Engine Swap???
07-01-2002, 12:52 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 5
i've got an '82 RX-7 GS w/ the stock 12a in it. i'm looking to get more power out of the car, but i'm not sure what i should do. basically my options are this.
1 - mod the car as it is. all i can really find to do is a new carb, exhaust, and suspension. i've heard you can get an extra 20hp or so doing this.
2 - swap the 12a for a 13b street port. i have a few questions regarding this. is it possible to do yourself and another person or would it be necessary to have a shop do it? if a shop was needed about how much would the labor be? i've looked around and only found this site - http://www.mazdatrix.com/eng13bsp.htm . the price is pretty steep there (4-5k) but the hp increases seem pretty significant.
3 - swap the 12a for any other newer 13b (preferably turbo). i haven't found. i haven't found much on this but the power gains seem very high, but at quite a price.
4 - turbo the 12a. is this even possible? it seems like a good way to go if it is, but if it is possible then how come nobody does it? i haven't heard anything on this.
besides the website i posted, who sells 13b engines? thanks in advance for the replies
1 - mod the car as it is. all i can really find to do is a new carb, exhaust, and suspension. i've heard you can get an extra 20hp or so doing this.
2 - swap the 12a for a 13b street port. i have a few questions regarding this. is it possible to do yourself and another person or would it be necessary to have a shop do it? if a shop was needed about how much would the labor be? i've looked around and only found this site - http://www.mazdatrix.com/eng13bsp.htm . the price is pretty steep there (4-5k) but the hp increases seem pretty significant.
3 - swap the 12a for any other newer 13b (preferably turbo). i haven't found. i haven't found much on this but the power gains seem very high, but at quite a price.
4 - turbo the 12a. is this even possible? it seems like a good way to go if it is, but if it is possible then how come nobody does it? i haven't heard anything on this.
besides the website i posted, who sells 13b engines? thanks in advance for the replies
07-01-2002, 01:07 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,493
Well I always see 13b's for sale on ebay.. prices vary but I have seen them in good shape from 350-1900... so take a look on there.
I looked at Mazdatrix the other day. Seem to have a fair amount of stuff. If and when I get my 7 I may do some ordering from them!
I looked at Mazdatrix the other day. Seem to have a fair amount of stuff. If and when I get my 7 I may do some ordering from them!
07-01-2002, 01:22 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 243
Well 1st, I'm goin to answer the easiest question. 13B engines can be found all over the place if you reside in California. I can think of about 5 places right off the top of my head. You can always have the motor's shipped....?
Yes 12a's can be turbo'd. In Japan, they sold 12a turbo's rated at 165 hp I think. Mainly, people don't do it because they would have to blow-through the carb or whatever. I forgot what it's called. It's also quite hard to get it running smoothly for the street if it's carbed turbo. I don't remember if the 12a Turbo's from Japan were fuel injected or carbed.
The 13bt option is the best way to get the most power of all the other choices. Almost anything is possible with this option.
The Mazdatrix options are also great. I don't know how they are for the street, but they seem like great ideas.
Personally, I think your first option was the best. Mod the 12a. Rebuild the motor and make sure you have as good rotor housings as you can get. You can give it a nice big streetport or maybe even a bridgeport. Have the internals balanced though before you put it back together. This will make sure the engine will last as long as possible. With stock carb and straight exhaust, 12a's can make 120 - 130 hp already (SCCA Pro 7 cars). With a streetport, nice carb, headers, exhaust, and no cat, you should be able to get a good 160-180 hp. Maybe more or less.
I just think that it would be best to keep the spirit of the 1st Gen by working with what it came with stock. Well I guess it all depends on what you are really looking for it to do. Good luck and I hope I helped.
Yes 12a's can be turbo'd. In Japan, they sold 12a turbo's rated at 165 hp I think. Mainly, people don't do it because they would have to blow-through the carb or whatever. I forgot what it's called. It's also quite hard to get it running smoothly for the street if it's carbed turbo. I don't remember if the 12a Turbo's from Japan were fuel injected or carbed.
The 13bt option is the best way to get the most power of all the other choices. Almost anything is possible with this option.
The Mazdatrix options are also great. I don't know how they are for the street, but they seem like great ideas.
Personally, I think your first option was the best. Mod the 12a. Rebuild the motor and make sure you have as good rotor housings as you can get. You can give it a nice big streetport or maybe even a bridgeport. Have the internals balanced though before you put it back together. This will make sure the engine will last as long as possible. With stock carb and straight exhaust, 12a's can make 120 - 130 hp already (SCCA Pro 7 cars). With a streetport, nice carb, headers, exhaust, and no cat, you should be able to get a good 160-180 hp. Maybe more or less.
I just think that it would be best to keep the spirit of the 1st Gen by working with what it came with stock. Well I guess it all depends on what you are really looking for it to do. Good luck and I hope I helped.
07-01-2002, 05:38 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 181
well let me say that the choice is up to your wallet. doing a 13b swap is going to be a little bit more expensive than modding your 12a but the 13b is going to make more power. before you do anything ask yourself ( and be honest with yourself) how much power you want to make and how reliable do you want it.
trust me either way your gonna have to spend $$$$$$ so prepare your wallet.
trust me either way your gonna have to spend $$$$$$ so prepare your wallet.
07-01-2002, 10:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Marysville WA.
Posts: 1,847
Porting of the housings is basically just the process of grinding out some of the metal and making the ports bigger. You can buy templates and do it yourself, but I would spend some time practicing first because one mistake and you are minus a housing. I did not even attempt to do mine, I just payed the 300 to have them ported and polished at a rotary shop. Most local machine shops would probably not even touch a rotary engine because they never see them. I would only have an experienced Rotary engine shop do work on my engine. I had my housings cleaned at a local machine shop, and when I asked him if he got many rotaries, he said "no, never!" The guy was cool though and we talked for a long time.
I think bridgeporting the 12A would be very cool. You will have to upgrade your carb and fuel system, but you will make good power for an N/A. I think 13B1stgen has a bridgeported 1st gen now, lucky bastard!
I think bridgeporting the 12A would be very cool. You will have to upgrade your carb and fuel system, but you will make good power for an N/A. I think 13B1stgen has a bridgeported 1st gen now, lucky bastard!
07-01-2002, 12:07 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 181
yeah bridgeporting it will give you some really nice power but your gonna have to upgrade your fuel pump, exhaust, carb, clutch, and ignition ohh and it would be a good idea to run 2nd gen plugs, all that would run you about 1000-1200 $ and thats not including the port job but all i got to say is that my tires break loose in 3rd gear and i dont even got an exhaust on the car
ohh and by the way it eats up gas like a fat girl at a buffey.
ohh and by the way it eats up gas like a fat girl at a buffey.
07-01-2002, 08:04 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 790
Do what I did, Look for a complete running 86-92 car to get the running gear from. The car I used (1988) was a mess, The brakes were shot, power windows didn't work and there wasn't a good piece of sheet metal on it anywhere. But It ran decent.