So, since I read the Thread about the Rx-8 wit the 20b engine on Puerto Rico... I just couldnt get that out of my head... so I decided to make the swap... I've been talking with rgonza about the engine swap and he tells me that they can do it...

I just hope I can manage to get a good price with the ppl that are going to ship my car to puerto rico since i Live in Guatemala I'm anticipating an expensive bill... so as soon as rgonza tells me the price for everything we need... im willing to brake my piggy bank...

What do you thing guys? would you guys make the engine swap?

 

depends on how much it costs.

 

they said the job got done with $7,500
so i hope they give me a good price for the installation...

 

When I spoke to the Speed Factory here about 2 years ago in reference to that, they quoted me a price aroung $20k, and said it would never pass emissions.

 

I've heard or swaps being in excess of 50k when done properly, no way in hell it's happening for $7500

 

If your asking if you can afford it, then you probably can't. $7500 for the motor and turbo maybe.

Maybe prices down there are different though.

 

$7500 sounds way "2 good 2 be true".
Between sourcing, purchasing and rebuilding and engine, then fabricating necessary parts for the swap, replacing weak driveline components, installation, tunning, labor etc etc there is no way 7500 for a top job.

 

I think when he said 7500 he meant thats how much it cost for them to finish their own 20 swap. They didn't have to pay for labor since they did it all themselves. I may be wrong though.

 

Not wrong, that is exactly correct, no labor factored into the $7,500.

 

Remember that it's Puerto Rico and not the EXPEN$IVE US!

Labor is definitely waay less expensive there. I just came back from SouthAmerica where an engine rebuilt (not a used motor) for my ALfa cost me $800!

You can't beat labor rates there.

Of course PR is a bit more expensive since it's "part of US" but nothing like here especially in the Bay Area.

But this is indeed a great project.

Buena suerte y nos decis como va el proyecto!

Good luck,
Carlos

 

I was just in Guatemala this past summer...beautiful country, always fun to go there.

I didn't see a single RX-8 while I was there...people I talked to didn't even know what an RX-8 was. You must get a ton of people checking out your car...I can only imagine the attention you'll get after your engine swap.

 

The labor looks extensive though....so even if $$$/labor hour is lower, the amount of hours needed should still bring the total cost of parts and labor to over $10K I would think. That is not counting the actual transportation of the car......which should be around $2K round trip (at least). I am not going to say it isn't worth it though. I have also been thinking long and hard about the 20b swap.....but I would do the work myself. Is 650whp worth $15K (at least).......depends on how wealthy you are.

 

Hell I would watch it....or you could see your parts driving down the road on another 8

 

Funny I was about to say that. During my X-MAS vacation, I went to 3 countries in SouthAMerica this time, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and didn't see a single RX8!

Of course the nice rotary trucks, RX2, RX3 and a few RX7 were found. Some even with the aweful, but powerful, conversion to a Datsun 1600 engine (L16).

You indeed MUST get tons af attention especially with the ladies... How did you end up getting that car there?

Carlos

 

sup yall... my internet connection failed... so i couldnt c how things where going here...
some of u wonder if it is possible to make the engine swap for 7500 i was talking with rgonza... they have a thread where they explained their project and the total cost was 7500 i hope i can get a reasonable price from them including the labor work...


:D Im happy to c that u enjoyed your time in guatemala... next time look me up and I'll show u the good places...

as for the attention :P yes I sure get a lot of attention:P mostly from the girls and the ricers...

My brother own a 93' Rx-7 w/ Greedy TT 360hp pretty impresive machine... he loves to go head to head with the carreras T.

We both got our cars thru the agency...

 

as for the price... im willing to spend 15k on my 8, man this car is my dream... everything on it its amazing... but I would really like to c those damn rich kids from here to eat some dust... they would never c that coming... hehehe

 

Still don't think it's happening, even for 15k. 15k would probably get you everything you need to do it, but then you're looking at big labor costs, and I'm not sure if the 20B bolts up to the RX-8 tranny like it did with previous RXs. Keep in mind you need things like an FMIC, upgraded fuel, upgraded drivetrain, a sophisticated EMS, lots of custom fabrication, and tons of other little misc. parts that will add up fast. You'd also probably want to run a big single instead of the stock sequential setup. I tried to find the thread, but there was a detailed cost breakdown of a 20B FD swap on here a few years ago, the extra parts costs and labor was staggering.

 

^^^^
I agree, 15k sounds too little. Yeah, the PR guys did it for a lot less, but just thinking about all the labor they must have put into it plus parts has got to add up to more than 15k for the average joe schmoe who will pay someone else for the labor. Good luck though, would be awesome if you get it done.