I need a real RX-7 tech-head to answer this question.

First of all I dont know squat about RX-7's and don't even own one. But I overheard some guy talking about adding an extra rotary to his RX-7 that would result in running low 12's with his stock twin turbo. I just found this interesting and wanted to know if that was possible. I could imagine it would also be very expensive.

yeah, it's called a 20b (3 rotor) swap. the engine comes from the mazda cosmo. the only trick is getting it to fit into the rx. you just have to push the transmission back a few inches, but it's a hard job. normally it will cost about 10-20 grand if you're doing your own work, or 30 + grand if professionally done. but man, i'd definately do it if i had the money, 'cause that engine is sick.

you can even go crazy and put a 4-rotor engine in. this is if you have $100k lying around. check this stuff out.
4 rotor site (http://www.mulsannescorner.com/mazdar26b.html)
4 rotor video, this is amazing (http://www.epoch-net.ne.jp/yasu/777/4re_001_b.wmv)

Another question i had in mind. I've also seen this swap in a magazine where a supra engine was put in. If RX-7's run off rotaries, how is it you can swap in a motor running on pistons? Also, how reliable would the performance of the car be after the swap? I'm just doing some homework because i'd like to get an RX-7 late next year. So thanks for your help.

well this has been done before with great results, but i wouldn't do it if i were you. it's kinda like sleeping with the enemy. and you will find that most other rx-7 owners will take offense by you passing on the rotary experience. personally, i think it stops being an rx-7 when you put a piston engined car in it, but that's just me. if you don't want to put the time and effort into learning how to properly maintain a turbo rotary, then i don't suggest buying one. but if you just put some tlc into it, you'll find that it is well worth the time and money to own a rotary powered car. afterall, rotaries only run into problems when they are mistreated.

rotors > pistons :biggrin:

as for the 20b, you can buy the engine for ~$2500, but... add another 0 to that to make it work in the car

The RX-7 has a pretty big engine bay to begin with, and I've seen some pretty mad swaps put into these cars.
There is a guy in the local SCCA here in DFW that has a 2nd Gen RX-7 body that he appropriately called the RX-355, due to the Chevy 355 c.i. motor in there. :thefinger

Rxtacy: You're right, its not a RX-7 if it doesnt have a Mazda built wankley rotary in it!

Thanks for your help guys. I'm definitely going to stick with the rotary. Does anyone have the specs for the 3-rotary RX-7 stock?

if you think you're definately going to buy an fd3s, then i suggest you become a member of the rx-7 forums nopistons (http://www.nopistons.com) and rx-7 club (http://www.rx7club.com). i prefer nopistons. they're nicer to the newbies anyway, but rx-7club is much bigger. ask a lot of questions about buying one. i wish i had done this before i bought one. it would have saved me thousands. also, this is a good site (http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/) to read up on about rx-7 faqs and how-to sort of stuff. good luck.

i also would recommend not worrying about a 20b swap until you own one for a while and are fully familiar with the car. these car's take some getting used to.

Thanks for that site rxtacy. I dont know how you guys do it. God knows I had patience with my Integra but damn, apex seals and boost guages, intercoolers and pre-cats. There's so much to be done and pamper. And there's no such thing as a cheap mod with these cars. I'm really gonna have to do my homework from here to next year, but it seems like it'll be worth it cause i'll have the only RX-7 within a 50 mile radius.

Once you learn about rotarys, you will love them, and rebuilding a rotary is a hell of a lot easier than a piston engine.

Are you sure about the no RX-7s in Miami? I would think there would be a ton of them there...

Well actually I was exaggerating and there probably are people with RX-7's in Miami. But i've never seen one at some of the race spots. Coming home from picking up my bro from school I always see this black stock RX-7. Also, like out of every 5 car shows I'll probably see 2 RX-7's. So they're not that common down here.