13b Or 350 Chevy Some Tech Help
05-01-2003, 03:18 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 442
ok, i've been a member at rx7club, for some time now and i've never managed to get a good answer to this question. Maybe you could help me here.
During the winter i purchased a 87 t2 rex. The body is in perfect condition, as is the interior. I bought it w/out starting it, because i was told the engine was blown. I was ok w/this because of the price (it was only $800 and they delivered) and because i was planning on doing a v8 conversion. During my spring break... i started trying to see what was wrong w/the engine, the idea of having a rotary was growing on me.
It started when i jumped it. It actually went into gear. There is no power to it, so i assumed that it was apex seals (i don't know that much about rotaries), but i've heard it could be something else. What could it be. I'd love to find out, perhaps i could keep it rotary. I realize i need to do a compression test to see if it's the apex seals but is that the only possibility?
thanks,
-jeff
During the winter i purchased a 87 t2 rex. The body is in perfect condition, as is the interior. I bought it w/out starting it, because i was told the engine was blown. I was ok w/this because of the price (it was only $800 and they delivered) and because i was planning on doing a v8 conversion. During my spring break... i started trying to see what was wrong w/the engine, the idea of having a rotary was growing on me.
It started when i jumped it. It actually went into gear. There is no power to it, so i assumed that it was apex seals (i don't know that much about rotaries), but i've heard it could be something else. What could it be. I'd love to find out, perhaps i could keep it rotary. I realize i need to do a compression test to see if it's the apex seals but is that the only possibility?
thanks,
-jeff
05-01-2003, 03:51 PM
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NASA/JSC - Clear Lake, TX
Posts: 870
dont waste a TII on a V8 conversion! these cars are too rare, and by getting rid of the wankle, you'll get rid of the TII tranny, which is better than the N/A's. sell the TII to one of us, or rebuild it your self.
go to v8rx7.com, realize it isn't as easy as you think. learning to rebuild a rotary will be much more cost efficient and rewarding. while you're at it, you can port it, throw on some exhaust, and you'll have a 250 HP beast with that awesome whoosh of the turbo.
if you wanna waste money on a v8 conversion, do it to a vert or or NA, just dont waste a good turbo b/c of a blown engine
go to v8rx7.com, realize it isn't as easy as you think. learning to rebuild a rotary will be much more cost efficient and rewarding. while you're at it, you can port it, throw on some exhaust, and you'll have a 250 HP beast with that awesome whoosh of the turbo.
if you wanna waste money on a v8 conversion, do it to a vert or or NA, just dont waste a good turbo b/c of a blown engine
05-01-2003, 04:19 PM
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: One hour north of chicago (Mundelein to be exact)
Posts: 811
I was considering doing a swap on an AE86 but after researching it, I thought that it'd be way too much work. Too much custom ****. I ended up rebuilding a TII. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately i didn't have the patience to wait on getting it streetported. With the 13B you'll keep the 50:50 weight distribution which is a big plus if you like handling.
05-01-2003, 06:10 PM
#5
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Location: Amityville, New York
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Originally Posted by RX-7Aggie' date='May 1 2003, 04:51 PM
if you wanna waste money on a v8 conversion, do it to a vert or or NA, just dont waste a good turbo b/c of a blown engine
Clean verts get top dollar, clean TIIs get top dollar.
Shitty verts are cheap, and so are shitty TIIs.
Basically a TII with a blown engine is worth
about the same as a vert with a blown engine.
But you can be sure that the verts drivetrain will out
last the TIIs as the TIIs are usually abused and beat
to death.
05-01-2003, 06:17 PM
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ames, IA
Posts: 4,773
I've always seen 'vert's costing 15-20% more than TII's in similar condition, but there are usually tons more verts for sale.
Back to the original question, I think we all know my opinion on this matter, but I'll start one more fight. The engine is blown. Put another engine in there. If you want a V8, put a V8 in there, and if you want a rotary, put one in. It's as simple as that. TIIs aren't that rare, and you're not going to lose a whole lot of resale by putting a V8 in there, so do what you want. You won't even upset the handling as much as people will try and tell you you will. Most of these people have never even seen a V8 in an RX-7, let alone driven one. I saw one last weekend and the only thing that bothered me is that my brain wouldn't let the exhaust sound match up to the car...it's pretty weird. Good luck with your decision.
Back to the original question, I think we all know my opinion on this matter, but I'll start one more fight. The engine is blown. Put another engine in there. If you want a V8, put a V8 in there, and if you want a rotary, put one in. It's as simple as that. TIIs aren't that rare, and you're not going to lose a whole lot of resale by putting a V8 in there, so do what you want. You won't even upset the handling as much as people will try and tell you you will. Most of these people have never even seen a V8 in an RX-7, let alone driven one. I saw one last weekend and the only thing that bothered me is that my brain wouldn't let the exhaust sound match up to the car...it's pretty weird. Good luck with your decision.
05-01-2003, 06:19 PM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Amityville, New York
Posts: 12,288
seems like there are only AE TIIs being sold, lol
For being a limited run of cars, seems like alot of them
get traded?
I of course agree with Unique, do with the car as you please
I always say: a non-running RX-7 is worthless so why not have
fun with the car.
For being a limited run of cars, seems like alot of them
get traded?
I of course agree with Unique, do with the car as you please
I always say: a non-running RX-7 is worthless so why not have
fun with the car.
05-01-2003, 07:58 PM
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,679
I was the one that told him to leave the 13b in it
I met his pops by where I work on my lunch break and he was not very specific on what is wrong with the car. IMHO....stay with the 13BT and if you want a chevy powered car...well, buy a chevy!
I met his pops by where I work on my lunch break and he was not very specific on what is wrong with the car. IMHO....stay with the 13BT and if you want a chevy powered car...well, buy a chevy!
05-02-2003, 12:25 AM
#10
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 442
Thanks for the advice... i guess i didn't make it clear, i was hoping for some diagnostic help... why would the engine lose power??? If i can do it, i'd much rather have a rotary. I definately did not mean to start up a v8 vs wankel debate.
why do these lose power???
thanks,
-jeff
why do these lose power???
thanks,
-jeff