LS1 Conversion
12-05-2016 | 01:03 PM
#26
What am I doing here?
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,606
Likes: 649
From: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
You might want to look up Jason Saini. He's driven an LSX RX-8 in anger and would be able to comment. Admittedly, the one he gave me a ride in had the stock 4.77 rear end and no front sway bar. He said it had the Hinson kit and still used the stock EPS system.
12-05-2016 | 05:03 PM
#28
Pistons Please
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 314
Likes: 13
From: Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Bringing it back from the dead...
This is what I have been trying to find out. An LS1 (Aluminum Head, Aluminum Block) is about 400 pounds dressed with no flywheel. From what I found the RX8 motor is 218 dressed? I can compensate the weight by moving the battery to the back, No A/C, converting to manual steering rack, No power steering pump, Washer fluid relocation, and other various underhood accessories, and I can get pretty close to original....
But the point you brought up is what worries me the most...The fact that the V8 sits up higher and further forward. And having just done a complete ground up chassis that stuff my motor back behind the axle, I have to add 250lbs+ of weight in each tire to compensate, so I know it can make a drastic difference.
If anybody has actually tracked a V8 RX8 and a stock RX8, I would be extremely interested in hearing about your experiences. If I lose the wonderful handling of the RX8, then swapping in a V8 is utterly pointless.
This is what I have been trying to find out. An LS1 (Aluminum Head, Aluminum Block) is about 400 pounds dressed with no flywheel. From what I found the RX8 motor is 218 dressed? I can compensate the weight by moving the battery to the back, No A/C, converting to manual steering rack, No power steering pump, Washer fluid relocation, and other various underhood accessories, and I can get pretty close to original....
But the point you brought up is what worries me the most...The fact that the V8 sits up higher and further forward. And having just done a complete ground up chassis that stuff my motor back behind the axle, I have to add 250lbs+ of weight in each tire to compensate, so I know it can make a drastic difference.
If anybody has actually tracked a V8 RX8 and a stock RX8, I would be extremely interested in hearing about your experiences. If I lose the wonderful handling of the RX8, then swapping in a V8 is utterly pointless.
As far as track driving, you would realllllllllly have to be a spectacular driver to be able to tell the change in dynamics. It still handles ******* excellent, predictable, comfortable, fun. I had mine out on the track 5 times last year, it was a ******* hoot! Most fun I have ever had with my pants on LOL!
For comparisons sake, a good friend of mine is a very very talented driver, much more then I could dream of. He drove mine & his back to back at the track
His car: 2006, Manual, Non GT, rear seats removed, most interior behind front seats gone, Good coilovers (PSS9's I believe), cat delete with a catback exhaust, intake, both on the same Hankook R-S3's except his were 265 wide, mine are 245.
My car: 2005, LS6/T56, stock interior short of racing bucket in drivers side, CXRacing shitty coilovers, 245 R-S3's , Stock sways etc.
His car: 1:19.6
My car: 1:17.1
For comparisons sake, the race prepped GT3 class cars are normally around 1:12 at this track.
Very expensive 2.5 second lap reduction, but this track is very tight and its hard to make use of the power. That being said, he was blown away by the power difference, and felt it handled excellent despite the swap.
He definitely agreed to being able to feel a difference, but said it is very small difference really, and felt it in was a negligible impact overall on the handling characteristics. Wasnt feeling like he couldnt push as hard in corners, only that it had a **** ton more grunt on the way out.
I ran mine in the CSCS Time attack 2015. We all know mine never got to move under its own power this year because I make questionable decisions LOL.
And yea, I came way too hot into a corner that summer and slid off the track, effectively eliminating my lip as I went
12-05-2016 | 07:04 PM
#29
Registered
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 111
Likes: 1
From: Trackside
Good stuff man, that is exactly what I was looking for, much appreciated.
My local track is very tight too, with a lot elevation changes which people say it isn't a horsepower track, but I find that offensive! If a car doesn't have the ability to scare me, then I feel I will never improve or get the excitement out of it...and if I run out of talent, then that is why I will have a roll cage hahaha.
My local track is very tight too, with a lot elevation changes which people say it isn't a horsepower track, but I find that offensive! If a car doesn't have the ability to scare me, then I feel I will never improve or get the excitement out of it...and if I run out of talent, then that is why I will have a roll cage hahaha.
