I am sure some of you guys have talked about this before because I did a few searches that came up with 7 year old topics. But wanted a fresh answer with todays rotary expertise.

What is the problem with building a 3 rotor na (called a r20b?) and putting it in an rx8? I have seen videos of rx8 time trial cars with 3 rotor setups and they seem really perfect for the car. give it that extra 100hp it always needed but with no boost worries of turbos or superchargers. No swaps for a na 3 rotor rx8 yet?

I can understand how an na 4 rotor (r26b is it called?)would be much longer and require more room in the engine bay and much more custom work. but still I would think more than 3 or 4 of these swaps would be done also.

Is it just custom intakes, exhaust, cooling and linkage that people don't want to do? Or is it the price that makes it pointless. You would think for 5-6K (the cost of an rx8 turbo kit) that a vendor would make a 3 rotor na swap of something for 6K. Right?

Let me know what the big deal is.

 

3 rotor has been done a few times, not sure of any street cars with 4 rotors. The deciding factor for me not to go 3 rotor was the emission test. Search a little more, you will find what information your looking for.

 

1. you need to learn to search better. Click the link in my sig, and type in relevant key words.
2. it will be a lot, Lot, LOT more than the price, or mods that you mentioned.

 

Will search some more on here.

Mostly just read that its stupid expensive, pointless and buy another car because the rx8 is not for you.

r20b may be a bit expensive...

Maybe just a 4K cosmo 20b converted to na?

 

educate yourself in the mechanics and electronics of the RENESIS engine,and then ask the forum (with a straight face) if you think it will only cost $4k...

 

Okay, 4k for an engine, its going to have to be rebuilt , another 4k+ with quality new parts, the transmission, clutch, PCM/ECU to run it, cooling mods, the list goes on. If your cashed up and have the know how to do this, sure it's doable, its not just drop the motor in and hit the key.
Welcome to the club.

 

The big deal is that you really didn't search and read because if you had then you wouldn't be asking a question that has already been answered numerous times. Not to mention that this has no business being posted in General Discussion even if it was a valid question to justify starting a new thread with.

The simple answer is that if you have to ask, then you can't afford to know.

 

The mechanical hurdles can be overcome with some effort and money. The electrical problems are much greater. The Renesis ecu interfaces to everything. This includes the dash guages, traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes and the list goes on. Even the A/C and fuel pump get signals from the computer. The 3 rotor Cosmo engine didn't have an advanced ecu and can't supply the signals required for RX8 systems.

 

It may be a bit more productive to search for people driving 3-rotor and finding their build threads.

I think there is only 1 4-rotor, but I may be mistaken. It is a drift team, and they dumped over $100,000 into building it.
There are I think a few dozen 3-rotors out there that aren't part of a race team, though I am not aware of any NA on the street. Every one I know about is turbo'ed as well. The normal 3-rotor cost is over $20,000.

Search for shops that have done 3-rotor RX-7s, and you will find that most of them apparently have done a few RX-8s as well.

 

what the big deal is ? you are a #@$#@ moron.

enuff said.

 

As you RIWWP said, the 20B swap will be more than $20K easily.

Call racing beat, Atkins, pineapple racing - for example - and try to get a quote for a 20B rebuild. The price quotes will open your wisdom

Then call other shops to get quotes for the install.

Enjoy!

 

The cheapest I have ever seen a 3 rotor dropped into anything was $15k. And at that, it was a budget build. To do it right, you need to spend $30k to $40k to do it right. You need a manual rear 'side' housing (since 20Bs were automatic in the Cosmo), a different front 'side' housing to support FD3S front cover, a new subframe, ECM, wire harness, exhaust, modified LIM to clear the hood, motor mounts, 13B-REW transmission since the RX8 transmission will not be able to handle the power, clutch, flywheel, ignition... There is just way too much to list and everything starts to add up quick.

This is not your run of the mill *****-footing engine swap!

 

I can see this is a touchy subject here... lol ...chill out everything is ok.

Through searches I have found a few shops around (east coast) that I guess specialize in it.

One of them is http://www.definedautoworks.com/ which really look to know what they are doing with 3 rotors fc's and fd's

Also speed1 was mentioned being a big rotary race shop.

But thats what I way saying was if you could get it done somehow for 6-8K then it would be a great swap to do. For 30-40K its really just a funny thing that it would cost this much to get a 3 rotor.

Definitely will just look at turbo kits for the rx8. Thanks.

 

This response needs to be a sticky answer to this question.

Not the normal in the thread. "OMGz OMGs OMGd your stupid"

What swap is a run of the mill ***** foot swap into an rx8? I want something easy. :P

 

Well, of course it would be a great swap for that price, lol

You would be lucky to source the engine and rebuild it to withstand the hp

 

I meant to say you would be lucky to get the engine and rebuild it as it needs to for high horse power for that price.

 

....Davin missed the 'replace the steering rack' cost - otherwise spot-on.

 

it's not a touchy subject, the way you started a new thread over it and the reasons behind doing so are the why it goes down this way. You must be the 10,000th noob *this year* who thinks they are the only person on the planet to ever ask such a auspicious question that we have to revisit the same stuff over and over again with, not to mention the usual reactionary "I didn't do nuthin, you guys are jerks" commentary that always follows. After you get past the 1,000th one yourself then you will understand ...

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/confused-about-what-belongs-forum-47393/

 

it's funny how morons think hp is cheap ...

 

Oh wow, really? I know in FD's you may have to relocate the steering rack but was unsure in an RX8. Defined Auto now has mounts where you do not need a custom oil pan and a relocated steering rack, though, I am unsure the compatibility in RX8s. Nevertheless, so much work needs to be done to make a 3 rotor work. And now that I think about it, in addition to what I wrote, you will also need upgraded suspension to handle the added weight, top feed injectors with fuel rails and a new fuel system to support everything. And still, I am probably missing a lot.

Seeing a 20B in any car is true gem and not for the faint of heart

Seeing a 26B is even more of a gem. The only 4 rotor I have ever seen in real life was in the RX-792P

 

The RX8 has electric power steering that is controlled by the ecu. This will be lost in the swap.

 

Not really, I kept mine. It is a pain in tha butt to make it work since it's so bulky. But doable. Sorry for the intrusion Alnielsen. Havent really read the thread just your post since it was last.

 

That video is awesome

 

That's OK. I'm only wrong once a year. I guess I'll have to be right for quite a while.

 

And getting it out of the way on day three of the new year. Way to go!