I am running mazda's ecu for gauges connected to the ls1 engine. And chevy PCM for the ls1/t56.

I have a custom steel driveshaft that I make.
And the harness for the ls1 to mazda's system is only controlling the fuel pump relay and fan relay. Then of corse 2 hot at all time and 2 key sensed.

As for a gm harness modified you can modify it yourself with lt1swap.com but can be a headache. Or send it off to be modified. Not sure of the places to recommend though

 

ls1rx8dotcom you should add a video of your build and how its doin or make a build thread of your own so it helps people who would be interested in your kit

 

I am working on a full right up

 

yeah a video would be great i mean im not doing the swap but im interested in how it is done

 

who all is offering a conversion for the ls2 into a 2006 rx8? the person/company I have already bought the kit from is jerking me around and now I'm screwed and need to find a kit I have my motor and trans already and my warranty ends in Jan. im stuck and don't know what to do ahhhhhh.....thanks for any help

 

At this point, Hinson and another poster in this thread are the only guys I'm aware of, offering any solutions for LS RX8 swaps.

By April I will have my complete kit ready, including CAN Gateway, and some other goodies. I intend on also offering an option for turbo guys, however at this point it is seeming like it is best to offer a conversion service rather then parts, as the mechanical side of the swap is extremely easy (everything fits fairly well, mounting & fluid systems are simple), but the electronics side of it is more complicated when hunting for full function.


For anyone interested, I will be running a GM E67 PCM system, my harness I started with is from a 2013 Corvette ZR1, as it offers exceptional boost control, and the E67 offers elaborate CAN data for my module to convert.
I will not be using a trigger wheel for RPM, we are programming our module to emulate the mazda sensor, and give out a RPM signal that the mazda system understands, based on the RPM data bits in the GM CANbus.

This is my first swap into a mazda, I have done many many many LS swaps prior. So far I am loving it, since I come from a family of programmers and software developers, I am lucky to have alot of help in learning the CANbus to do my own programming & hacking. I am working in getting as much extra functions out of the dash display as possible.

 

Do you happen to know who the other person is by chance......the one I'm being jerked around by is Hinson.......

 

I am the other one that offers the swap kit.
If you have any questions just send me a text or call @225-603-0881

 

Sounds interesting. I knew eventually the market would catch up and we'd have some good swap options for this car. Good luck on your kit!

 

If you get the electric side working I'm totally doing the swap. It's Like you said the actually swap is pretty straight forward, its the lack of DSC and the other stuff that sucks.

Good Luck

 

LS1RX8DOTCOM, I see you have a 225 area code. Are you indeed located in Baton Rouge? If so, I have been throwing around the idea of pulling the LS1 out of my 2002 Z28 and swapping it into my RX-8. I'll eventually be getting a larger cube LSX motor for the Camaro and seriously contemplating on this swap since my original rotary has over 75,000 miles on it. Do you offer services to do these swaps?

 

Yes I could do the swap for you and I am located in Zachary you can text or call me at 225-603-0881 anytime

If you would like me to do it this December would be the best time for me to do it.

 

JEImport (James Evans) in Baltimore did at least one RX8... it is blue with orange wheels on it.... they want over $15k start to finish though... the car they did it in was running right in June 2013 but i think the guy spun it on track and hit some crap....

either way not sure if JEI wants to share any secrets... they used SIKKY motor mounts i think...?

 

This seems rather reasonable to me for a full V8 swap. Did you mean this in a negative way? I dont think any shop could do this the right way for much cheaper than that...

 

IMHO ls is excellent choice for rx8...

my 2jz rx drives nice... but if i will swap again i'l choose ls...

how about to tell your story here:? Main | TheDriveBook

 

Je imports is sikky. I'm the west coast dealers for sikky. They are re vamping that mount kit to perfect a few things on it. It is a kit that is projected to be released in 2014

 

i need an LS.

 

For the cost of an rx8 + $15k+ there are a zillion other options out there. Plus the lack of a/c possibly, etc... Maybe $10k installed would be worth it to me but not $15k-$20k

Just my opinion

 

I dunno, that's what I find intriguing about the swap. I don't think there's a bunch of options similar to a V8 RX. Four seats, V8, 400+hp, handles like a Miata, for under $30K? You could turbocharge an S2000, but it wouldn't be the same in terms of the power delivery. WRX +mods, not the same. Same goes for an EVO. Closest thing I can think of is a Cayman S, but it'd be slower and less practical. The biggest downside IMO is the resale would hurt if you ended up getting rid of it. A more expensive car with fewer mods will sell for a lot more than a cheap car with a heart transplant, even done right.

 

The rx8 can still have a/c with a f-body bracket and compressor then have custom a/c lines fabbed. Heating all you need is hoses and clamps.

Power steering is kept aswell.

As for the guy about prices if you do the swap yourself you can get it done for 10k.

I did mine for 11k including car cost but that's me fabbing all the materials and building it myself.


If y'all have Any questions I will do the best I can to answer them.

 

So I have been following this thread for awhile with extreme interest. Really great work by everyone on these builds.

I am from Houston and I see rx8's with blown rotarys come up often and cheap on craigslist. It would be an absolute dream for me to snag one of those and do this swap. The handling and style of the rx8 with LSX power sounds like an epic combo. Just have to get that whole time and money part sorted out lol.

If I were to do this I would want to get as close to full function as possible and I'd do A/C for sure. @ls1rx8dotcom, how far have you got on the custom A/C lines with fbody bracket? Any pics or updates?

I am literally drooling over this thread and checking for updates daily. I might even be crazy enough to tackle a similar build in late 2014.

 

Ok so over the past weekend the forum members Blackbriar2189 (red ls2 rx8) and Rags1231 with there rx8s came over to My house www.Ls1rx8.com

Rags1231 came down for me to help him with his ls2 build 2days prier to Blackriar2189. We were unable to install the entire drivetrain as the transmission that he had purchased when the engine and transmission were separated from each other I found extensive play in the input shaft pulled the shaft out to replace the bearing but the race housing was spun so it needed a new housing and will be talking with the guy he purchased the set from for a replacement.
While installing the engine in his car I found a few things that I can improve my kits for easier installation along as found new things that must be done and took hundreds of photos that will be posted on my site in the couple days.

The forum member blackbriar2189 came down as it was a stop on his moving trip and spent the day with him and his friend got his heater working and looked at each others cars got some pictures and some video of just driving around. Sadly he couldn't do any racing videos because the engine was still in its breakin period and it was raining.

 

The ac lines haven't been Fabricated yet because it's cold right now.

But after the lines are made there will have to be some modifications to the passenger valve cover witch will need the coil rack bolt hole cut off and coil rack needs to be shaved so it's nothing to worry about. And I will be making them hopefully in the next few months I will have that part finished

 

Awesome. Really great to see some momentum building for these LS rx8 builds.

 

"Don't practice until you get it, practice until you can't not get it"- some guy who was motivational. Hopefully your kit or whoever's is flawless and issue free, if it isn't issue free, there will be room for someone else to beat you out.

edit: grammar