swap a rotary for a 4/6 cylinder

I was wondering if anyone could help me with my little problem?? i have a mazda rx7 which has a rotary which is stuff and i want to put a 4 or 6 cylinder in it but i don't know what will fit, so i was wondering if someone could help.

why don't you want your rotary?

My first idea is to ask whats wrong with your rotary? After you answer that ill give you some other ideas as im sure someone else will also.. if not and your hell bent on a motor swap.. ill direct the right way... as im also sure others will do.

but i don't know what will fit, so i was wondering if someone could help.

Yeah, here's a tip: Buy a piston engined car, and not a RX-7 if you want cylinders.

Motors as big as small block V8s will "Fit" in the engine bay, but it takes custom work, it's not like out with the Rotary, in with the DOHC VTEC.

Not worth it, for the money you can rebuild your RX-7's motor for way less that custom fabricating all that BS for a less potential(and powerful) piston engine.

Motors as big as small block V8s will "Fit" in the engine bay, but it takes custom work, it's not like out with the Rotary, in with the DOHC VTEC.


I agree somewhat, HOWEVER as far as a v8 fittind requring alot of fab. , wrong. Depending on which v8 you chose, its as simple as a bolt in engine cradle and a custom transmission mount. And less potential? Hmm... Ill just stop. I still agree though, if you want a real rx-7 keep it a rotary.

Over at Torque Central (www.torquecentral.com) a few people are putting in turbo Buick V6's. At least one guy is in the low elevens. Go to Torque Central and do a search for "MisRed".
A Chevy 350 fits quite easy. A Ford 5.0 may require a hole in the hood, which is easily covered by a fiberglass scoop. A small Block Mopar will also fit.
The conversion is really quite simple. you can purchase ready made motor and tranny mounts. the electrical is the hardest part.
If anyone gives you a hard time about the "soul" of the car, offer to let them buy it. It's your car. Do what you want.

LOL! Soul of the car. I used to say that all the time. Looking at how rare the old rotary engines are getting to be. I now encourage people to swap in piston engines. They obviously dont want to be bothered to understand the car or the engine. They will blow up the engine anyway so they might as well pull it before they do.

Can I buy your rotary engine?? I am not joking if its a running engine I'll buy it from you.

And thank you for making my Rotary engined car that much more rare and valuble.

I guess I should have been a little more explicit. If you don't want me to rip out the "soul" of my car by swapping a V8, I will be happy to sell you the entire car (no engine of course since it is now in my Porsche).

Most people who are looking at engine swaps are doing so because the rotary is dead. Does that mean the "soul" is dead? If so, it doesn't matter what you do to the car.

Cars don't have souls. They are complex mechanical devices that sometimes break down (most rotaries are getting up in age and subject to failure). Rotary engines are getting rare and expensive. Piston engines are everywhere and very cheap. It is a cost effective solution. Very few hot rodders leave the original flat head V8 in their creation. Most do some sort of engine swap. A few purists keep the original engine and mod it.

From the looks of your signature you have also done an engine swap. I applaud your dedication to the rotary. But this thread is specifically about a piston swap. Maybe you can offer to purchase Ricky2069's car before he kills its "soul".

Let me make sure this is clear. I have nothing against you. I am not trying to flame you. I'm glad you are happy with your rotary swap. I am happy with mine too.

I am not flaming you either. Like I said I am 100% in agreement with you. Put in a V-8. I am hoping one day I will have one of the very few RX-7's that actually have a Rotary engine in them.

Even if your engines are blown I will buy them, I am not joking either if you have a rotary engine sitting on your garage floor and want to sell it PM me and we can work out a deal.

i've seen plenty of drag based Supra driven rx-7's
The 13B is not the best choice for straightline, but it gives you that awsome blaence everyone likes...
if you don't care, go ahead and do it

The best swap- 20B 3rotor from a JDM cosmos

Im thinking his lack of responce means that this was yet another post from a poser (probably a honduh owner) trying to et us to badmouth the rotory.

Personally Im thinking of dropping a 20b in the 82 280ZX I have now :)

several months back, there was a guy that swapped an sr20det into an FD3S. if i had any kind of rotary powered car, i would keep it that way. RX-7 does stand for something: Rotary eXperiment 7.

I have an 88 RX-7 and was woundering if a 5 liter mustang engine from the same era would fit in there and what I would need to do to make it a good fit

I have an 88 RX-7 and was woundering if a 5 liter mustang engine from the same era would fit in there and what I would need to do to make it a good fit

It is a very simple swap. You can purchase ready made motor mounts or fab your own. Check out http://www.freewebz.com/adesso/rxengine.htm
for one example.

You will need the Ford tranny. Both manual and automatic will work.

Most likely you will need to cut a hole in your hood for clearance.

You will also need a custom driveshaft.

Adapting the electronics is the hardest part.

With all this said, swapping in another 13B is still much easier.

The Ford intake stands way too high to even use the stock hood. the TPI350 or the LT/LS engine woudl be a much better choice as far as clearance.