12-24-2016 | 09:30 AM
#30
Registered
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 101
Likes: 4
Weight distribution change with LS1
The LS1 is less then 100lbs heavier then the Renesis. The LS swap (on mine at least), shifted the weight balance by less then 1% (The RX8 is not 50/50 from the factory contrary to seemingly popular belief) , and with a little bit of thought during the build it doesnt gain much weight, I think I added maybe 40lbs to the car?
As far as track driving, you would realllllllllly have to be a spectacular driver to be able to tell the change in dynamics. It still handles ******* excellent, predictable, comfortable, fun. I had mine out on the track 5 times last year, it was a ******* hoot! Most fun I have ever had with my pants on LOL!
For comparisons sake, a good friend of mine is a very very talented driver, much more then I could dream of. He drove mine & his back to back at the track
His car: 2006, Manual, Non GT, rear seats removed, most interior behind front seats gone, Good coilovers (PSS9's I believe), cat delete with a catback exhaust, intake, both on the same Hankook R-S3's except his were 265 wide, mine are 245.
My car: 2005, LS6/T56, stock interior short of racing bucket in drivers side, CXRacing shitty coilovers, 245 R-S3's , Stock sways etc.
His car: 1:19.6
My car: 1:17.1
For comparisons sake, the race prepped GT3 class cars are normally around 1:12 at this track.
Very expensive 2.5 second lap reduction, but this track is very tight and its hard to make use of the power. That being said, he was blown away by the power difference, and felt it handled excellent despite the swap.
He definitely agreed to being able to feel a difference, but said it is very small difference really, and felt it in was a negligible impact overall on the handling characteristics. Wasnt feeling like he couldnt push as hard in corners, only that it had a **** ton more grunt on the way out.
I ran mine in the CSCS Time attack 2015. We all know mine never got to move under its own power this year because I make questionable decisions LOL.
And yea, I came way too hot into a corner that summer and slid off the track, effectively eliminating my lip as I went
As far as track driving, you would realllllllllly have to be a spectacular driver to be able to tell the change in dynamics. It still handles ******* excellent, predictable, comfortable, fun. I had mine out on the track 5 times last year, it was a ******* hoot! Most fun I have ever had with my pants on LOL!
For comparisons sake, a good friend of mine is a very very talented driver, much more then I could dream of. He drove mine & his back to back at the track
His car: 2006, Manual, Non GT, rear seats removed, most interior behind front seats gone, Good coilovers (PSS9's I believe), cat delete with a catback exhaust, intake, both on the same Hankook R-S3's except his were 265 wide, mine are 245.
My car: 2005, LS6/T56, stock interior short of racing bucket in drivers side, CXRacing shitty coilovers, 245 R-S3's , Stock sways etc.
His car: 1:19.6
My car: 1:17.1
For comparisons sake, the race prepped GT3 class cars are normally around 1:12 at this track.
Very expensive 2.5 second lap reduction, but this track is very tight and its hard to make use of the power. That being said, he was blown away by the power difference, and felt it handled excellent despite the swap.
He definitely agreed to being able to feel a difference, but said it is very small difference really, and felt it in was a negligible impact overall on the handling characteristics. Wasnt feeling like he couldnt push as hard in corners, only that it had a **** ton more grunt on the way out.
I ran mine in the CSCS Time attack 2015. We all know mine never got to move under its own power this year because I make questionable decisions LOL.
And yea, I came way too hot into a corner that summer and slid off the track, effectively eliminating my lip as I went
01-05-2017 | 03:34 PM
#31
New Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Lol you guys suck. Keep working bro. I'm about to buy a donor for my 8 and drop an LS in the donor. There's videos of multiple LS 8's on YouTube. Some people just down you cuz they're not up for the risk of doing it themselves. But if you got a plan and somebody to help you, your straight man. God bless.
10-08-2017 | 11:28 AM
#33
New Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
LS1 Swap with fuel vapor issue
Hello Guys..! I'm new to the forum and have an LS1 04' RX8 project almost complete. I am having an issue with the fuel return (Tank pressure build up). Not sure why the pressure is not releasing and causing a leak before the air filter over the driver rear wheel! I am changing out the fuel regulator on the 5.3 today and the fuel cap. Have a feeling that the vapor system is not working because I haven't hooked up the Mazda PCM and Fuse panel. The leak stops after a few seconds and we are able to run the Temp/ fans test on the 5.3. Still, need to know if I should go ahead and change the Charcoal canister anyway.
10-15-2017 | 01:59 PM
#35
LS1 Swap
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