alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Hlover1

I started not to like it after I got it. I always heard that they where not that great but that was from guys that race them a lot.

Hlover1

My main issue would be motor mounts and what tranny to use. After that the rest would be cake for me. I'm good with wiring and everything else. I would love a 2jz or a rb25/26 but thats pushing it. I might go with a sr20det or maybe a s2000 motor. I'm leaning towards a s2k more cuz I know honda motors so I know how to make power out of it. Will see what happens

Hlover1

Will see what happens. I defenatly want more power for sure.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

If power is your main concern, then you made a bad choice.
IMHO, the appeal to many of us is the handling, ride, sound, and the fun of driving the range of high RPMs.
Things that likely will go away if you swap.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

It's usually cheaper to purchase a car that does what you want to begin with than to try to modify one dramatically away from it's original design.

You aren't the first to find that you are disappointed by the power. You might want to think about if it will really be worth the cost of a motor swap ($20,000+ for a proper swap regardless of what engine it is, they all have the same fabrication and electrical challenges), vs just trading your 8 for something like an Evo.

An Evo9 is a fairly common choice of RX-8 owners that are dissatisfied with the power and want more, and you can get one significantly easier, quicker, and cheaper than doing an engine swap.

Just a thought.

Hlover1

If set up right those things will still be there.

Hlover1

20k for an egine swap is ridiculous. If anybody pays that then they are crazy. I can do the work my self so I will not be spending so much money. Evos are way over price in my opining just to get 290 hp and that's not to the wheels. If I will spend evo9 money I rather get a m3.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

$20k for an engine swap is what we consistently see, as a starting point. It's not just an opinion.

It's around $12k for a 13b-REW swap, and that engine is physically the same size as ours...

There are significant complications that drive the figure up significantly. For example, what are you going to do with the steering rack? It's in the way for any engine that isn't a 13b, and "just moving it" isn't actually an option. All options of moving the steering rack end up having significant subframe and suspension complications/considerations. Just one example.

From a hardware perspective, you have to remember that the structure of the RX-8 was designed around a really tiny engine set far back and down low. You simply can't put any other engine there, and there is a significant amount of hardware that can't possible remain. The PPF, entire exhaust system, entire cooling system (both oil and water), driveshaft, much of the front subframe, the steering rack, steering shaft, etc...

Then there is the electrical. About half the cost is just getting the electrical to work. The RX-8's ECU is integrated with every single electronics module in the car. Keyless entry, immobilizer, the dash, the gauge cluster, ABS module etc... So running the engine on something else means that you either have to completely remove every single electronics module in the car and replace it with something non-integrated, or you have to figure out how to get the factory ECU to let those modules work when it knows that it isn't running the engine. A hackjob swap where nothing electronic works and the dash is a christmas tree of warning lights can be done for less than $20k....but that really isn't a swap, it's a hack job. And just removing those modules isn't a simple or easy option either, since it can and will literally disable the rest of the car's electronics. Would you still like your windows to roll up and down? (for example)


There are a lot of considerations that people don't think about when they start contemplating a swap, especially a cheap swap.


The power-mod potential of the Evo is significant, and you can get well over 300 at the wheels for not much money on them. There is some inconsistency saying that an Evo9 is overpriced for 290hp at the crank, when you are contemplating spending far more than that.

An M3 is a good choice too. There is a e36 M3 for sale near me for $11k. Half the price of your swap

RotoryVirgin

SR20 Drift Build - RX8Club.com

Take a look through this thread. Its not a DD build, but worth the read.

Hlover1

I'm sure it can be done for less then 20k. Yes if you don't have the skills to do it and have to pay somebody to do it I'm sure you are going to spend 20 easy. But like I said I have the skills and knowledge to be able to do the work my self.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Ok, have fun. Let us know if you manage it.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Okay, I didn't know Hondas could operate at 9k rpms, or had 50/50 weight distribution. Guess I still have a lot to learn.
I'll need to see some graphs.
Good luck.

