Hi forum members! I got dumb questions...
The Questions:
S1 and 2 rx8 motor housings swappable? Y/N
Will a S1 NAV unit fit on my S2 dash? (I can mess with it a lil bit, just wanna make sure it lines up/ isn't ugly)
How the hell do you not cry when its time to change your spark plugs (bruh its the worst spot ever)

If you want context:
I own an automatic S2 RX8 that is dead and has been dead for 2 years. It was electrical but since the engine was already losing compression beforehand (I did verify this was the case) I decided to not attempt to fix the issue and bought a Miata instead. Now I recently found a manual S1 RX8 in a junkyard that has not been touched. I am going to use that S1 as a donor car for my S2. I will be swapping everything into my S2, except for the engine due to California smog laws. I want to see If I can get away with swapping the housings and manifold without creating a fuss. Everyone talks about Rx7 rotors in Rx8 housings and that is not what I'm searching for google |:

I do have a tiny bit of mechanical and fab experience with a Miata and a 335i, mostly tranny work and a lil bit of power. I understand I will be losing money compared to buying another manual S2, however mine holds a bit of sentimental value, it was my first car blah blah blah. Also this is a great excuse to rip apart my car and get familiar with everything. If you have any tips please share them, I am dumb and will make bad decisions due to my lack of brain cells. (Thanks college lectures)

 

The Questions:
S1 and 2 rx8 motor housings swappable? Y/N

Series Differences

Will a S1 NAV unit fit on my S2 dash? (I can mess with it a lil bit, just wanna make sure it lines up/ isn't ugly)

With antique electronics such as this I would be worried about how you plan to splice it together to work.

You could fit a tablet in place of the old nav screen and use a hotspot from your phone for gps on the tablet?

How the hell do you not cry when its time to change your spark plugs (bruh its the worst spot ever)

12in breaker bar, 6in extension, wobbly adapter, spark plug socket

 

The S1 and S2 housings have slight differences that make it so you can't interchange them. S2 has the extra injector hole. Also junkyard housings are probably not better than your current ones.

The S1 Nav is pretty crappy. Go with a tablet, there is a DIY in the DIY section of the forum I think.
Changing spark plugs isn't bad at all with the right tools. Get a couple of extensions on there.

 

I didn't consider the condition of the housings lol. Well I'd probably be better off getting fresh ones then. Mine was at 120K miles on the original engine and the Junkyard one had 68K marked on it so I assumed it would be worth the 200 bucks. As for the Nav I'm not too worried about the nav itself being crappy since I planned on installing a RasPI in the unit so I could have more options and not have to lug a laptop around everywhere. I do have a Miata that I was considering a 13b swap with. I might just keep the motor in case I do go through with that one.