Someday I will find a 4cyl car with a bad engine and give it a try. Even though I want to try it, I would have to say for most people the 3.4 TDC would probably work better and give a similar power band, week on the bottom but strong on top.