Hlover1

It's lots of hondas out there that rev up to 9k. S2k come from factory with a 9k rev limit. Type r rev to 8500 and gsr to 8200 so it's plenty of hondas that rev high. It's not about how high you can rev its about how soon and for how long you can bring in the power. And yea ain't no honda with a 50/50 weight limit but it's not like its that necessary it's not like they can't handle very well. **** the integra dc2 is one of the best front wheel drive handling car out there.

ken-x8

What was it that got to you? Low power and torque? Or something else?

If you like the rest of it enough to do a swap, please come back here with details of what you did and how well it works.

Ken

Hlover1

A little bit about the power and torque but mostly the fact that the motor is so high maintenance and so much stuff go wrong with them so commonly and they then to die out quick.

ls2_funky

power and torque can't be THAT big of an issue... you're used to driving hondas!

Hahaha... just busting your ***** a bit man. They are high maintenance engines, but acceptance of that comes with owning such a beautiful machine! I'm a piston-pounding LSx torque monster loving gearhead that drinks liquid nitrous with dinner at night, and I absolutely LOVE these cars.

It took some getting used to though, not having the power there at initial pedal stomp! Is this going to be your daily driver or what? Our 8 is my fiance's daily and my weekend WOT corner-basher... Being familiar with torque, I wouldn't recommend an 8 for DD use... especially if the maintenance is going to bother you.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who is mechanically driven can dislike the rotary engine though haha... they're absolutely amazing, and I can't wait to build one.

Welcome to the club! I'm new here myself.

ken-x8

I think the high maintenance part is overplayed. Spark plugs every 37k instead of 75k for most cars, coils every 30k instead of never doesn't strike me as a big deal. The rest of high maintenance stuff is the kind of sensors and electronics and Rube Goldberg gear that plagues lots of cars these days.

The potential for the engine to croak early for no preventable reason is definitely a concern. But that's a small price to pay for the ability to sneer at a friend's BMW or Corvette and say "Yuck - that thing has pistons!"

Ken

ls2_funky

For some that are just getting into the rotary engine game, it's a drastic change simply because rather than "if you don't stay on top of your plugs, your engine will run like **** eventually"... you get people saying "CHANGE YOUR PLUGS RIGHT NOW OR YOUR ENGINE IS GONNA DIEEEE!!!!"

It's a little scary to us newbs haha! Of course, I may have exaggerated a little bit.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Post deleted DMaverick. That isn't tolerated in this subforum.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

The every 30k ignition change does seem like a lot, but for most people that's a couple of years worth of driving.
It also is a good opportunity to inspect a lot of other things like brakes & suspension, and do normal maintenance items like rotating tires, changing air & cabin filters, things that many people often put off.
It affords people a chance to familiarize themselves with the RX8, and it really is a pretty easy car to work on.
The upside is not having to worry about timing belts & such.

JCrane82

iTrader: (3)

Am I the only one that finds it odd that the OP thinks an engine swap is no big deal....but spark plug changes every year, ignition coils every 30k, and running premix are deal breakers?

Any car with a soul requires careful looking after.

ken-x8

No...you're not exagerating. I'm really happy that I did not discover this site until after I had bought my 8. Fantastic amount of good info once I got it, but it would have scared me off if I wasn't already committed.

Jus go into Han Solo "Never tell me the odds" mode and enjoy the info and the company. Read the "The little things" thread to see why you should come to love your 8.

Ken

RotoryVirgin

The s2000 depending on options can be 50/50

blackenedwings

I know the OP is apparently allergic to searching, but the swap cost isn't pulled from thin air. It's the actual cost of the handful of folks who have actually done it. Yes, many of them "did the work themselves" and the costs generally rose in that case rather than being cheaper. Swapping a motor into an RX-8 is very costly, and the only one that is remotely viable for the benefit imo is a 13B-REW.

Also... Evo's are too expensive for what you get? 290 at the crank?! ...Wow. Have you ever seen an Evo? I made 330 whp basically bone stock with an exhaust/intake and a tune. I ran 450 whp with a small stock frame turbo with stock pistons/rods on pump gas for years. There are several guys who run 600-700 whp on stock pistons/rods.

I am certainly not suggesting you get an Evo... I'm perfectly happy with you having an RX-8, but you should probably listen to RIWWP because he's a lot nicer than he should be and is actually trying to help.