CRX+rotter engine

I'm gettin a 90 crx and I wanna rebuild it with a new engine. Does anyone think that the 1.3 rx-7 rotter would fit? if not what would u recommend.

Well your definally to get some cross breeding flames on this one. It would fit, its one of the smallest motors there is.

Anything's possible with the right amount of $$$. Not only that, aren't almost all of the rotory cars rear-wheel drive?

aren't almost all of the rotory cars rear-wheel drive?


Yes, you would be correct in assuming that. Not sure about the RX8's though, but pretty sure.

Heavier, not transverse (although the original RO80 was I think - the one by NSU.) and fires in the wrong direction so you'd have to swap the positioning.

A waste of time since usually early rotaries pumped 120-130bhp without decent porting (eg: bridge, extend or peripheral) and without the 48mm webber bolted on. The later Turbo varients were higher output - but a rotary is a thirsty beast, while it's a 1.2 or 1.3 (12A/13B respectively), its swept volume is considerably more.

A B series swap will net you better results and is a lot easier. If you want a rotary, get a RX2 or RX3 coupe - either is a classic :)

A friend of mine spent $10,000+ having an RX7 engine put in his 93 Civic EX... it was pretty fast for a while... but not really worth it since about 20k miles later, he blew the engine.

He must have gotten a lemon or was rough as hell on it, There ussually hard as hell to blow.

He must have gotten a lemon or was rough as hell on it, There ussually hard as hell to blow.

Hmmm yeah, you must not read much about rx7's, because those wankle engines are known to detonate and blow up if you dont take good care of them. They run really hot too.

Rubbish. What a load of bullshit.

rotary not rotter!

Um rotarys are Very small engines so you would have no problem fitting it in. You would have to convert to Rear wheel drive or it wouldnt work though. Plus its not like the mazda harness plugs into the honda one so IM POSITIVE many problems would arise.

Plus rotaries are not that reliable, due to cold starts, engine flooding easaly, and parts are more expensive.

...and parts are more expensive.


Yeah but theres about 2/3rds less parts on a rotary than a normal motor.

dude rotaries are the worst engine to have, they break constantly, especially the apex seal(our head gasket) it aint even worth the time, money, or effort to swap one into your car.

dude rotaries are the worst engine to have, they break constantly, especially the apex seal(our head gasket) it aint even worth the time, money, or effort to swap one into your car.

I agree completely... I only know one guy that still has an RX7, and he's had the engine rebuilt twice... once when he got it, and again here recently... I blame the fast and the furious for creating worthless status symbols.

I agree completely... I only know one guy that still has an RX7, and he's had the engine rebuilt twice... once when he got it, and again here recently... I blame the fast and the furious for creating worthless status symbols.

I blame Fast and the Furious for alot of things.

I blame Fast and the Furious for alot of things.

Kind of makes you weak in the knees waiting for the third installment, eh? (yes, it's on the way)

Kind of makes you weak in the knees waiting for the third installment, eh? (yes, it's on the way)


Little off toipic I know, but...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/161346ff.jpg

Mazda fixed the rotor seal issue a long time ago. I had one for two years in a RX2 Coupe and I never had a problem with it - then again, I had bought the rolling shell and dropped in a JDM 12A turbo with intercooler and 5 speed gearbox.

Maintainance done: regular oil changes every 8000 (same as I do with the SiR), top radiator hose, fuel pump (I was running an aftermarket efi pump and surge chamber and it failed to run after 3 months - replaced under warentee) and rear axles/differential) The HP/torque of the turbo rotor ripped it all to pieces after 4 months of hard launches so I got a ford 9inch setup for it.

Other than that there were zero issues.

The only time I've known of overheating was with a friend's peripheral port, webber carb-fed 13B in an RX3 - it had start issues etc and flooding but what do you expect with a PP and carb?

"dude rotaries are the worst engine to have, they break constantly, especially the apex seal(our head gasket) it aint even worth the time, money, or effort to swap one into your car."

So what r my alternatives if i want to get at least 150hp with stock and no turbo. Any one knows if I can get a ford rs200 engine anywhere? would a delsol engine be any better?

ummm - the B16A is 160bhp NA with no modifications done to the motor. Why whould you drop in a ford motor when you could use a Honda B16, B18 or B20, not to mention a K20 or K24?

B16a is kewl. Why ford? this is not just anyford engine! the 85 rs200 1.8L made 250hp and their rs200 rally car made 700 hps with a double turbocharged 2.2L. Anyways If I could find one of those badboys I'll probably just sell both my cars and buy it ;)

meh - I had the enjoyment of riding around in a Sierra Cosworth Group A - now that's fun - right before they and the "Godzilla" R32 Skylines got banned from our Group A series as they were slaughtering the local Commodore and Falcon V8s :)

RS200 was one of the Killer B's wasn't it? Homologated "B" category rally cars that offed a few drivers before the whole class was chucked - or was it the escort?

Truthfully - 250bhp is ok - but I've seen Nissan GTi-Rs with 190KW @ all four on a dynojet dyno, not to mention R32 GTS-t's doing 180+ KW @ RW and GTRs' doing 280KW @ all 4 - not to mention 180SXs, S13, S14s and S15s all pumping 150+ KW @ RW. What's my point? Why the hell would you do the swap into a Honda when there are tons of better cars around - including some of the RS fords :)

I drive a Civic because it keeps me out of trouble, I couldn't be bothered doing swaps or mods.

Note: Project troublemaker is taking shape in the form of a '75 auto Datsun 240K GL hardtop which is setting me back 500 bucks (Aussie) and the insertion of a SR20DET plus 5 speed and running gear from a JDM spec S13. I have the old-school '74 GTR flares and spoilers lined up for about 500 bucks - and seeing as I'm putting a DOHC turbo 4pot in place of the 2.4 straight 6, I have room for a front mount intercooler without cutting into the grill.

B16a is kewl. Why ford? this is not just anyford engine! the 85 rs200 1.8L made 250hp and their rs200 rally car made 700 hps with a double turbocharged 2.2L. Anyways If I could find one of those badboys I'll probably just sell both my cars and buy it ;)


I used to own a 1.8, ported/polished head with larger valves and .025 over bore. Had it in a 95 4d escort. Sleeper.

They run really hot too.

Well, my step-dads RX7 runs cold as hell, it hardly will even get up to the normal temp, so i dont see how they can be running real hot

Thus is true, compaired to a regular motor there is like 100 times less triction in a rotory, makeing (theoreticly) less heat.

Wasn't cosworth the one with turbo lag and 200hp?
And the rs200 was in the b series and its two fatal accidents was why b series disapeared.
"Why the hell would you do the swap into a Honda when there are tons of better cars around - including some of the RS fords"
The RS fords are not available here in Canada(I haven't seen any yet)+ I love crx for its light weight.

Group A spec, the Cosworth was closer to 400bhp here - and yes, with huge turbo lag. It was a track car only.