5.7ltr Chevvy V8 powered Rex (pics)

[tuttle]

Wow what a project, I love stuff like this.-Never heard of a rotary fiend trading in for a piston though

[slinky]

I'm sure I read somewhere that SBC --> Rex was quite a common conversion...

slinky

[turbo-tastic]

I remember seeing a Mk II (FC model??) with no engine or 'box on ebay, and the seller said
"perfect shell for that V8 swap" as if it was quite common practice!!

And sure enough, a few weeks later I saw another MKII Rex with a 3.5 RV8 on carbs. Not a bad idea if you ask me, better realibilty, probably better MPG, and much, much more low down torque.

I'm not too keen on that bulge in the bonnet though.


>> Edited by turbo-tastic on Monday 12th December 14:07

[DustyC]

really strange conversion that.
All I can guess is that the owner knew the engine and liked the shape so put them together.

[turbo-tastic]

I wonder if that 944 in the background has a V8 as well. Seems to have a bonnet bulge of some sorts (and M3 mirrors. Perhaps its a very rare BMW M944 A bit like all those Lexus Saxo's I keep seeing )

[iaint]

There are a fair number of these converstions (bastardisations??) in the US. Couple of main issues - the block sits higher and further forwards so the handling is different. Can be problems with the transmission not lining up properly thus excessive wear.

A proper conversion would be to drop a cosmo engine (20b) in with a decent ssingle snail on there. Some mods to engine mount points and firewall. Easily > 500bhp with low boost on a sotck engine.

Tweak the engine (porting, dowelling, ceraminc tips etc) and you've got a beast.

I'm a completely biased rotaholic so you'll never convince me this is an improvement

I'd be very tempted to drop a custom (short) 3-rotor with peripheral porting in - that'd be really mental. Apparently only a little longer than the standard engine but no turbos making heat extra and much lighter. Peripheral poerting was banned from motorsport because it makes the rotary too competetive.

[tuttle]

I agree that bonnet bulge does spoil the shape-Mad Max anyone? I expect that lump weighs a fair bit too so,as said above, must put a fair bit of weight over/in front of the axle which will prolly up the turn in some.
Still helluva project, imo.

[slinky]

turbo-tastic said:

I wonder if that 944 in the background has a V8 as well. Seems to have a bonnet bulge of some sorts (and M3 mirrors. Perhaps its a very rare BMW M944 A bit like all those Lexus Saxo's I keep seeing )

Think more like this...

"355 4 bolt main block
scat forged crank
eagle h beam rods
je 8.0.1 forged piston
afr 195cc cnc alluminium heads
cometic multi layered steel head gasgets
cam motion solid roller flat tappet cam
pro magnum roller rockers
comp cams stud girdles
true roller timing chain
csi electric water pump
victor junior inlet
pro form 850 double pumper race carb
msd billet dissy
11mm race leads
comp cams billet two piece timming cover
procharger 12 rib polished supercharger running 20psi cogs
exstreme velocity race carb hat
water injection kit
procharger race surge valve
nytrex direct port nitrous kit
twisted sanity digital controller
full areomotive fuel system including boost sensertive regulator and a1000 pump
mccloud street twin clutch
mccloud hydrylic release bearing kit
temec tko600 gearbox
custom tig welded headers "

The guy that owns the Porsche is a PH'er by the name of Mr Mad...

There's a load of photo's of his car on this thread..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=224886

I knew I recognised the car!

slinky

>> Edited by slinky on Monday 12th December 16:20

[turbo-tastic]

I think I can let him off the "single" M3 mirror then!!!


I bet that doesn't hang about!!

[slinky]

turbo-tastic said:

I bet that doesn't hang about!!

I seem to remember it's running 10's..

For comparison purposes (and purely on accelerative terms) the McLaren F1 runs the 1/4 in 11.1 (if I remember rightly!)

slinky
587racing.com

[tuttle]

That Chevvy engine only weighs 200lb more than the 13b unit, the owner reckons handling is still great & hardly notices the difference. He is fitting ally heads which should shave off a few lbs too.
Awesome sound.www.whodyautomotive.com/video/RX7-Porsche.AVI

[turbo-tastic]

Theres another one!!

If I can sell my golf in time I'm quite tempted to buy that for a winter project (and forget any hopes of motorbikes or locosts!!)

[Mr E]

iaint said:

A proper conversion would be to drop a cosmo engine (20b) in with a decent ssingle snail on there. Some mods to engine mount points and firewall. Easily > 500bhp with low boost on a sotck engine.

Triple rotor cosmo is as rare as hens teeth though.

[tuttle]

Uh oh! it's for sale. Glad the bidding has ended so that I don't have to buy it now.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&

>> Edited by tuttle on Wednesday 14th December 09:14

[turbo-tastic]

tuttle said:

Uh oh! it's for sale. Glad the bidding has ended so that I don't have to buy it now. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem& >> Edited by tuttle on Wednesday 14th December 09:14

Its been relisted!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&

Shame its an auto though.

I wonder what "personal reasons" would dictate having to sell a 7 month project like that after only 200 miles??

[iaint]

Mr E said:

iaint said: A proper conversion would be to drop a cosmo engine (20b) in with a decent ssingle snail on there. Some mods to engine mount points and firewall. Easily > 500bhp with low boost on a sotck engine. Triple rotor cosmo is as rare as hens teeth though.

Not quite that bad but there's plenty of 13b Cosmos round which are a little underpowered.

Saw one the Rotary Imports brought over recently - absolutely awesome and not subtle in any way, shape or form.

I'm feeling insane enough to replace my 13b with a 20b in a few years time, once WGT have perfected the transplant process and it's come down in price a little!

[turbo-tastic]

Gazboy said:

Redundancy, death, birth, divorce, illness, flooding, house fire....

Good point, well made. Dont know why I didn't think of any of those.

[LS2 V8 Miata]

Fairly common stuff here.

RX7s and Nissan Z cars of most generations swapping V8s LS1, LS6s and now like my MX-5 Miata project LS2s with T-56 for trans, Ford Cobra SVT 8.8 IRS rear-ends.

I can tell you it's easy to get waist deep in one of these projects and run out of time, money and/or ambition. It damn sure better be just your screw around fun car and not your daily driver.

Some guys over here sell these kinds of projects all the time, Gazboy's on target.

I haven't figured out how to post pictures here yet, anyway look at my profile picture and you can see my Miata with the old LS1 V8 in it and Bill's Ford V8 miata in the shop.

I understand completely.

>> Edited by LS2 V8 Miata on Monday 19th December 22:30


>> Edited by LS2 V8 Miata on Monday 19th December 22:44

[tuttle]

LS2V8 Miata. For posting pics on PH, you will need some where to host them online www.photobucket.com is free to register & use, also very easy to manage & use, then in the options 'allow public sharing'- or whatever its called.For posting on PH copy the top *URL* link from the pic to the thread. To get the pic to show up here type this: [pic] your picccy link [/pic].

[Bada Bing!]

I think it's a terrible idea. I love the purity of my S2000, the way the chassis and engine work together beautifully, the sound of the engine/exhaust note etc. I think it would be the same for an RX7 given how unique the engine is too. So why take a car with a unique engine, designed for the car, and replace it with a big heavy dumb American oaf?

I must just be a purist, but I'd much rather see the V8 go into a Locost or something (assuming it'd fit!).