NavyScubaSteve

Hey guys I was hoping this might be a fast and easy thing for a veteran to help with. I have had my 8 (40th ann. edition) for just over a year and a half now.


As you can expect I want more power. However, I am smart enough to realize the futility of trying to get what I want out of the renny


While im not necessarily a newb, ive been reading everything I can on these forums for the past year. I need some help with tech manuals, id like to do a 13b-rew swap after all the reading ive done. But as many of you know all the swap threads are just pieces of the whole puzzle (unless ive missed the good ones)


Im a very technical savvy guy ive worked on engines my whole life, although they weren't rotarys I think I can understand them, so id like to do as much as I can myself but I need a very in-depth knowledge that I can get from tech manuals.


I am an aircraft electronics tech for the US Navy and currently on deployment so I don't have internet time to spend looking for what I need.


Hopefully you guys can give me a link. I need to learn everything about the operation of the 13b-rew and the renny that I can. so I figure tech manuals are the best place to start. Thanks for the assistance guys!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The process kinda goes like this 😁

You need an REW longblock because you need manifolds and other bits. You need it rebuilt. ..either sooner or later...might as well do it before
You need a way to mount it to the car...so a motor mount system
You need a turbo manifold...
You need to pick a power level you want and them a turbo. . and then a manifold that lets you put the turbo in the position you want.

You have to figure out what you are going to use as an ECU...and what you are going to use from the RX8 platform. To get the Power steering and throttle body to work you need the stock ecu to get an RPM signal that is close to normal. So you have to pick a front cover and an ECU that can read that trigger signal

You can choose a lot of options for that...from varying degrees of plug and play like the Adapt tonic. ..to full standalones.

Once the motor and turbo are on you need an exhaust system. ...either open dump or recirculated into the downpipe. Basically custom made

Then you need to make the Cooling system and all the other bits fit. Do you want the A/C?

You need to plumb the oil system....and you need an adapter of some sort because the filter doesn't fit in stock REW position

You need to fabricate the air intake and lines from the turbo...to an intercooler and them to the throttle body you ate using.

I if you picked a turbo that can do it...and you want more than about 400hp on the street you need to figure out a transmission solution. The stock 6 speed is only good if you are careful to 350-400 HP. 5 speed seems to hold up to 500?? So far 😉

Almost every person thst has a swap has there own opinions about what works and what direction to go. And time week tell what the pitfalls are for each

If you decide to do it..there are a few of us that will be willing to help...but there is so much custom fabricating you will need to figure out the basics by trial and error yourself

NavyScubaSteve

I had intended to buy a rew long block and rebuild it as my step 1


Id like to basically have a fully functional RX8 with a rew so it sounded like I needed a mesh of the 7 and 8 parts to make that possible


As for the turbo would it not be possible to use the 13-b-rew's original sequential twin?


Lastly, I couldn't really tell from looking at other threads, would it be easier to do a v8 swap? My dad and I built up a 69' vette 350 about 5 years back and its mainly been sitting around. Its probably sitting over 400 as we bored it out to 0.03 put longer rods and bigger piston heads in, its got edelbrock racing heads and a four barrel 850cc edelbrock racing carb, its also ported and polished it. Ive always liked the 8s but I don't have the time or money to go for an Ls swap, plus this v8 would be making as much or more than an LS.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The stock Transmission is OK for 350 if you are careful. Clutch doesn't make the the transmission stronger. If the clutch holds it is OK

The stock REW twins won't fit in the RX-8 engine compartment...so a single turbo makes more sense

You can do a V6 swap if you want ;(

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

This is from the New Owner stickies;

NavyScubaSteve

I figured the tighter clutch would keep unnecessary wear down.


And I may have mistyped but its a V8 not a V6 its basically an ls, but I have a chance to buy it for $2k and its atleast worth $8k its been totally rebuilt to make as much horsepower as you could possibly get out of it without goin FD