lol! Fresh, decade old video of my V8 FC. Just found the old tape from a 1996 autocross, so I transferred what was salvageable to the computer. I was giving rides that day, so every run was with a passenger, and not going for any sort of trophy. But it still shows how my alignment specs worked with the V8 conversion, and kept it balanced and neutral (and cornered flat). I need to use these to shut up rotards...

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/adesso/rex1.wmv
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/adesso/rex2.wmv
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/adesso/rex3.wmv

Mind you, these runs were also on 225/50-15 Yokohama A008 RSIIs on 15x7 wheels...

And can you tell which one I blew the first shift on? lol! (that'll teach me to be paying more attention to the cute female passenger than what I'm doing...)

Also, the distance from the turnaround to the finish was exactly a quarter mile (we were using the Bremerton Raceway drag strip fo the main section of the course), and the car did it, with slaloms, crossing the track, and slowing for certain parts, in 20 seconds. Imagine how much quicker that would be were I merely accellerating in a straight line!


http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cvetters3/Rxbg.jpg

I originally bought the car to autocross. I added Tokiko sport springs, Tokiko HP struts, got the wheels cheap to get the right offset and width, (they weren't my first choice, but they were light and they worked), and won the class for the season ('92).

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/467569a.jpg

At the end of the season, I painted it:

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/467569b.jpg

Then the engine destroyed itself (100k miles, and a perfectly running engine suddenly ate a rear apex seal destroying half the engine: rear and center irons, rear aluminum, and the rotor itself). it cost me less to do the 5.0 swap than rebuild the stock engine back to stock specs (remember, this was 1993).

I know a lot of rotary purists are pissed about the car, but I had had a lot of rotary cars and wanted something a bit different, and even more unique. And, as you can see, it worked and was very balanced, neutral, and fun.
I just wanted to share some cool old video. And all the suspension and alignment I did will work very well on rotary powered FCs...

That's a great looking car. Do you have any underhood shots as well? Also what spoiler is that on the rear?

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/459103d.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/484414b.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/484414c.jpg

The rear spoiler is a modded one from an '80 Camaro Z/28, trimmed down and molded in.

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/484414d.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/467569c.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/636381d.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/1624588b.jpg

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/1624588c.jpg

And this is the modification to the trailing edge of the hatch to make it line up:

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/1624588d.jpg

Well props for all the work and such. But you wont get alot of rotor heads attention (the good attention) with a V8 under the hood.
Personaly i like the idea, its something different and you made it work. Good job.

The only thing that bugs me is the gosh darn wheels LOL

lol! Yeah, they were available, cheap, and the right offset and size for the class. I had specified a different design, but they wouldn't make them in the hub-centric size for the Mazda (though they had no problem making the same model for Hondas. Go figure...) I wanted a 5 spoke/5 hole design, more along the lines of a Halibrand or Torq Thrust, but in a +25mm offset, which no one would do. Remember, this was back in '92, and a lot of the good wheel styles we take for granted today weren't available.

And yeah, I've had enough debate with rotary purists who think that I must hate rotaries or not understand them, and that the car's balance and ability is ruined... I don't want to go there again. I just love the looks, ergonomics, build quality, and raw ability of the FC chassis. I don't think there's anything near it's price point that can touch it. Made an outstanding autocrosser in both rotary and V8 form.

Thanks for the pictures with the spoiler setup. Now I'm off to the junk yards, unless I get spunky and decide to make one out of glass.

i dont think anybdy here is going to debate with you

people are used to seeing v8 swaps by now.

i like your car, but im not really feeling the wheels or the spoiler.

do you still have that car?

i like your car, but im not really feeling the wheels or the spoiler.

do you still have that car?

No, don't have it anymore. Built it in '93 and sold it in '98. And I'd defintiely change the wheels if I still had it, considering the fact that 17s are now pretty cheap. I still think the spoiler fits it better than most aftermarket units.

No, don't have it anymore. Built it in '93 and sold it in '98. And I'd defintiely change the wheels if I still had it, considering the fact that 17s are now pretty cheap. I still think the spoiler fits it better than most aftermarket units.
I have to agree about the spoiler fitting it better than aftermarket ones. As far as the V8 goes - you've got to do what you've got to do.. just so long as you don't do it to an FB. haha Just kidding.

As far as the car itself goes, I normally hate stripes, but it looks suprisingly good with the blue and white stripes. The rims are definitely far from anything I would ever use, but overall the car looked good.

Just curious, how much total did the swap cost you (or how many hours did it take)?

I recently picked up a 01 4Runner as my daily driver and came in $13k under my budget, so I am now sitting wanting something fast. One of my first thoughts was an FC with a V8 swap, with the front runner being the LS1. (and my desire to swap isn't because of a hatred or lack of understanding of a rotary, just wanting a modern day rat-rod). As others have mentioned, other than the wheels, I like the looks of that car (though there would be a few things I would want differently, of course). Just trying to get an idea of total cost.

Just curious, how much total did the swap cost you (or how many hours did it take)?

I recently picked up a 01 4Runner as my daily driver and came in $13k under my budget, so I am now sitting wanting something fast. One of my first thoughts was an FC with a V8 swap, with the front runner being the LS1. (and my desire to swap isn't because of a hatred or lack of understanding of a rotary, just wanting a modern day rat-rod). As others have mentioned, other than the wheels, I like the looks of that car (though there would be a few things I would want differently, of course). Just trying to get an idea of total cost.

this link might help:
http://grannys.tripod.com/

Quite a bit, thanks. They are only about 100 miles from where I live, too.

Just curious, how much total did the swap cost you (or how many hours did it take)?

I recently picked up a 01 4Runner as my daily driver and came in $13k under my budget, so I am now sitting wanting something fast. One of my first thoughts was an FC with a V8 swap, with the front runner being the LS1. (and my desire to swap isn't because of a hatred or lack of understanding of a rotary, just wanting a modern day rat-rod). As others have mentioned, other than the wheels, I like the looks of that car (though there would be a few things I would want differently, of course). Just trying to get an idea of total cost.

The LS1 swap is considerably more money than mine. Just the engine will set you back more than I had into my complete swap. But, the LS1 fits woiithout cutting the hood or firewall (mine had to have that holein th ehood) due to the better location of the distributor on the Chevy, and the stock LS1 has the same hp that my modded Ford did. it's the better way to go if you have the funds for it.

But, budget about $5-6k for the swap to do it right with the LS1.

talk to the guys on the forums here: http://v8rx7.com/

There are a lot of completed LT1 and LS1 FCs there.